Pattaya by night, The Biggest Party Place

     During the day, main promenade of Pattaya, the 4-kilometer Beach Road that parallels the Pattaya city's curving Acapulco-like coastline, looks more like a seaside park - cool and breezy under the canopy of palm leaves with the blue calm waters for backdrop.

     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.

Pattaya, Hotspot

Naklua market: Thailand is home to some of the most dynamic markets in Asia. A trip to Naklua market in North Pattaya will give you a taste of local life; find a stunning array of seafood and other produce from the region. It's best to beat the heat and get there around 8am.

Thai submarine: Beatles fans have the chance of a lifetime in Pattaya - to tour its azure waters in a real yellow submarine. Vimantaitalay offers underwater excursions, taking in local coral reefs, sea life and wrecks.

Day Tripping to Chanthaburi: Seized by French colonial forces in 1893 after the Paknam crisis, the town was returned to Thailand in 1905. Today, Chanthaburi is famous for fruit, sapphire mines, its Catholic cathedral, Buddhist temples and an abundance of great seafood restaurants on pristine beaches.

Koh Larn, Pattaya - Thailand

Koh Larn (Lan Island), this island is 7.5 km. from south Pattaya, about 45 minutes by ferry or 15 minutes by speedboat. Tourists prefer a swim and enjoy water-sports along several beaches. Most fine beaches with white sand and clear water are on the western side of the Koh Larn. Thongland beach and Ta Waen beach are popular beaches for its bustling atmosphere, squatic sport gear, souvenir shops, and restaurants while Tien beach and Samae beach offer a more restful atmosphere.

Visitors can choose glass-bottom boats or skin-diving to view coral reefs in front of Tien beach.

At the southend of Koh Larn is Nuan beach, Samae beach, Tawaen beach, and Thian beach where a hotel is situated. It is another spot for viewing corals.

Lazy Day On Koh Larn
     There are a few places in the world where life rarely comes to a complete standstill. And just a couple of hours away from busy Bangkok is an outpost that seems locked in delightful isolation, yet very accessible any day during the week.
     Imagine coral reefs and endless skies. Clear blue waters and white sand beaches. Mountainous terrain and rocky outcrops. No, it is not a dream. For these are among the sights on Koh Larn, the biggest island off the coast of Pattaya on the Gulf of Thailand. Sparsely populated and still generally unspoiled, it is about four kilometers long and two kilometers wide, and is just the right place for that quick getaway.
     Besides getting a tan and plain beachcombing, visitors to Koh Larn can engage in several fun activities, like snorkeling, parasailing and jet skiing. They can also ride a banana boat for a fast spin along the coast, or view corals and other natural formations aboard a glass-bottomed boat built specifically for this purpose.
     In Koh Larn, there is also the option of firing a few rounds at a shooting range. Traverse well-marked trails for a few hours of hiking or get on a mountain bike and explore the jungle. For those wanting something less stressful, just take a few steps and click away from a few selected spots to get stunning views of the sea and tracts of wilderness.
     But for the intrepid adventurer, there is always the diving. Among the recommended dive sites are Koh Larn Vac, an excellent site where several species of fish and other marine creatures abound, Shark Point, where small sharks are quite common, and Laem Thong, known for a deep drop-off measuring more than 50 meters.
     The beaches worth visiting are Ta Waen on the northern part of Koh Larn, with its long stretch of fine sand, Laemtien and Samae on the southwest of Koh Larn, both perfect for those wanting solitude, Ta Pan on the west of Koh Larn where one can put up a tent and be lulled by the sound of the waves rushing back and forth, and Nuan on the south of Koh Larn where a huge hotel is the preferred destination of tourists.
     Accommodation facilities may vary on any part of Koh Larn but will always suit any budget. While most residents live in the village of Naban, there are restaurants at nearly every beach. All are known for fresh seafood served anytime during the day.

Getting Koh Larn
     From downtown Pattaya, take a mini bus to South Pattaya pier for the ferry. You can also ride a boat to Koh Larn from the wharf on Pattaya Beach Road for the 45 minute trip. Upon arrival on Koh Larn, take a songtaew to your chosen beach. Make sure to know what time the boat leaves for the return trip. Most shops sell food, refreshments, beach gear and souvenirs.

Getting Around in Pattaya, Thailand

Pattaya is a very easy city to get around although the busy traffic causes frequent hold-ups at peak times, particularly on the major roads. Unusually, for Thailand, there are no tuk-tuks in Pattaya, so everyone usually gets around on the baht-buses or on motorbike taxis. There are literally hundreds of both all over Pattaya.

Motorbike Taxis ;
Motorbike taxis are a way of life in Pattaya. They are your best bet of getting around if you want to get somewhere quickly or conveniently, particularly at busy times. On every corner in Pattaya, no matter how small street, you will find a gathering of motorbike taxis. They are operate 24 hours a day 7 days per week and provide a very convenient service. However, this option is not for the faint-hearted and can be dangerous. These guys, and the occasional lady will take you anywhere but agree on a price first.