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Thailand: My First Night in Pattaya
It was seven-ish and I was sitting in a nice-enough room overlooking the front doorway to the pub above which I had just moved in. The pub was the Pig and Whistle on Soi 7 in Pattaya. Across the lane was a big hole, which they were hoping to construct a hotel in and next door to that, right opposite me, was a small bar with one woman sitting on a stool outside it. Not that there was a wall there, it was open on two sides. The Soi was lovely and quiet, I thought. I also thought that I might go and sit in that little bar and talk to that woman, if my friend was late, because I would definitely see him arrive from two metres away, the width of the Soi.
So, I went to the bar in the pub at 19:15 to await my friend who said he would meet me at 20:00. It was much busier than thirty minutes before but not noisy and I sat at the bar. The first thing a barmaid did was say hello, give me a menu and step back. I did not really want to eat, I only wanted a beer as I assumed we would be eating together later, but I wanted to read the menu anyway.
\’A pint of Boddington\’s\’, I said. It arrived and the girl began laying a place for me. I tried to explain that I was not hungry, but it was no good. Like in Spain, most people eat and drink at the same time. All the while the girl was smiling at me. Then she said: \’You live upstairs? My name Charli. What you want to eat?\’. So, I gave in and ordered something and rice.
\’You first time in Thailand? You no can eat. Too spicy\’, she said with a beam. \’Oh\’, I replied, \’but I want to try. \’I put only 50-50 for you\’, she said and went.
I battled my way through that meal and it took a Boddingtons and a bottle of water. Charli had been accurate, it was too hot for first-time foreigners and she had reduced the chilis by 50%. I have always heeded a Thai\’s guidance on food ever since.
I changed seat to by the window to see what was going on as it was dark by 19:30 and I was curious. Within thirty minutes Soi 7 had transformed itself completely. I could see hundreds of ladies and tourists walking about. I wanted to go out and join in or at least sit in the quiet bar across the lane, but I\’m ashamed to say that I was too frightened, so I sat put, rivetted to the Pig like a rabbit in a hunter\’s flashlight.
My friend walked in on time and after we had been talking for an hour, he said: \’Drink up, I have someone I want you to meet\’. This was it, we were going into that mele. A waitress opened the door for us and the racket and the heat were tremendous. Particularly the din. Every metre at least two or three girls would shout: \’Hello, sexy man, you want a drink\’. Trying to say no courteously to each invitation was out of the question, so I just stuck close to my pal.
Fortunately, we only had about fifty metres to stroll and we sat down in another bar. My friend said hello to several women and then said, this a girl I have been going out with for some time. I was astounded as I had never heard him talk about her, ever. She was gorgeous, but could not speak English, so I sat in the din in silence. Not for long through, as my friend said, I have a blind date for you and he introduced another girl to me who was equally beautiful, but with whom I could speak a little. She was captivating and I was captivated. The pandemonium seemed to pass away, but it was only because I was listening to my new friend. The four of us had the best time and the best food I had ever had in my forty-nine years of existence.
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The World’s Most Unforgettable Hotels
The hotel has evolved throughout the years. Whereas once it was simply a lodging, a place where you could go and get a hot meal and kick off your shoes for a night or two, today, hotels are so much more.
The trend in hotels is towards providing guests with an immersive experience. Hotels have become concepts; no longer is enough to be a stop over. Modern hotels are escapes; they act as little pockets of luxury, of freedom from the normal 9 to five grind.
Everywhere you look there are various themed hotels that have cropped up in all corners of the world. You can find a designer hotel with art themed rooms in practically every major city. There are hotels dedicated to fashion, to music, to being sustainable, to books and to celebrity personalities. And the public loves it.
Of course, you’ve got your standard beachside paradises, fully equipped with peace invoking reflecting pools, shabby-chic villas with mosquito netting romantically slung around the beds and organic chocolate covered coffee beans on the pillows; and you’ve got your upscale, metropolitan affairs, architecturally zeitgeisty structures that double as upstanding lessons on high class and elegance as well as those staid, institutional hotels which never go out of style.
Nevertheless, nowadays people are seeking more. They’re looking for something different, an authentic experience, whether it be a clean, green hotel in the Amazon jungle or a small artsy boutique in Manhattan. There’s no lack of edgy, cool hotels out there.
Here’s a look at just some of the latest and most unique hotels you can find in exotic and not so exotic locals around the world.
The Magic Mountain Hotel, located right in the middle of the beautiful and scenic Huilo Huilo nature reserve in Panguipulli, Chile is indeed a sight to behold. The hotel is one of a kind-it was actually constructed in the shape of a mountain. Guests will marvel at the waterfall which springs from the peak of the ‘mountain’ and flows down the sides. As the hotel makes its home in the midst of a forest, guests can go for hikes, enjoy the natural hot tub made from giant wooden logs, participate in white water rafting and go on customized skiing trips.
