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Pattaya's main attractions
are its beaches. Pattaya Beach is situated along the central city in close
proximity to shopping, hotels and bars. The over-abundance of jet-skis
and speedboats has contributed to the pollution of the water along Pattaya
Beach. The section of beach from Central Road (Pattaya Klang) south to
the harbor is adjacent to the core of Pattaya's abundant nightlife area,
hence it is less family-oriented than the North Pattaya, Na Klua and Jomtien
beaches.
Pattaya is 147 km southeast
of Bangkok, and faces the Gulf of Siam. It is located within easy access
of the Bangkok Airport and has excellent accommodation and restaurants
and entertainment for all tastes. Because of its easy accessibility from
Bangkok, Pattaya remains one of Thailand’s most popular weekend getaways
for Bangkok’s city-dwellers.Accommodation ranges from luxuriously appointed
beachside hotels with superb convention facilities to simple guesthouses.Sporting
opportunities abound both on land and water, and include some of the finest
golfing, game-fishing, and scuba-diving anywhere in Asia. Theme and amusement
parks, offbeat museums and lush botanical gardens offer numerous forms
of leisure activities and cultural entertainment for all family members.
And after dark, Pattaya offers the allure of a truly vibrant nightlife
with a great variety of restaurants, night clubs, bars, discotheques, and
cabarets.
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Tourism is Pattaya’s main
source of income. It attracts thousands of pleasure-seeking tourists from
all over the world. There is much on offer - good beaches, offshore islands,
diving, sailing and its many golf courses are just a few of the activities
visitors can enjoy.
More than 30 offshore
islands stretch around Pattaya within a radius of some 48km, from around
Si Racha in the north, to Sattahip in the south. A few islands are off-limits
as they are under the control of the Royal Thai Navy. Most others have
fascinating dive sites. The waters are rich in various coral species and
tropical fish.
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Known as "The Rivera
of Thailand" Pattaya started life as a small, insignificant fishing village.
In the 13th century it was the R&R (rest and relaxation) spot for soldiers
of the great King Nari during his campaign against Burmese invaders, but
other than that it continued to doze, until the 20th century. In 1950,
Pattaya was still little other than a small fishing village. It regained
popularity with the armed forces in 1959 when a group of American GI’s
visited for R&R. After renting a house on the beach, spending an enjoyable
time with the locals, they returned and the word was out…Pattaya was “The”
place to holiday. New groups of Marines arrived and it is from this simple
beginning that the city grew. In just 40 odd years it has developed into
one of the most renowned of all Thailand’s holiday spots, locally, and
world wide. By the late 70’s, hotels, shopping centres, entertainment houses
and the like had shot up. Industry developed as did tourism and with the
opening of the motorway from Bangkok to Pattaya, it became a two-hour drive
from the country’s capital.Pattaya’s popularity grew so rapidly that the
local government couldn’t cope with its administration. So in 1976 Pattaya
and nearby Naklur became one administrative district. Then in 1978 Pattaya
was declared a city in its own right. |
Pattaya is renowned for its
Night-life which caters primarily to foreigners. The city has literally
hundreds of beer bars, go go bars, massage parlor and night-clubs. A great
many of these venues offer the services of prostitutes despite prostitution
being technically illegal in Thailand. Many clubs offer shows including
ping pong shows. Pattaya is known as a destination for tourism (alongside
several districts in Bangkok and Phuket).
Muay Thai (Thai Boxing)
matches aimed at the tourists can be seen at many of the open-air beer
bar complexes.
Some areas, such as Soi
6 have become famous nightlife areas in their own right.
I went to Pattaya for
my first time in last year. Let me tell you what a fantastic holiday I
had. I have been all over the world but Pattaya takes some beating for
anyone who is single of any age. I went with a friend who had been there
a few times and it made the holiday so much better knowing where to go,
what to do, and what to avoid. It can very intimidating and overwhelming
all the things you will see and experience and all girls throwing themsevles
at you takes some getting use to. I am not fat, old, ugly, or bald, not
that it matters here.
I can get plenty at home,
but my god nowhere near as stunning or as as these girls.Some of
them range from perfect 10's to just mind blowing dreams. A must is a visit
to SOI 6 better known as "SHORT TIME " street. But don't be shouting your
mouth off that you have been or go there, not even the normal bar girls
like to know you go. Its one long street of short time bars with bedrooms
upstairs of stunning young women. All for 500 baht, plus bar fine. Two
places at the bottom of particular interest are "MANDARINS" and "MY FIRENDS
BAR". The best two streets, where I actually stayed are SOI 7 and SOI 8.
Rows of bars upon bars full of ladies all waiting for you and only 1,000
baht for the whole night.
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