Tag-Archive for "Travel"
ChandArt in Asia, 2005/2006. Traveling in Indonesia, Thailand, India, Lao, Philippines.
Music by: Jose Gonzalez, Fink, Nick Drake
A nice way to travel in the south of Thailand to move between islands and beaches
Do not go there!
Polution, crime and long lines. A new guide book made by Peter Greenberg guides you away from the worst travel destinations on the earth.
Places you very well can avoid is listed up by Mr. Greenberg, and also lists up the airports you should avoid and at what times it is wise to visit sights around the world. A handy little guide, with some other perspective than other travel guides available to you.
Go there in the winter: According to Greenberg the lines at the Eiffeil tower in Paris is worst in the summer (big surprise?). He recommends of course to visit the sights in Paris in November and December months.
The internet is full of travel tips sites and guides that tells you were to go and what to see. An example of a travel guide is TripAdvisor
However, now there is a guide book available to you that tell you where you should not travel and make sure travelers stay away from these places.
The author calls his guide book; «Don’t go there!» And is listing up places not to go to and should avoid and at times you should avoid some places.
Here you will find a good overview of travel destinations that at first glance looks exotic and exiting, but be aware that some of these places can have surprises you would like to stay away from.
The guide book lists up the worst airports in the world and common tourist traps in addition to cover topics like pollution, crime and the worst environmental sinners.
Stinking beaches and hazardous roads have also been covered by the investigative traveler.
Several cruise ships are mentioned as not having acceptable sanitary conditions, lack of food hygiene and falsification of discharge logs.
You will in addition to advices get anecdotes about places you should avoid visiting.
For example the increased pollution in Delhi in India is caused by the increasing care sales amongst the normal people since a Indian car like Nano is sold for around 2500 USD which more people can afford in today’s India. The paradox is that some of the new cars pollute more than the older models according to what is written in the book.
The air in Calcutta is so bad that the police has to carry oxygen tanks with them., so you would not like to go for a walk and sightseeing there, unless you are a heavy smoker and do not mind to get some extra chemicals down your throat.
New York is a splendid city to visit, but be aware that statistically there will be a hurricane in the Big Apple soon. According to the guide book from Greenberg, the geography tells that the east coast of U.S.A is vulnerable to hurricanes and big storms, and big storms come on a regular basis to these areas through the last 100 years. The last big event was back in 1938, so watch out now.
In Pattaya polluted sanitary water is dumped into the ocean from large apartment complexes. The authorities made a law that complexes larger than 60 units should clean up their waste water before dumping it into the ocean. However, the entrepreneurs just found out to save costs they build complexes with 59 units in them and can therefore continue to dump sewage into the beach waters.
In the U.S.A you can visit the garlic capital called Gilroy in California, which is Americas arm pit. Battle Mountain in Nevada and the largest hand made well in Greensburg in Kansas, or maybe not.
First of all, this is a guide book for the normal tourist, which needs some guidance to avoid the tourist traps, and not avoid places were your health is at risk.
Here is a summary of destinations that Greenberg categorize as the worst candidates within their category.
Worst airports
• Sheremetevo in Moscow – corruption, lines, lousy service, dirty and depressive. Make sure you have dollars and toilet paper with you before you arrive here. There are no alternatives as the other 3 airports in Moscow are equally bad.
• Ninoy Aquino in Manila – taxi-mafia, corruption and general incompetence, but there is an alternative in Clark International which is newer.
• Leopold in Dakar –Do not spend to long time here, it’s dangerous as criminals rule the area in and around the airport and usually luggage gets lost here. There are no alternatives.
• Charles de Gaulle in Paris – smell, arrogance, and long lines combined with lack of logistics which is deemed to be the worst. Alternatives would be Paris-Orly or Paris-Beauvais
• Congonhas in São Paulo – is one of the most dangerous airports in the world due to safety of flights due to short runway and the state of it. There are no real alternatives as Guarulhos is to busy.
