A friend, Chris, arrived back in town so we went on a quick tour around - he needed a girl and I always welcome a chance to see what's going on.
He had a list that he had culled off the internet forums - luckily, one of the first was What's Up - so it took about 2 milliseconds to choose this as our first point of call. The second we walked in, he knew why. The place just has energy - I nearly had my genitals ripped off as I walked in (actually it really hurt) and Chris quickly acknowledged that the music was good - but the place was too small. I only knew a couple of the girls - my favourites being on "holiday" i.e. Barfined already.
But we had a long list. Back into Walking Street. We went into a new one - Air Port. The service girls wore very smart air hostess gear, but there was nothing else remarkable about it. I think they had a Jacussi and a bit of whipping going on in the back - but frankly, after What's Up....
On to one under Polo with a very forgettable name - where we came across an extraordinary girl squatting naked on a table mat, complete with whip and attitude. Perfect body (she would have rattled), delicate tattoo covering her cesarian scar. Big bluey/black eyes (the eyeshadow). 27 and not from Isaan. I would have ended my search there and then - but no, Chris likes them young. We moved on.
He had never been to Happy - practically a Pattaya Institution. A real disappointment. Happy is owned by the same people as the Beach and Peppermint (the one next to Marine 1). The girls and atmosphere wax and wane - but the service is always impeccable. Until tonight. No one met us at the door, no one helped us find a table or wanted an order. So we walked round and right out again.
Another brief stop at Goodfellas. This place has made a big splash and is above Soi Lucky Star (the one opposite Marine ). Frankly, except for the promotion and probably huge investment in décor it's essentially the same as it's predecessor - and just as empty. I think the concept is a cool hangout with food, pool and music. But it misses out on the essential Pattaya ingredient - girls. I don't think there is anywhere in Pattaya that is sucessful without girls, with the obvoius exception of the shirt-lifters places - so lets change that to Sex. We didn't waste time buying a drink.
Then a long walk up to Utopia. I wanted to check my impressions and get some input from Chris. It didn't disappoint. The girls were just a friendly (more so as I was alone) - and crazy. Chris found a pretty young thing - and with his night secured, we left her and went on to Casino.
I was feeling pretty ill and looking forward to a day off the booze the next day (first day off for 8 days) so we threw a few lady drinks around (they are only 95 baht - and the girl gets 50 baht of it) and I was in my bed by 2am. Chris went on the Shark before going back to Utopia - but he can report on that.
Incidentally, Shark now has a rear entrance (off the soi with the Beach, Angel Witch and What's Up) - so there are now 3 ways of escape should there be anyone on Soi Diamond you don't want to see!