General Pattaya

Romance of the Three Kingdoms Park

Situated close to the Horseshoe Point, the park contains several beautiful Chinese-style

buildings and art objects.

** Open daily from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Tel: 0 3842 1428.

The Bottle Museum

As the name implies, this is the place where you can find elaborate bottle creations, including

the usual vessels. Located at Km. 145, off of Highway No. 3, the museum features the work of

the Dutch master Peter Bedelais.

**Open daily from 10.a.m. until 10 p.m.,

admission fee is 100 baht for adults and 50 baht for children.

Call (038) 422957

Sanctuary of Truth (Prasat Satchatham)

The compound, which covers an area of more than two rais, is situated by the sea at Laem Ratchawet

on Na Klua Road, North Pattaya. Within the compound is a gigantic temple-like structure entirely made

of wood that is 105 meters high at the highest point which was constructed to withstand wind and

sunshine on the seashore. With exquisite architectural features, the sanctuary was conceived out of

the vision that human civilization has been achieved and nurtured by religious and philosophical truths.

**Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.,

admission fee is 500 baht with Dolphin Training Shows at 11.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m.

Tel: 0 3822 5407, or visit http://www.sanctuaryoftruth.com/ for more information.

Pattaya Elephant Village

Located on Phonpraphanimit Road, which is off of Highway No.3 at Km. 145, the Pattaya Elephant Village

showcases daily life of elephants and their masters. It also offers stage shows, which demonstrate how to

catch wild elephants, elephants-at-work in the jungle, elephants playing football, a grand war, and

elephants' parades. Elephant rides around the village are recommended. The one-hour-long elephant

shows are held at 14.30 hrs.

** Contact the counter in the Tropicana Hotel, Tel: (038) 249145-7, 249818.

Elephant shows are also operated in other places. Most of them are located on Sukhumvit Road.

These include Ban Chang Thai Tel: (038) 70628-91, Utthayan Chang Tel: (038) 716379,

Thin Chang Thai Tel: (038) 756516, 756577, Suan Chang Tel: (038) 756517

and Farm Chang Thai Tel: (038) 237825.

The Million-Year Stone Park and Crocodile Farm

The Million-Year Stone Park and Crocodile Farm, which is located approximately 9 kilometers from Pattaya City,

has beautifully landscaped grounds with elaborate flower and rock gardens. In addition, the farm has hundreds

of crocodiles as well as some rare animals, including albino bears and horses.

**Crocodile shows, magic performances and animal shows run 6 times a day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the admission fee is 300 baht.

Call (038) 249347-9 or (02) 579 4008, 579 5033 for more information.

**How to go there

Getting there by car: Drive along Highway No. 3 (Sukhumvit) until you come to the Km. 140 marker near

Sawangfah Temple, then turn into Chaiyaphonwithi (Route No.3024) and proceed for 5 kilometers.

Hat Pattaya

The half-moon-shaped Pattaya Beach is 4 kilometers long with a road running parallel to the beach. From the

mid-section to the southern end of the area, there is a vast array of restaurants, bars, department stores,

souvenir stores, as well as other places of entertainment. To the north of the beach are various mini-resorts

and hotels in a quieter atmosphere. It's actually free to stroll along the beaches, but operators will charge you

for the services they provide, i.e. the beach chair.

**A price is roughly $0.5 per chair, though bargaining is rather customary in Thailand.

Ko Lan

Lying about 7.5 kilometers off of Pattaya by a 45-minute ferry or 15 minutes by speed boat ride, the island measures

2 kilometers by 5 kilometers and offers several white sandy beaches, notably Hat Ta Waen, Hat Laem Thian and

Hat Thong Long, the latter facing coral reefs. Visitors can choose either snorkeling or viewing the coral from glass

bottom boats.

**Ferries to the island leave South Pattaya pier daily from 10.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. Cruises by sailing junks,with

lunch provided are also available.

Chon Buri

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Chon Buri The Nearest Seaside Retreat

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 Paradi

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.

The International wax sculpture

The International wax sculpture At Ubon Ratchathani Province 1 - 31 July 2008 Week 1 : 1 - 6 July 2008 "Visit the Artisan Community" Activities - Opening the 3rd International Wax Sculpture - Visit to candle crafting communities and learn the insights into an ancient artistic tradition and local culture. - Gathering of art students from all art institute in Thailand. - Activity "I-san Tourism Year" - Start of wax sculptures by International artists. - Displays of local flags, performances, pottery, etc. Week 2 : 7 - 13 July 2008 "Global Cooling by Wax Sculpture" Activities - Wax sculpture made by representatives of 9 countries from Germany, China, Japan, Turkey, Mexico, Ukrain, Luxembourg, Italy and India including Ubon Rachathani local artist, work under concept "Global Cooling @ Thailand" at Ubon Ratchathani National Museum. Week 3 : 14 - 20 July 2008 "A Touch of Buddhism And Arts" Activities - 18 July 2008, The Buddhist Lenten Candle Procession parade. - Wax Sculpture by International Young Artists from the Greater Mekong Subregion : China, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. - Enjoy light and sound Show, Miss candle beauty contest. Broadcasting via www.tourismthailand.org on 18 July 2008 Week 4-5 : 21 - 31 July 2008 "Wisdom on Buddhism Land" Activities - Display of the Buddhist Lent Candle created by Ubon Ratchathani’s local artist - Presentations of I-san flok performances and various kinds of food. - Exhibition of 10 masterpieces created by 9 international artists plus 1 local artist at the Ubon Rachathani National Museum. The exhibition will be until 31 July 2008. - Melting the Candle Cerenony ; "Back to Emptiness" on 31 July 2008 For any further information - TAT Northeastern Office : Region 2 Tel. : 0 4524 3770-1, Fax. 0 4524 3771 Email : tatubon@tat.or.th - Events Planning Division, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Tel : 66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 3475-77 Email : eprodiv@tat.or.th - TAT call center 1672 - Website : http://www.thailandwaxcarving.com/ www.tourismthailand.org

