Chonburi Information guide
Chonburi, Bangkoks nearest seaside town, is located on the eastern coast of the
Gulf of Thailand, only 80 kilometers from Bangkok. The area boasts abundant natural
resources, which are highlighted by delightful beaches, local colors, traditions,
delicacies and fresh seafood. This is a popular resort among Bangkokians who seek
the nearest escape from hectic weekly schedules as Chon Buri has something for
everyone. In addition, Chon Buri is the center of the Eastern Seaboard Development
Project, with its industrial parks and fishing villages.
Pattaya A Travelers Paradise
Pattaya is nestled along a picturesque bay on the East Coast of the Gulf of
Thailand, roughly 170 kilometers southeast of Bangkok. From a fishing village
in the 1960's, Pattaya has emerged as the favorite Southeast Asian vacation
center. A fascinating escape where tourists, holiday makers and vacationers
from around the world unfold an incomparable array of possibilities to unwind
during an exotic holiday beach vacation.
Unlike other beach resorts, where natural surroundings are used as magnets
to attract tourists, Pattaya makes an all-out attempt to provide the best of
everything. Here, everything means everything a tourist can imagine while on
holiday: recreation, entertainment, sports, sightseeing and fun. To put it simply,
Pattaya is a paradise for everyone, as it has a variety of attractions suitable
for all types of visitors. This is the place where you can fill your day, from
dusk to dawn, with endless activities, or you may choose to do nothing at all
and relax.
The Past
Pattaya's name was originated from the march of Phraya Tak (later known as
King Taksin the Great) and his followers from Ayutthaya to Chanthaburi just
before the fall of the Ayutthaya Kingdom to the Burmese invaders in 1767.
When Phraya Tak's army arrived in the vicinity of what is Pattaya today, he
encountered the troops of Nai Klom who tried to intercept him. When the two
leaders met face to face, Nai Klom was awed by Phraya Tak's dignified manner
and his army's strict discipline, thereby surrendering without a fight. The
place where the two armies confronted each other was later called Thap Phraya,
which means the Army of the Phraya. This was later changed to Phatthaya, which
happens to mean the wind blowing from the southwest to the northeast at the
beginning of the rainy season. Today the spelling of the name has been simplified
to Pattaya.
For centuries, Pattaya was a small fishing village almost cut off from the
outside world. But a big change occurred on 29 April 1961 when the first group
of about 100 American servicemen who would join the Vietnam War arrived in Pattaya
for relaxation. Soon, sleepy Pattaya became Thailand's premier and most successful
beach resort, which annually attracts hundreds of thousands of pleasure-seeking
visitors. A full range of accommodations from super deluxe hotels to bungalows
and mini-pocket guesthouses replaced fishermens huts along the beach. Fishing
vessels were adapted to become tourist boats and swimmers and sunbathers from
various parts of the world frequented the quiet powdery golden beaches. Places
of nighttime entertainment have also sprung up and are popular among international
tourists.
The Present
Pattaya currently integrates the delights of a 1st class beach resort, city-like
dining, shopping and night entertainment facilities with more than 300 assorted
hotels, thousands of shops, restaurants and bars. In addition, there are an
array of sports and recreational activities including beaches, golf courses,
tennis courts, go-kart, gyms for working out, weight lifting and Thai-boxing
gear. Pattaya offers a broad range of things to do. During the day, one may
enjoy riding elephants or driving humble automatic mini-bikes, monstrous motorcycles,
or even monster multicolored convertible Jeeps. Others go for shooting firearms,
scuba diving and surfing, deep-sea fishing, speed boats, scooters, water-skiing,
parasailing, or aerial sports such as gliding ultra-lights and flying motor-propelled
gliders. On the other hand, at night, there are restaurants, bars, theaters,
cabaret shows, night clubs, bowling halls, billiard & snooker clubs, discos,
sauna & massage parlors, not to cite its absolutely incredible shopping
which is available non-stop both day-and-night.
Pattaya Facts
This exotic beach resort welcomes approximately 5 million visitors a year.
The friendly and hospitable Thai nature boosts its promotion, frequently bringing
back the repeat visitors and constantly increasing the number of newcomers.
Pattaya city is located on the eastern coast of the country at latitude 13
N and longitude 101 E in the area of Chon Buri province. It is 147 kilometers
from Bangkok and lies parallel to Sukhumvit Road on its east and the coastline
on its west. Pattaya occupies an area of 208.1 sq. km. that is divided into
53.44 sq. kilometers of land and 154.66 sq. kilometers of islands and sea. Its
coastline is 15 kilometers long.
Pattaya has a plain on the coast with some high mountains to the south. The
area on the east slopes down towards the sea on the west.
Administration
Pattaya City has been administered under a special autonomous system since
1978. It has a status comparable to that of a municipality and is administered
separately by the mayor of Pattaya City, who is responsible for making policies,
organizing public services, and supervising all employees of Pattaya City Administration.
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