Pattaya - City By The Sea
The word 'Full On' cannot be better fitted to a place other than Pattaya.The city by the sea where's there's always something happening! Lone walks on the beach at Sunrise,eating out the gastronomic Thai Seafood cuisine at lunch, shopping to ones heart content at Asia's largest beachfront shopping mall and then in the evening walk down aimlessly on Walking Street checking out the gigs, the unique food carts, and the hosts of pimps standing outside with pictures of nude women and asking you to step inside their Go-Go Joint! As the Cab Driver said on our first day of sightseeing ' At Paththaya(That’s hows Thais spell it), we have something for everyone'. How true!
(The clear blue skies and the freeway on the road to Pattaya from Bangkok)
High chances are that you will be going from Bangkok to Pattaya. Pattaya is about 150 Kms from Bangkok and most of the journey is on freeways where one can reach speeds of 150 kmph. Thus the whole journey can be done in 1.5 hours – 2 hours. There are two ways to travel – via Bus and via Taxi.One can take the bus from Ekamai Eastern Bus Terminus(5 Kms from Sukhimvit area) at Bangkok and fare will be between 90 Baht to 130 Baht. The buses are fully air conditioned and clean and we recommend this option. If you have claustrophobia and you want to travel alone by cab, the driver would charge anything between 1200 Baht to 1800 Baht(Depends on your negotiating skills).
(The Clouds Play Hide and Seek with the Setting Sun)
Pattaya’s weather is hot and humid all year . The average peak temperature is 29 degrees Celsius. March, April and May are the hottest months and one should avoid going then. June – September comes the downpour and that cools down things a lot. November to February though is the best time to visit as it hardly rains and the mercury dips to tolerable levels.
Pattaya got it’s name from the famous march of Phraya Tak (later King Taksin) and his army from Ayutthaya to Chanthaburi, which took place before the fall of the former capital to the Burmese invaders in 1767. When his army arrived at the vicinity of what is now Pattaya, Phraya Tak encountered the troops of Nai Klom, who tried to intercept him. The place the two armies confronted each other was called Thap Phraya, which means the Army of the Phraya. This was later changed to Phatthaya, which means the wind blowing from the southwest to the northeast at the beginning of the rainy season.
Pattaya for centuries was a small fishing village. But in 1961, when the first group of about 100 American servicemen who were fighting in the Vietnam War arrived in Pattaya, they found this a great place for relaxation. From then on, Pattaya became a popular beach resort which today attracts over 4 million visitors a year from all over the world!
There are beachfront hotels, hotels near the nighlife scene, hotels inside the Pattaya city and some fantastic budget options. As I have said in the Bangkok post, be a little methodic before the trip and research a bit. You can always choose from the best reviews at www.tripadvisor.com and then book the best deal from www.cleartrip.com. Amari Orchid Hotel, Furama Jomtien Hotel and Dusit Thani Hotel are some of the most famous hotels here. Choose the right hotel, as the hotel staff mostly speak broken english and thus communication becomes a huge issue!
There are numerous places to visit in and around Pattaya.I will try to do justice by telling about as many worthwhile places as possible :
The Sriracha Tiger Zoo : This place falls 30 Kms before Pattaya and thus on your way from Bangkok to Pattaya , you can make a stopover here around afternoon. The zoo claims a huge population of 200 tigers and around 10,000 crocodiles, probably one of the largest in the world! The zoo has some really amazing shows that happen throughout the day within a period of every one hour. Notable is the Tiger Show, Crocodile Show and the Elephant Show(Pictures given below). This place reminds us of our younger days, when visiting a zoo meant a whole day of Fun and Frolic! The entry price per person is about 400 Baht and the best time to go is in the afternoon. Hop from show to show only stopping in between to have the Cuppa Noodle which come in many flavours(Shrimp, Pork, Beef etc).
The tigers all lined up to perform their antics
What if the Crocodile stops yawning – The Crocodile Show
Talk about a sticky situation – The Elephant Show
The Underwater World : Underwater World Pattaya is a leisure attraction showcasing the rich variety of marine life found around the region. A simulation of the underwater sea, this is quite an experience if you are fond of Marine life.
