In fact only 40 years ago Pattaya as we know it today, didn't even exist. On the stretch of coast between Sriracha and Sattahip, there were only a small number of fishing villages and in Pattaya bay itself, there were just a few fishing families who had settled here because of the calm waters and the safety of the bay, protected headlands to the North and South and by mountains behind. Their nearest neighbors lived just around the headland to the north, where, in the old days salt used to be produced (Naa-Klua = salt fields) but where there were now mainly fishing families. People traveled about by foot or by bullock carts because, except of the main road from Bangkok to Sattahip, only a few dirt roads and tracks existed.
Nevertheless, the bay and nearby islands provided good, safe fishing and more and more families came here to settle down, Gradually a village developed. At first was know as Tupphraya the general name for the area which dated back to the time when Pharaya Taksin (Duke Taksin) camped near here with the followers he had gathered to help free Thailand from the Burmese (Tupphraya - the Pharaya' - army)
As the village grew, the villagers wanted to give it a separate identity, so they adopted the name of Pattaya,which was the name they used for the strong winds which came from the South West at the beginning of every rainy season.
The pace of life was slow and it seemed as if Pattaya would remain an out-of-the-way place forever. Even up to 30 years ago there were only a few buses serving the 100 or more families who lived here and visitors from elsewhere were few and far between. But things were destined to change and as usual, it was a war (the Vietnam War) which changed them. The U.S.A. sent soldiers to build the air base at U Tapao and many of these took to spending their leisure time and money in Pattaya.
The beaches were clean in those days and the sea breezes made it pleasant and cool. People in the surrounding areas were quick to spot the business opportunities and bars guesthouses begun to spring up. The fisher - folk probably resented this intrusion, but it provided a good market for their catches and they soon got on the bandwagon by offering fishing trips to Koh Larn for about 50 Baht per head. Gradually, visitors from Bangkok also begun to use the resort at weekends, although the trip was a tiring 3 to 4 hours on the two-lane road.
Later the US Military based in Thailand begun to use Pattaya for rest and recreation (R&R) and bigger hotels and entertainment places (including the oldest profession of them all) were built to cater for them. Thus the' 60s and' 70s saw the most rapid change and development. In 1964 in view of its new importance, Pattata was raised to the status of a village and in 1979, elevated to that of a Teasban Nakhon (Municipality), responsible now for its own administration.
Today Pattaya is Thailand's premier beach resort and attracts annually more than a million tourists from all over the world. Pattaya provides high standard hotels, restaurants, sports, entertainment and shopping facilities. The resort is Thailand's most important diving center and the east coast is also a paradise for golfers.
Pattaya resort is located on the eastern coastline of Thailand's exotic Gulf of Siam and is approximately 140 km southeast of the capital city of Bangkok and about 160 Km from Bangkok International Airport. Which four parts: Central Pattaya, North Pattaya, South Pattaya and Jomtien Beach.
Central Pattaya Pataya Klang, or Central Pattaya, is a little funkier than the Northern district. The hotels are not so grand, the restaurants smaller, and here you will find the beginning of Pattaya's bar-beers, or open-air bars. There are plenty of tailor shops, and some go-go bars. Pattaya police station, and the Immigration Office are here. Two main shopping malls, the Royal Garden Plaza and Mike's Place, are both in Central Pattaya. In addition to the action along Beach Road, many of the sois are very lively: Soi Post Office, and Soi Pattayaland 1, 2 and 3 in particular. There is a Tourist Police office on Beach Road near the junction with South Pattaya's Walking Street. The sois will all take you through to Second Road, where there are more bars and restaurants, and a couple of dive shops. There are many small hotels and guesthouses here, offering good value accommodation and no-frills Western and Thai dining.
North Pattaya / Naklua Naklua means "salt fields", after the main occupation of the area before the rise of tourism and industry. There is still the air of an ancient village to Naklua today, for here you will see old wooden houses and narrow streets, traditional noodle shops and working fishing boats. The old houses over the creek are especially picturesque, and a walk through the streets will reveal plenty of little shops selling handicrafts and domestic goods. The Dolphin Roundabout and the beginning of Beach Road mark the junction with North Pattaya, and the surroundings change dramatically. This is the classy end of the resort, with upmarket hotel and restaurants facing out over the beach. Here too you can begin a pleasant walk along the bayfront, for a recently built promenade will take you along the shore under the palm trees right up to through to the back part of Pattaya, known as Second Road. There are more major hotels here, along with shopping areas, bars, clubs, and a Tourist Police office.
