Neon Ninja Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 Howdy all, I was originally planning on returning to Pattaya sometime in June; due to obligations at work, I may have to go earlier. I would like to avoid operation "Cobra Gold" 2009 like rape, and was wondering if anyone out there had an inside track as to when they are packing it up in May. I cought it full force one visit, and it made Pattaya a congested miserable place to be. It was reported in the Bangkok post that year that there was a two hour wait to get into that McDonalds at Royal Garden Plaza. Not that I care about getting a crap cheeseburger, but it puts that many thousands more punters in direct competition with me for attention from the ladies. Not that I would deny our brave sailors and marines their fun (or their cheeseburgers). It's just that I don't need to be there when it happens! Thanks a bunch! -=/NN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.. Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 They've moved it up this year. Now 4-17 Feb. And I believe that they will be spending the majority of their time upcountry, and the format has changed somewhat. Not to say they won't RnR in Pattaya... Cheers, SD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekong Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 4-17 February 2009 CG09 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neon Ninja Posted December 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 Thank you much guys for the speedy response! This is most excellent news! -=/NN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pom Michael Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 Although Neon I don't doubt your experience, but in over 15 years of Cobra Gold that I have seen in Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Korat, Udon and Songkhla - I have never seen anything like you have mentioned. Even the last carrier visit to Laem Chabang/Pattaya there was not much in the way of congestion in Walking Street, hotels or the bars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neon Ninja Posted December 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 Although Neon I don't doubt your experience, but in over 15 years of Cobra Gold that I have seen in Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Korat, Udon and Songkhla - I have never seen anything like you have mentioned. Even the last carrier visit to Laem Chabang/Pattaya there was not much in the way of congestion in Walking Street, hotels or the bars. I've never been there during high season, and I suspect that explain why my experience (as well as expectations) differs. :smirk: -=/NN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damen Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 Same here. I've been in town during Cobra Gold several times and found that their presence is greatly exaggerated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaiHome Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 I think people confuse Cobra Gold and a carrier group visit. During Cobra Gold, which mostly takes place upcountry, few people get liberty and make it into Pattaya. Many do take annual leaves and stay in Pattaya after the exercises are done, but it is not in the thousands by any means. Completely different when a carrier group comes in and each watch, which could be a thousand people or more, gets a night or two out while the ships are parked outside the bay. Trouble is, carrier group visits are not usually announced too far in advance. TH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neon Ninja Posted December 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2008 I think people confuse Cobra Gold and a carrier group visit. During Cobra Gold, which mostly takes place upcountry, few people get liberty and make it into Pattaya. Many do take annual leaves and stay in Pattaya after the exercises are done, but it is not in the thousands by any means. Completely different when a carrier group comes in and each watch, which could be a thousand people or more, gets a night or two out while the ships are parked outside the bay. Trouble is, carrier group visits are not usually announced too far in advance. TH Hmmm... this could be. I distinctly recall mention at the time about an aircraft carrier. However, I could have sworn that it was there as part of Cobra Gold that year. It was either 2002 or 2004... So this sucks, I could miss Cobra Gold, but could still get smacked by another carrier visit. (Which I guess is what I REALLY don't want). Unlikely I suppose, but still... -=/NN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaiHome Posted December 12, 2008 Report Share Posted December 12, 2008 I was living in Rayong in 2001 during Cobra Gold and that year most of the exercise were in the Satahip area. I think shortly thereafter, they moved most of it upcountry. I seriously doubt the USN would waste a carrier group on Cobra Gold, unless the timing was right it was passing through anyway. TH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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