Balloon Chasing

[Guest Astrrro]

I'm not a balloon chaser but one night seeing the balloons and a pig I decided to pop into a Sunee bar, have a beer, and give the place a chance.

 

Much to my surprise, the owner dropped a 99 baht chit in my bin which surprised the hell out of me since that's never happened even once before to me. Didn't even put much on my plate but didn't go for seconds and risk another 99 baht chit.

 

In fairness, the pig was extremely tasty and am not sure if I was just really hungry or if it was better than the average pig.

 

Not a wonderful experience but the last time I'll set foot in that joint.

[Guest fountainhall]

Much to my surprise, the owner dropped a 99 baht chit in my bin which surprised the hell out of me since that's never happened even once before to me. Didn't even put much on my plate but didn't go for seconds and risk another 99 baht chit

Surely the Bt. 99 was for the beer - not the pig.

[Guest Astrrro]

There was a chit for the pig in addition to the chit for my beer, think the beer was 70 or 75 baht.

[Rogie]

I'm not a balloon chaser but one night seeing the balloons and a pig I decided to pop into a Sunee bar, have a beer, and give the place a chance.

 

Forgive my ignorance, but am I to assume that balloons in or outside a bar means the food (and maybe drink too?) is free?

[Guest Astrrro]

Balloons outside a bar means there's a party and the food is free (with this one exception). Maybe there will be a special theme or karoke, sometimes just a buffet. At EZY Bar, the ladyboys dress according to a special theme such as Christmas, Roman togas, or PCV.

 

Drinks are usually not free.

 

In many cases a customer pays for the party and this is good for the barowner as he'll have many more customers that night, some coming specifically for the party while others wandering by see the balloons.

[Guest Oogleman]

I wouldn`t say balloons indicate free anything?

 

White party night for one example.

[Guest]

Thank you for clearing up what balloon chasing was. I thought it was something like chub chasers and thus I never went into those places.

[Guest Astrrro]

More about balloon chasing in general:

 

http://www.google.co.th/search?hl=en&q=%22balloon+chasing%22+pattaya&btnG=Search&meta=&aq=f&oq=

 

http://www.pattayatoday.net/index.php?action=show&type=news&id=1510

[Guest gay_grampa]

I wouldn`t say balloons indicate free anything?

 

White party night for one example.

 

Agreed 100%.

 

I think it shows incredible lack of manners to enter a bar that you have never been to before just because there is a free buffet. I would have assumed that the free buffet was intended for regular customers.

 

By all means go there and ask about the buffet and then, if invited to, take a plate of food. But to descend on the place like a flock of seagulls and assume it's all free beggars belief.

 

Well done to that bar owner for giving a bill to the freeloaders.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

I couldn't agree more.

[Bob]

Speaking of freeloaders:

 

 

Today, I stopped by Wad Chedi Luang to see the ceremonies and funeral pyre (a beautiful elephant shaped structure that's going to really burn a revered monk tomorrow evening) and my buddy Garn (the tuk tuk driver who I've known for a decade and who drove me there) mentioned that all of the food stations (maybe 20 or so?) on the temple grounds were free today. I felt rather chintzy about that given we typically give food and money from the monks rather than receive charity from them.

 

But Garn and I can report that the food was "aroy mak mak."

[Guest Astrrro]

 

Well done to that bar owner for giving a bill to the freeloaders.

 

This "freeloader" figured he'd give the bar a chance.

 

If the "freeloader" only drinks one beer, the bar more or less breaks even. If the "freeloader" buys a second beer the bar makes a profit. Though in some cases the barowner has a customer who throws a party where all are welcome and the bar uses it as free promotional tool to attract new customers.

 

The social convention in Pattaya is that balloons outside a bar combined with a pig roast means "free" though some here wish to ignore that. For those that don't believe, please take a look at the links above.

 

That said, often I won't go into a bar with balloons. There's one bar where I like the owners, but don't enjoy hanging out at the bar, and would feel very uncomfortable only going in for free grub.

[Gaybutton]

I would feel very uncomfortable only going in for free grub.

I don't see why. Everyone knows that sometimes bars advertise free parties and free buffets for all comers. I see no reason in the world to feel uncomfortable about going if you wish. I believe it is incumbent upon the bar to make it clear whether the public is invited or whether it is a private party. The bars would have to be idiots not to realize that without something to indicate whether the affair is public or private, then people are going to be confused. In any case, if the bar is hosting a party, then I think it is their responsibility to make it clear who the party is for.