Paradise hotel and heart shaped pool?

Post by **tigerryan** » February 28, 2007, 9:58 pm

Hi, I will be in Udon Thani next week and I wanted to get some pic of the Paradise Hotel and possible the heart shaped pool if it is still around. My father in law told me about putting toilet paper in his air brakes and trying to bomb his buddies in the pool on approach to Udorn during the war. Any other 69-70 era nightspots that I may be able to get pictures of?
Best, Ryan

Post by **farang** » February 28, 2007, 10:09 pm

Paradise hotel still open ,has a bar inside,pool not there,think is was on the othere side of the road,thats now just overgrown with trees etc

Post by **beer monkey** » February 28, 2007, 10:14 pm

tigerryan wrote:Hi, I will be in Udon Thani next week and I wanted to get some pic of the Paradise Hotel and possible the heart shaped pool if it is still around. My father in law told me about putting toilet paper in his air brakes and trying to bomb his buddies in the pool on approach to Udorn during the war. Any other 69-70 era nightspots that I may be able to get pictures of?
Best, Ryan

its a shame you have'nt got photos of the toilet paper escapades as it sounds like my kind of fun, anyone else heard of this practical joke.
A few members on here where around in the early days and some have photo albums so there is some photos of early Udon (skipvice, frazeeD have pics in their personal albums) have a look in members photos or personal members photos.

Post by **polehawk** » February 28, 2007, 10:19 pm

Wolverine Night Club is still around but need to speak a little Thai there. Also, Oscar Massage near Udorn Hotel still rubbing, er, running.

Almost forgot, Yellow Bird Disco has been around almost long enough to qualify.

Pool not there anymore, farang? Can remember when farangs were being tossed into that pool fully clothed by other farangs for no good reason. Seemed dumb even back then.

Udorn's answer to Nana Hotel or Thermae Coffeeshops in those days.

Post by **banpaeng** » February 28, 2007, 10:29 pm

NOt sure Gramps was not yanking your chain. If he was approaching over the Paradise, don't think he would have hit any active runway. Sounds good though.

Post by **farang** » February 28, 2007, 10:56 pm

polehawk wrote:
Pool not there anymore, farang?

yes apparently the old pool was other side of the soi and is now overgrown ,i was talking to a old guy at the bar in Paradise a month or so ago,he showed me where it was,couldnt see much, just trees and weeds...
i wasnt there in 1970 lol i was 6 years old lol

...
the bar was ok that night ,had a bit of fun

but most nights in there its dead...

Post by **polehawk** » February 28, 2007, 11:07 pm

Old git memories, eh farang? I walked through the Sri Udorn Hotel a few weeks ago and that was disheartening. The place was once one of the classiest in town but now a dump. Their deep pool is still there but empty and a real hazard to any of you imbibers who accidently wind up in it. Make sure there's water in the pool before ya dives.

bp, maybe the guy flew an O-1? Or he mighta been a Jolly Green pilot.

Post by **tigerryan** » February 28, 2007, 11:30 pm

Tha Pa in law told me that he flew a ov-1 bronco. I think it was its an ugly looking bird, he said "they wouldnt waste a sam on it but it was easy to hit with the little stuff". He rarely speaks of the war stuff but when you bring it up it seems to always end up about the plush hotel he got to stay in for six months (the paradise hotel in Udon) and how he just prayed for bad weather or to make it another night so he could get back to the big party at the hotel. Best Ryan

Post by **keg** » February 28, 2007, 11:59 pm

Tigerryan

I was here several times in 1992 and 1993 for military exercises and stayed at the Paradise. At that time the pool across the road was operational and they had tables around the pool to eat and drink with a girl sing a song deal at night. It was a fairly popular nighttime place at that time. The Hotel itself was not in the greatest condition then but there were many stories of its Vietnam heyday. I have many pics of the Hotel and swimming pool area/girl singers from that time period if they would interest you. At that time the Charoen Hotel and Yellow Bird Disco were the hotspots in town. The CharoenSri Complex was not built then, but was added very soon after. Wolverines was here but was a dump then as well. If interested in the pics PM me as I will be going home for a visit in July.

