Buddha Mountain: Khao Chi Chan: เขาชีจรรย์

Now I'm ready to share a story of my "last day" in Pattaya, Thailand what I did or kind of thing. Like I wrote yesterday, I will definitely come back to Pattaya, Thailand, but I will have to take the plane home from Bangkok several hours later. Yesterday; 30th March was an Election Day for Senators here in Thailand, so I needed to make plans that I could make the most of every minute without any alcohol drinks; due to alcohol ban for the Election Day. After breakfast, a light bulb went off in my head. I decided to hire a motorbike taxi to go on a half day excursion to spiritual Buddha Mountain (a.k.a. Khao Chi Chan, Thai: เขาชีจรรย์), scenic Silver Lake Vineyard (Thai: ซิลเวอร์เลค วินยาร์ด), and eye-opening Anek Kuson Sala (Viharnra Sien, Thai: อเนกกุศลศาลา (วิหารเซียน)). These places are in the outskirts of Pattaya, but are within motorcycling distance in a way. The photo shows Buddha Mountain where the place you can respect the world's biggest carved Buddha image on the cliff exactly like the photo shows. The Buddha image is more than a hundred meters high, 70 meters wide.

At the end of a long journey

The Photo shows Thai Airways office in Pattaya, Thailand. The office is located at the Northern tip of the seaside boardwalk. During my 161-day trip which started on the 22nd October 2013, I've been taking 15 flights so far. Tomorrow morning, I will take a Thai Airways International flight from Bangkok, Thailand and it'll be my final flight of this long vacation. I will take a cab from my current hotel in Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi Airport at 02:00 am. I'm sure I will come back to Pattaya again, but technically, today is my last day here in Pattaya of this time. It's an Election Day, so I need to think about things I can enjoy without alcohol drinks. A dry period will be over at 24:00. Until then, drinking alcohol is banned under the law.

Pork Scratchings: แคบหมู

I'm in Pattaya, Thailand right now and I took this photo on the beach. While I'm sitting on a lounge chair on the beach, a lot of people come to me and try to sell something. They are not only food vendors. Some of them are tattoo artists, some of them are painters, some of them are masseuses, or kind of like that. A wide variety of food vendors and their products are always tempting. I bought แคบหมู from one of the vendors. แคบหมู is like Pork Scratchings or Pork Rinds, deep-fried pork skin. Here's a photo of it. I love it.

On the day before a dry period

I'm in Pattaya, Thailand right now and I took this photo under beach umbrellas on Pattaya beach. I was sitting on a lounge chair and drinking a bottle of Singha beer. I'm not interested in doing beach activities such as Speed Boats, Jet Skis, Banana Boats and so on. Now I just want to veg out on the beach with some cool Thai beer. An election of senators will be held on the 30th March here in Thailand. Because of that, a dry period will start tomorrow evening at 18:00 and end at 24:00 on the day of the election: drinking alcohol will be banned under the law.

Hit someone's funny bone

I'm in Pattaya, Thailand right now and I took this photo on the boardwalk in Pattaya city near Central Festival Pattaya Beach and Hilton Pattaya Hotel. Central Festival Pattaya Beach is a gigantic shopping mall and has 10 movie screens on the 6th floor. I went to see a Thai movie yesterday. The movie started 12:00 and it was a weekday, but many people, mostly Thais were in the theatre. I've seen some Thai movies by in-flight entertainment of Thai Airways International, but it was my first time to see a Thai movie with a lot of Thais in a theatre. It was a good experience. While I was seeing the movie, I learned what makes Thais laugh.

A fountain of The Bayview Hotel

I'm in Pattaya, Thailand right now and the photo shows a popular photo spot on Pattaya Sai 2 (a.k.a. Pattaya 2nd Road, Thai พัทยาสาย2). This is a fountain of The Bayview Hotel formerly known as Siam Bayview Hotel. One of the most fancy and luxurious hotels in Pattaya. I've stayed here a long, long time ago. The location was fantastic in front of the beach, staff was excellent, buffet breakfast was memorable, plus there was a turndown service in the evening. After turning down the bed, staff left chocolate cookies with a considerate good night message.