Pollution
• Tianying, China – an industrial city with lots of lead and heavy metals in the food. • Chongqing, China – crowded coal and steel city with an invisible sky line.
• Cairo, Egypt – 2,1 percent of the deaths are caused by air pollution and the city is full of industry.
• Delhi, India –the second largest polluted city in the world due to lots of traffic and lots of cheap cars which pollutes lots.
• Calcutta, India – 70 percent of the people there has asthmatic problems or lounge problems in one way or another. And the police use oxygen tanks.
Windsor, Canada – is called North Americas most polluted city due to wind carried polluted air from Detroit.
• Mexico City, Mexico – lies in a pot with lots of ozone and particles in the air. The city is encapsulated by smog at all time.
Polluted waters
• Pattaya, Thailand – once it was a beautiful beach, but now the growing population pumps out pure sewage into the beach waters.
• Aral lake, Uzbekistan – dehydration causing death of fishes, salt and pure drinking water causes lots of diseases.
• King-river, Australia – dumping ground for copper mines, and all animal life is gone in parts of the river.
• Bangladesh – salt water destroys the drinking water and agriculture along the coast line pollutes a lot. There is a high content of arsenic in the water further inland.
• Jakarta, Indonesia – The large drinking water source is polluted due to large activity of chemical treatment of textiles in the area.
• Sarno-elva, Italy – Heavy metal pollution which pollutes rivers running into the Naples bay.
Toxins and radio activity
• Bhopal, India – A big accident in 1984 which still brings heavy smell close to the old factory there.
• Tsjernobyl, Ukraine – A known history of tragedy which is now used for extreme tourism as guided tours are given there. Do not risk this, stay away from there. • Dzerzjinsk, Russia – Fabrication of chemical weapons during the cold war and lots of remnants can be found in the region still.
• Kabwe, Zambia – lead exploitation up till 1994 and we can still find dangerous metals in the earth and waters.
• La Oroya, Peru – This place is full of heavy metals due to the industry in this area. • Linfen, China – is amongst the worst places in China and that tells you the most you need to know. Bring oxygen and water before you enter this area of the world.
Smelling places
• Taean, South-Korea – oil spill in 2007 makes the place smell terrible even today. • Rotorua, New Zealand – Geothermal activity makes the whole city smell sulfur, so do not plan to dress up in your finest clothes or taste good food and wine here.
• Naples, Italy – Very bad handling of garbage makes the trip to Vesuvius and the ruins not worth the trip.
• Dharavi-slum, Mumbai, India –a rapid growing slum with open sewage and terrible sanitary conditions.
Most tourist traffic
• New York – worst before Christmas and new years eve as well as during Thanksgiving. Expensive hotels and crowded city makes it a nightmare for most of us. Its best going there between January and March or when the locals have long weekends in the summer and escape the city.
• Disney World, Florida – endless lines in school holidays, Christmas, easter, spring break and 4th of July. An advice is to go there on a Tuesday and first go to Magic Kingdom, then Epcot followed by Hollywood Studios and last Animal Kingdom.
• Grand Canyon – worst to visit during the normal weekdays since excursions and tours makes up most of the traffic and are found to be on these days. Its best to go there in October or early in the spring.
• Eiffel tower, Paris – very bad in the period between May and September and longest lines in the summer months. Its best to go there in November and December as lines are better at that time. Try to go there in the weeks following Thanksgiving and New-year.
• Louvre, Paris –weekends are worst, especially in the summer and in vacations. It is best to go there in the middle of the week or late on Fridays, after 20:00 as its open till 22:00 in Fridays.
• Ayers Rock, Australia – Populated on the look out points at sun rise and sunset. Its best to go there in February, April or December.
• Great Barrier Reef, Australia – 1,8 million of visitors per year by boat, semi-subs or helicopters. Its best not to visit at all, rather try Lord Howe Island or Dunk Island which is more or less identical and much less people.
