Almost every night of the year, you will be able to find a party at one of the thousands of Pattaya bars.  Some nights, you will be able to find many more.

The tell-tale signs that a party is going to be happening is you will see the girls blowing up balloons.  They will decorate the outside of the bar with strings and strings of balloons.

It may be for one of the girl’s birthdays or it may be the anniversary of the opening of the bar. There are also times that tourists plan parties for their birthday or to celebrate a major event, like their divorce.

Whatever the occasion, there will usually be some food to go along with the balloons.  Typically, it is roast pig on a spit with plenty of side dishes.  The food will be free, but you are expected to buy a drink or two.

On major occasions, like Christmas or New Years, just about every bar in town will have a celebration.  Many pigs will sacrifice their lives to satisfy your appetite.

There are many expatriates, and some tourists, that get accused of being balloon chasers.  These guys look for the parties in hopes of a cheap or free meal.  They can be seen nursing a coke and stuffing their faces with all the food in the buffet line.

Balloon chasers are known to frequent the Pattaya forums to see the party listings.  They will mark their calendars and hit all the parties they can.  Believe me, there can be 3 or 4 major parties going on at the same time in different parts of Pattaya on any given night.

There is nothing wrong with chasing balloons as long you aren’t a cheap Charlie.  Buy the host or hostess a drink and get one for yourself.  Eat your fill, but don’t be a pig about it.  Also, check and make sure that it is not a private party you are crashing.  Most are not.

I have seen some guys that just buy a coke for about one dollar, and then heap the food on their plates and wolf it down.  Once they have had their fill, they are gone.  They don’t even say hello or buy the host a drink.

Throwing one of these parties can cost $200 – $400 for the birthday boy or girl, so show a little class, and at least buy the host a drink.

You may also see at a party for one of the female employees, that the girl will be wearing a flower necklace.  It is tradition to give the girl a gift by stapling some Baht to the necklace.  Even if I don’t know the girl, I will give her 100 Baht.  After all, we are all there to have some fun and it is a party.

Partying in Pattaya can be a blast and there are many, many parties going on every night.  Hit as many as possible but show a bit of class and chip in by buying a drink or two.  Be a Pattaya Balloon Chaser, have fun, but don’t be cheap about it.

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Patpong Road was made famous by American soldiers on rest and recuperation (R&R) in the city of Bangkok, Thailand.  During the Vietnam conflict, many in the military took the short hop from Saigon to Bangkok to enjoy a week or two getting drunk, stoned, massaged, and spoiled by beautiful Thai women.

Paatpong is actually a small street between Silom and Surawong Roads with wall-to-wall bars and restaurants.  At night, the street is vendors catering to tourists charging ridiculously high prices in hopes of finding suckers.

There are actually 4 streets in the area catering to the nightlife.  There is Patpong I & II, Soi Jaruwan, catering to gay men, and Soi Thaniya, exclusively for Japanese tourists.

Patpong started off as an undeveloped plot of land purchased by Chinese immigrants in 1946.  The Patpongpanich (or Patpongpanit) family built some shop-houses and rented out to normal businesses.  Bars eventually overtook the other businesses on these two private roads, and the entertainment zone was created.

I was stationed in Bangkok in the early 1970’s and we would go out to Patpong almost nightly.  Back then it was bar after bar after bar.  There were no vendors blocking the road and, unlike today, it was safe to go to the upstairs bars.

Then, the bars on the ground level were just that – bars.  Second floor bars were go-go’s with bikini clad girls.  And if a bar had a third floor, it was for the special shows.

Today, vendors set up show and block the entire road, and most of the walkway, selling everything under the sun (or moon).  Tours line the street promoting shows upstairs with guarantees of no cover charge and cheap beer prices.  Don’t believe either.

If you visit Patpong, it is best to avoid the upstairs bars altogether.  The owners may try to extract large sums of money in order for you to leave alive.

There is one place that I do enjoy visiting on Patpong.  The Madrid Lounge is the only bar that has the same name, décor, and menu that it had in 1973.  It caters primarily to the embassy and expat crowd and has some great American food.  The staff is very friendly and will sit with you if you want or leave you alone if you choose.

The Madrid became a meeting place when I returned to Thailand in the mid 90’s during exercise Cobra Gold.  I took my guys there the first night and it became the official hangout from that day forward.  They still use it as a rendezvous point and place to meet.

Personally, I have tired of Patpong but it is a must-see for the first time visitor.  I have not only tired of Patpong, but of Bangkok as well.  I only stay in Bangkok if I have to spend the night to catch a flight the next day; otherwise I go direct to my location regardless of time.  If I am going to Pattaya, I leave direct from Suvarnabhumi International Airport and never set foot in Bangkok city.  When I am going northeast to Khon Kaen, I have to spend the night to catch a connecting flight the next day.  I usually just go out to a few local beer bars in walking distance of my hotel.

Patpong is a unique little street and should be on every first-timer’s visit list.  Don’t buy anything from the vendors in the street.  Prices are much cheaper anywhere else in Thailand.  Have a few drinks, check out activities, and avoid the second floor bars.

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Your passport is the most valuable document that you will carry abroad. It confirms your U.S. citizenship. Please guard it carefully. Do not use it as collateral for a loan or lend it to anyone. It is your best form of identification. You will need it when you pick up mail or check into hotels, embassies or consulates.

When entering some countries or registering at hotels, you may be asked to fill out a police card listing your name, passport number, destination, local address, and reason for travel. You may be required to leave your passport at the hotel reception desk overnight so that it may be checked by local police officials. These are normal procedures required by local laws. If your passport is not returned the following morning, immediately report the impoundment to local police authorities and to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Passport Fraud

Law enforcement records show that U.S. passports are sometimes used for illegal entry into the United States, or by criminals abroad seeking to establish another identity. This can cause embarrassment to innocent U.S. citizens whose names become associated with illegal activities. To protect the integrity of the U.S. passport and the security of the person bearing it, consular officers overseas have found it necessary to take precautions in processing lost passport cases. These precautions may involve some delay before a new passport is issued.

Safeguard Your Passport

Carelessness is the main cause for losing a passport or having it stolen. You may find that you have to carry your passport with you because you need to show it when you cash traveler’s checks or the country that you are visiting requires you to carry it as an identity document. When you must carry your passport, hide it securely on your person. Do not leave it in a handbag or in an exposed pocket. Whenever possible, leave your passport in the hotel safe, not in an empty hotel room, and not packed in your luggage. One family member should not carry all the passports for the entire family.

Guard Against Thieves

Coat pockets, handbags, and hip pockets are particularly susceptible to theft. Thieves will use all kinds of ploys to divert your attention just long enough to pick your pocket and grab your purse or wallet. These ploys include creating a disturbance, spilling something on your clothing, or even handing you a baby to hold!

You can try to prevent theft by carrying your belongings in a secure manner. For example, consider not carrying a purse or wallet when going along crowded streets.

Women who carry a shoulder bag should keep it tucked under the arm and held securely by the strap. Men should put their wallets in their front trouser pockets or use money belts instead of hip pockets. A wallet wrapped in rubber bands is more difficult to remove without notice. Be especially cautious in a large crowd – in the subway, on buses, at the marketplace, at a festival, or if surrounded by groups of vagrant children. Do not make it easy for thieves!

I always make a color copy of my passport and visa and carry that with me and secure my passport in the hotel safe.  Some countries require you to always carry your passport on your person.  But, most will not have a problem if you carry a color copy.

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