Pattaya, located about 140 km southeast of Bangkok, the country's capital, on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand, is among the most famous resorts in Thailand with a vibrant nightlife, a world center of entertainment, famous worldwide thanks to the countless discos, bars, nightclubs, and entertainment venues found at every step.
When you say Pattaya, you inevitably think of the sea, vast beaches, crowds, and especially...sex. My friends and I chose this place as a family destination, we were 3 couples and a small child...so the part with sex tourism didn't interest us much.
With the sea and the beach, it was a huge disappointment. If we were dreaming of those gorgeous, deserted beaches that we saw everywhere in magazines, brochures, or in the articles of those who had been before me...well, it's not quite like that.
The sea water was extremely dirty, and in front of the beach, for miles, there were dozens and dozens of parked boats, yachts, and jet skis that were cheerfully embarking tens and hundreds of tourists. How can you swim among so many hundreds of horsepower?
There were, in some places, portions enclosed with a net, intended for those who want to bathe and where the boats did not have access, but after all, the water was the same, with a thin film that looked like grease.
The beach, almost non-existent at times, due to the ebb and flow, disappointed me, dirty and inhabited by a multitude of rats that gathered at the discarded leftovers that no one collects. I'm not exaggerating at all, but I really saw rodents both day and night...
I found it curious and strange at the same time, seeing how hundreds of umbrellas and a kind of sunbeds were lined up next to each other, at the edge of the beach, so that if you stretched out your hand you would hit your beach neighbor.
I didn't see anything arranged where you could rent sunbeds or umbrellas, so you had to come with your towel from home if you didn't want to share your space with other people, so I quickly reoriented myself and retreated to the hotel pool. Luckily, we had opted for a location with a pool, otherwise...I would have come back home as white as a sheet, just as I left.
In Pattaya, there's this huge mall, "Central Festival Pattaya Beach," where you can find almost all the stores of famous brands. The prices are quite steep, and it's normal to be like that, as long as this city is a tourist resort where a bunch of tourists from all over the world come.
One day when we got here, there was police everywhere, entire areas closed to the public, and I was wondering what was going on. Later, I found out and saw that there was an art exhibition where many important people were present, women and men dressed in traditional Thai clothes.
On another evening, in front of the mall, on a specially arranged platform, there was probably a fair with traditional products from various parts of the country, because all sorts of folk clothing items, various materials, and traditional objects were on display.
Nearby, on a makeshift stage, an artistic act was in full swing, with singers dressed in folk costumes and accompanied by young dancers, scantily clad. That's Thailand!
One attraction that I really liked was Underwater World Pattaya, housed in a structure similar to a circus tent. It's believed to be the largest and most modern aquarium in Asia, reaching a length of 100 meters and featuring a glass-walled tunnel that helps you admire the over 4000 marine creatures from 200 distinct species.
And because I mentioned at the beginning that Pattaya is a global center for entertainment, I will insist a bit on this aspect. Pattaya means a lot of sex tourism; many Westerners aged between 20 and 80 come here to have sex with Thai women. I saw hundreds or even thousands of mixed couples walking hand in hand on the street.
Although it seems strange, prostitution is illegal by law. Obviously, there are certain areas where authorities turn a blind eye, and Pattaya is at the top. In the evening, thousands of prostitutes fill the 4 km long beachwalk, waiting for foreign tourists who come here specifically for them.
If you walk on “Walking Street” – a street that becomes pedestrian after sunset – you can see dozens of “girlie bars” and the famous “ping-pong shows” in front of which numerous girls or boys invite you to take part in wild performances.
I was surprised to see that even in broad daylight those GoGo bars were open, on both sides of the streets, where scantily dressed girls (or boys) eagerly awaited to offer their services.
The story of Pattaya's tourism and debauchery began during the Vietnam War when the seaside fishing village was transformed by American soldiers into a place of recuperation and relaxation.
The small village, located in Chonburi province on the coast of the Gulf of Siam, became a point of interest not only for local merchants but also for women from the poor families of the area. Over time, Pattaya developed as a sex tourism destination.
Most of the prostitutes come from poor families in northeastern Thailand, who are sold by their own or come voluntarily in the hope that one day a Westerner will fall in love and marry them. In the past, the Thai woman was entirely obedient to her husband, and he could have multiple wives.
Nowadays, the roles have somewhat changed; the woman has emancipated (as everywhere in the world), being a housewife by day and practicing the world's oldest profession by night, while the man plays a less important role in the family. To understand the contemporary Thai woman, you need to visit Thailand; you will understand much better.
Even though my expectations, perhaps too high, were not met in Thailand, I would definitely like to return to these places. Next time, however, I will choose differently: an island further south, or a location on the Andaman Sea coast.
Everyone I told about how it wasn't what I expected confirmed that I simply didn't find the right place. However, I spent a few pleasant, interesting, unique days, completely different from anything I knew before.