Pattaya Off The Beaten Path

While we were all in Pattaya our ship arranged for volunteers to go to Chanthaburi (approximately 2 hours South East from the port in Sattahip) to paint a school and take a tour of one of the local gem factories. I was happy to do my part to make Thailand a little better of a place. I had such a good time in Pattaya Beach that I figured I owed the community a little bit of payback.

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On Pattays South road there is a shopping area that starts opposite the temple and extends eastward for several blocks. Along the street there are many stores selling clothes, jewelery and other sundries. If you go in the back, you will find a typical Asian food market. You can see flower stands, meet, fish, frogs and a few surprises like the pig faces, both cooked and uncooked.

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Wat Sam Sian is located just before reaching the top of the big Buddha hill which is a very beuatiful Taoist temple with a big lake and many dragon images around it Inside there is a statue of Lao Tzu he is know as a great philosopher or ideologist and honored as Taoism Originator

Located about half hour from Pattaya following the road from Sukhumvit road to Sattaship you can find the big Buddha image 70 meters high in Pattaya and probably in the biggest in Thailand dedicated to the royal family before entering the big Buddha image there is a beautiful park with small paths

Are you looking for a cheap place to have a massage ? Then make your way past the Dolphin statue along Na Kluea Rd until you get to Soi Ping Pah.Keep walking towards the beach and you will come across Susiree Health Center.This place is worth a visit if you want to relax and get a massage by a blind masseur.The price is very resonable 120 baht 1 hour air-con room.I recommend the Herbal steam bath as well for 100 baht as long as you want.There is also a vegetarian food center which provides cooking classes and meals.For yor health!

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ok if you are sick of getting asked to buy stuff and want to relax more, there are some lovely quiet beaches, with food and drink availabe just minutes walk from pattaya main beach.
how to find them? if you are facing the beach at pattaya with hotels behind you, walk to the right to the end of the beach. it looks like youve reached the end. carry on walking around the rocks and it will open up to many beaches, less populated, and quieter for a peaceful sunbathe. the further you go the more beaches youll have to choose from. toilets are in the local hotels therewas no problem using their facilities. also you can get some lovely sunset photos. but be careful it doesnt go too dark before you set off back as there are no lights. if you find yourself with the dark closing in fast just cut through one of the hotels onto the back road which leads back to pattaya.

If you have some extra time (even just for one night), I suggest a trip to Koh Samet. It's a fanstatic island south of Pattaya.

To get there, you may get a taxi and boat combination. If you're in a hurry, take a speed boat straight to your bungalow.

Yes, there are many bungalows on the beach at Koh Samet. The water is also very clean as compared to Pattaya. There are no big resorts and no highrise buildings.

At night, there are many restaurants which you may sit (or lie-down) on the beach (they do provide tables and mats) and enjoy a peaceful dinner under the stars and listening to the soft splash of the waves hitting the beach.

I really do recommend going to Koh Samet. In fact, if you don't want to go to Pattaya, you may go straight to Koh Samet from Bangkok.

Travel time from Pattaya is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
Travel time from Bangkok is approximately is 3.5 to 4 hours.

Most tourists rush for the beach during high-season as soon breakfast has finished. You also could go for a walk in the Walking Street. Let's be surprised by the appearance of a beautiful kathoey, all in red, waist-splitted dress, extremely high-heeled shoes and a well-done make-up. In other countries the looks of the night-butterflies get worse after midnight and, the earlier in the morning, ... oh la la ...
Well, ... not in Pattaya, Thailand!