Viewing my favourite city from above

I'm in Pattaya, Thailand right now and the photo shows this fabulous city from above. This is one of my favourite cities in the world. I wanna live here, one day. Anyway, this morning, while I was having breakfast at my hotel's restaurant as usual suddenly realised that I haven't been to Pattaya Viewpoint since I flew in Thailand on the 10th March. Of course, I've been there several times, so I mean "during this time of my trip". Right after breakfast, I changed my clothes and took a motorbike taxi to get to Big Buddha Hill (a.k.a. Wat Phra Yai, Thai: วัดพระใหญ่ พัทยา) and Pattaya Viewpoint (Thai: จุดชมวิวพัทยา เขาพระตำหนัก). These places are in the Southern part of Pattaya, so I visited both of them. Note: When you visit temples in Thailand, wearing skimpy tank tops or short pants are not allowed. You'd better check your clothes carefully before you go.

Hit the booze

I'm in Pattaya, Thailand right now and the first dry period for the upcoming senate election was over last night at 24:00. Hit the booze. There're millions of pubs here in Pattaya, Thailand, but almost all amazeballs pubs were really dead for the last couple of nights. I guess it was because the alcohol ban for early voting on March 23. I've heard that violators will be fined up to 10,000 THB or do time for six months, or both of them. The next dry period for the Senate election will start at 18:00 on the 29th March and will end at 24:00 on the 30th. Anyways, the photo shows Royal Garden Plaza. It's a cool place to hang out, eat out and then some. Everybody looks extremely happy to be there until they get the bill and find out the damage.

There's been a lot of things going on lately

I'm in Pattaya, Thailand right now and Pattaya Music Festival 2014 is taking place here in Pattaya from March 21st to 23rd. Since it is the largest music festival in Thailand, there are thousands of temporally food stalls and street shops along Beach Road from North to South in three straight lines. Also, a so-called dry period has started last night due to early voting for the Senate elections on March 30th. The photo shows North Pattaya Beach: shallow sea area. Seeing around here reminds me of Salar de Uyuni. Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt pan in Bolivia. I've never been, but one of my English acquaintances had showed me some amazing pictures on the web. Going there is at the top of my bucket list since then.

Water mimosa is edible and memorable

I'm in Pattaya, Thailand right now and the photo shows my dinner at my favourite restaurant on Pattaya Sai 3. This Thai cuisine is named ผัดผักกระเฉด (Pronounciation: Pad Pak Krachet) and I guess it quite suits hard-core Thai food lovers. It's kind of like stir-fried water mimosa with garlic. Water mimosa is edible vegetable and can be found in some Thai cuisine such as ยำ (can be translated as salads in English term), ผัด (can be translated as stir-fries in English term) and แกง (can be translated as soup or curry in English term).

Bring one's own shampoo

I'm in Pattaya, Thailand right now and the photo shows my all-time favourite shampoo which I usually buy here in Thailand. The colour of shampoo liquid is blackish and the smell is like a oriental flower. It sounds nice, doesn't it? I love it, but unfortunately I've never found this shampoo outside of Thailand. My current hotel doesn't provide shampoo for daily use, that is why I need this, but I'm happy anyway. My hotel is in the middle of nightlife, and provides bar soap, loo rolls, and bottles of water for daily needs. Plus, cleaning staff makes up my room everyday. The room facilities are a fan on the ceiling, an AC, a TV, a fridge, a big closet, a desk, three tables, three chairs ensuite bathroom with hot shower facilities. Not only that, but the balcony provides a clothes horse and a comfortable plastic chair. My room costs 680THB per night with ultrafast WiFi as a comp.

Soi LK Metro

I'm in Pattaya, Thailand right now and I took this photo on Soi Diana. My hotel is less than a five-minute walk from here, so I walk under the sign of Soi LK Metro everyday =) The sign reminds me of London, England. My current long vacation started in Bangkok, Thailand on the 22nd of October 2014, and next I flew in London, England on the 25th of October 2014. It's been almost five months since then. After England, I visited Israel, Holland, Belgium, Portugal, Croatia, Slovenia, Germany, the USA, Luxembourg, Austria, Italy and Sri Lanka. Good times have been killing me.

Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya

I'm in Pattaya, Thailand right now. I've been here quite a lot of times, but basically I stay at a budget kind of hotel and tend to choose the cheapest room of the hotel. This is just because usually I stay in Pattaya more than 10 nights, so a hotel like the photo shows has rooms that I can't afford them. Hopefully, in the future I'd love to stay at Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya, but it won't be 21 nights in a row like my current vacation. I think it might be first few nights at Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya, and for the rest at a budget accommodation. Then, it sounds like a plan. Speaking of Hard Rock, I've enjoyed to have some beer and food at Hard Rock Cafe in Lisbon, Portugal. It was truly a fun experience.

