Pattaya Low Season: Marty’s Tale
The fact it is, quiet season in Pattaya means every customer is as gold dust. Every baht counts towards the cost of the bills we have to pay and for three months of the year, breaking even is our goal. We usually achieve this and then enjoy the benefits of the next nine months as more and more visitors pour into Pattaya. It is therefore somewhat galling when you lose a guest, a good guest, who is booked for one month and is then forced to leave after only a few days stay.
This was the case with Marty. He is a typical fun loving Aussie who enjoys the nights of Pattaya and considers them poor times if he is able to recollect anything of the previous evening’s excursion. Four girls carrying him back to the hotel, pushing and shoving him up the stairs and levering him into bed are common occurrences. Marty had arrived on a Sunday afternoon and, after a shower and change of clothes, was out on the town. He managed a couple of days of his normal activities before getting a virus which necessitated a trip to the local hospital and a course of antibiotics.
The next morning I saw Marty looking fairly rough as he pushed away the breakfast he had ordered. I was concerned his sickness was worsening before he informed me had taken the tablets as prescribed, before venturing out on another heavy drinking session. His virus, not surprisingly, was worse not better. I explained to him that alcohol kills the effects of the antibiotics and it would be far better if he had a couple of non-drinking days. This would give him chance to get fit and enjoy the remaining three weeks of his vacation as he chose. I appreciated that telling any Australian not to drink was like covering oneself in blood before jumping into shark-infested waters, but I did so nonetheless.
The following day I was told by my reception staff that Mr. Marty had checked out. They had no reason to offer and simply told me he would be back later in the day to settle his account. I was distraught at his news — not only is it low season but Marty is a good and regular guest, and he always stays in one of our most expensive rooms. Had he really taken umbrage at my endeavours to help him in his recovery and thus enjoy the main part of his vacation illness free?
A couple of hours later, Marty came limping back to the hotel, his right knee was heavily bandaged. It transpired that he had taken my advice — he had decided not to drink and give the antibiotics time to do their stuff. He went out the previous evening, drank orange juice and returned homewards early and very sober. Unfortunately, en route, he tripped, twisted his knee and was thus unable to make the four flight climb to his room. He was therefore forced to depart Jasmine Mansion and find accommodation that offered a lift up to his floor.
This particular time of my life does not see me in a particular lucky vein now does it! Even when I try to do the right thing, it backfires on me with a vengeance! Why the hell didn’t I just let Marty drink himself into oblivion?!? He would surely have never fallen over then!
That’s tough. A constant flow of alcohol may impair spatial awareness, but unfortunately the terrible hangover and irritability that results from going on the wagon means the sufferer is incapable of opening his eyes sufficiently to see where he is going. Maybe if you offer him a few free Changs a night, you can tempt him back!
OH I remember your stairway very well. Although I didn’t hurt my knees I did hurt my head a couple of times.
Staying sober in Pattaya are very dangerous. I need at least 2 drinks before leaving home. You need to have some level of deathwish to voluntary enter the traffic jam in Pattaya.
Cheers
Martin
Hi Martin,
Heard you were well fr4om a source close to your heart!! Good luck, thanks for the messages and llooking forward to seeing you soon.
Best Wishes,
Kevin
Hi Kevin,
Im surprised by the recent turn in events for you. I thought you looked very serene earlier this year and would never have guessed you werent happy. I have every confidence you will bounce back and wish you the best of luck. I wont be at the Jasmine for my usual few months this winter, but should hopefully be in town around March. Hope business is good and the next installment is better news.
Take Care
James
Dear James,
Thank you for the good wishes and I hope you have an excellent Christmas and New Year. as for the present events, well, what can I say that I have not already said!!
Hi Kevin,
There have been rumors on pattaya talk that your wife went into your fish and chip shop and smashed the place up, is this true? If so, what the hell happened?
I hope you are OK and I wish you a better 2009.
All the best
Woody
Dear Kevin, It has been going on 2 months now since your last episode/entry. I do so fear for your legal health. I have these constant fears that you will be terribly fleeced and join the ranks of many a chap in LOS. Say it “ain’t so”.
Your fortune reversal is always in the fore thought of my mind. Do tell us how goes the fray! (and your second book!)
Respectfully,
Dave
Kevin,
I really enjoy your writings. I have not read your book ( did not know you had one until now ) I came across your diary on the pattaya Addicts board and then followed up here.
