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 Overtime, Thailand has become a world-known
travel destination, a «second home» to many adventurous tourists who have already
beaten the length and breadth of exotic islands. Recently, one of the most popular
Thai resorts, Pattaya, has been steadily gaining popularity among those who don't
waste their time waiting for warmer seasons and prefer to enjoy the benefits of
tropical location, including exotic entertainment.
Pattaya is a city in Thailand, located on the
east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 145 km southeast of Bangkok
located in the province of Chonburi, with the population of 80,000
people. For
centuries, Pattaya was a small fishing village. But a change occurred in
1961,
when the first group of about 100 American servicemen who were fighting
in the
Vietnam War arrived in Pattaya for relaxation. From this beginning,
Pattaya
became a popular beach resort which now attracts hundreds of thousands
of
visitors. Actually, the Pattaya Bay Area is the most visited city in
Thailand
after Bangkok. Fishermen's huts along
the beach were replaced by resort hotel and shopping malls. Fishing
vessels were
adapted to become tourist boats.
Pattaya and nearby area can boast many tourist
attractions, which will appeal to most demanding customers. The highly
developed water recreation infrastructure makes Pattaya a true divers'
paradise,
with various diving programs designed for different levels of diving
experience, from beginner to pro. For those who prefer family
entertainment or
like a bit of education with their fun Pattaya has two water theme
parks, Dream
World and Underwater World. The former is built with Disneyland in mind,
but with
respect to local traditions and with an emphasis on water recreation,
while the
latter, an aquarium where there is a collection of marine species in the
Gulf
of Thailand including sharks and stingrays, offers a unique opportunity
to
watch marine life in its natural environment.
The main sweep of the bay area is divided into
two principal beachfronts. Pattaya Beach is parallel to city centre, and
is the
main destination for bathers and loungers with the section from Central
Road
south to the harbor forming part of the core of the town's restaurants,
motorcycle hire, and night attractions. Jomtien Beach in the southern
part of
the bay area is separated from Pattaya beach by the promontory of
Pratumnak
Hill, just south of the city. It consists of high-rise condominiums,
beachside
hotels, bungalow complexes, shops, bars, and restaurants.
However, not all attractions in Pattaya are water-related.
Popular activities include playing golf (21 golf courses within 1 hour
of
Pattaya,) go-kart racing, and visiting different theme parks and zoos
such as
the Elephant Village, where demonstrations of training methods and
ancient
ceremonial re-enactments are performed daily. The private Sri Racha
Tiger Zoo
features tigers, alligators, and other exotic animals in daily shows.
For gemstones
connoisseurs, Gem Factory Shop, with its extensive collection of
diamonds, sapphires,
emeralds and other gemstones, including a 52-kilogram ruby, offers
shopping and
educational tours. Those interested in history will be thrilled to visit
Mini
Siam, a miniature model village which celebrates the heritages of
Thailand with
replicas of the most famous monuments and historical sites including the
Temple
of the Emerald Buddha, Democracy Monument, Bridge over the River Kwai,
and
Prasat Hin Phimai. Models of the Tower Bridge of London, Eiffel Tower,
the Statue
of Liberty and Trevi Fountain are also displayed in the section called
«mini
world».
Pattaya is also famous for its vehement night
life. The city and its suburbs have a very large number of bars and
night
clubs, and some discotheques. Many major hotels also run restaurants,
cocktail
lounges, nightclubs and supper clubs which offer food, drinks, music and
international entertainment. The Walking Street is a pedestrian area
south of
the beach and a center for nightlife. This
street is known not only for the prostitutes catering to all tastes, but
also for
the so-called go-go bars. These bars are something between a cabaret, a
striptease
bar and a brothel. You can go in for free, but once inside you have to
pay a
double price for everything, from a bottle of water to services of the
«girls».
Walking Street is also a internationally known venue for gays and
transvestites,
so beware, straight men!
In terms of tourist security, a burning issue
with all Asian resorts, Pattaya can be considered a safe place, as
everybody here
understands that the city and its neighborhood are dependent on
tourists, so the
guests to the resort can rest assured that their lives are not
threatened.
Their wallets and personal effects, on the other hand, are much more
endangered. Pickpockets' thrive in Pattaya, and the city can rival many
criminal world capitals in the domain of petty crime. So tourists should
always
beware of pickpockets and if possible refrain from carrying large sums
of money
or at least not tempt the thieves by flaunting the money. Apart from
pickpockets,
there is also a risk of falling a victim to con artists, the most
innocuous of which
are petty merchants of all sorts of things who would put up a show
trying to
prove that they had given you your change up to the last baht (Thai
currency).
So be advised to stock up on small bills and pay the exact amount
specified on
the price tags, not a baht more. And your stay in Pattaya will be a very
enjoyable
experience.
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