A long depressing New Years Day walk on Jomtien Beach Road

[Jingthing]

Well all the buses going into town from Jomtien to Pattaya were packed beyond full this evening (high Russian season) so I took a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG walk on Jomtien beach road. Pretty much all the restaurants tourist traps. The further out, there has to be more borscht per square meter (and as far as I have tasted not very GOOD borscht and yes I can tell) than many actual Russian towns. The general feeling of the place -- dreary and NOT FUN.

So here it is.

While I live in Jomtien and can't easily not live in Jomtien (condo owner) I have stopped the denial. Jomtien has gotten WORSE. A lot worse. At the same time, Pattaya has gotten quite a bit better.

Talking about the towns not the beaches. The beaches are nothing great in either of course.

Looking forward to lower season when it's easier to GET into Pattaya ...

Edited January 1, 2014 by Jingthing

[Asiantravel]

I was walking in Pattaya this evening and I swear everywhere I went I heard nothing but Russian being spoken. It is beginning to get to the point where the domination of this language makes you forget which country you are in

[mogandave]

They need to significantly raise the property taxes such that they can make a few improvements.

Good borscht? I didn't know their was such a thing.

[Jingthing]

I was walking in Pattaya this evening and I swear everywhere I went I heard nothing but Russian being spoken. It is beginning to get to the point where the domination of this language makes you forget which country you are in

Yeah but in Pattaya there is more overall diversity than Jomtien, especially inland.

Edited January 1, 2014 by Jingthing

[Briggsy]

Try Sri Racha. Russians are very thin on the ground. You would hard pressed to spot one.

[addy77]

Could you please be more specific what's gotten worse? I enjoy eating at that Thai restaurant on Jomtien beach soi 4 next to the 7-11. I also like that sections of the beach are very quiet.

[bobobo]

I understand what You mean Jingthing, although I not live in Jomtien. But I go to and fro every week. They melt in more in Patts than in Jomtien. As I live in pattaya tai I only see them during daytime, Friendship,Tukcom etc After 5/6 oclock in the evening they gone probably to Jomtien:). BUT if You go a couple of sois uptown No russians! They have their own paths,Second Road, Beach Road, Wailking Street that's it!

In Big C Pattay tai very seldom You see them..To Addy77 what's getting worse in Pattaya tai during daytime is that they want to take their 7/11

beers into the restaurants and don't want to order anything..and they don't want to put on a T-shirt either..but this is nothing if You compare with my trips back to the city from Jomtien, with these so called taxis...

[fredob43]

I pointed out some months ago that Naklua was over whelmed with Russians and pretty soon the hole of Pattaya would become inundated with Russian restaurant's club's and the like's .

Most of you locals poo pood the idea I thought two years at the most well it now seems even I made that mistake looks like by later this year you'll all have to start speaking Russian and putting up with the unfriendly restaurants.

[KittenKong]

Try Sri Racha. Russians are very thin on the ground.

True enough. But there are lots of bars and clubs and restaurants with only Japanese signs.

[KittenKong]

I see Russians everywhere in Pattaya and Jomtien but they dont seem to have had any bad effect on the places that I like to eat in, and most of the places that they like are places that I wouldnt be seen dead in anyway. So I just ignore them (as far as is possible) and hope that the daily reports of death and crime and violent scamming make them all decide to go somewhere else next year instead.

[phycokiller]

personally I cant tell the difference between a russian and any other farang, but maybe Im insensitive

[anon8]

Try Sri Racha. Russians are very thin on the ground. You would hard pressed to spot one.

Yeah, but down side is you need to live in Sri Racha

[manarak]

JT, why don't you get yourself a vehicle?

[moonseeker]

I definitely prefer the Russian couples and families over the groups of male Indian sex tourists walking in large groups in the middle of the roads/sois, blocking the beach-walk negotiating 5-7 at a time with 1 palm-lady and being rude altogether. Or the pot-bellied, topless, tattooed <deleted>...you! males from a certain island....Only getting smiles from Russians and they seem not to be the cheap charlies I see plenty of in Pattaya. If you check out some of their venues, they seem to know how to party, dance, laugh, enjoy and the tables are loaded with good food and Premium drinks & cocktails. Definitely prefer Russians over most representatives of other nations. Furthermore they are mostly younger to middle aged and their ladies look better than most locals. O.c. we should not generalize, but this post is kind of asking for it. There is good and bad in all nations. HAPPY NEW YEAR. MS>

[anon8]

In past 2 months I have seen 1 Russian guy in Starbucks, Beach rd. I go there 2-3 times a day, and stay for 30 minutes at least. They sometimes buy banana pancake outside the cafe, and if there is vacant table, they sit down, of course without ordering anything. Staff tolerates it.

But one time last week, 4 of them sharing one pancake occupied the table next to the beach side door, somebody must have complained, one staff girl came outside to chase them away. Russians looked and seemed confused, as to way they shoul leave. At first they ignored her, and made rude, loud comments, then one of the Starbucks customers sitting at the other table next to the door, told them speaking in Russian, that the table is only for customers of cafe, and they need to order something, if they want to sit there. The foursom grudgingly walked away.