Inside the Underwater World at Pattaya
A flock of Sea Horses at the Underwater World
The entry fee is about 450-500 Baht and be sure to bring back a souvenir from the place (costs about 30 Baht).
The Sanctuary Of Truth : What can you say about a temple that does not not conform to any single religion, was conceptualized by an eccentric Thai Millionaire in 1981, is made completely of wood and is scheduled to be completed by 2025. I say, Brilliant!
View from the hillock of the Sanctuary Of Truth
This place is really unique and I mean it! Build under the orders of the late Thai Millionaire Lek Viriyapant, this place is one of its kind. Situated besides the blue ocean , the Sanctuary of Truth is a Wood Contruction Building, filled inside and out with wood sculpture based on traditional Buddhist and Hindu motifs.
Our really efficient and warm hearted guide at the temple
The guides here are fantastically warm hearted too, as we were guided and told about the purpose of the temple by this wonderful woman.
A Shiva Statue at the Temple
Jomtien Beach : This beach is a straight 6 km sandy beach located about 2 km from South Pattaya and 4 km from Pattaya City. Its sandy beach is fringed with pine trees, the beach is quite narrow and has a small slope into the sea. There are restaurants and cafes along the beach for tourists to enjoy fresh seafood and drinks while looking out into the sea. Entertainment and leisure activities are there in abundance to enjoy a lively night out. A wide gamut of water sports are available including Kite surfing, Parasailing, Jet Ski and Windsurf.
Afternoon at Ko Larn Island – Look at the Clear water! : Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:OCT2010VN_246.JPG
Offshore islands include the Near Islands like Ko Larn (main island), Ko Sak and Ko Krok located 7 km from the western shores of Pattaya.
Well, Pattaya is incomplete without Walking street. One of the main reasons that Pattaya today draws more than 4 Million visitors is this street in itself! Wether you are in the Pink Floydish mood of ‘Ooooh I need a Dirty Woman’(Young lust) or you are in the voyeuristic mode, this street is a no holds barred place. Walking Street is a red-light district with many go-go bars and brothels. The street runs from the south end of Beach Road to the Bali Hai Pier. The area includes seafood restaurants, live music venues, beer bars, discothèques, sports bars, go-go bars, and nightclubs, and is illuminated at night by many colored neon signs. Team Terrainspotter would recommend a Striptease Show at Roxy’s as you can get to see some real beautiful Thai girls here. This street is also famous for its flamboyant kathoey cabaret shows where transsexuals and transvestites perform to packed houses.
The Walking Street starts and the lights start flashing!
Numerous bars lined up besides the ocean on walking street!
From the outright mouth watering to the stuff that sends shivers down your spine, Pattaya has it all!
The Yummy American Fried Rice with Ham and Fried Chicken and Egg
Pork Satay with toasted Bread and a really unique gravy that I went crazy for!
Fried Scorpions, Grasshoppers and Silkworms. Was not so hungry after seeing this though!
Expenses at Pattaya are similar to Bangkok and Tuk Tuk’s are really prominent here. Hotels are available for as low as 1500 Baht(Double Room) to a 5000 Baht luxurious suite. There are some things to watch out for though :
• Be careful with your money on places like walking Street etc. We advice keep you Visa and money at the Hotel Locker and carry only a handful of money and Visa Copy with you. Always carry the Hotel visiting card with you, to explain to the Tuk Tuks and Riders(Bikers who take you to your destination in exchange of cash).
• At night, the Tuk Tuks after midnight demand absurd amounts for a short 3-4 Kms drive(200 Baht – 300 Baht! – in Morning it’s 10 baht!). The tip is don’t get angry and be patient, don’t argue with the Tuk Tuk guys, rather calmly say 50 Baht per person. The deal will be closed at 75 Baht/person.
Closure
Pattaya is a cosmopolitan city. The Americans who came in the 60’s loved it for the relaxed lifestyle, clear waters, beautiful women and great food. The essence of that era still remains now. So Come to Pattaya and get lost in Thai Hospitality – at it’s best!
Leave a Comment
2 Comment
That's a great Idea Lisa. Let me look into it asap!
Very nice, i suggest webmaster can set up a forum, so that we can talk and communicate.