Days in the Life of a Pattaya Hotel Owner

By the time Kevin’s last night in Hua Hin arrived we had completed over 90 percent of our work. He was going to finish off the last few pages of proofreading the following morning, before his taxi arrived at midday. We decided to go out for a few drinks and a bit more of the Hua Hin nightlife. We managed a few bars, several beers and a few games of pool before heading back to the hotel. We were probably a little on the tipsy side but in control of ourselves and had successfully managed a few days away together without getting into any real bother.

I bade Kevin farewell and as his taxi disappeared, I recalled that nothing had been done about my faulty television set. I was gripped by a sense of panic at the thought of having to discuss this with the reception staff, but composed myself and spoke to the manager. He apologised for the inconvenience and assured me something would be done immediately. He was not wrong. By the time I reached my room, the room maid was there with the television on. “Look it okay now,” she said smiling at me. I took the remote and tried the channels only to find it was exactly the same as before. “No, it is not okay. You see only these four channels work and the other six do not?” I said smiling back at her as I kept pressing the buttons on the remote control. She was no television engineer and it really was not her fault. She used her walkie-talkie to inform somebody of something and told me it would be fixed soon. I suggested the television only required retuning, but that I was unable to do this as the menu was in Thai but, again, she simply smiled. I returned her smile and she left the room.

I sat down to complete the last pages of work Kevin had proofread when there was a knock on the door. I opened the door expecting to see the young maintenance man, but instead there was a television set just sitting there on the floor. I looked left, right, and up the staircase, but there was not a soul in sight. I understood the gesture, but was damned if I was going to endeavour to lift up what looked like a rather heavy piece of equipment, surely that was the job of the hotel. I decided to leave the television where it was and closed the door presuming whoever placed the television set by the door would return shortly to install it. I completely forgot about the television set as I carried on working through my book and Kevin’s recommended alterations. I then decided to head out for some food. I showered, changed, and opened the door, falling over the bloody television set that was still sitting there.

After dusting myself off following my tumble over the television set, I headed immediately to the reception desk to enquire as to what was going on.

“We deliver you new television, it okay?” was uttered to me by the Indian manager before I had a chance to say a word.

“Well I am sure the television is fine although leaving it sitting outside my room door is hardly going to prove whether or not it is up to the task in hand. Added to this I just fell over the damn television set as I came out of my room!”

“Is television broken?” the concerned manager enquired obviously completely uninterested as to whether I, a mere guest, was harmed in any way.

“I have no idea if the television is broken, working, better than the one I already have, it is just sat outside my door so how would I know?”

“I send man to check on television right way.”

By now even I was feeling sorry for the fate of the television, this poor abandoned piece of electrical wizardry which had now been the subject of a serious assault by a human being! I decided not to get involved any further. I smiled at the manager and departed the hotel to get some food which had been my plan prior to the altercation with the television set. As I sat and ate my meal I became concerned that there may have been a problem with the television and, whether or not caused by me, I was certain to get the blame and, more pertinently, the bill!!! I finished eating and returned directly to the hotel and up to my room. There was the new television sitting in the place of the now removed defunct set and I hurried to turn it on and check all was in order — it was!