CABARETS
Pattaya is famous for
its transvestite (katoy) cabaret
shows. Lavish productions with amazing costumes and massive
sets. A night at a cabaret show will set you back around 500
baht. These shows are well worth a visit even if it does not
sound like your sort of thing. They are not at all sleazy
and the whole family will be amazed.
Alcazar Show
78/14
Moo 9 Second Road North Pattaya
Book for this one. It's often full even in the low
season. They bus in hundreds of Chinese tourists everyday
and the supply seems to be never ending.
The cost is 500 baht for unreserved seating and 600 baht for
reserved places. Many booking agents around town or book at
the theatre. There are 4 shows every night, each one
lasting around 1 hour 10 minutes.
The production values are very high and the show is
spectacular. There is no hint given that the performers are
actually men, and the whole thing is played very straight.
This place is widely acknowledged as the best of type in
Pattaya.
Tiffany's Show
464
Moo 9 Second Road North Pattaya
Very similar to Alcazar but perhaps a little more
raunchy. More silicon on display than you need to see in one
life time. Tiffany's is the home of the famous Miss Tiffany
Thailand contest which is broadcast on national TV in
Thailand.
Reservations also are essential.
Malibu.
Soi Post Office, South Pattaya
The Malibu is an open bar and restaurant complete with
cabaret style show. The show is free and quite good although
on a much smaller scale than the big boys above. There is a
mixture of real girls and transvestites and some very good
celebrity impersonators.
The food although nothing special is OK.
Manyof
the bars and GoGos also have shows and there are some very
good Thai cultural shows at tourist places such as Nong Noch
Tropical Gardens and The Million Year Stone Park.
DISCOS
loud, LOUD, LOUD!
You should visit Holywood Disco in South Pattaya Road at
least once. I have asked many visitors from all over the
world, and all agree that this is the loudest disco in the
world. It gets going around midnight and will be crowded by
2am.
Mainly
Thai
clientele
but foreigners are welcome and usually have a good time
although possibly leave with a headache.
The big discos regularly feature Thai stars as well as their
in-house band and dancers who are all excellent performers.
The various Marine Discos (1, 2 and 3) in South Pattaya
start to heat up around 1am and Marine 3 closes at 10am. No
live acts at these just wall to wall techno music. Known by
the locals as the chicken farms, these are primarily pick up
joints.
Others of note include,
The Palladium in North Pattaya, The Star Dice in Naklua,
Little Duck in Central Pattaya and Xyte on Third Road.
MASSAGE
Rub a dub dub.
If you have not tried a Thai Massage, you have not lived.
Massage is an ancient tradition in Thailand and is enjoyed
by all and performed by many. Even that girl you met
yesterday at a Beer Bar will probably offer a little massage
to get you relaxed.
Here
in Pattaya, the choices are truly limitless. Traditional
massage, which usually (but not always) means no hanky
panky, is practiced in shops the length and breadth of
Pattaya. Foot massage has enjoyed growing popularity and as
you walk the streets of Pattaya you will see many foreigners
lying on a bed in a shop window having their feet dealt to.
Be careful because this can be an addictive experience.
Traditional massage usually takes place with little privacy
on a narrow bed. Most operators can do 5 or 6 people at one
time, and will have a thin curtain strung up between the
beds. Usual price is around 500 baht for 90 minutes.
The other kind of Massage is the "sensual" kind. These
places are usually very up-market establishments with plush
furnishings. On entering, you will see an area behind glass,
with tiered seating and between 10 and 100 girls seated
here, waiting for you. The famous "fish bowl".
Traditionally the fishbowl had one way glass so the girls
could not see you, but generally these days the glass is two
ways and the girls will smile seductively and wave at you.
Most
parlours have a lounge area by the
fishbowl, where you can have a drink and choose your
masseuse at leisure. I recommend you buy a drink and relax a
bit.
Also known as Soapies due to a very sudsy experience on an
air bed which is included. The best known
parlours
in Pattaya include, Sabai Dee, Sabai Land and Sabai Room all
on Second Road near Big C. Sabai by the way is the Thai word
for comfortable. Others of note include Susie Massage in Soi
4, Diamond Massage in Soi Diamond, Walking Street and Heaven
on Sukhumvit Rd near Central Pattaya Rd.