• Pyramides in Giza, Egypt – most popular between October and April months and when its not hot. You should go there as early in the morning as possible at around 5:00 o clock and look at the pyramids in the sunrise. It makes the objects much more photogenic and less people around you as well. Rent a driver that collects you and ride into the sunrise in the morning.
• The Chinese Wall – Big crowds year around and the tourists comes around 09:00, come there before this, and you can be almost alone on the wall, and enjoy this architecture alone.
Crime and dangers
• Yemen – has a bad reputation with kidnapping of westerners, and do not ever drive a car there.
• Tijuana, Mexico – drug cartels dealing with kidnapping and shootouts; take care of your money.
• São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – violence and corruption combined with dangers of being robbed and shot at.
• Johannesburg, South-Africa –not as bad as its reputation, but still lots of violence, robberies and rapes in the streets.
• Kingston, Jamaica – increasing crime in areas outside the tourist hotels.
• Port-au-Prince, Haiti – kidnapping and other types of crimes are common here. Foreign airliners personnel never leave the airport when they have to stay here.
He has a background as civil engineer and geoscientist. He has worked mainly within the oil and gas industry from the mid 1980s. He has written a few fictional novels as well as being the author of some professional litterature within oil and gas sector, he is now an editor of some web sites.
The largest as well as the most populous continents in the world – Asia is a land of diversity with a multitude of geographies, cultures, and people. Occupying an area of about 9% of the total area of the earth’s surface, Asia is home to more than five billion people.
In other words, Asia consists of more than 60% of the world’s overall population. As a tourist destination, Asia boasts of a feast of attractions in the form of traditional cities, ancient monuments with superb architecture, museums and art galleries that throw light on the history of the place, incredible wild life, scenic mind blowing attractions, and attractions that are a blend of both east and west.
There are also a range of vibrant attractions, covering action packed beaches, bargain shopping areas, and exuberant nightclubs. Equally remarkable is the sumptuous cuisines available here, each of which is a representation of different cultures. In fact, the world’s majority of tourist attractions are found in Asia. Discussed further in this article are some of the most popular tourist attractions in Asia.
The continent of Asia is home to such incredible destinations as India, China, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Philippines. Asia has such a great number of attractions that even a year is not enough to explore them all. For those who want to explore a range of rich culture and topography and at the same time interested in recreational pursuits, then one of the most suitable options would be to take a tour to India. Stunning beaches, gorgeous monuments, ancient temples, and lively cities, all sum up the attractions of India. Attractions, among many others, in India are Red Fort and Qutab Minar in Delhi, Taj Mahal, one of the world’s seven wonders, Khajuraho Temples in Madhya Pradesh, Elephanta Caves in Mumbai, Ajanta and Ellora Caves in Aurangabad, and Kerala’s backwaters.
For those interested in exploring the pristine beauty as well as the ancient wonders, perhaps the greatest of all attractions in Asia would be China, which boasts of such lively destinations as Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing, all of with loads of mind blowing attractions. Most popular among the attractions in China are the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors, Potala Palace, West Lake, and Mogao Grottos. Another much sought after tourist destination in Asia is Japan, which is acknowledged as the Land of the Rising Sun. It features attractions such as Nara Park, Kyoto’s Higashiyama area, Kin Osaki, Himeji Castle, and Takayama in Gifu. With attractions such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam is also an incredible spot in Asia.
Popular countries in Asia also include the Kingdom of Thailand, which is probably the number one tourist destination in South-East Asia. What that set apart Thailand from other spots in Asia is its breathtaking natural beauty, stunning temples, gorgeous island destinations, stupendous monuments, healthy cuisines, and above all presence of amicable Thai people.
Just few among many of the attractions in Thailand are Bangkok, the capital city; Ayutthaya, which is much famed for its Gothic ruins; Chiang-Mai, bestowed with the title ‘Rose of the North,’ Krabi, which is a paradise for enjoying a range of water sport activities; and Pattaya, one of the best resorts in Asia. Also, a tourist spot in South-East Asia is Singapore, which is an island destination situated at the Malay Peninsula’s southern tip. Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore Discovery Center, Little India, and China Town, are some of the Singapore’s landmarks.
