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Pattaya, Thailand (6 February, 2012)
Pattaya พัทยา
is a major resort city in Thailand. It is located in Chonburi province, on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 165 km from Bangkok. The city faces the Gulf of Thailand which is to the west of it.Pattaya is the site where the army of General Phraya Tak, who later became King Taksin, came face to face with the troops of Nai Klom, who, upon seeing the might of Phraya Tak's army, surrendered without a fight. The site became known as Thap Phraya, or Army of Phraya, and later evolved into Pattaya.
Until the beginning of the 1960's, Pattaya was nothing more than another sleepy fishing village. Then it was sort of discovered by American servicemen who were fighting the Vietnam War. Since then, the coastal strip that we know as Pattaya was transformed by the mushrooming of hotels, theme parks, night clubs and bars, offering attractions both wholesome as well as earthy.
Travel to Pattaya
You can reach Pattaya by road from Bangkok. Take the Bangkok-Chonburi-Pattaya Motorway, also known as Highway 7. There are buses from Bangkok departing from the Eastern Terminal at Ekamai and Northern Terminal at Mo Chit. The journey takes roughly two to two and a half hours, and the fare is approximately ฿130.Travel within Pattaya
The main form of transport in Pattaya are t5he pickup trucks called songthaew. The name "song-thaew" actually means "two rows", and refers to the two rows of benches on either sides of the compartment. As a foreigner, you are expected to pay ฿10 per ride, though if you can pass yourself off as a local, you may ride for just ฿5.Places of Interest in Pattaya
There is no lack of things to see and do in Pattaya. Here's a list of them in alphabetical order.- Bottle Art Museum Museum specializing in artworks created within bottled glass.
- Buddha Hill One of the highest points in Pattaya, topped with a huge Buddha.
- Khao Chi Chan Giant Buddha image on a hill, created using laser beams on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the ascension of King Bhumibol.
- Monkey Training Center Park where visitors get to watch demostrations by trained monkeys performing tasks such as climbing coconuts trees and plucking coconuts.
- Nong Nooch Garden & Resort Landscaped garden with cultural performances and elephant shows.
- Oasis Seaworld An ocean park where visitors can have the chance to swim with the dolphins.
- Open Eyes Magic show performed at the Pattaya Bazaar.
- Pattaya Elephant Village Park where visitors learn about elephants and get to watch performances.
- Pattaya Floating Market Waterborne tourist attraction.
- Sanctuary of Truth An exquisite wooden structure, said to be the biggest wooden building in the world.
- Sriracha Tiger Zoo Theme park specialising in tigers.
- Thai Alangkarn Theater Thai cultural performance staged on a grand scale, similar to Siam Niramit and Phuket FantaSea.
- Underwater World Aquarium with many species of marine life from the Gulf of Thailand. Highlight is its 105-meter long tunnel.
Beaches in Pattaya
- Hat Jomtien 6-kilometer-long beach with a coastal road lined with restaurants.
- Hat Wong Phra Chan A quiet beach on the northern part of Pattaya Bay.
Islands off the coast of Pattaya
- Ko Krok
- Ko Larn (Coral Island)
- Ko Sak
- Ko Hu Chang
- Ko Klung Badan
- Ko Man Wichai
- Ko Phai
- Ko Rin
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