The half-moon-shaped Pattaya Beach
is about 4 kilometres long with a road running parallel
to the beach from mid-section to the southern end of the
area are a vast array of restaurants, bars, department stores,
souvenir stores, as well as other places of entertainment.
To the north of the beach are various mini-resorts and hotels
in a more quiet atmosphere. For local transportation, the
songthaew mini-buses ply the routes along the Beach Road
and Pattaya ll Road.
Off-shore are several popular small
isles where visitors can enjoy scuba-diving to view underwater
corals. Tour counters within hotels can make the necessary
arrangement. Alternatively, boats can be rented on Beach
Road or at the South Pattaya landing. Several types of vessels
are available.
Ko Lan
is an island some 7.5 kilometres from Pattaya. The 2 km.
x 5 km. land area offers several white, sandy beaches such
as Hat Ta Waen to the north. This is where most of the tour
boats make anchor to take advantage of the foodshops and
stalls along the shore. Hat Laem Thian and Hat Samae are
located to the south west while Hat Ta Phan is to the west
of the island. Facing Hat Ta Phan are coral ranges. To the
south are some hotels and is another site to view coral
reefs. Visitors can choose glass-bottom boats and surface-diving.
Some 8 kilometres off Pattaya Beach
is Ko Khrok, an isle almost totally surrounded by
rock formations. A gap of 100 metres to the east is a stretch
of sandy beach from which visitors can go and enjoy viewing
underwater coral reefs.
Some six hundred metres metres further
from Pattaya is Ko Sak, a small island shaped like
an upturned horse-shoe. There are two connecting beaches
to the north and south. Along the south shore are ranges
of corals.
Two hours, 23 kilometers from Pattaya
are the Ko Phai lslands, the largest of Which is
Ko Phai. Others include Ko Manwichai, Ko Luam
and Ko Klungbadan. The area is under the supervision
of the Royal Thai Navy. However, visitors are allowed to
swim, relax or go diving but only during daytime. Overnight
stays are not permitted.
A low hill to the south of Pattaya Bench
is Khao Pattaya or Khao Phra Bat. A road leads
up to the hilltop. At the foot the hill is a Health Park
which attracts joggers and ordinary tourists wishing to get a view of Pattaya
City.
Hat Jomtien
is a km.- long beach and only 4 kilometres from Pattaya.
A beach road runs parallel to the shore along which are
hotels and other accommodation facilities. Less noisy than
Pattaya, it is popular as a site for relaxation, swimming
and water sports.
The Million-Year Stone Park and Crocodile
Farm, located some 9 kilometres
from Pattaya City. Its grounds are beautifully landscaped
with flowering and rock gardens. Hundreds of crocodiles
as well as some rare animals, including albino bears and
horses, are kept. There are crocodile shows, magic performances
and animal shows. It is open daily from 08.00-18.00 hrs.
Tel: (038) 249347-9
Mini Siam,
located at Km. 143 on Highway No. 3, is a wonderland of
miniature replicas of such outstanding architectural works
as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Democracy Monument,
Bridge over the River Kwai, Prasat Hin Phimai, etc. Europe
is also represented by landmarks such as the Tower Bridge,
Eifel Tower and Tower of Pisa. Open daily from 9.00 a.m.
until 10.00 p.m. Tel (038) 421628
Located on Phonprapha Nimit Riad which
is off Highway No. 3 at Km. 145, the Pattaya Elephant
Village stage shows demonstrating how to catch wild
elephants, elephants-at-work in the jungle, elephants playing
football and a grand war elephants parade. Elephant rides
around the village. The one-hour-long elephant show is held
at 14.30 hrs. Contact the counter in Tropicana Hotel, (038)
428648, 429145-7. |
The Bottle
Museum is located at Km. 145
of Highway No. 3. As its name implies, it specialises in
glass bottles containing elaborately crafted creations,
including the usual vessels. The exhibits are the works
of the Dutch master Peter Bedelais. Open daily from 10.00
a.m. until 10.00 p.m. Tel: (038) 422957.
The Ripley's Entertainment Centre, located within the Royal Garden Plaza, is made up
of various components.
The Ripley's believe It or Not Odditorium has a large collection of stories of oddities from
every corner of the globe. The Motion Master Moving Theatre
offer hi-tech screening of motions and movement as experienced
in real life. Open daily from 10.00-23.00 hrs. Tel:(038)710294-8.
There are two Cabaret shows in Pattaya:-
Alcazar
on Pattaya ll Road with there shows daily at 18.00,20.00
and 21.30 hrs. Extra show on Saturday at 23.00 hrs. Tel;
[038] 410225.
Tiffany Show
on Pattaya ll Road with three shows daily at 19.00, 20.30
and 22.00 hrs. Tel: [038] 429642, 421700-5.
Located in Soi Chaiyaphruk off Highway
No.3 at Km. 151, the Monkey Training Centre displays
the intelligence of monkeys trained to climb and to undertake
other activities.There is also cock fighting, which is a
traditional pastime of rural Thailand. A snake show is also
staged. There are five shows daily.Tel: [038] 756367.
A little under 3 kilometres on Phonprapha
Nimit Road off Sukhumvit is a canine training facility.
The World Dog Centre has more than 250 different
species of dogs and stages daily shows by well-trained police
dogs four times daily. Tel; [038] 731275-6
The Pattaya Park
at Jomtien features a large water park with giant slides
and a tower to enjoy the view of Pattaya. There is also
a revolving restaurant. Tel: [038] 251201-8.
Built in 1975, Wat Yansanwararam
covers an extensive ground and surrounded by scenic hilly
landscape. The complex is made up of various buildings including
an International Pavilion on the pond-side. A special attraction
is likeness of Buddha Image cast on the Khao Chichan cliff
by laser beams. Near the temple is a Chinese-style structure
built by Thais of Chinese descendants. Within the beautiful
structure are housed Chinese antiquities and an exhibition
of Chinese religious belief. The temple is located south
of Pattaya along Highway No. 3 where at km.160 a left turn
leads to the site.
About 18 kilometres south of Pattaya,
with a left turn from Sukhumwit Road at km. 163, is Suan
Nong Nooch a sprawling recreation park in typical Thai
setting. Groups of traditional Thai houses and gardens of
different flowering plants are dotted around the beautifully
landscaped site. There are daily cultural and elephant shows
attracting crowds of delighted visitors. Tel:(038) 706358-62.
Bang Saray
is a fishing village some 16 kilometres south of Pattaya,
with a right turn at Km. 164 South of Bang Saray is a deep
bay suitable for angling. To the north are accommodation
and dinning facilities along the beach.
Another village offering good fishing
opportunities is Samae San, located some 17 kilometres
further from the Sattahip deep-water port. There are bungalow-type
accommodations and tourists can charter boats to visit Ko
Samae San and Ko Rat or to view corals at Ko Kham. All of
these small islands are under the jurisdiction of the navy
and overnight stays are not permitted. |