Looks like a cruise ship, but it's a hotel

I'm in Pattaya, Thailand right now and the photo shows a four-star seafront hotel on Pattaya Beach Road Soi 3. Since the hotel looks like a gigantic cruise ship, crews of this hotel wear sailor uniforms. I haven't stay at this hotel, but this place is one of the must-sees here in Pattaya because of its unique eye-catching shape, plus popular BBQ seafood buffet dinner. By the way, today is St. Patrick's Day, isn't it? According to a poster, a guzzlery nearby this hotel serves special green beer for today. I wanna try one. Green beer. How do they make it?

Moo Manao: หมูมะนาว

I'm in Pattaya, Thailand right now and the photo shows my dinner at my favourite restaurant on Central Pattaya Road (a.k.a Pattaya Klang, Thai: พัทยากลาง). This food is named Moo Manao (Thai: หมูมะนาว). It's like a boiled pork salad which is served with fresh chillies and garlic. The delicious sauce's main ingredient is Thai lime; Manao (Thai: มะนาว), that is why this food is named Moo Manao. Moo (Thai: หมู) means pork, by the way. It really goes well with Singha beer, you can imagine.

Go see an American dramedy

I'm in Pattaya, Thailand right now and the photo shows Central Festival Pattaya Beach. Central Festival Pattaya Beach is a humongous shopping mall. Some people say that it's on Pattaya beach road, but the others say that it's on Pattaya 2nd Road. They are both correct. Central Festival Pattaya Beach is that huge. There are so many places to shop and eat and drink. Plus, there are 10 movie screens on the 6th floor. I went to see a movie yesterday. The film was an American dramedy, subbed in Thai.

Flying Vegetable Restaurant: ราชาข้าวต้ม ผักบุ้งลอยฟ้า

I'm in Pattaya, Thailand right now and I took this photo in front of one of my favourite restaurants in the world: Flying Vegetable Restaurant Pattaya Klang Road close to Soi 8 (a.k.a. Puk Boong Loy Fa / Pakboong Loy Fa Central Pattaya Road, Thai: ราชาข้าวต้ม ผักบุ้งลอยฟ้า ที่พัทยากลาง ใกล้ใกล้ ซอย 8). The place opens everyday from 17:00 to 04:00. There are a huge fan room and a cozy AC room. If you get there for the first time, you'll be really surprised to see a wide variety of Thai cuisine on the menu. From what I remember, my first visit to this place was in 2005, so it's been almost 9 years. When I'm in Pattaya, Thailand, I have dinner at this place at least once, basically a lot more. Note: There're three more Pakboong Loy Fa in Pattaya; Pattaya Sai 2, Pattaya Sai 3 and North Pattaya Road.

Recharge one's batteries

I'm in Pattaya, Thailand right now and the photo shows my hotel's swimming pool. Generally, when I stay in Pattaya, Thailand I choose a hotel on Pattaya Beach Road Soi 9, but for this time I couldn't book a hotel room at the same hotel 21 nights in a row, so I chose a hotel on Soi Buakhao instead. My current hotel is located this close to the intersection of Soi Buakhao and Soi Diana (a.k.a. Pattaya Sai Song Soi 13), plus Soi LK Metro which means you can be in the middle of night life. Hopefully, daytime could be more fun, but the city itself fully wake up after 17:30 or a bit later. Also, people who stay here in Pattaya tend to overdo the night life, so during the day they tend to veg out on a lounge chair on the beach or a poolside to recharge their batteries.

Teach someone the ropes

I'm in Pattaya, Thailand right now on vacation. Yesterday morning I took a motorbike taxi in front of my hotel and went to Bangkok Hospital Pattaya (Thai: โรงพยาบาลกรุงเทพพัทยา) to underwent wound dressing. My appointment time was 09:45. I was required to arrive at the front desk 15 minutes prior to the appointed time, so I left my hotel at 09:15. My doctor said my injury from falling down looks okay and I don't need to undergo treatment at the hospital anymore. She gave me a self-treatment kit and taught me the ropes. The photo shows bandage gauze, plaster and then some which I received in a paper bag.

