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Tbear's Newbie Trip (part 1)

tbear31

By tbear31,
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tbear31 Newbie

tbear31

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Tbear's Newbie Trip in Thailand (part 1)

OK, so I thought it was time that I did a trip report from my first trip

to Thailand. I feel obligated to do so for many reasons, including:

1) All the trip reports that I have read and leeched information from.

2) Maybe this report will convince at least one more person to visit

Thailand, and have the time of their life.

3) I have to get this off my chest! I can't really tell anyone here about

my trip. People from work are completely off limits, and I don't want my

friends to judge me over my actions for the past 2 weeks. I feel like I

have this great secret that I can't tell anyone.

Before I begin, I would like to thank the many people who, probably

unknowingly, helped me make the decision to travel to Thailand. The

members of the Nanaplaza board, Nanapong board, ASFO, and the many

personal websites dedicated to the many aspects of Thailand. You guys

might not realize it, but the information that you provide does get read,

and is probably the source of amusement and wonder for many.

I would say that it took me about 4 years from first hearing about

Thailand, to actually buying a ticket and getting on a plane to get there.

I think I started with reading about prostitution in my home town, to

reading the "World Sex Guide", to the many websites on Asia. Over the

years I have read guide books on Bangkok and Thailand, fiction such as

that by Dean Barrett and Stephen Leather. I read reports from "Dave in

Pheonix", and all the ones on the Delphi boards. I'm sure I didn't read

everything available on the sanuk scene in Thailand, but I came pretty

close. I just found it amazing that half way around the world is a place

with that many beautiful available women, cheap alcohol, beautiful

surroundings, and interesting, friendly people.

It's funny to think that it really wasn't all the information that I got

over the 'net that finalized my decision. I was talking to a friend of

mine and she was talking about quiting working. I told her that I thought

it was a big mistake; that she would get bored and miss out on having

money. I explained to her that she would get jealous of all of her

friends having money and be able to travel anytime and anywhere that they

wanted. Her response was one which probably changed my life; "Well, you

have money, and you never go anywhere!"

I was completely annoyed. I wanted to tell her about the project that I

needed to finish up; that if I do a good job I might be promoted and get a

better raise. I wanted to tell her that I would be able to buy a nicer

apartment, and a nicer car, and be able to afford to go out more. Of

course the reason that I was so pissed off it that she was completely

correct. I had been working for a decade, and basically ALL I had was a

nicer car and a nicer apartment. No girlfriend, no wife, no sex-life. I

called a travel agent the next day and booked my tickets to Thailand.

From all the information I had gathered, I made reservations on EVA Air,

Deluxe Evergreen class. I'm 6'4", rather large, and the thought of a 12

hour flight in coach class was not what I was looking for. Since this

might be a once-in-a-lifetime trip, I at least wanted to be comfortable.

I flew out of San Francisco. I used frequent flyer miles to go from the

Northeast to the west coast. I sent emails to Nana Plaza Hotel, and

Pattaya Centre. I would stay a week in Bangkok and a week in Pattaya.

I guess now is a good time to talk about me, although I will sum it up in

a single paragraph. I am a African American male, tall (see above),

overweight but not morbidly obese, living in the Northeast U.S. I'm

single, without really even a prospect of a girlfriend. I'm in my

early thirties. I'm pretty well educated, and have a good job. I'm not

rich, but have enough money to pretty much do whatever I want. I'm what

most poeple describe as a "nice guy." Most people take a liking to me,

and say that I have a good personality and sense of humor and I have the

weird habit of smiling uncontrollably.

Ok, that's all. I guess what I want to get across is that I am just a

pretty normal guy. Not unlike a friend that you may have now, or

someone that you know in your office. I'm not ex-military reliving his

days in 'Nam, or a thrill

seeker, or a world sex-tourist. I'm just a guy who thought Thailand would

be fun, and something that I could add to my book of experiences. I

wanted to get as far away as possible for my vacation.

