RadioRoryThere’s another reason that Pattaya and Jomtien Beach reminded me of Daytona Beach. Both towns feel like they’re waiting for the next big event.
On the busy road that runs right along the beach you’ll see one giant open-air bar or restaurant next to another. And they’re all empty. They’ve got employees (lots and lots of employees) but no customers.
Jomtien’s night market is a different story.
While the semi-permanent location reeks of rotting durian fruit (actually, it may be fresh. Durian stinks so much it’s banned in hotels, stores, taxis and most anywhere else). The market is a draw for locals and tourists from all over the world. There are inflatable rides for the kids who, when not on the slides, dance to uncensored English techno music that is one F-bomb after another. I like to think the word is lost in translation and that the parents of the pre-K kids would take some kind of action if they knew what was being “sung.”
The merchandise is what you’d expect at a flea market. Knockoffs of designer labels and countless bathing suits and T-shirts. The food is an interesting mix of Thai, Russian, and Chinese and some of the seafood was probably caught just a 100 yards from the market.
The Russians clearly like the place as their food stall is always crowded with people buying takeout. From what I’ve been told, home-cooked meals are not the norm in Thailand. Street food is so good and so cheap that most people eat out. Most apartments aren’t equipped with big kitchens and refrigerators and both parents are also likely to work. Besides, who wants to add even more heat to a home already sweltering from the warm temps?
