The thought of going back and forth to Thailand will always be a pleasant and exciting thing for me. I’ve been there four times already, but I still cannot seem to get enough of this popular tourist destination. In fact, I am privileged to have been to quite a lot of countries already but Thailand will always remain as one of my “top five” regional destinations. Cosmopolitan yet rich with culture and heritage, very well preserved...the ancient and the modern world all in one. I’ve said it before and I will say it again and again.
The country’s flag carrier, Philippine Airlines and Grand Holidays Travel and Tours, Inc. once again invited this writer for a four-day Bangkok and Pattaya familiarization tour together with some travel and tour operators from Cebu, Bacolod, Tacloban and Maasin. The whole fam tour group was headed by no less than Philippine Airlines’ AVP – Visayas Sales & Services, Barazel “Bob” Salazar and Grand Holidays’ Ticketing & Reservations Officer Arlene Yu.
Our PR 730 flight touched down smoothly at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok at exactly 12:50PM. The moment we got out of the arrival area, our very charming and efficient tour guide, Pinky of KBS, welcomed all of us with that warm Thai smile and fresh leis of purple orchids each and immediately gathered the whole group for a photo op behind the welcome banner.
Without wasting a single minute, we all hopped-in to the comfortable 48-seater coach assigned exclusively for us and proceeded to Pattaya City, a reputed world-class resort destination two and a half hours away from Bangkok. Midway, we had a good 20-minute stopover at a food strip to stretch our muscles and have a quick grab of whatever each one of us felt like having. I opted to have coffee, my ever-reliable energy booster with Sir Bob, Sir Jack O of Golden JC Holiday and my one and only “nicotine buddy” for the whole duration of the tour, Margaret “Ayet” Arnaiz of Quest Travel & Tours – Maasin.
“Welcome to Pattaya City!” our amiable tour guide Pinky quipped in a lively tone to perk all of us up. First stop was to check in to our “home away from home,” Royal Orchid Hotel Pattaya. A four-star hotel strategically located in the middle of the city, just a block away from Pattaya’s clubs and restaurants.
After stocking up our luggage in our respective rooms and 20 minutes of freshening up, we then gathered at the hotel lobby before proceeding to the city’s newest mall, the Central Festival Mall where we were to have dinner. Amazed by the dancing fountain at the mall’s façade, the inseparable duos of Anthony “Thanya” Pino of Comfort and Leisure Travel and Adonis “Donna” Arela of Fox Gate Travel Solutions, Ludy Sendrijas of Cebu Island Tours and Imelda Jenin of Sharp Travel Service, Tenessee Haw of Pan Pacific Travel & Tours and Patricia Ubas of The Travel Lounge couldn’t help but take turns in having their pictures taken by Nick Tenchavez of Eagle Wings Travel while the rest of the group, all amused, patiently watched them striking their best poses and widest smiles.
The Central Festival Mall is located along the bay area of Pattaya City. The multi-level contemporary and modern designed mall has a food court at the basement with a wide array of international and Thai cuisines to choose from, depending on one’s craving. For most of us, we opted to go Thai that night without realizing that we will be having a lot of it for the whole duration of our tour.
Right after dinner, we had the option to go back to the hotel and experience an authentic Thai massage at a spa right across or to explore the famous “Walking Street” along Soho Square. The “Walking Market” is a long stretch of shops and boutiques offering different kinds of souvenir items, clothes, bags, toys and what have you. Majority of the group preferred to have the massage while “buddies” Thanya and Adonis a.k.a. “Donna” made the most of our limited time in the city and proceeded to check out the “Walking Street” and the clubs around the area ‘til the break of dawn.
Right after breakfast at the hotel, off we went for our Coral Island Tour. We boarded a new hi-tech speed boat which can accommodate up to 20 persons per trip and is powered by two engines. The trip was so fast that we even overtook at least five speed boats that left the dock a few minutes before us. Enroute to the Coral Island, we were given the chance to try parasailing for free. With high adrenalin spirit, Sir Bob was the first to fall in line to try the exciting and breathtaking stunt. What an experience!
Upon reaching the Coral Island, Pinky briefed us on the different aqua sports and activities that we may want to indulge in like parasailing, banana boat ride, jet ski, diving, sky diving or just take a walk along the long stretch of white, sugary sand beach with an array of stalls (just like the ones at the famous “Talipapa” of Boracay) and bargain for some souvenir and novelty items for pasalubong.
At exactly 11:30, we headed back to the mainland to catch up on a lunch invitation at the Erawan Hotel Pattaya. Before having lunch, we were toured around the newly-built hotel and were shown their different room categories and amenities. Beautiful! At that time, the Erawan Hotel Pattaya was fully-booked with Middle Eastern guests. And so, we had lunch of that “to die for” Thai specialties.