Now on to the trip.

 

Pre-Trip Jitters:

A couple of weeks before my trip, I started to get a little nervous. What

was I doing? I was going half way around the world, by myself, to

POSSIBLY get laid. I know this might sound funny, but I really had no

guarantee that Thailand was as fun as everyone described. I begun to read

stories that people of African descent are hated by the bargirls. That

they get harassed by the police. I actually had a dream where I walked

into a go-go, and no one wanted to go with me. After reading the article

in Maxim about Pattaya, I feared that I would get killed by Pakistan

thugs. My fears ranged from getting HIV, genital warts, and herpes

(combined!) to getting explosive diarrhea from eating an ice cube. I

feared Malaria, and planes making water landings in the Pacific. In the

end, I just said "What the F***, you have to die of something!"

I started a spending spree. I bought a small Canon Elph camera, and about

20 rolls of film for the APS and 35MM camera. I bought the largest box of

condoms that I could find. I got a travel journal to take notes and

record my musings. I buy "Thai for Lovers" and "Thai for Beginners" and memorize a few phrases and words.

About a week before the trip a funny thing happened. I started to get

nervous again, but for a different reason. I was actually getting afraid

that I might get sick, or get in an accident BEFORE I could go. For the

first time in years, I was actually looking forward to doing something!

I knew that even if I didn't meet any hot women, and even if I got ripped

off, or beat up, or left for dead, at least I'm doing something with my

life. For two weeks, I'm leaving must-see TV, and bad cable movies, and

overbearing bosses behind. I was doing something that very few people

have the opportunity or knowledge of and I realized that my friend was

completely on the ball; what's the use of having money you never do

anything with it? I have been making a pretty good living, but I could

not remember the last time I really, truly had fun.

 

Getting on that Big Jet Airliner:

Well the day finally arrived and I made my way to the Airport. In the cab

to the airport, I tell the cabbie that I'm going to Thailand. He informs

me that he spent several years there, and asks my why I'm going. To mask

the obvious reason, I tell him it's because of the beauty of the country,

and I make up a story about the calm serenity of the people, attributing

it their Buddhist beliefs. While patting myself on the back for the load

of BS that I have just deposited on his front seat, I see that he is eying

me suspiciously from the rear-view mirror. He lets it slide, and gives me

some must-see places in Bangkok, which I write down with all intent to see

them. He informs me that if he could, He would go back there in an

instant, and that I will have the time of my life. This is very

encouraging.

I check my luggage, and later get on the plane. I have 12 hours to

make my connecting flight in San Franciso. The plane pulls away

approximately 2 feet from the gate, and the pilot makes an announcement

that there is a storm moving into the area. We taxi to the end of the

runway, and wait two hours. He then announces that he will go back to

gate, and people wanting to exit the plan can do so. Minutes later, he

adds the condition that if you do exit the plane, your luggage will not be

joining you (But you will be able to pick it up in Dallas, or perhaps San

Francisco). I opt to stay on the plane, and an hour later he informs us

that a window has opened up to depart. We taxi to the end of the runway,

and he informs us that the window has been closed... actually, slammed

shut. We wait for an additional 4 hours, and he finally informs us that

the flight has been cancelled. Wonderful start to my dream vacation.

The next day, I try again, and make it to SF. There I connect to the the

EVA flight to BKK. All the reports about the Evergreen Deluxe class are

correct. The seats are roomy, and the service is excellent. I am one of

a handful of americans on the flight. A 4 hour stopover in Taiwan, and I

land in BKK 4 hours later.

 

I am getting a little sleepy now, so i will end it here. Sorry that there

was no hot sex in this part, but I promise, it will get better. I hope

that you have enjoyed this part.

T

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Dear Sir,

You must continue!

You are articulate and thoughtful...just the type of person I would gladly buy a beer for...and say Welcome to Thailand.

However, before I do so, you must continue!

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