The best motorbike, hotel, restaurant, hospital, go go and beer bar, tourist attraction, etc in Thailand

Best Motorbike

For most expats, the motorbike replaces the car. It is the primary means of transport for most of us who live here full time.  But what might be the best motorbike for the average Thai is not the best machine for the average Westerner making Thailand his home.  A Honda 100 c.c. Wave with an manual transmission is just about ideal for Thais living up country where low initial cost and fuel economy are paramount.  To a Thai who might be making just $150 a month several kilometers per liter better fuel economy is much more important than it is to a Westerner who has incomparably more funds at his disposal.  Even those Honda Waves I see in Honda showrooms are fitted with skimpy tires.  Skimpy tires are the cheapest to buy and they offer the best fuel economy due to the low friction of their rotating mass.  But they are far from being safe.  And that's why when you venture forth into rural Thailand you will find that most Thai drivers are driving their Honda Waves much slower than I might be driving my Yamaha Nouvo Elegance or a doped up Pattaya motorbike taxi driver who equates high speed driving with the length of his dick. 

And that's why I'm giving the Honda PCX the Looking Glass Magazine motorbike of the year award.   It's heavy for a 125 and all that weight translates into greater on the road stability.  And it's got huge tires by motorbike--motor scooter standards.   I'm giving my second highest rating to last year's Looking Glass number one motorbike,,,Yamaha's Nouvo Elegance.  But before you go into my links to read more about both motorbikes I must insist on completely dispelling a couple of myth.  The first myth is that motorbikes with automatic transmissions are high maintenance.  Well--don't believe that one.  Most of the new automatics will easily go over 30,000 kilometers with absolutely no maintenance to their drive trains other than keeping oil in the bike.  And when they do go out they usually need only a new belt and that's only a $30.00 proposition.  And the way most Westerners drive their motorbikes, at least in cities such as Pattaya, it's going to take a few years to travel more than 30,000 kilometers.  Maintenance on these bikes is absolutely trivial. 

The next myth his that such automatics are slow.  A Yamaha 135 c.c. Elegance with its "snail like drive train"  will do 67 miles an hour.  To put this figure in the correct light, my old Honda 185 XL with its 50 cc's larger engine displacement and manual transmission would do about 70 miles an hour.  Both Yamaha Elegances and Honda PCX's accelerate rapidly in city driving conditions, and although neither is a highway cruiser by any means either one is eminently of traveling clear across Thailand with a minimum of fuss so long as one stays off the four lane roads. 

Still another myth is that these automatics consume too much fuel.  Truth is both the Yamaha Nouvo Elegance and the Honda PCX will deliver over 100 miles to the gallon once you get them out of a city driving environment and maintain reasonable speeds. 

Why am I giving the Honda PCX the nod over my tried and true beloved Nouvo Elegance?

Although it might seem that most Westerners prefer the plusher heavier PCX over the more svelte Elegance, I still have to give this one to Honda.  I give the nod to Honda for only two reasons. First off, nearly all the color schemes I keep seeing on bikes I see in Thailand regardless of manufacturer are simply butt ugly.  There are too many colors with too many incongruous stripes, emblems and  other such deplorable tattoos of the motorbike world.  This is not true of the PCX which employs one single color of gleaming paintwork that contrasts nicely with a different colored seat.  A decal advertising STP oil treatment might be fine on an Indy 500 racing car where appearance takes a back seat to speed and efficiency, but it certainly does not belong on a motorbike whose appearance its owner can be proud of.  The second factor causing me to favor the PCX is its substantially larger fuel tank--6.2 liters over the Elegance's 4,8 liters.  For one thing the fewer fuel stops  I need to suffer through the better, not to mention that if I'm out in the boonies far from the nearest gas station it's reassuring to have as much gasoline on board as possible.

All the other scooter--motorbikes in the 100 to 150 c.c. class simply fail to measure up to either of these two bikes.  Mios, Finos, and Honda Clicks are simply smaller editions of these two premiere machines.  They do not have the tire size or the useful storage capacity under the seats the two flagship bikes for Honda and Yamaha do.  Usually hey lack the power of these two and they are often down on nice little features such as an automatic choke.  Honda Waves and similar manual transmission bikes are meant for poor people rather than for the more affluent who can afford to have better.  And as for Suzuki's Hayate, to me at least it's basically a copy of the real deal...the real deal being the Yamaha Elegance.  And it's got only 125 cc's to the Yamaha's 135.  Even so, I've got three American friends who get together whenever two of them visit from the U.S. so that makes four of us in our little group. Ross and I who both live here full time have Nouvo Elegances while the other two guys rent their motorbikes.  Together the two must weigh 600 pounds so one would think they'd prefer the bigger, plusher, PCX with its large broad seat, but no....they wouldn't be caught dead on a PCX claiming its just too bulky looking.  Each has its devotees.  I have an Elegance but still will admit the PCX might be a tad better.  However, at 80,000 baht it's nearly twice the price.

