Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Pattaya - second day

Carrefour in Pattaya turns out to be another large shopping mall. This was where we went the second day. It was a massive shopping complex with food, groceries and everyday requirements. We had a good day wandering around the place and enjoying the food and coffee. The complex was very crowded and vibrant with lots of tourists and also many expats who have decided to settle in Pattaya. What is indeed evident in Pattaya is the many European men in their 60+ and older who have decided to make Pattaya their place of retirement. Here the norm is for a European retiree to find a young Thai girl, mostly in her 20s, either marrying her or if that is not convenient, just live with her. Everywhere you look you can see old European men hand in hand with young Thai girls. This is very accepted here in Pattaya. The young Thai girl quite likely come from very poor family. Offering themselves to live with or even marrying old European retirees give them the only way out of poverty.

I do not really condone this arrangement but I do understand the reason why these girls have to degrade themselves this way. Pattaya is a very tourist oriented place with bars everywhere. This is not a place for family vacation because it is geared totally for tourists with alcohol and sex in mind.

Tomorrow we will visit the beach. We have been told it is quite a nice place.

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