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Pattaya � A Traveler's
Paradise
Pattaya is nestled along a picturesque bay on the East
Coast of the Gulf of Thailand, roughly 170 kilometers
southeast of Bangkok. From a fishing village in the
1960's, Pattaya has emerged as the favorite Southeast
Asian vacation center. A fascinating escape where tourists,
holiday makers and vacationers from around the world
unfold an incomparable array of possibilities to unwind
during an exotic holiday beach vacation.
Unlike other beach resorts, where natural surroundings
are used as magnets to attract tourists, Pattaya makes
an all-out attempt to provide the best of everything.
Here, "everything� means everything a tourist can imagine
while on holiday: recreation, entertainment, sports,
sightseeing and fun. To put it simply, Pattaya is a
paradise for everyone, as it has a variety of attractions
suitable for all types of visitors. This is the place
where you can fill your day, from dusk to dawn, with
endless activities, or you may choose to do nothing
at all and relax.
The Present
Pattaya currently integrates the delights of a 1st class
beach resort, city-like dining, shopping and night entertainment
facilities with more than 300 assorted hotels, thousands
of shops, restaurants and bars. In addition, there are
an array of sports and recreational activities including
beaches, golf courses, tennis courts, go-kart, gyms
for working out, weight lifting and Thai-boxing gear.
Pattaya offers a broad range of things to do. During
the day, one may enjoy riding elephants or driving humble
automatic mini-bikes, monstrous motorcycles, or even
monster multicolored convertible Jeeps. Others go for
shooting firearms, scuba diving and surfing, deep-sea
fishing, speed boats, scooters, water-skiing, parasailing,
or aerial sports such as gliding ultra-lights and flying
motor-propelled gliders. On the other hand, at night,
there are restaurants, bars, theaters, cabaret shows,
night clubs, bowling halls, billiard & snooker clubs,
exotic erotic shows, discos, sauna & massage parlors,
not to cite its absolutely incredible shopping which
is available non-stop both day-and-night.
Pattaya Facts
This exotic beach resort welcomes approximately 5 million
visitors a year. The friendly and hospitable Thai nature
boosts its promotion, frequently bringing back the repeat
visitors and constantly increasing the number of newcomers.
Pattaya city is located on the eastern coast of the
country at latitude 13? N and longitude 101? E in the
area of Chon Buri province. It is 147 kilometers from
Bangkok and lies parallel to Sukhumvit Road on its east
and the coastline on its west. Pattaya occupies an area
of 208.1 sq. km. that is divided into 53.44 sq. kilometers
of land and 154.66 sq. kilometers of islands and sea.
Its coastline is 15 kilometers long.
Pattaya has a plain on the coast with some high mountains
to the south. The area on the east slopes down towards
the sea on the west.
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By car
Pattaya can be reached in a 2.5-hour drive along Bangna-Trat
Highway via Bang Pakong, Chon Buri and Si Racha. However,
visitors can avoid Chon Buri by opting for Highway 36,
the new Chon Buri - Pattaya - Rayong route or taking
the motorway from Rama 9 Road.
By bus
Air-conditioned and regular buses depart from the Eastern
Bus Terminal (Ekkamai) and Bangkok痴 Northern Bus Terminal
(Mochit 2 Bus Terminal) on Kamphaengphet Road daily.
Buses (air-con) depart the Eastern Bus Terminal every
30 minutes from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and from Mochit II
(Northern Bus Terminal) from 5.00 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Departure times and fares may be obtained from the
Eastern Bus Terminal, tel. 0 2391 2504, 0 2391 8097
or the Northern Bus Terminal, tel. 0 2936 2852-66.
There are also minibuses that travel directly from
Bangkok Airport to Pattaya at 9.00 a.m., 12.00 p.m.
and 7.00 p.m. daily. For more information, contact the
Bangkok International Airport, tel. 0 2535 1111.
In addition, most hotels in Bangkok provide bus services
to Pattaya. Contact the tour desk at your hotel for
details.
By train
The State Railway of Thailand offers a daily train service
departing Bangkok's Hua Lamphong Station at 06.55 a.m.,
tel. 0 2621 8701. It takes about 5 hours to reach a
station located near the Siam Country Club.
By Air
Bangkok Airways provides daily flights connecting Ko
Samui and U-Taphao Airport. (Approximately 30 kilometers
south of Pattaya).
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Wan Lai Festival
The heat in Thailand intensifies once the month of April
comes. People of old were wise enough to initiate the
Songkran festival to cool themselves off from the heat
and celebrate it as the Thai New Year. In the central
region, the festival is usually held on the 13th, l4th
and 15th of April while in the East there is a difference
as the water throwing activities commence on the l6th
or 17th, 18th or 19th known as "Wan Lai" (Flowing
Day).
Pattaya City holds its Wan Lai festival annually on
April 19th with activities such as water pouring for
the elders, processions and the fun of dowsing and another
with water, a time for Thais and foreigners alike.
Pattaya Festival
usually held at the middle of April to promote tourism
and Pattaya's reputation. Floral floats are paraded
along the streets. The Miss Pattaya Beauty contest is
held as well as traditional aquatic sports competitions
and construction of sand castles. A spectacular fireworks
display takes place on the beach and fire crackers are
also set off. Simultaneously, there are arts and cultural
performances, exhibitions and souvenirs for sale,
Chonburi Buffalo Races
is held in Chon Buri during October every year. The
water buffalo is one of the mainstays in the life of
a Thai farmer, but in this annual event it is put to
more amusing uses than ploughing the local fields, such
as buffalo races and contests pitting buffalo and man.
Beauty contests add to the fun a festival that attracts
crowds from nearby seaside resorts.
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