Criag

Post by **farang** » March 1, 2007, 12:05 am

Post by **farang** » March 1, 2007, 12:12 am

map ref: o14

http://www.udonmap.com/images/new_map.gif

Post by **farang** » March 1, 2007, 12:21 am

keg wrote:. I have many pics of the Hotel and swimming pool area/girl singers from that time period if they would interest you.

Criag

i am sure a lot of people would like to see the pics on the forum, please post the pics on here

if you dont know how to post pics on the forum pm me,its easy to post pics

Post by **keg** » March 1, 2007, 1:14 am

Farang,

The pics I took are at home in Texas and will have access to them in July when I return for a visit. I am not sure what other pictures of Udon I may have but will bring them all with me. My camera in 1992 was not digital and I will have to scan them first. Has anyone had any experience with this to know what kind of quality to expect? One thing I forgot im my first post was that I think the pool had been rebuilt and was not heart shaped anymore but not sure if my memory is correct. I never actually swam in the pool as our Doc tested the water and put it off limits to us.

Craig

Post by **farang** » March 1, 2007, 1:53 am

keg wrote: One thing I forgot im my first post was that I think the pool had been rebuilt

well its not on the other side of the soi thats for sure,dont know where it is now...maybe its out the back somewhere,dont know.never stayed there ,just been in the bar

keg wrote:. My camera in 1992 was not digital and I will have to scan them first. Has anyone had any experience with this to know what kind of quality to expect?

heres a scan pic(and the camera was crap!!!)
no problem with scan heres a 15 year old pic (not digital camera)taken on koh chang (white sand beach)before koh chang got messed up..

just scan /save to my pics/ then use http://www.imageshack.us/ click `browse/find your pic,click on it/click "open" /then click, resize image 640x480 (for message boards)/ then click "host it",wait for it to upload.(new page will open) and copy the bottom line where it says "Direct link to image" and patse it to the forum with

so the above pic would look like this

Code: Select all

[img]http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/2776/scan0002aw1.jpg[/img]

Post by **dan115loop** » March 1, 2007, 7:51 am

Oscar Massage is not in the same location as it was in the late 60's early 70's.

Post by **keg** » March 1, 2007, 9:00 am

Farang,

Thanks for the info on the Pics. The pool in use in 1992 was across the road in the now over grown area. I think that in 1969-1975 it may have been somewhere else such as where the existing parking lot is now but I am not sure. I don't believe they have a pool now.

Craig

Post by LU » March 1, 2007, 11:39 am

What?! The Paradise pool is not there anymore? Rats. I was in Udorn a couple of years ago. I just had to revisit what was once the most popular after hours hang out back in the day. Although the pool was still there it was in sorry condition. Never the less I had a big Singha beer while I sat and contemplated the past. I could almost hear the old juke box playing one of the popular tunes of the day.

Post by **Doc** » March 1, 2007, 6:49 pm

The Paradise isn't what it used to be anymore either. It is now a budget hotel - think the rooms start at about 400 Baht. Over the years, it did have some rather extensive remodeling - but could use some upgrades in the rooms now.

Post by **tigerryan** » March 1, 2007, 7:14 pm

I called Pops in Law last night and asked him about any last minute ideas for things or places to see. He told me during the war the paradise hotel pool was rockin 24/7 (Im getting the impression he spent a lot of time at the pool). Then came the breakthrough! He says he has a stack of photos of Udon and the Paradise! The possibilty of him getting them scanned and uploaded are about zero. I will get them scanned at the family part this summer and get them uploaded to the site.
Ryan

Post by **Alagrl** » March 1, 2007, 11:48 pm

I think the Paradise got so crazy-wild in the 72-73 timeframe that it was "off-limits" for the Ramasun Station guys. Not that they were deterred...