As darkness falls, the road suddenly comes alive with twinkling lights from high rise hotels and condos and the neon signs of bars, shops, restaurants and business that cater to tourists.
Part of the south end of the Pattaya beach street is blocked off and made into a pedestrian mall appropriately called "Pattaya Walking Street".
The bars here in Pattaya Walking Street often have "hawkers" on the sidewalk to attract business but they are not obtrusive. No one is harassed or menaced. A simple "no" sends them away. Nevertheless, it is not an uncommon sight to see silver-gray-haired white gentlemen walking with their arms around young girls.
A word of caution though. You may be a faceless stranger in Pattaya, but it is well to remember that during this Orwellian age of live cams you can't really hide in the crowd. Secret cameras are strategically located along Pattaya Beach Road, Pattaya Walking Street and on Jomtien Beach.
These real time images are fed live to the Internet, allowing people around the world - wives or husbands back home - to watch you as you walk down these roads.
Of course, such invasion of a visitors's "privacy" doesn't really matter as long as you don't do anything wrong or foolish, like taking a pick-up date for walk along these wired places.
Two main streets run parallel to the Pattaya Beach Road - the 2nd Road and the 3rd Road. Both are also sull of shops and restaurants. The three streets are intersected by small alleyways, to create a herringbone grid. There are clubs and bars everywhere as well.
To attract more upscale tourism and families, a number of very elegant hotels have been built around these areas.
There is the Hard Rock Hotel, not so far from Marriott near the Pattaya town center. The Siam Hotel chain has two high quality comfortable properties and world-class services.
Pattaya may no longer be the sleepy fishing village it was over 50 years ago. But, thankfully, life here in Pattaya remains neat and easy.
The Biggest Party Place
Whether it's entertainment, food, shopping or beaches, Pattaya has it all.
Everything under the sun is possible in Pattaya. Lie on the beach and get a tan. Shop at the malls for bargains. Experience a dizzying nightlife till you drop.
As for dining, there are thousands of restaurants in Pattaya offering Thai, Oriental, Eurapean and Mexican food.
On Pattaya Walking Street are several restaurants serving seafood. One of these is Lobster Pot. Catch your own fish and watch it being cooked to get an idea of what freshness really means.
Also included in its menu is a fine selection of steaks and Thai food, served in a place right by the sea on the old Fisherman's Wharf. Service is excellent and the staff speaks English. Prices are also reasonable. The March 2000 edition of Asian Explorer magazine listed the restaurant as one of the best in Pattaya.
Also strewn along the Pattaya city's main streets are bars, pubs, lounges, karaoke parlors, discos, even stage shows. Some pubs and hotels have house bands, while others have facilities for darts, snooker, billiards and other games.
The go-go bars, for those seeking wilder fun, are located in Pattaya Land (Soi 2, 7 and 8 of Beach Road), on Soi Yodsak, Soi Yamamoto, Second Road around Soi 9, and Naklua Road.
When it comes to all-night dancing, the Pattaya Palladium comes to mind. As Asia's largest disco-theater, it can accommodate up to 6,000 people and features the latest in audio visual technology. Pattaya also has the best cross-dressers' cabaret shows in the country - the Alcazar and Tiffany's.
