Bangkok and Pattaya Excursion

Sorry it's been a while since my last blog, it has been super busy around here since my class and my time in Thailand is coming to an end!  We got back from our excursion early Tuesday morning-6:30 AM to be exact-by bus which took us 12 hours.. it was dreadful.  I guess it was practice for my 12 hour plane ride, which is tonight! Ahh so crazy to think that I am leaving already!  But here is the low down on my excursion..
Bangkok:
We left around 9:00 PM on Thursday night and arrived in Bangkok around 7:00 AM Friday morning.  The bus was like an upgraded coach bus which was nice but the air was on so high that it was freezing the entire time!

Bobby and Monica trying to stay warm

Since we got in so early we went to our rooms right away to sleep for a couple hours.  We ended up staying at a guest house called, The Bangkok Christian Guest House.. kind of ironic considering we were there on a class trip to learn about the sex industry.  Also, it happened to be located two streets away from Patpong, Bangkok's red light district.

Bangkok Christian Guest House

Our stay in Bangkok was not organized what so ever and we didn't do anything class related besides seeing Patpong later that first night.  The rest of our time spent in Bangkok was free time just bumming around since we didn't know the area too well.  Anyways, Patpong was an eye opening experience.  Just an fyi, this may get a littlee graphic..  Everywhere you looked there were half naked girls, men and women getting up in your face and trying to get you to come to ping pong shows (don't ask..), and old white men preying on young Asian women.  Walking down that street was one of the most uncomfortable feelings I have ever experienced.  I felt very violated and disgusted.. especially when our group leader actually led us into a ping pong show to be able to experience it.  I won't explain what it is here but if you want to know you can ask me.  I didn't expect to react the way I did but there was something about Bangkok and Patpong that I really didn't like..
However, on our second day in Bangkok we got to see the Royal Palace!  It was absolutely beautiful!  It happened to be on one of the hottest/sunniest days though and the outside tour lasted about 2 hours..

Temple

Trina, Me, Monica, and Bobby

The Royal Palace

The third day of our excursion we headed off to Pattaya.  Pattaya was about 2 hours away from Bangkok and we took "mini buses" aka big vans to get there.  We had to make a hotel change last minute since the hotel we were originally were supposed to stay at overbooked.  We were told our new place was near the water so that made me super excited.. buttt Sawasdee Sea View was far from nice.. Since we were only there for one night we stayed in short stay rooms which basically are used for one night stands.. awesome, right?  There were even condoms on the bedside table for sale next to the peanuts and toothbrush!  Because of that we decided to spend as little as time possible in those rooms..  Ohh what made it 10x worse is that we were surrounded by all these new and nice hotels.. real coool.

Nice hotel across the street

The not so lovely Sawasdee Sea View

Pattaya turned out to be a lot more fun than Bangkok.  We went and talked to three different organizations regarding sex work.  One was Take Care Pattaya which focused on handing on condoms and educating about safe sex to help prevent HIV and AIDS.  Another was a group called, Swing, which was male sex workers who were also promoting safe sex.  Last we went to talk to transgender sex workers at the Hon House.  All of the talks were so interesting and it gave me a different outlook on the industry.  Later that night we went to dinner as a class to Cabbages & Condoms.  The restaurant was right on the water and was so beautiful.  Also, it had the craziest decor!

Made from oral contraceptives..

Our closet of a room at Sawasdee Sea View

The beach!

We spent our last day at the beach which was soo nice.  The weather was a little gloomy in the morning but in the middle of the afternoon it started to get really sunny.  With that being said, I got soo burnt but of course didn't realize it until the next time.  Hopefully by the time I get home it will be a tan.. fingers crossed!
I hope everyone has enjoyed reading my blog!  This will probably be my last post due to the fact I am leaving Thailand tonight :(  I am being picked up from the dorms at 8:00 PM by my Thai friends, Nooky, Non, Natacha, and Nicha.  (Non and Natacha are actually coming to study abroad in Eau Claire next month!)  It's a bittersweet feeling leaving but it has been an amazing six weeks and I cannot wait to be home and see everyone :)