August 19, 2024
Days T12-14: Pattaya at the Pool
Let's back up a night. After walking around to check out the neighborhood, I took a long nap after my arrival and then decided to hit the bars. The first ones were super chill. It was a bit of a shock to the system and something just didn't feel right, like I was supposed to be getting scammed and yet nothing of the sort was happening.
That's why I was a bit pleasantly shocked when I went to these bars that Mike recommended. The bargirls were not pushy, they were actually polite, courteous, and the drinks were at a very reasonable price. It was all about being in the right local areas at the right times. So maybe it was a case where the tourists just don't know this information and they end up going to very limited venues where the ripoffs are concentrated. This was starting to feel like a different world. Information is really power, despite the overwhelming amount of it and trying to sift through it all.
There was more action to be found at the live music bars and nightclubs on Walking Street. So after a few more drinks I got a motorcycle taxi to the area and brought a safe amount of cash: a pre-set budget amount of 2000 baht for the night all securely stored away. The security guard at the first live music bar even recognized me from last trip and said "Come on in, have a seat, we'll watch out for you." This time I did tip him. It was low season so it was far less crowded and not many people out tonight. The scams and pickpockets were virtually nonexistent compared to Chinese New Year. Still, it's something you ALWAYS need to be careful with.
For whatever reason I was still exhausted and not really in a bars or clubs mood anyway so called it an early night.
After a nice pool lounge it was time for some biking in the dark side and then eventually hitting the electricity office. This time it was a complete success. Evidently the new owner had already set up an electric bill payment with his information so the system automatically canceled what I set up.
While biking around more I realized this trip was in fact moving in the right direction. The metaphor is that you are essentially your own business. Even if you technically aren't and you have a boss you're working for, you act as if you are your own boss.
The next day I woke up with an amazing sleep and almost all of my energy had come back. This was quite unprecedented and maybe a sign of full recovery from last month's covid. To celebrate all the wins of this trip I took a massive yet calculated risk and shorted a large volume of put options for various stocks. This was all done at the swimming pool. At first I planned to make $4500 profit but then decided to up the ante to more than $10,000 over time. That way, if successful, I could cover the entire costs of this trip. Assuming, of course, the bet pays off which I'm reasonably confident it will. Sometimes you just have to go all out.
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At the poolside, I did more trading all morning. Once the order was set, it was then bike riding, chilling, and napping. In the end I did manage to make the nightclubs that night and the party was a blast! I included a section at the end on how I trade if you're interested.
Today's ride: 52 km (32 miles)
Total: 1,039 km (645 miles)
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