Sent from my C6802 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[vtjforyou]

Buy a car or pay a private taxi ? A lot smarter than just complaining...

[anon8]

On Dec 29 around 8pm, it took a friend of mine 1 hour and 30 minutes to drive from Jomtien police station and 7 11 corner to Pattaya. Buying a car or taking a taxi is no answer.

Sent from my C6802 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Jingthing]

The topic wasn't focused on transport (for a change).

The get a good look, feel, and IMPRESSION around Jomtien directly you need to walk anyway.

The point is it is really, really DREARY and yes the Russian holidaymakers even though they dominate for the most part do not project JOY.

I imagine the mood (and supporting Thai flora and fauna) would be different if they were ITALIANS. But they're not.

Yes I have made the same long walk before.

It just seems to have gone downhill even more.

Look at this another way.

How many Jomtien residents (who aren't Russian) would actually suggest to a good friend in the west that they really must have a long stay in Jomtien (except to visit you)?

What kind of friend would that be?

Edited January 1, 2014 by Jingthing

[manarak]

On Dec 29 around 8pm, it took a friend of mine 1 hour and 30 minutes to drive from Jomtien police station and 7 11 corner to Pattaya. Buying a car or taking a taxi is no answer. Sent from my C6802 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

It's ok on a bike, I avoid using the car for anything west of Sukh.

On the other hand, the harder the car drive to Pattaya gets, the quicker the area around Jomtien second road will likely develop.

[Jingthing]

It's probably not in my best interest to post this POV. I may have a Jomtien condo to sell!

[addy77]

The beach I frequent in Naklua is full of Russians. The women wear the skimpiest, most revealing bikinis. I love it! The Thais are always covered up and seldom swimming. The Russian women lie on their stomach or back in their G string bikinis allowing passing perverts (me!) little to the imagination. You can read their lips. Haha....

[wooloomooloo]

It's probably not in my best interest to post this POV. I may have a Jomtien condo to sell!

I've shared this comment on Twitter and getting extremely good feedback. One baht bus driver and restaurateur in particular.

[Constantinople]

I know what he means. We rode over to Jomtien in the evening and sat by the beach for a chat opposite a 7/11. It was depressing, glum looking Russians and litter everywhere, a vibe to the place that wasn't pleasent, fun or welcoming.

Glumtien.

[Pattaya28]

I dined tonight in a Jomtien restaurant you probably passed on your trek.

Although there were plenty of Russian diners, the plus side is that many of the Russian ladies were absolute stunners.

So it's not all bad news with the Russians.

[anon8]

I've shared this comment on Twitter and getting extremely good feedback. One baht bus driver and restaurateur in particular.

I bet this is the same baht bus driver, who has a secret crush for Jingthing!

[anon8]

Although there were plenty of Russian diners, the plus side is that many of the Russian ladies were absolute stunners.

So it's not all bad news with the Russians.

You know, these Russian stunners in Pattaya, are only special cos they are under 60, and white. They are a novelty for Pattayas expats.

In Russia, there are many truly beautiful girls almost everywhere you look.

But for some strange reason, the Russian tourists in Pattaya, are average looking farm girls, the only Russian dudes who would do them, are desperate loners, or very drunk.

But its not their fellow Russian men, who bother to chase those girls, its Arab men in the Walking street night clubs, who off them, compensations start from 3000, and up from there, 6000 about average.

For older Western gentlemen, they may look stunning exotic beauties, but not to Russian men, not even close.

[simon43]

the plus side is that many of the Russian ladies were absolute stunners.

I really don't think that's going to brighten JT's day

JT, why don't you get a bicycle and cycle into Pattaya? It would help your weight issue as well. Or if that sounds a little daunting, perhaps even a tricycle?

Simon

[BugJackBaron]

I dined tonight in a Jomtien restaurant you probably passed on your trek.

Although there were plenty of Russian diners, the plus side is that many of the Russian ladies were absolute stunners.

So it's not all bad news with the Russians.

Downside is almost none of them are available. It's couples and families only.

Contrast the European backpackers of the North

[mogandave]

Replace "Russian" with blacks and we'd all be bigots.

[tropo]

Although there were plenty of Russian diners, the plus side is that many of the Russian ladies were absolute stunners.

So it's not all bad news with the Russians.

You know, these Russian stunners in Pattaya, are only special cos they are under 60, and white. They are a novelty for Pattayas expats.

In Russia, there are many truly beautiful girls almost everywhere you look.

But for some strange reason, the Russian tourists in Pattaya, are average looking farm girls, the only Russian dudes who would do them, are desperate loners, or very drunk.

But its not their fellow Russian men, who bother to chase those girls, its Arab men in the Walking street night clubs, who off them, compensations start from 3000, and up from there, 6000 about average.

For older Western gentlemen, they may look stunning exotic beauties, but not to Russian men, not even close.

I disagree. I know beauty when I see it and there are plenty of decent looking young Russian girls in town - I haven't forgotten what good looking white girls look like despite my age.

"average looking farm girls"?? LOLOL