STILL IN PATTAYA

After a hearty breakfast in the Hotel, and with Myles and Atan suitably refreshed after their late night bopping to Carabao, we loaded ourselves into the Chevvy and set off through Pattaya in search of another shop, “Hot Rod”. Once again the Songkra Water Festival was in full swing, so we had the windows wound tightly up. By the time we found the place, after enduring a barrage of hosepipes, water pistols, buckets of water and flour bombs, the nice shiney Chevvy was a right mess, and so was everyone we passed.
“Hot Rod” was a real surprise. It’s a Harley shop, and very upmarket, catering mainly for wealthy ex-pats and Thai businessmen. Featuring a modern glass-fronted showroom, with a well equipped workshop, it was not unlike the places we have over here. Outside, three Buells were parked up, and inside were some of the most beautiful Harley chops I’d ever seen. But the one I fell in love with was a Buell Caff-Racer. It was stunning in every way, and I could just imagine a Norton engine sat in the frame in place of that lovely Vee-Twin. It was “Right” down to the last detail. The orange chop was mindblowing, and I don’t think the pictures do it justice. I think Aud Ba Wau built the frame. Just bear in mind that all the sheet metal work is hand-beaten, without the benefit of an “English Wheel”.
The owner greeted us (he knew Atan) and could speak English (a little). Nice chap, and he gave us permission to move the bikes around to photograph them. Even brought us cans of iced drinks, because, with three walls of the showroom being glass, it was like an oven. All the time we were there, Harleys were coming and going. This was a popular and busy shop! After a couple of hours there, it was time to move on to yet another shop, “Carabao”. So it was time for the truck to get another soaking and flouring.
Carabao is located in central Pattaya, nestled amongst rows of shops. The only give-away are a couple of choppers laid outside covered in dust. If this had been England, they would be long gone! Carabao is owned by Lek Carabao’s brother, and it was his chop we came to see. And very nice too. That “Bull” motif is the band’s “Badge” and can be seen all over Thailand, on cars, “T” Shirts and stickers. They really are BIG over there, and have been touring over 20 years. They all started out as street buskers way back whenever.
But one bike in the shop stole the show for all of us. A moped! Based around an old pushbike, an old chap builds them to order in a little shed. They’ll set you back £600. Whilst Lek’s brother was demonstrating how well it went, the “Tea Wallah” turned up on his 125cc “Combo”, so overloaded with food and iced drinks it was unreal. Everything stopped for tea-break.
After tea, we decided to call it a day. It was bloody hot, so it was back to the Hotel for us. Atan sloped off to sort out the next place for us to visit, leaving us to our own devices. Me and Myles decided to brave the “Water Festival”, changed into “T” shirts and shorts, and put our wallets in polythene bags. Now, I’m not sure if I explained earlier, but prior to setting out on this trip, me and Myles had only known each other for about six months, and had only really got talking when we visited each other’s sheds. I always found hin a bit “straight”, his job being in senior management, but severely eccentric, so spending two weeks with him was a bit of a gamble, but one that really paid off, as we never had a single disagreement, and had a ball. So what he did next quite surprised me. From behind his back he produced two bottles of water. He’d had them in his fridge all day, and had punctured holes in the top. Grinning, we set off into the mayhem around the corner.
Being two Europeans, we were the obvious targets for a full-on onslaught of water and flour. Within seconds, we were soaked, and the Thai’s were laughing their heads off. They approached us, shook our hands and shouted “Happy New Year”. With manic grins, we whipped our hidden ice-water bottles out and blasted them in the ear with freezing H2o.
Imagine having ice-water tipped on you when the temperature is 120 degrees. We were pissing ourselves at their reactions….utter shock. We wandered off squirting people from behind, and hiding our bottles. They never sussed it was two innocent Europeans. Our favourite targets were little boys and girls, they nearly jumped out of their skin!
Eventually, we found ourselves on the beach. “Let’s go for a paddle” I said. “Naaah” Myles replied, until I mentioned he’d have a good line of bullshit telling people he’d paddled in the South China Sea. His shoes were off like a shot, but he wished he’d kept them on, as the sand was red-hot.
Next instalment….we visit another Bike Budda and meet the “Big Bike Peace” man, spend a little time in a pot-smoking hut on his roof, and head back to Bangkok……..to see another workshop.