User:ScubaIntern/PattayaIntern

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If you're already in Thailand, welcome. If you are thinking about taking on a Scuba Internship read on. Hopefully this article will add to Mermaids' FAQs and let you know what to expect and how to get around in the first fiew days.

The first questions a new intern will always ask are 'So, what's the deal?', 'What's the place like?', 'Where's good to get a drink?', 'How do I find out who's who?'. These are the things you'll need to know even before the diving centre picks you up in the morning.

As things move on, feel free to add to this document. If you find new places to see or things to avoid, let the new guys and gals know.

Immediate points to note
To say Pattaya is a lively city is an understatement. You will never be able to comprehend the atmosphere and culture by reading a Lonely Planet guide. Some say Pattaya is like Blackpool on speed. Every bar on every street is packed with bar girls. Some come to Payttaya for the evening entertainment, that's unavoidable. If you'r not easily offended it's easy to turn a blind eye to it. They'll leave you to it if you leave them to it. The book 'Private Dancer' is a must read for all new arrivals in Thailand. It gives a concrete insight into bar culture. Almost 100% of the 'Evening Entertainment' is aimed at the guys. This doesn't mean there's nothing for the women here, but the seedy side to Pattaya is nothing to worry about. Women here are probably safer than most places because the guys' attention is all on the bar girls and they are so obtainable there's no tension around. You can easily find bars where the waitresses are more covered up than others, but you will find after being in Pattaya for a while you don't mind drinking in TQ2s on Walking Street with your male colleagues and a dozen semi naked girls doing the Pattaya 2-step on poles on the stage.
 * Don't be easily offended
 * Read Private Dancer
 * Girls Don't Fret

Airport
When you arrive at Bangkok airport arrivals head for door 3. Door 3 leads to the walkway over the road to the carpark. The taxi drivers park there and rarely make their way to your arrival customs exit. The driver will have an A4 sheet with your name on, but look closely, there ar hundreds of taxi drivers. Most of which will be touting for your business. The Dive centre will have pre-booked your taxi. Although this isn't the cheapest way of getting to Pattaya, it works. It's organised and it's one less thing to worry about on your travels. Keep a copy of the phone number in your welcome email to hand. A member of the dive centre staff will be able to locate your taxi driver for you.

Accomodation

 * Talay
 * Condos

hotel facilities

 * bar
 * cleaning service

Washing
Although a simple task, this will need to be considered after you have settled in for a week. There are a few options ranging in price, service and quality. The three most common are:

Mermaids Talay hotel offers a laundrette service. A 3rd party company picks up your clothes you leave in reception in carrier bags, washes, drys and irons them and returns them to the hotel the next day. The cost of this service is low (10 baht/t-shirt Oct 08) but they do write your room number on the labels of each item of clothing.
 * Hotel Service

The Speedy Internet and Laundrette in the Jomtien Condos is a little cheaper than the Mermaids Talay Service, mainly because you can ask for a 'no iron' service. They don't write in your clothes but you do have to drop off and collect yourself. Again it only takes about 24hrs. 3 Tesco bags full of washing cost 150 baht (Oct 08). The condos are on the baht bus route.
 * Condos

For a really cheap do-it-yourself solution, the laundrette in Jomtien complex (around the back of the Mermaid Talay Hotel) offers a large load for 20 baht. You have to load and unload the machine, supply the detergents and dry/iron yourself.
 * Laundrette

transport

 * bhat buses

communications

 * thai mobiles (12call)
 * internet phones
 * uk mobiles

Dive Shops

 * main site
 * kit storage

Dive People

 * CD
 * Ops
 * interns
 * customers

Boats

 * MM1
 * MM2
 * MM3
 * MM4

Harbours

 * Bali Hai pier
 * Samisan

Dive Sites

 * Near islands
 * Far Islands
 * South Islands
 * Wrecks

Thai Customs

 * Feet/Head
 * Hai

Thai Language

 * Hello
 * Thank you

Visas

 * check stamp

Local

 * Buddha Hill
 * Buddha Museum
 * Water Park
 * Aquarium

Not so Local

 * Phi Phi

Local Bars/Resturants

 * shooters
 * Walking Street

Bar Culture

 * Bar Girls
 * tabs

Local Places to Note

 * Doctors
 * Hospitals
 * Dentists
 * EMS Phone Numbers
 * Chemists
 * Big Shops
 * Big C
 * Tesco Lotus
 * IT City
 * 7 Eleven/Family Mart
 * Entertainment Centres
 * Hotels for Family/Friends
 * Mermaids Talay
 * Boat House