Southeast Asia also contains incredible destinations such as Indonesia – the largest archipelagic nation in the world; Malaysia, with attractions like Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya; Philippines, with more than 7000 islands; and Burma, which is the largest country in Southeast Asia. Other top places of interest in Asia are Sri Lanka – an island destination located off the southern tip of India; Afghanistan, with a rich as well as complex history; Maldives, which consists of more than 1,000 coral islands in the Indian Ocean; Uzbekistan, one of the most popular destinations in Central Asia; Kyrgyzstan, which is probably the most popular tourist spot in Central Asia; and Bangladesh, which has to its credit a number of ancient palaces, magnificent Buddhist shrines, and beautiful monuments.
In short, Asia is truly a dream destination for every traveler.
The Accor Group manages Hotels with the Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, All Seasons, Ibis, Formule 1, Grand Mercure brands and offers services to corporate clients and public institutions: 23 million people in nearly 40 countries use a broad range of services engineered and managed by Accor Services.
At the special period of the year, we always brainstorm to give you the entertainment of our video. Do you think Openchiangmai has to film only Chiangmai and the northern of Thailand? You think wro…
ChandArt in Asia, 2005/2006. Traveling in Indonesia, Thailand, India, Lao, Philippines.
Travel is freedom…Freedom is Live!
Thailand means “land of the free” and is famously acknowledged as the “land of smiles”. You will realize why it is so called when you are relaxing in a beach looking at your children sporting smiles as wide as the estuary of an ocean amuse at the water’s edge without absolutely any care whatsoever. The kingdom boasts a wealth of culture and tradition. It also has the scenic beauty of a multifaceted countryside and gives satisfaction for everyone. Thailand has an enviable history, tropical climate and well known hospitality which is just perfect for families of all kinds ranging from the enterprising to the lazy and vacation minded families searching for pleasure.
The three major destinations that suits families are Hua Hin, Phuket and Bangkok. Hua Hin can be reached from Bangkok with a three-hour drive or a short flight. It offers safe swimming beaches, golf courses, spa resorts and magnificent shopping facilities. This is the oldest and most traditional Thai resort and is a real mixture of the attractions of a contemporary holiday destination with the beauty and fascination of a still bustling fishing port.
While most other Thai holiday destinations are specifically aiming at foreign tourists, Hua Hin is a holiday resort for families. Besides boasting a stunning beach which is as long as 5 miles, Hua Hin offers the highest density of world class golf courses anywhere in Thailand. However, it is not yet recognized as an international golf destination. Green-fees and other costs are at the moment among the cheapest in the world and course maintenance and services are excellent. Apart from sun-filled days on the beach, leisure activities for the whole family include all kinds of water sports.
In the surrounding areas around the town you can find exceptional parks and peaks, caves and waterfalls. Once it is evening the winding roads with numerous and diverse shops make a fantastic stroll. The restaurants constructed on stilts into the sea provide excellent seafood in the legendary and unmatched preparation of the Thai cuisine. Hua Hin offers you everything needed for a unique holiday experience.
Phuket Island is arguably the most celebrated tourist destination in Thailand. Phuket is widely known as the “pearl of the south” and has an excellent selection of resorts from three to five star. There is a compelling scenery on display and the main attractions include the majestic limestone scenery of Phang Nga Bay, the admirable Phi Phi Island and other options like elephant rides, canoeing, rock climbing and horse riding are also available. It also offers tourists the chance for sightseeing around the historic temples, shopping in the alluring markets and nature reserves where you can enjoy a comfortable holiday on journeys to Thailand.