South Pattaya South Pattaya Road curves sharply off from Beach Road, taking the traffic away from this busy district which is now known as Walking Street. A relatively recent development, this pedestrians only zone is welcome relief, allowing visitors to browse amongst the endless little shops offering fast tailoring services, sports goods, jewelry and souvenirs. Here too the bars are almost endless, as are the big seafood restaurants, several of them built out over the ocean and offering pleasant surroundings to enjoy you meal. South Pattaya tends to be older, brasher and busier than the remainder of the city. You can walk uninterrupted all the way through to the Siam Bayshore Hotel and Arthachinda Road, which effectively marks the boundary of South Pattaya. Take any of the sois, no matter how tiny they may seem, to make you way through to Pratamnak Road, the back part of Pattaya which links up with Second Road.
Around Jomtien Beach As is so often the case in Thailand, you will see several different spellings of "Jomtien". This district, with its 6km beach, is divided off form the rest of Pattaya by the hill which rises to the back of South Pattaya. Drive over the hill, past the big Buddha and the Royal Cliff Hotel, and down into the relatively quiet Jomtien. The beach is popular with windsurfs and water sports enthusiasts, largely because the area enjoys brisk and fresh breezes sweeping inland from the Thai Gulf, and because the seas are less congested with boats than in Pattaya Bay. This is also the place to relax for a suntan, of go for long early morning or sunset walks along the oceanfront. There is little in the way of shopping or beer - bars at Jomtien, which is essentially a residential area with beachside hotels, bungalow complexes, condominiums and restaurants. Jomtien has its own very distinctive gay beach, accessed by turning right at the bottom of the hill; for all other attractions, turn left.
By Car Departure from the Bangkok's Don Muang Airport to Pattaya daily (by direct expressway) at 09:00, 12:00, and 19:00. Duration +/- 2.5 hrs. Reservation: Thai limousine service, Thai Airways, arrival lounge, Bangkok Airport (Don Muang).
Fare : 280 baht.
Tel. 02- 535-2801, 02-535-2803. (Bangkok)
Tel. 038-423140-1(Pattaya)
(individual taxis are available for the same journey and cost from ?1500 to 2000 baht, one way)
By BusBy 1st Class Air Conditioned Bus (Duration 2 1/2 hrs.)
Depart form the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai) to the Pattaya Bus Station on North Pattaya Rd. daily at 05.00 hrs. and every 30 minutes until 23.00 hrs. One way fare: 117 baht. Reservation: Rung Ruang Tour Tel. 02-390-1230
Depart from the Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit) to the Pattaya Bus Station on North Pattaya Rd. daily at 04.00 hrs. and every 30 minutes until 22.00 hrs. One way fare: 124 Baht Reservation : Rung Ruang Tour Tel. 02-271-2962
Depart from the Bus Terminal (North Pattaya) to the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai) One way fare: 113 Baht and to the Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit) One way fare: 121 Baht. daily at 05.00 hrs. and every 30 minutes until 23.00 hrs. Reservation : Rung Ruang Tour Tel. 02-271-2962
Depart from the Bangkok Airport to Pattaya at 09.00, 12.00 and 19.00 hrs. One way fare: 180 Baht Reservation: Thai Airways, arrival lounge, Bangkok Airport Tel. 02-535-2801, 535-2803 Pattaya Tel. 038-423-140
Departure from any hotel in Bangkok to Pattaya daily at 09.00, 11.30, 14.30 hrs. One way fare is 200 baht. Reservation: bell Travel Tel: 02-747-4675-6
By 2nd Class Air Conditioned Bus and Regualar Bus (Unspecified)
Departure from the Eastern Bus Ternimal, Tel. 02-391-2504, Daily at 05.00 hrs. and every 30 minutes until 21.00 hrs. One way fare: 120 baht.