Tags : Candle Festival, Pha Khao Laeng, Ubon Ratchathani, wax sculpture

HRN Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Herb Garden

PTT Public Company Limited (PTT) has planted and established the first herb garden of Thailand since 1984 on the 60-rai area with the objective to conserve and develop the natural resources for people in the next generation. Various kinds of herbs are gathered and planted in the garden, which was later presented to HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on 18 April 1985. The landscape was developed and more herbs were planted and the 50th Birthday Anniversary in honor to HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Building was built on the auspicious occasion of the Princess 50th Birthday Anniversary in 2006. HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Herbs Garden comprises of 2 parts: 1. The Herb Garden The garden of more than 260 medicinal herbs of about 20,000 herb trees which can be divided into 20 groups according to their medical properities. The garden serves as the source of Thai Herbal knowledge and the place for recreation. 2. The 50th Birthday Anniversary in honor to HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Building It is the exibition hall where visitors can enjoy interesting knowledge about Thai herbs shown through various multimedia, exciting and encouraging the desire to learn more. The exhibition hall consists of: - The Adventure of the Whirling Rubber Seed Room - Thai Energy Save the World Room - 4 essential elements of a person body room - The Conservationist Princess Room - House of the Village Doctor - World of Herb Room The Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhon Herbal Garden is located within the grounds of the Petroleum Authority of Thailand, about 25 kilometers from town on Highways No. 36 and No. 3191 in Nikhom Phatthana sub-district. It is not only a center where various herbal plants are put on display the place as well engages in herbal research. Open daily except Monday from 9.00 a.m.- 4.00 p.m. Tel: 0 3891 5213-5 Fax. 0 3891 5216.

Suphattraland

Thirty kilometres from town is Suphattraland, an extensive orchard open to the public. It grows succulent mangosteen, durian and rambutan. They generally mature in late April-June. Visitors can enjoy not only the pleasant surroundings but also taste for themselves freshly-picked fruits from the trees.

How to go there

Open daily from 08.00-18.00 hrs. Admission is 200 baht per person. Admission including a meal is 350 baht.

Ask for more information at Supattraland Office Tel : 0 3889 2048-9 Fax : 0 3889 2255.

Khao Chamao - Khao Wong National Park

The last piece of virgin forest in Rayong, the park is located in Klaeng District, 71 kilometers from the city. Declared as a National Park in December 31, 1975, Khao Chamao – Khao Wong covers an area of 83.6 square meters, which is home to tigers, wild elephants and bears. The park is famous for its limestone mountains, caves, high cliffs, verdant forests and waterfalls. Khao Chamao –Khao Wong National Park offers the following attractions:

Namtok Khao Chamao

Namtok Khao Chamao is situated approximately 17 kilometers off of the main highway at Km. marker 274. The main attraction and landmark of the 8-tiered waterfall is "Wang Mutcha” a large pond on the second level which is the habitat of Pluang fish. Reaching the top is easy and visitors can enjoy the refreshing scenery all the way up to the highest level of the waterfall.

Namtok Klong Pla Kang

Located some 3 kilometers from the National Park Office is this 7-tiered waterfall. Reaching the top of the waterfall is not quite an easy task as visitors have to walk through the verdant forest and also climb up the mountains. Plant lovers should not miss this opportunity to see several kinds of plants such as ferns, orchids, mushrooms, etc., while walking along the trails.

Pha Sawan (Heaven Cliff)

Pha Sawan is situated about 1,500 meters from the Park’s Office. The cliff is famous for its scenic lookout point which offers an intriguing panoramic view of the pristine forests. Various types of plants can be found along the way up to the cliff and are ideal for nature studies.

How to go there

Camping sites are available at the price of 10 baht to pitch personal tents. Bungalows are also available (8 all together), at the cost of 800 baht/bungalow and have to be reserved well in advance. For more information, call 038 894378.

Suan Son beach (pine trees)

This beach is located approximately 4 kilometers from Ban Phe. Travel along the beach-front road and visitors will find a place that offers true relaxation under the shade of pine trees. The scenic beach is eminently suited to relaxation and swimming. Accommodations and food shops are also available.

Foods