Click here to read my PCX versus Nouvo Elegance road-test Shootout. 

Best Hospital

By Thai standards, it's expensive, but when you compare it to what it costs in the United States, Bangkok Pattaya Hospital is still a bargain.  They have here an impressive slate of specialists and they have the latest state of art equipment many of the other hospitals don't have.  For example, if you needed to get an MRI at Memorial Hospital they are going to send you to Bangkok Pattaya simply because they don't have one at Memorial.  The place is geared up for Medical tourism that is competitive with the best level of care you are going to find anywhere else.  Having gone through three non life threatening  operations here at Pattaya Bangkok I can attest personally that it's standards are on the highest level.  And--its accommodations for anyone who must spend at least one night here are on the same level of a five star hotel

Best Medical Insurance

One of the most popular health insurance companies here is BUPA.  If you are American and have never run across Bupa before just think Blue Cross/Blue Shield and you will get the general idea.  Its coverage is premium price, but it is accepted just about anywhere.  In most hospitals in Thailand you just present the card such as I did when I had my motorbike accident or when I had my three operations.  And if you are covered, Bupa takes care of just about everything.  Bupa is recognized by virtually every country on earth with the exception of the U.S.  There you will be covered for accident but not for illnesses under Bupa's normal coverage because the U.S. has the most over priced medical care in the world.

Most companies doing business in Thailand will not cover you once you are past the age of 65.  Bupa will.  That alone makes it a one horse contest.  That being said, lesser known companies such as I've seen out of Germany do offer coverage for people who are over 65.  The key whether it's with Bupa or one of these other companies is to sign up early.  For example, when I first got with Bupa I was under 60.  60 was the magic age, meaning that everyone contracting with Bupa before reaching  60 was guaranteed coverage for life provided he kept his premiums up.

This is so difficult to call that I've decided to list a good half a dozen of my favorites.  However, Madame Nook, just told me her favorite restaurant of them all is Moom Aroi  Suffice it to say that nearly everytime I've gone to Moom Aroi it was packed with possibly a couple hundred  people there.  It's right on the sea in Naklua so if you are lucky enough to get a table off the beach the evening scenery is spectacular.  The Thais love it here.  Food is modestly priced and it's excellent.  Personally I find it can get a little too packed due to its justified popularity so one is not likely to get the best seating with a great sea view.  And the last time I was there they had a band playing and the two German guys who came with us couldn't stand how noisy the place got when the band was playing.

On the same order as Boom Aroi is the Shell Tangkae sea food restaurant which is also in Naklua.  The sea food is quite good here and the sea views are almost as good as you will find at Boom Aroi.  The only difference is that you are nearly always going to get a good table here.  The service at both places is excellent.  Especially if you have a group of people who enjoy Thai food you can't go wrong here as the noise level is very agreeable, prices are reasonable, and there's a good measure of privacy.  Although it's not inundated with Thai diners to nearly the same extent as Boom Aroi is,  it still enjoys a substantial Thai clientele so obviously the Thais think the food is very good here.  I think the reason it's not as popular with Thais is it's a little higher priced than Boom Aroi.

When it comes to buffets or smorgasbords, you still can't beat Anton's at Naklua Soi 18 and Naklua Road.  The buffet is 230 baht which is just under $8.00.  The food's German although there's pizza and a pasta dish or two along with Thai food. 

My girlfriend and I both enjoy Indian food a lot.  I am not a vegetarian but if I had to be one, and I had to adopt just one cuisine to the exclusion of all others I'd have to go Indian.  Our nod goes to the House of India which is nearly on Dolphin Circle in Naklua. 

Peter's Bakery on Soi 12 next to the Sanctuary of Truth is still a favorite with both my girlfriend and me.  This is the Belgium restaurant which got the Looking Glass's top spot last year.  I still rate "German Peter's" which is also a bakery for high.  This one's on Naklua Road and Naklua Soi 12.  Each day there is a new special here.  They used to cost just 99 baht but now they have gone up to 119 baht.  That' still a great deal.

That little Thai place just up Naklua Soi 16 from us that we call "No Name" restaurant is still a big favorite with us.  Both of us can eat there for around 120 baht.  There are not a huge number of items to choose from but the ones we have are expertly cooked and oh so cheap.  

Then, up across the street from Naklua Soi 18 on Naklua Road there's the place we call "No name 2".  It's smack right next to Anton's and it borders on Soi Loyland.  It's got excellent Thai good at low prices. 

There's always Greg's Kitchen, which has come down in its pricing 10 percent or so.  Beers now run Beer Bar prices or less and the place is open 24 hours  a day.  Greg serves up the best meat pies in Thailand.  It's definitely a first rate choice.

