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Where is Pattaya?
Pattaya is a seaside resort in Thailand, lying on the coast known as the ‘Eastern Seaboard’.
It is approximately 150 km to the South-east of Bangkok and getting from there used to be a very long and tortuous process.
However with the building of new roads and in particular a Motorway most of the way and an alternative elevated expressway (fine so long as you remember to descend before it comes to an abrupt end), the journey time by road from central Bangkok can now be as little as two hours.
For those not in a hurry, there is also a train service (one ‘stopping’ train per day).
And with the new Bangkok Airport due to open to the East of the city in just over two year’s time (so we are assured), accessibility for International travellers will be greatly improved.
What is Pattaya?
Good question. Actually in many ways it is easier to state what Pattaya is not.
Ask many residents and frequent visitors here and they will often tell you that ‘Pattaya is not Thailand’.
By that they mean that whereas physically and politically Pattaya is part of Thailand, it has a very different and unique culture.
So what is Pattaya not?
Well, Pattaya is not a traditional Thai town. It has very little of traditional Thai culture, it certainly has none of the tranquillity found in rural communities, and regrettably it often lacks the friendliness and welcoming hospitality that is part of the Thai way of life. It is also not cheap to live in – by Thai standards.
So why then would anyone want to come to Pattaya?
Because Pattaya is a brazen, brash, ‘in your face’ quite unique town (actually a city now). A true melting pot of cultures from all corners of the world. A place that can infuriate you with its inefficiency and general mayhem and at the same time, exhibit something in the midst of that mayhem which causes you to collapse with laughter. Truly it is a place you cannot be angry in for long.
Another quote often attributed to people who live or frequent Pattaya is that you cannot explain this place to someone who hasn’t seen it; it is an experience almost impossible to convey in words.
So in answer to the question ‘What is Pattaya?’, the best reply that can be given is that Pattaya is whatever you want it to be.
A brief History of Pattaya
Some of this information is courtesy of the ‘Thaiways’ tourist information booklet.
Pattaya’s name originated from the march of Phraya Tak (later King Taksin) and his followers from Ayutthaya to Chanthaburi just before the fall of the former capital to the Burmese invaders in 1767.
When Phraya Tak’s army arrived at the vicinity of what is today’s Pattaya, he encountered the troops of Nai Klom who tried to intercept him. Nai Klom was awed by Phraya Tak’s dignified manner and his army’s strict discipline, so he surrendered without a fight.
The place the two armies confronted each other was later called Thap Phraya, which means the Army of the Phraya.
This was changed to Phatthaya which happens to mean the wind blowing from the South-west to the North-east at the beginning of the rainy season.
Today the name has been simplified to Pattaya.
In the old days, Pattaya was only a small fishing village on the gulf of Thailand.
But after its beauty was discovered by the first group of American servicemen on leave from the Vietnam War in the early 1960’s, sleepy Pattaya became Thailand’s premier and most successful beach resort.
Fishermen’s’ huts along the beach were replaced by a full range of accommodations from super deluxe hotels to inexpensive guest houses – and bars, bars, bars and more bars.
The war ended, the servicemen went home, but along came the oil boom in the Middle East and a new generation of visitors to Pattaya was born. And they wanted the same but had more money to spend. So the hotels expanded, the guest houses boomed and the bars exploded (as did the girth of many of the visitors).
Of course this rapid and indiscriminate expansion had its downside. In the rush to build, little or no attention was paid to planning or to the provision of a suitable infrastructure.
The result was the same as seen in many other locations throughout the world, beaches became dirty and polluted, the seas unsafe to bathe in, cars clogged the inadequate roads, power and water supplies failed to keep pace with the growing needs, resulting in frequent blackouts and shortages. Untreated sewage spilled out into the bay.
And the reports of the Pattaya ‘night life’ in the world’s popular press, gave the town a reputation (largely undeserved) that made many people think twice about going there. On the other hand the same reports attracted another type of tourist which regrettably again added to the town’s seedy image.
But Pattaya survived and not only survived, it continued to develop.
It became a city in its own right complete with Mayor and City Council.
It started to exercise some control on the ever expanding sprawl. Bars were moved from the beach road, quality hotels replacing them, extra roads were built, and a proper sewage treatment plant was installed.
Efforts were made to attract a different sort of tourist, one more willing to respect the culture and traditions of the Thai community.
So today Pattaya is a hegemony of past and future, still with many problems, traffic is still a major headache, many improvements proposed fail to happen, many new regulations implemented fail to be observed, but gradually amidst all the chaos, some degree of order can be glimpsed.
But not too much please, otherwise Pattaya would cease to be Pattaya.
What does Pattaya offer today?
Just about everything.
For sun lovers and water-sports fans, beaches now cleaned and rejuvenated, seas safe to swim in both on and under water, providing just about all imaginable water activities including fishing, boat sailing, speed-boating, water-scooter riding, water –skiing, para-sailing, scuba diving and windsurfing. And also boats to take you on day trips to the various islands dotted around the bay (and back again assuming it doesn’t sink).
For those who do not want to get wet, Pattaya also has gyms and health clubs for exercise and many kinds of land sports and games to choose from, such as shooting (including paint-ball), horse riding, bowling (both 10 pin and lawn), go-carting (not to be confused with ordinary driving here), not forgetting of course many golf courses of the very highest standard.
For shoppers, just about anything can be bought or made to order, especially clothing.
As regards accommodation there are now many hotels offering standards as high as anywhere in the world (but at much lower cost than many), or as simple as you want, plus a range of guest houses and apartments to rent, all at prices to suit the budget traveller.
And to satisfy the ‘inner you’ a huge variety of restaurants offering cuisine from just about every country imaginable ranging from those of the very highest quality (again at most reasonable charges), to simple western or Thai fare at prices to make you wonder how they do it.
Afterwards there is still the Pattaya nightlife with its range of attractions, from entertainment in hotel lounges to the famous Pattaya transvestite cabaret shows.
And of course still bars, bars and more bars.
But even these have evolved and now cater for all needs, from the simple outdoor beer bar (or as it’s sign often says ‘Bar Beer’) – many of which now provide live music to suit all tastes, performed by bands of very skilled musicians, to the large air-conditioned lounges, not of course forgetting the ‘go-go’ bars that cater for patrons of all cultures and shall we say ‘orientations’ – within the law of course.
Overall a place to come and enjoy life to the full but without emptying your bank account to do it, and in spite of it’s brashness, still a place to feel safe in.
Oh, and then of course there’s Songkran or the Thai New Year festival which takes place in Pattaya from around the 13 to the 19th of April each year. If you don’t already believe this is the craziest place on earth, come here during that week and be convinced.
Is Pattaya for you?
That depends very much on who you are, what your attitudes are and what you want.
Do you like peace and tranquillity – If so then probably Pattaya is not for you.
Do you like to study traditional cultures and ways of life in places you visit? – If so then again probably Pattaya is not for you, although because of its fairly central location it can be used as a base to explore other parts of the country.
Are you easily shocked or offended by what you see and hear around you? Would your neighbours describe you as ‘narrow minded’ or ‘bigoted’? If so, then definitely Pattaya is not for you.
But do you have an open mind; are you willing to look beyond the exterior façade and see what all there is on offer; do you want to explore somewhere that you can enjoy but can’t explain; above all do you want a unique experience?
If so then, Yes, come to Pattaya.
Maps of Pattaya
The following are thumbnail maps of Pattaya - to view each one in full size, click on the appropriate thumbnail
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