Blogs from Pattaya, Central Thailand, Thailand, Asia - page 4

After the peaceful but poignant mountains of Kanchanaburi, my next stop would prove to be a harsh contrast. A quick overnight transit back in Bangkok later, and I next headed to Pattaya, the simultaneously luxurious and kitszchy/ sleazy beach resort town some two hours south of Bangkok, where I met up with two other friends who also made the trip. I understand Pattaya's development traces back to the sixties when it started out as an R&R spot for the American GIs fighting the Vietnam War. It has since absolutely boomed into a kaleidoscopic mix of fancy beachfront hotels, shopping malls and restaurants, and redlight girlie bars and nightclubs, all with tourist-oriented prices to match. Pattaya Beach itself has suffered severe coastal erosion over the past few decades, so what remains today is at best a 10-metre ... read more

It's a long time since I have been there, Koh Larn. Have you ever heard Koh Larn before? How do you imagine about it? Is it beautiful place? Is there friendly people with welcoming smile? THE ANSWER Is YES!!! On summer- March in Thailand, we decided to relax at Koh Larn, Pattaya.Our met point is Victory Monument around 8 am. Hooleyyyy!! I'm the first to reach there. We left Bangkok around 11 am. (waited one friend who didn't hear her alarming clock!!! :( )..OTW OTW Wooo!!! we reached Pattaya around 2 pm. then hurry up to take Ferrari to Koh Larn. 30 minutes after that we were in Koh Larn. Took our stuff off, Bathing and it's a eating time butttttttt......in this night we got power failure!!! Boooo!! :( .. we had a dinner in a ... read more

Every night is a party night in Pattaya for the Countdown to 2012. In the daytime I go for long walks to keep my fitness at some reasonable level. At night I like to go to Bali Hai Pier for the fireworks and Countdown events leading up to New Year's Eve. Wednesday night I attended the Bodyslam and So Cool concert with 10000 other fans. These are world class acts in performance quality and it was a great night with five of my friends. The entertainment is free and the hangover a bit costlier but a very enjoyable night out in perfect weather. Seasons Greetings and Happy New Year "Sawatdee Bpee Mai" to everyone. There are 39 photos, click on them for a larger view.... read more

I've now been living 15 years in Asia and I never made it to Pattaya. I have always call the place the "s**t hole" of Asia, and after the week-end we just spent here, I can confirm that the name make sense! So why going to Pattaya, why going now? Well, the kids are in Vietnam for a long week-end due to the King's birthday holiday in Thailand. So they are enjoying a little bit of tourism on their own. I'm also short of few stays to keep my nice level as a frequent guest with the SPG group (You know, the one which giving me all this lovely little room upgrades). Pattaya does have a new Sheraton, and the hotel has a pretty nice reputation. We took the bus from Ekamai station in Bangkok on ... read more

August 11, 2011: I am headed south on a bus going from Bangkok to Pattaya. The taxi quoted 2500 baht ($80 US) and the air conditioned bus is only 125 baht ($4). I hear a decent room in Pattaya is 900 baht ($30) so taking the bus for the 1.5 hour journey instead of a taxi will pay for the first two nights in Pattaya. I left Delhi today expecting to spend the next 10 days in Vietnam, but here I am on a bus on my way to a beach in Thailand. That is sort of how life is in Asia. You can get upset or roll with the punches. Simply choose the actual manifestation of the present instead of your preferred not presently existing wishes. There are roses all around you so start smelling. ... read more