Bangkok, the busy capital city of Thailand, is famous for many historic pagodas, monuments and tourist attractions. Some of the popular sights are the Chao Praya River on which Royal Barge parades took place, The Grand Palace – the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, the Marble Temple, the Golden Mount and other favorite destinations include the Temple of the Golden Buddha which is home to an image of the Buddha which is three meters tall and made of solid gold, the National Museum and the Royal Barge Museum. Bangkok has achieved fame also for its shopping district and its life after dark unfolds with clubs and bars functioning throughout day and night. So if you are planning an overseas family trip, there may not be too many better choices than the diverse and awe inspiring country of Thailand.
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Pattaya (sometime spelled “Pataya” or “Phattaya”)
Pattaya lies around 150km to the southeast of Bangkok, Thailand. This is Less than 2 hours by road, and stretches for some 15km along the Eastern Seaboard. Thailand ’s Largest resort, it shares the coast with traditional a fishing villages, other resorts such as Bang Saen and Rayong, new industrial centers, the town of Chonburi and Sriracha, and the port and naval base of Sattahip.
Pattaya in the past was just a little fishing village. Until 1960s, American servicemen form the U.S. Air Force base at Utapao in neighbouring Rayong Province began using the area for “Rest and Recreation” (R&R) , causing a huge boom in entertainment business. When the Americans left following the end of the Vietnam War, the city fell into a crisis. However, modern mass tourism brought a new life to Pattaya. The city is considered heaven or hell on the Earth, depending on how you look at it.
More than 35,000 hotels’ rooms were available in Pattaya. It is an eapecially popular vacation destination for families from Russia, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and other countries. It also a large international expatriate population and many services meet international standards In recent years, new shopping malls, outlet stores and jewelry stores have sprung up like mushrooms, which have helped in increasing the length of stay of visitors to the city.
Pattaya’s main attractions are its beaches. Pattaya Beach stretches out along the central city close to shopping, hotels and bars. The section of beach from Central Road (Pattaya Klang) south to the harbor is adjacent to the core of Pattaya’s abundant nightlife area, hence it is less family-oriented than the North Pattaya, Na Klua and Jomtien beaches.
Pattaya is now a city in its own right, with its own mayor and its own administration. This is not all due to tourism. The government development programmed for the Eastern Seaboard has transformed the region, and this rapid industrial and commercial expansion has led to many expatriates coming to live in the area. There is a new deep-sea port at Laem Chabang, 20 km north of Pattaya with a vast industrial estate, and another development zone at Map Ta Phut near Rayong to the south. Pattaya city is well located to be a major business centre serving these two giant industrial communities. There are five international schools and four international hospital in the area.
However Pattaya has multi-cultural quintessentially Thai visitors, and although the convenience foods of the West are readily accessible, the Thai culture is everywhere and most visitors embrace the easy-going way of life readily. Over 95 per cent of people who live and work here are Thai and even a couple of blocks away from the beach the culture takes over from the holiday atmosphere by the sea and the beach. Despite this, the ex-pat community here is a perhaps the least assimilated of all the foreign communities in Thailand, and you’re more likely to feel like you’re in Tenerife than Thailand, with all the footage on TV, English style pubs and nary a word of Thai spoken in the many bars that service the full-time early retirees who favor this atmosphere.
If you are seeking an ultimate beachfront retreat, Pattaya in Thailand is the best place to be in this summer. With its endless beaches, colorful activities, entertainment options and an unrivalled Oriental charm, Pattaya in Thailand has everything for the avid traveler! With festivity and joy filling the air, activity is a part of life in Pattaya. Once you are in Pattaya, you will get a variety of accommodation options. From luxury to cheap hotels, you will find a wide range of accommodations waiting to pamper you with comfortable amenities and services.