The Ice Hotel, in a little town in the north of Sweden called Jukkasakjarvi is a modern marvel. It’s constructed entirely of solid ice and snow. Guests have to don parkas and they can warm up with drinks at the hotel’s unique ice bar.
In the Netherlands, visitors can head over to the Harlingen Lighthouse and stay in this charming tower. While the tower only houses two, and must be booked well in advance, it makes the perfect romantic weekend getaway. Although it doesn’t come cheap, it’s great for couples looking for an escape from the stress of daily life.
In Rome, visitors can stay at the Franklin Feel the Sound Hotel, located just a few steps away from the Vatican in the Prati quarter. This hotel is dedicated to good tunes-each room comes equipped with a state of the art sound system and you can borrow CDs and vinyl records in the lobby.
Damian Papworth enjoys assisting people on their Gold Coast Holiday. As such, for added convenience he offers a search engine to choose Gold Coast hotels Australia.
Why to Visit Molly Malone in Dublin
Located in the heart of Dublin, the Molly Malone statue is on most tourists’ lists of things to see while in Dublin. It is also a famous meeting point, and might be a good idea to stay in a hotel near by.
Since it was unveiled in’88 to celebrate the cities first millennium, the Molly Malone statue has become a famous Dublin landmark. The song ‘In Dublin’s Fair City’ tells the mythical story of Molly Malone and has become the unofficial anthem of Dublin. It is not know if the story is true, according to the song Molly Malone was a fishmonger and died of a fever.
Trinity College is located right beside Molly Malone. It is another of the most popular tourist attractions in Dublin where you can see the Book of Kells. They are just two of many interesting tourist attractions in Dublin, which are all easily accessible by foot or by public transport from the City Centre.
Should you be looking for place to stay in the area, the Grafton Capital Hotel is one of the most centrally located of Dublin hotels. The Grafton Capital Hotel is just beside the Molly Malone statue, Trinity College and Grafton St. You will find comfortable rooms with all mod cons. The Hotel provides internet access in all public areas include the lobby. The contemporary designed rooms and comfortable beds in the Grafton Capital Hotel are just what’s required after a day of touring the city.
The Hotel provides internet access in all public areas include the lobby. The contemporary designed rooms and comfortable beds in the Grafton Capital Hotel are just what’s required after a day of touring the city.
Alternatively you could choose an equally ideally located hotel, the O Callaghan Alexander Hotel. This luxury hotel is the choice of many tourists looking for a central base during there visit to Dublin. The hotels offers broadband internet, and rooms include cable TV and all modern amenities. Facilities include a modern gymnasium which is open 24 hours should your body clock still be in a different time zone. The hotel also provides a laundry service and rooms include an ironing board if required.
There are so many recommended tourist attractions in Dublin’s fair city, many of them within walking distance of one another. Once you’ve chosen your accommodation, then the challenge is deciding where to visit first and how many attractions you can fit in during your stay. However, the great thing about staying in a central location is that you are in an ideal location to visit most of the attractions by foot.
No matter which of the Dublin hotels you choose to stay in while you are visiting the exciting city of Dublin, you will be greeted with warm hospitality and a comfortable place to lay your head. Whether you like to step out into the nightlife or would rather return to your room for an evening of rest and relaxation, Dublin offers all that visitors seek.
Get more information on Dublin Hotels near Tourist Attractions or Hotels in Dublin Near St.Stephens Green
Havana Hotels: Ambos Mundos Hotel
The eclectic styled Hotel Ambos Mundos opened its doors in the late 1920’s and since then has become an intimate and cosy landmark that stands out amongst all Havana Hotels due to its history. In the early 1930’s, the American writer, Ernest Hemingway, dwelled in the room 511 in this hotel, he wrote the first draft of For whom the bell tolls since he found the hotel “a good place to write”.
The magnificent Ambos Mundos Hotel counts over 50 rooms. The double or twin beds and its furnishings are modern and the cream-tiled bathrooms are neat and clean. 36 of the standard rooms have matrimonial beds and the other 13 are twin bedded.
The Del Monte saloon was created in honor to the prominent Cuban cultural promoter Domingo Del Monte. It has an area of 30 sq m. and a variable capacity from 150 to 250 people standing. This saloon is an excellent venue for gatherings, presentations, showrooms, business meetings, wedding celebrations and salsa lessons.
Also paintings of Yanes, Casiguaya and other painters that illustrate the connection between culture and tourism are shown in Ambos Mundos Saloons, something very valuable in order to enjoy the real cultural Cuban spirit during your holidays.
Perhaps one of its best attributes is its roof terrace overlooking the skyline of Havana’s Old Town most impressive architecture as well as the channel leading to Havana’s bay, Plaza de Armas Square and some of the oldest fortresses in Cuba.
Ambos Mundos excellent location in the very heart of Havana is second to none. Situated in the busy Obispo streets, it gives you easy access to best shops, squares, bars and museums in Havana’s Old Town. You will not regret to stay in this hotel which has been charming travelers since the beginning of the 20th century.
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