Get a second opinion

On the 10th, I caught a red eye flight from Colombo, Sri Lanka and flew in Bangkok, Thailand early in the morning. From Suvarnabhumi Airport Level 1 Gate 8, I took a bus and arrived in Pattaya. It took about a couple of hours, and cost 134THB. Then, I took a Songthaew to get to my hotel. Songthaew is like an open air mini van and is a well known share taxi here in Thailand. Right after dropped off my luggage at the lobby, I took a motorbike taxi to Bangkok Hospital Pattaya (Thai: โรงพยาบาลกรุงเทพพัทยา) and underwent wound dressing. Long story short, There was a little hiccup at the end of my journey in Unawatuna, Sri Lanka. I fell down on a rough street and cut a little my right big toe. The largest cut was right under my big toenail. My doctor in Sri Lanka said he had to remove my big toenail right away, but I definitely didn't want to have that kind of delicate operation. I thought I needed to get a sort of second opinion or something like that, and decided to wait the time when I fly in Thailand. That was the reason my first destination in Pattaya turned into a hospital. My doctor in Pattaya said to have a wound dressing everyday and keep dry for another three to four days. After that, I can take a shower and everything. The photo shows antibacterial medical rinse and cream that I received in a paper bag.

Are we on the same wavelength?

I took this photo while I was walking on Heenatigala Road in Unawatuna, Sri Lanka a few days ago. The area looked like a little off the common tourist trail, coz a lot of people who visit Unawatuna tend to stay on the Strand (a.k.a. Yaddehimulla Road) to enjoy their holiday near the beach. Almost a half of beautiful white sand beach in Unawatuna has been eaten away by the Ocean, but the other half had made a comeback. A local who owns a restaurant on the beach said "Just five months ago. They came and did this. They did six months for this. Now water stop there." or something similar, so I heard it as the new breakwater construction and so on took six months and completed about five months ago. Are we on the same wavelength?

Unawatuna Post Office

The photo shows a post office in Unawatuna, Sri Lanka. It's about a 15-minute walk from my hotel on the Strand (a.k.a. Yaddehimulla Road). Unawatuna post office is located on the corner of Matara Road and Heenatigala Road near Unawatuna Railway Station. I sent several postcards from here as usual, but I bought the postcards at Odel in Colombo in advance. My flight to Bangkok, Thailand is on the 10th at zero dark thirty, so I will have to leave Unawatuna on the 9th at 16:00 by tuk-tuk.

Touch wood

The photo shows Unawatuna Medical Centre near a post office. During a long journey in the past, I rarely had health problems. My first experience that I had to go to a hospital while I was traveling was in Bangkok in 2005. I got burned on my arm by a prayer incense stick at crowded Erawan Shrine and underwent a skin doctor. The second, third and fourth experiences were in Sri Lanka. One of them was in Negombo in 2005 the others were here in Unawatuna in 2010. Somehow I got terrible rashs on all over my body. At the fourth time, the doctor said that something in Sri Lanka was bad for me. I still don't know what kind of thing in Sri Lanka is bad for me, but I know very well that I really love this country. This time I haven't had a rash yet, touch wood.

A monitor lizard walks on a beaten track

I took this photo on Yaddehimulla Road in Unawatuna, Sri Lanka several days ago. A 90 centimeters long monitor lizard was walking on a beaten track slowly. I see lizards quite a lot of times in Sri Lanka, say once a day, but this one was one of the biggest lizards I've seen in Sri Lanka. To be honest, I'm not a big fan of these kinds of creatures and I'm not exactly happy about seeing lizards this close to me, but this one was an exception and was amazeballs. It looked like a baby dinosaur was walking on a land like no other.

Unawatuna, Sri Lanka to Galle on foot

I'm in Unawatuna, Sri Lanka right now, and today I visited Galle as a half-day excursion from here to exchange my money. Galle is a neighbouring city of Unawatuna and is 5km away from here. There's a branch of Sanasa Bank at Amarasingharamaya temple on Yaddehimulla Road here in Unawatuna, but the only bank in the village accepts only Dollars, Euros, and Pounds as exchangeable currencies, so I had to go to Galle just for a bank. I needed Sri Lankan rupees to pay for an Airport Drop by tuk-tuk next Sunday. By the way, I took this photo on the way to Galle. Now, there is an expressway like the sign shows. That's amazing, but I will take a tuk-tuk, so I will drive onto A02 Road just has been the same old same old.

Open a lunch packet of Rice and Curry

I'm in Unawatuna, Sri Lanka right now and the photo shows one of my favorite lunches; a packet of Sri Lankan Rice and Curry. A lunch packet of Rice and Curry is normally coated with plastic and is wrapped in newspaper. I took this photo right after I opened the lunch packet in my balcony. The lunch packet contained spicy fish curry with chilies, dhal curry, vegetable curry; Beetroot curry and red rice. Pretty traditional. Not to mention it tasted like heaven. I personally believe that if there was heaven on earth, it was here Sri Lanka.