Wherever you are planning to stay, you are never far from the beautiful attractions of Pattaya in Thailand. The Pattaya travel guide will always assist you with extensive information about the city. Stay at your desired accommodation and sally forth for the beautiful attractions in Pattaya. The city boasts of a mesmerizing list of attractions. From an exotic dining to a dazzling nightlife, from exciting sporting options to a variety of beach activities, Pattaya caters to every mood and every taste. Whether you are looking for colorful water sports or snooker options or impressive beach sports or a pulsating nightlife experience or a thrilling golfing experience, Pattaya is the best place to be in. Whenever you are in Pattaya, you will always find an atmosphere of activity and celebration.
Pattaya welcomes you with the finest range of hotels with a fascinating array of amenities and services. Pattaya hotels enjoy close access to the major dining establishments, shopping destinations and other entertainment options. Take a break from the busy activities and avail of a wealth of recreation options. If you have a knack for sports, you can play a round of golf, enjoy a relaxing beach experience, head for go-karting or a game of tennis. The fitness centers in Pattaya are well equipped with the latest fitness equipments including exercising, Thai-boxing gear and weight-lifting equipments.
If you are fond of adventure, you can make most of your holiday here in Pattaya. From elephant riding to scuba diving, from surfing to firearms shooting, from deep-sea fishing to water skiing, from parasailing to gliding, Pattaya has a host of options for the adventure enthusiast.
If you want to catch a glimpse of the throbbing nightlife in Pattaya, you can explore the colorful options near your hotel. Wherever you are staying, you can easily access the popular nightlife destinations of Pattaya. Most of the well-known hotels in Pattaya are located around plenty night spots. You can also enjoy some dining at the nightlife destinations. Try out the variety of squids, crabs, lobsters, oysters, and shrimps while in Pattaya. Just 160 km south east of the capital city of Bangkok, you can reach Pattaya quite conveniently.
If you are thinking about the accommodation options in Pattaya, you will get a variety of options. From high-end hotels to cheap hotels, Pattaya caters to all and sundry. You can avail discount hotel booking online, if you want to go for the cheap category hotels. Which services are provided at what discount rates? Online hotel booking worldwide will always assist you.
Ishita Bhaduri loves to write articles on how to get cheap hotels in your favorite destination spots and how to find Pattaya hotels that will give you a peace of mind.
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With its large expatriate community and diverse attractions, Pattaya has gained a reputation as one of Thailand’s leading international communities. Its other reputation as Bangkok’s playground and the capital of the sex industry, it attracts a very specific sort of tourist. No matter what your reasons for visiting, you’ll find an exhausting list of attractions, theme parks and entertainment to keep you busy while you’re here. In Pattaya gay travellers are also welcome and made to feel comfortable. Thailand is very tolerant of gay activities, Pattaya is no exception.
Million Years Stone Park and Pattaya Crocodile Farm
The Million Years Stone Park and Crocodile Farm is a great place to take in some of the indigenous plant and animal life of Thailand. More than 1,000 crocodiles are kept and bred on the grounds and there are some elephants and rare albino bears. Elephant shows are held every day, as is the crocodile roundup. The grounds also have some beautiful landscaping, most outstanding of which is the bonsai garden. The park can be reached via a 15-minute drive from Pattaya city centre.
Ripleyâs Believe It or Not
This one-of-a-kind museum is located on the third floor of the Royal Garden Plaza building in Pattaya. The facility contains over 300 unusual exhibits exploring the whole gamut of weird and unexplained phenomena. Some of the more popular attractions include the Infinity Maze, an immersive, walk-through sound and light show that tests the limits of perception; and the Haunted Adventure, a resurrection of an old real-life mystery set at the Grimsby and Streaper Casket Company and brought to life with live actors, special effects and animatronics. Despite its emphasis on the odd, Ripley’s is Pattaya’s most outstanding museum and a definite must-see.
Sriracha Tiger Zoo
North of the city of Pattaya, the Sriracha Tiger Zoo can be found off Route 3241 via a 30-minute drive from the city centre. The subjects of this facility can be found in a variety of circumstances including in their natural surroundings as well as more interactive settings. Visitors will have the opportunity to bottle-feed young cubs as well as have their picture taken with them. The zoo is home to several other species including crocodiles, elephants and scorpions. Some of the more outlandish shows include elephants playing basketball and a woman wrestling a crocodile.
