Why Pattaya?
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Recently, SPICE! had some fun focusing on Pattaya’s seamier side: the bars, the boys, the sex, but we can assure you that this resort city has many other activities and diversions for all tourists. The city has world class facilities for families and expatriates looking for a place to vacation or settle. Thousands of Russians and other Europeans, with money to burn, continue to arrive here and buy up real estate, driving up condo and home prices. Southeast Asia’s tallest residential building, Ocean 1, is set to be constructed in the Jomtien area.
meetings, with guest speakers and Q&A sessions. • There’s a TAT (Tourist Authority of Thailand) office and a Tourist Police Station on Pratumak Road if you need information or have a problem.
• Local cable provides three daily news
programs and there are several radio stations catering to the expat
community. In addition, Pattaya has quite a few weekly newspapers that
cover local events.
• Pattaya and Jomtien have an extensive beach front with all sorts of
water based activities including swimming, parasailing, jet skiing and,
of course, sunbathing.
• The City still needs to improve water quality, unfortunately, but
Pattaya, and environs, offer great diving and snorkeling; especially
from the offshore islands such as Koh Larn and Koh Samet. You can hop a
ferry to Koh Larn from the Bali Hai Pier or rent a speedboat (driver
included).
• Fishing boats are available for charter, as well.
• For the golfer, Pattaya is truly a paradise, offering dozens of first class golf courses.
• There’s go-cart racing, paintball and bungee jumping, all in the Jomtien area.
• Fitness buffs have several choices of places to pump iron or run on the treadmill.
• Nong Nooch Garden is a sprawling park with an extensive collection of
plants and flowers, as well as, cultural and elephant shows.
• There are several zoos nearby, including the Sri Racha Tiger Zoo and
the Khao Kheow Open Zoo that also has a night safari.
• The Sanctuary of Truth is a temple compound made entirely of wood; take
a guided tour, ride a horse and buggy, or see a dolphin show.
• Pratumak Fitness Park offers jogging trails and exercise stations.
• There’s also a Chinese style Buddhist Temple worth a look.
There’s much going on at night, as well. Eating choices seem unlimited; ranging
from fast food and casual, to gourmet dining. During the last few years, many fine
restaurants have opened up in response to the more affluent tourists who visit the
resort and, doubtless, Pattaya’s attraction to gay visitors, who tend to have more dis- has extensive lists and suggestions.
There are several cinemas and bowling
alleys in “Fun City.” The Avenue Center, on Pattaya Second Road,
contains a variety of restaurants, a Major Cineplex, a bowling alley
and karaoke rooms. There’s a Villa Market supermarket, and a gigantic,
new Central shopping complex is in its finishing stages, stretching
from Beach to Second Roads in Central
Pattaya.
For night owls, there’s much to do. Of
course, the bar and gay scene has been extensively covered in SPICE!
When you want a break from the bars, you might enjoy one of the
transvestite cabaret shows: Alcazar or Tiffany’s, both on Second Road
in North Pattaya. If dancing the night away is your thing, Pattaya has
some popular, large, pulsating, high energy discos, including Hollywood
in North Pattaya and XZyte in Central Pattaya. Other clubs such as Dude
and X-Ray stay open late and are popular with gay guys (although
straights are welcome, as well.) Walking Street is a must see. Always
crowded and garish, it’s full of restaurants and bars, as well as all
kinds of shops.
When you’re ready to make the move and settle down here, there are
choices for most budgets from studios to villas and penthouses. Many
new condo developments are going up near the various beaches, as
evidenced by all the View Talays that are sprouting like mushrooms.
It’s not perfect, but those of us who have chosen to make it our home,
love Pattaya.