Jeff Called Round,

so it was out for a bite to eat,

surprisingly we found a parking place just past Soi 5 on Beach Road,

Diana chose a Thai dish, while Jeff and I shared a plate of chicken wings and chips,

it was called Tone Oven on the corner of Soi 6, we whiled away the time there looking at how busy the traffic was, also looking at so many empty baht buses go past,

Jeff had not been to Roiaca before, not sure about the spelling or how to get there but is behind the carting speedway on Thepprisit, we whiled away a few hours there, we missed happy hour which is from 1 to 3 in the afternoon, then back to pick Diana up at 388,

for our evening meal we decamped to the Gossip Cafe behind the Tuk Com Center, meatball sandwich for Jeff, Thai food for Diana and the 199 baht special for myself, 'Cheers!'

we had decided to join in the 2011 Pattaya countdown at Bali Hai pier,

as you walk in from the flyover road there is the Chang beer stall on the left,

and the Yamaha stall on the right, the company has just unveiled its new model, the multi coloured Fiore,

as you walk in there are some clowns and I suspect a Simpson figure making balloon toys for the kids,

looks a bit scary to me!

this ones a bit better - providing you do not have the remarkably common condition of coulrophobia, being scared of clowns,

then behind me I heard a bang, the Chang beer challenge had been started,

like so many fun fairs in the UK hit the spot, ring the bell and win the prize,

the prize being a keyring, there was me thinking it was going to be a beer!

quick pose by the sign,

then the firework display,

it took place over the Pattaya sign,

all very pretty, we sat down for a beer, but in matter of minuets we were on the move, the sound was just way to loud, many like us voted with their feet, last year we had to wait for a table, this year despite there being more people here, of 30 or so tables just 3 had customers, you may not believe this but it was so loud I left the jug of beer I had paid for at least half full!

we then found a quiet place by the jetty so we relaxed there,

with the exception of 4 or 5 policeman we had the place to ourselves, it was nice watching the crowds walk by,

then Joe called by, giving us a blow by blow account of how not to ride a bike, he was on a concrete road that he had not been on before at night when it just ran out and became a bumpy dirt track, luckily no broken bones, Joe get well soon,

one of the statues on the wall of the bar, a floating restaurant in the distance,

we then decided to take a walk along Walking Street, taking a few pictures of stalls on the way, this one for drinks,

the whole place away from the music was packed with people,

then something caught my eye,

strawberries! but the thought of carrying them all night put me off buying any,

the super huge Hollywood sound truck was on display,

luckily with the sound off! I know I go on about how loud things are, but as usual tonight it was just not me, both Jeff and Diana said they could not stand it, I wonder if the sound will ever be turned down to attract more people to sit, listen and watch the show? I doubt it,

then the entrance to the street,

as usual there were street performers but not as many as last year,

not quiet sure who he is supposed to be but great fun,

more people than ever out tonight,

any one fancy a fancy wig?

or perhaps a more conventional one?

we continued pushing our way towards the other end of the street,

when going past Dang's bar I spotted a familar face, none other than Andy who I had not seen for 3 years, before that a regular in the bar for as far back as I can rember, he had an accident 3 years ago braking his leg badly so this his first visit since then, hopefully we will be seeing him again,

whilst sitting in Dang's Jeff got hunger pains,

as did Diana,

for a pizza,

next stop the Zab bar nearly at the end of the strip where it joins the motorized part of Beach Road where at night the traffic has to turn left, we came to watch the twice nightly Elvis show, for reference the show starts at 9.30 and 11.00 we caught the last 15 minuets of the last show,

and there he was, Elvis in all his glory!

with his backing group, I took this shot as we walked in, they were all so happy to have their picture taken, without missing a beat the show went on, I have to say I was realy impressed with the singing and playing, if you have not been before give it a try,

we sat slightly to the side of the stage, this is a shot looking towards the bar,

the ceiling lights were a little different to say the least,

hundreds of silver balls and upside down wine glasses huge from a framework, with the stage lights shining on them they looked different to say the least,

the show finished but the band continued to play, again I have to say how good they were, then home to 388, over the now compleated Second Road, with traffic returned to normal instead of being one way,

next feet up fo another Tales and a proper glass of vodka soda or three, this time one that did not have a twist in the tale, Down Among the Sheltering Palms, it was just, well boring, so after that off to bed.