Mini Siam
One of Pattaya’s most well-known sites for tourists is Mini Siam, a 1:25 scale replication of some of Thailand’s most popular sites from across the country. There are 80 buildings in the park representing periods throughout Thailand’s history. Don Muang Airport is on-site, as is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok and the Temple of Phimai in Nakorn Ratchisima. The best time to visit is after dark, when the exhibits are illuminated and take on a new life.
Nong Nooch Tropical Garden
Anyone who wishes to visit the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden can catch a shuttle bus that departs from in front of the Nipa Lodge Hotel in downtown Pattaya. This park covers more than 600 acres and hosts a broad spectrum of exhibits dedicated to Thai culture and history. The grounds include a cactus garden, an orchid nursery and a lake with canoes that can be hired. The arts and culture centre hosts daily exhibitions of Thai dance, Muay Thai (Thai boxing) and elephant shows. There’s also a zoo on-site and accommodation for overnight stays.
Wat Yansangwararam
Pattaya is not as well known for its temples and ancient architecture as Bangkok or Chiang Mai. Even so, the Yansangwararam is a temple worth checking out while in the area. It’s located a few miles south of Pattaya and was built in 1988 to commemorate the 42nd year of King Bhumibol’s reign. On-site is a lake with Chinese pavilions and a building that houses several art exhibits and antiques of Chinese origin. The temple itself sits at the apex of a flight of 299 stairs hemmed in by snakes.
Pattaya Elephant Village
Visitors who want to get an up close look at the iconic Thai elephant can do so at the Pattaya Elephant Village. These animals have served the country in a variety of roles over the centuries, spanning war times and more recently, teak harvesting. The elephants in the village are protected and perform daily educational and entertaining feats showcasing their forestry and football skills. Visitors can also ride the elephants into the forest and listen to English language explanations of this beast’s history in Thailand.
Pattaya Beach
While it may be saturated with visitors and a little polluted, Pattaya’s beachfront property continues to be its greatest draw. Visitors come to enjoy the beach in any number of ways, whether it’s a walk on the tree-lined promenade; a relaxed seafood dish eaten on an outdoor veranda or simply a laid-back afternoon spent on a deckchair. Charter boats head out to some of the nearby islands where further exploration and snorkelling is available. There’s not too much actual swimming in the water, though it’s bustling with jet-skis, banana boats and motor boats.
Amusement parks
The constant flux of tourists through Pattaya has given way to a variety of amusement parks. Pattaya Water Park is a huge facility with water slides, Jacuzzis, whirlpools and a children’s wading pool. Staggering towers at the Pattaya Park Resort and Amusement Park are capped by revolving restaurants with impressive views of the city and sea. The Funny Land Amusement Park has all sorts of carnival and theme-park style rides including a roller coaster and a pendulum Viking ship. Asia’s largest aquarium is also located in PattayaâUnderwater World, with an impressive walking tunnel allowing visitors to walk in among the aquatic life.
Nightlife and gay activities
Anyone visiting Pattaya will at some point be confronted with the city’s notoriety as a part of the sex industry. While it’s true that sex tourism is in full force in the go-go bars along Walking street, it’s easy to find more family-oriented locations across town where you can get a bite to eat or relax in the evening. There are a couple of Irish pubs, an English pub and a blues bar where tourists can enjoy a relaxed evening without the risqué atmosphere. On the whole, the nightlife in Pattaya spans all interests and there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Pattaya is also a popular gay destination. Gay Pattaya is centred on Boyztown and is very welcoming. Gay travellers feel very comfortable in Pattaya and have plenty of options for fun.
Web travel writer Andy Burrows knows Pattaya inside out and suggest the following web resources for a thorough virtual tour;
Pattaya travel guide
Pattaya gay guide
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