I hope things work out for the best for you and i will enjoy reading your postings when the next one comes up!
Tom
Dear Woody,
Sorry the delay in replying to you and to others but the administrator takes a few weeks off over the festive season - unlike some of us that have to work all year long!!!! Anyway the answer is yes we did get a visit from Mrs. Boss but I will not say too much as it is now in the hands of the police/courts!! Anyway we are all fine although some of the furniture is still reeling from the effects!!
Best Wishes,
Kevin
Dear Dsvid,
Yes we slow right down over November/December - The admin guy has a proper job that sees him very busy in the months up to Christmas and then he takes a few weeks break!! I have also been busy with the new shop so not done too much writing recently but still have a few stories to go up here and I will get back to the keyboard in the next week.
I am hopeful that I will secure a fair settlement and the case is being submitted to court by my lawyer and barrister this week - still it will take around 12 months before we get in front of a judge though!
Thanks for your thoughts.
Best Regards,
Kevin
Dear Woody,
Thanks for your support. If you get a copy of the book I hope you will enjoy it!! The next one is finished but will not come out until I can find a new publisher as I was not happy with the deal proposed by my original publisher.
All the best,
Kevin
I just found your blog today. I am in Ireland. I am married to a Thai girl. We have a house in Laem Cha Bang and visit there at least once a year from Ireland. Sorry to read of your woes. As they say ‘you can’t live with them and you can’t kill them’. Are you now going to sell the hotel? where can I get your book to read?
Regards David
Dear David,
Thanks for your comments and my best wishes and good luck to you. The hotel is presently still being operated by my wife and only a court decision related to the divorce will decide what happens to it - a year off on that!
My book is available through Bookazine, Asia Books, B2S and other bookstores. If they do not have it in stock then ask them to orer it. If you have no luck email me at kpm217@yahoo.com amd I will try to assist further.
All the best,
Kevin
Hi Kevin,
Hope all is well. Spoke to Sam a couple of times, says you are well. Was going to pop over for a kebab. When the best time to catch you.
James
Hi James,
Sorry for the delayed reply. I am here every day although presently upstairs preparing to write an autobiography with/for an American living here in Thailand. I am out most Wednesdays and Thursdays between 10:00 to 15:00 recording the interviews but back in the afternoons. Do not forget we are closed on Mondays though - Kebabs now BIGGER and better!
Cheers,
Kevin
Hi Kevin,
Got back to the UK on the 11th November. Saw Sam a couple of times and played pool with him. I couldnt find out where your shop was………until I looked up the blog to email you, and theres a map lol. Next time for sure. Hope all is well.
Take Care
James
Hi Kevin - been a long time since I last wrote to you - hows life and the chip shop. I have been to Thailand since we last made contact with each other and did once try to find you shop, it was closed unfortunately. I got involved with a girl I met in walking street, at the time she did not appear to be working in any of the bars - she was on the street near soho sq talking on the mobile. I thought there was something very special about her and got quite nervous about approaching her and it was about a week later I plucked up the courage - yes I saw her again this time in a bar opposite. She dragged me in, nothing new there, but we had a lot in common ( I am usually suspicious ) I did not pay the bar fine that eve but came back a few days later and we then spent most of the remaining days together. Coincidently she had stayed at the Jasmine when she first came to Pattaya but moved out when her money got low and moved to a cheap place just around the corner. She knew everybody at the Jasmine and seemed very friendly with everybody. We stayed together at the Jasmine for a few days. To cut a long story short we have been in contact with each other everyday since, that is up to last week. I have been sending her money mainly to put into a savings account so when she applies for a visa to come to the UK she has funds to support herself. She is however very impatient and would not wait the required time to convince the immigration that we are an item and applied for a visa prematurly. Not just a visa to visit but a ’settlement visa’ to stay and work - crazy she would obviously be turned down and it would all of been a waste of time. We argued about this and I came to the conclusion that she was probably in this soley for the money - my money - and a ticket to the UK. She loved me so much and missed me but I believe this to be an act - but very convincing - I did not think that I would fall for this again. So I have split with her but want half of my money back that we have in savings. Somehow I do not think she will cough up, and if so I want to warn people - men - about her. How do I do this so if somebody googles her name this warning would come up or is there some chat room or other that is fairly well read - I do not want her to get away with this. Thanks if you can help.
Have a good xmas and look forward to hearing from you.
Melvin
Photjanee Rodket is her name