If one is headed down to Walking Street there are two places worthy of mention.  There's several Swiss restaurants off Walking Street on Soi Diamond.  Swiss House is a personal favorite of mine.  I always op for its salad bar buffet which I regard as perhaps the top salad buffets I've ever experienced in Pattaya.  The other spot is right before you enter Walking Street.  This is the Beer Garden and it's right behind the Thai Boxing Arena.  The place has got a great crowd now and it's justifiably very popular.  Its beer pricing is a tad below beer bar pricing thus proving that it's owner, Pete, is not greedy.  You can enjoy a meal here and again the meals are priced moderately.   It's right on the sea where the views are spectacular.  This is the meeting place of choice for Ross and me to meet our other American friends when they come to Pattaya.  Afterwards we hit the Walking Street go go bars where we will often run into Uncle Bufford doing his Walking Street Go Go Bar Reviews.

Best luxury Hotel

The five star Centara Hotel here on Wongamat Beach is so impressive that even its exercise room looks like Disneyland.  It's pricey but it's spectacular.  Every so often we go there to have a couple of drinks while enjoying the Centara's terrific salad buffet while enjoying the sound of the ocean just below us. 

Best Budget Hotel

Has gotta be Skytop Guesthouse.  There's not a swimming pool within slingshot range but the rooms won't set you back anymore than 700 baht or so, and that's for the largest rooms where you can be comfortable for extended periods of time (I was, for 11 months while waiting for my condo to be finished).  The best thing about Skytop is its unbeatable location.  The tourists haven't caught on yet but the best street in the entire city for drinking and for women just happens to be Soi 6.  That's where the real expats go while the tourists go down to Walking Street and wind up spending three times as much for the same thing you can get on Soi Six.  Soi Six is just one block from Skytop.  And Skytop's got its own beer bar right out in front plus it's got Da who offers an exemplary taxi service as well as the incomparable Georgio Fashions where you can get an exceptional hand crafted suit or hand made shirts (I just bought ten from Georgio) and I truly hate having to buy clothes.  But I've made an exception out of Georgio whose shirts truly are something to write home about.

One of the greatest things about Pattaya is its overall selection of terrific restaurants.  They are to be found everywhere in this great city.  The restaurants I've mentioned are merely some of my own favorites.  Most of them represent good value for the money.  Greg's Kitchen might be one of the most expensive ones I've mentioned, but even so it's nothing like going to the Montien Hotel to spend 600 baht per person for a buffet. 

This one's a really tough one to call.   Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens really are world class which truly makes it a do not miss attraction for anyone visiting Pattaya.  And Koh Larn Island is simply a gem in disguise with terrific beaches just five miles from Pattaya.  So I'm going to call this one on the basis of which of my Jack Corbett Wonders have I personally visited the most often during the past year.  I think I've been to Khao Kheow Zoo in Siracha four times this year alone--therefore I must like it the most

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Best Go Go Bar

Right now it's Fahrenheit over on Walking Street.   The place has about as attractive a cast of babes as you are going to find anywhere.  All in all the girls have been friendly in this place without having the snootiness we've found at the go gos catering to the Japanese and the Koreans.  In our last four trips there it has not once disappointed us.

Best Beer Bar

Although we keep coming back to some of our Naklua beer bars due to their laid back atmosphere and the overall friendliness of the people who work there, to be honest there has been a dearth of really good looking babes in our favorite watering holes.  Recently we've found down on Soi 8.  The music's loud and oftentimes there's too much of that despicable da da music here but the dada pestilence has struck almost everywhere.  Some of the girls here are most attractive and several of them put on one helluva dancing show.  The place is crowded, and its a bit far from my Wongamat Beach condo, but the bottom line is, it's the women.  And right now this place has the best beer bar girls I've seen for some time.

Best Way of Staying in touch with your Home Country

Is Skype hands down.   I haven't used a phone to call the United States in Six years.  I use my laptop computer to launch skype.  Its voice quality is better than using my cell phone to call my neighbor.  I can video conference with great full screen resolution if I  like and all this costs me just 2 cents a minute.  It goes on my credit card and when I run out of credit skype automatically buys another 20 hours worth of minutes or so.

Best Beach Resort

Has gotta be the Krabi area hands down.  Think about it for a second.  Where are so many of the top pictures being taken showcasing Thailand as a top notch tourist area for those seeking the finest beaches and sea side scenery?  It's Krabi with its spectacular 90 degree karsts coming out of the sea.  I do mean Krabi area by the way because I am including the Phi Phi Islands.  Koh Samet is okay.  It's close but the snorkeling is nowhere near Krabi's class.  There's all that world class rock climbing just 15 minutes from Krabi's Ao Nang Beach at Railey Beach and Tonsai Bay.  And we haven't even been to Koh Lanta yet.  You can be sure that other than Koh Larn Island our next trip to a tropical beach resort is going to once again be Krabi but this time we will be driving the new Honda Civic down so that we can enjoy even more time away from Sin City.