This thread will be for different scenery that I discover in Pattaya.

Pattaya has a two-part personality. In one part of Pattaya, you have a nice luxury scene of opulance with speedboats and high-rise hotels. In another part, you have scenes of Tijuana and absolute poverty.

Pattaya can be anything you want it to be so long as you have the money to pay for it. For the right price, you can have whatever you want here.

It can be a value oriented experience where you take the bus from the airport to stay at one of the various dumpy hotels for 500-600 baht a night OR you can have a limo from the airport to stay at the Caesar's palace at much higher prices.

I took some pictures of the luxury and TJ scene for you to contrast and compare.

Here are some photos of the scenery I snapped looking out the window of the hotel. The area in front with the tall buildings is for the Euro-travel scene and more wholesome activities. The Diana Inn seems mongering oriented, but is also a third-rate Euro-travel scene hotel as well.

Pattaya seems like a blend between wholesome family activities and outright prostitution. I dont know about you guys, but I would not take any children down these streets. I have been around some trash scenes in my life-time, but I would never expose young children to them and don't know how the Europeans can bring their children to places which are obviously red-light district type establishments. There is something a little wrong with that I believe. In the United States, I think someone would call the authorities on you if you exposed them to such a scene.

The pictures from the hotel were taken early in the morning. By day, the street is more jammed up then the interstate and just as difficult to cross. Horns, snarling engines and everything else can be heard with the hotel windows/doors shut.

The speedboat owners are all hanging out at the beach. This guy, "The Rockman", offered me to take me to an island for 2500 baht. I am guessing you can also negotiate other things such as water-skiing or parasailing.

This guy seemed cool and he said was chartered by the US Navy in the past to ferry sailors from the ships to shore. He can be found right up at the beach.



This was a map I found of the beach area.



Here are some scenic shots I did with the 55-250x zoom. This was the first time I used the zoom.













If you want to find non-pay for play then its out there in Pattaya. Here is a sample of the non-pay for play action that can be found on the beaches and other places. These two women seem typical of the Euro-tourist types around Pattaya.



Finally, I wanted to balance the beach images with the TJ or Angeles-like atmosphere that is going on behind the beach. This is a street directly behind the beach area.

Here are the pictures for the above. The computer dropped me out for some reason while uploading:

I forgot here is the non-pay for play action that can be found on Pattaya's beaches and at the non-pay for play clubs.

I think I would rather pay then take that for free. I can get that here no need to go to Asia
Report is really good so far
Thx

have a go at the nearby tourist sights. i thought they were worth it.

Nong Nooch Village
http://www.thailandhighlight.com/nong-nooch-village-pattaya.html

Tiger Zoo
http://www.thaiwaysmagazine.com/pattaya_ad/tiger_zoo/tiger_zoo.html

and my favorite Sanctuary of Truth
http://www.sanctuaryoftruth.com/

all good day trips. i usually go to a bar a few nights before and pick up a couple girls to go with me (more fun and they can take picture of you when you are there. hehe). rent a taxi for half the day to take you to and from and the rest if pretty affordable.

Here are a few more photos of the beach area. I am going to schedule a long day-hike tommorrow.

Here are some more scenic photos.

I hiked what seemed like the entire length of the Pattaya coast. It was at least 3-4 miles of walking along the beach. What an experience.

Here are a few tricks to navigating Pattaya. In the center of everything is the high-rise Pattaya Centre Hotel. This is basically the center of Pattaya.



To the left of the Centre hotel is the Pattaya City sign and Walking Street. There are also three high-rise condos in the distance.



To the right of the Centre Hotel are some high-rise hotels.



If you are going to meet someone during the trip, then the best place is the 24 hour McDonalds or Starbucks right before the Walking Street entrance.



This is right across from the Pattaya Tourist Center.



Here is the place where you can see a boxing match. There is a ring inside. If you are watching the fight or taking pictures, then you have to tip the boxers. They will come out after the fight to get their tip.



Finally, the entrance to Walking Street looks like this:

The 24 hour McDonalds is the best place to go to the bathroom. There is a bathroom upstairs and you do not have to order anything to go.

Believe me, whether you need to go or not, use this bathroom BEFORE and AFTER Walking Street. You will thank me.

I only had the 50mm on me when I went into the mall so I could only get limited snapshots of the mall.

This is the Centre or Central Mall (I forget what it was called) which was a few blocks up from the Diana Inn. This is one of the most modern malls I have ever seen. 6 stories and everything looks brand new.

It's been a couple of years since I had been in Pattaya. Having a "jumbotron" on Walking Street is insane. Do you have a wider shot of it's location? Did they replace the archway at the entrance? Is it still crazy difficult to navigate the car traffic because of the lack of stop lights?