By Train Few visitors to Pattaya are aware that the city does have a railway station. It is north of Sukhumvit Rd close to the Siam Country Club. One train a day leaves Bangkok Railway Station (Hualamphong) at 7am and takes 5 hours to works its way down to Pattaya. For more details call (66-2) 223-7010, 223-7020.
By Air The vast majority of tourists going to Patttaya are unaware that the resort does have U-Tapo Airport at Sattahip. Currently the only scheduled flights are operated by Bangkok Airways to and from Koh Samui.
BeachJomtien Beach Jomtien Beach this 6-kilometers long, largely straight beach, some 4 kilometers south of Pattaya, is the most notable of several beaches south of the resort. The beach is popular with windsurfs and waterspouts enthusiasts, largely because the area enjoys brisk and fresh breezes sweeping inland from the Thai Gulf, and because the seas are less congested with boats than is Pattaya Bay.
Jomtien is also a major residential area with beachside hotels, bunga low complexes, condominiums and restaurants.
Pattaya Beach Pattaya Beach some 4 kilometers long, this beach faces Pattaya Bay, the major venue from where boats visit Pattaya's offshore islands. The beach curves from north to south and is largely paralleled by a tree-lined promenade and beach road, which is lined, in the northern and central parts, by hotels and restaurants.
The northern section of the beach is largely tranquil, while the central and southern parts become increasingly lively, thanks to a juxtaposition of shops, department stores, boutiques, beauty salons, supermarkets, bars, discotheques, restaurants and night clubs. The central area of the beach is a major shopping area, while the southern end is one of Pattaya's major nightlife areas.
Wong Prachan Beach Won Prachan Beach is on the northern side of Pattaya Bay. The 1-kilometer beach shares the same entrance as the Central Wong Amat Hotel. A quiet spot, the beach is ideal for swimming and relaxation.
Island
Larn Island Koh Larn situated to the West of Pattaya Strait, about 7.7 Kilometers from the shore, covering an area of about 4 square kilometers, popularly known as Coral Island and is 45 minutes by ferry or 20 minutes by speed boat from Pattaya Beach.
There are beautiful beaches, clear water, and an abundance of coral. Visitors can view the coral either from a glass-bottom boat or by diving down directly. A well-known beach is at Ta Waen Beach in the northern part of the Island, a 750 meters stretch of white sand with many stalls andshops. Sightseeing boats mostly dock in this area.
There are also Laemtien Beach and Samae Beach on the south-western side, each beach spanning a length of 700 and 100 meters respectively.Both are regarded as beautiful and interesting sports, especially Laemtien Beach which has remained exceptionally clean and tranquil. There are now a few stores servisitors. Ta Pan Beach on the western part of the island is 500 meters in length with make-shift lodging available.
On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, sightseeing boats usually dock along this beach all the way to Laemtie where there is coral. On the southern part is Nual Beach 450 meters in length. On this beach a hotel which accommodates a large number of tourists. This is another good place for viewing coral.
Phai Group Island Koh Phai Group of islands is comprised of Koh Phai, Koh Manvichai, Koh leom, Koh Klung Badan etc., Koh Phai being the largest. The islands are presently under the supervision of the Royal Navy. The Koh Phai groups of islands are situated at a distance about 13 kilometers from Pattaya and takes 2 hours to reach by boat. There is a lighthouse on top of a hill at Koh Phai. Visitor's can enjoy relaxing-moments, swimming, fishing and diving down to view the coral.
Krok Island Koh Krok a small island covering an area of 0.05 square kilo -
meters, approximately 8 kilometers from the shore. The island comprises mostly rocks. Only one sandy-beach on the east of the island is Koh Krok beach which is only 100 meters in length. This is an ideal place for coral viewing.
Sak Island Koh Sak some 10 kilometers west of Pattaya strait or 600 meters away from Koh Larn. Koh Sak is another Small Island shaped like a horseshoe with an area of 0.05 square kilometers. It has two beaches, one on the northern cover 250 meters in length, and area in which boats usually stop for tourists to swim and another one on the southern part of the island opposite the first island, with a pathway linking the two beaches, a small beach 80 meters in length. A coral is found at the area in front of the beach. Skin-diving is also possible in this vicinity.
