Pattaya Finally A Pleasure to Visit

[murraynz]

On 7/15/2020 at 2:26 PM, newnative said:

      Glad your visit was a pleasure.  I find it is a pleasure living here year-round--even when there are tourists.  The beach you noticed was looking clean has been clean for sometime now--even when there were tourists.  The mall you enjoyed visiting is here for me year-round--as are several other malls, 3 or 4 hospitals, movie theaters, and about any kind of restaurant you'd want.  I love living in a nice oceanview condo with a good gym and a big pool that I don't have to clean.  Great to just lock the door and take off whenever my partner and I want.

     It's true the traffic can be congested at times--also true for Bangkok, Rayong, Chiang Mai, and about any other big city I have visited in Thailand.  The barrier of the ocean has at least kept Pattaya fairly compact.  If you choose where you live wisely, you can avoid most of the traffic most of the time.  From my condo I can get to the places I go most often in about 5 to 10 minutes by car with no traffic lights at all.  Hope your next visit is also enjoyable.

 

Well said.

I live in a similar situation at cosy beach.

I like to visit the 'normal' pattaya when it is 'alive',lots of colourful lights,music,lots of people watching and plenty of entertainment.

I wouldnt like to live permantly in central pattaya.

The biggest problems are the chinese tourist buses,congested traffic and indians walking on the roads,north end of pratumnak rd.they dont use sidewalks..

[murraynz]

On 7/15/2020 at 2:29 PM, Pilotman said:

Do you know, if it stayed like this I could certainly learn to like it much more, again, as I used to do.  Yesterday's experience was so pleasant that Mrs P and I actually went back today. How about that for a turn around? 

Prooves that Pattaya has never been as bad as so many people try to make out.

Most of  the haters have seldom,if ever,been here..

[Darkside Gray]

On 7/15/2020 at 2:26 PM, newnative said:

      Glad your visit was a pleasure.  I find it is a pleasure living here year-round--even when there are tourists.  The beach you noticed was looking clean has been clean for sometime now--even when there were tourists.  The mall you enjoyed visiting is here for me year-round--as are several other malls, 3 or 4 hospitals, movie theaters, and about any kind of restaurant you'd want.  I love living in a nice oceanview condo with a good gym and a big pool that I don't have to clean.  Great to just lock the door and take off whenever my partner and I want.

     It's true the traffic can be congested at times--also true for Bangkok, Rayong, Chiang Mai, and about any other big city I have visited in Thailand.  The barrier of the ocean has at least kept Pattaya fairly compact.  If you choose where you live wisely, you can avoid most of the traffic most of the time.  From my condo I can get to the places I go most often in about 5 to 10 minutes by car with no traffic lights at all.  Hope your next visit is also enjoyable.

 

I live there and stay out of the city unless I need to go(never on a weekend) I find it pleasant enough on the dark side!

[newnative]

42 minutes ago, Darkside Gray said:

I live there and stay out of the city unless I need to go(never on a weekend) I find it pleasant enough on the dark side!

That's one of the things I like--the variety of places to live.

[CH1961]

4 hours ago, murraynz said:

The biggest problems are the chinese tourist

At cosy beach the main problem are the Russian ????

I have never seen Chinese there. 

[jacko45k]

14 hours ago, Darkside Gray said:

I live there and stay out of the city unless I need to go(never on a weekend) I find it pleasant enough on the dark side!

Crikey it is as scruffy, decrepit, congested and often under water more than central Pattaya, with more wild dogs  (of 2 and 4 legged variety)......

[Don Mega]

14 hours ago, Darkside Gray said:

I live there and stay out of the city unless I need to go(never on a weekend) I find it pleasant enough on the dark side!

I only ever venture brightside for grocery shopping on Saturdays, usually around 5am... very pleasant and quiet at that time.

[pineapple01]

23 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Crikey it is as scruffy, decrepit, congested and often under water more than central Pattaya, with more wild dogs  (of 2 and 4 legged variety)......

So is Venice.

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, pineapple01 said:

So is Venice.

But it is not in Pattaya nor Thailand is it........

[superal]

15 hours ago, murraynz said:

Well said.

I live in a similar situation at cosy beach.

I like to visit the 'normal' pattaya when it is 'alive',lots of colourful lights,music,lots of people watching and plenty of entertainment.

I wouldnt like to live permantly in central pattaya.

The biggest problems are the chinese tourist buses,congested traffic and indians walking on the roads,north end of pratumnak rd.they dont use sidewalks..

In these quiet times what an opportunity to lay pedestrian friendly pavements where you do not have to walk in single file or use the road  , do away with high drop down kerbs , move electricity poles out of the way and try to maintain and repair broken slabs and potholes . Maybe make beach road traffic free with a completely new layout designed as a promenade . 

Pattaya needs a make over  

[ChakaKhan]

18 hours ago, Pattaya46 said:

Ok... And now be a little honest and tell us how many times a year this is happening... 

And second, tell us if you ever saw that not-after a strong rain who caused overflow in many rain collectors.

 

Sure it's a bad thing than need to be fixed. But that only happen a few times a year after an exceptional deluge. It's certainly not a frequent "waterfall"

Hence the 200bt tourist fee to get a selfie under it--is LIMITED edition....like the cherry blossoms!   cheese!

[Rimmer]

A personal attack has been removed

[elgenon]

OP, I am curious as to why you visited Pattaya and not somewhere else. Please tell me. Thanks.

[Pilotman]

3 minutes ago, elgenon said:

OP, I am curious as to why you visited Pattaya and not somewhere else. Please tell me. Thanks.

happy to do so.  Pattaya's BIG C, Central and TOPs are the only places where I can buy some of the western food that I want. Also in Nong Prue.  That is the one and only reason that I go there, normally. 

[elgenon]

Good to know. Thanks

 

I thought you must have a good reason.

[superal]

43 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

happy to do so.  Pattaya's BIG C, Central and TOPs are the only places where I can buy some of the western food that I want. Also in Nong Prue.  That is the one and only reason that I go there, normally. 

So true , go there and stock up on some of your favourite non Thai foods that are not available where I live in the north east of Issan .  I am probably the same as many guys who have done the 2 week millionaire thing at some time but my visits now are mostly to play golf on some top courses in Chon Buri  .  The odd visit to a girlie bar with mates is always fun but for sure I could not live there around the hot spots . The dark side is far more laid back , civil and some nice communities and I could settle there. 

[EVENKEEL]

It's fun to hang out in Patts for a few hours but so glad I didn't decide to live in it's center of things. Stopped off and had a few 60 bht heinekins at a nice corner watch the world go by beer bar in early afternoon. Shopping and movies are the big plus in patts.

[brianthainess]

21 hours ago, superal said:

So true , go there and stock up on some of your favourite non Thai foods that are not available where I live in the north east of Issan .  I am probably the same as many guys who have done the 2 week millionaire thing at some time but my visits now are mostly to play golf on some top courses in Chon Buri  .  The odd visit to a girlie bar with mates is always fun but for sure I could not live there around the hot spots . The dark side is far more laid back , civil and some nice communities and I could settle there. 

My mate goes there to stock up also, he tells me he couldn't find any ED medication for sale, due to no cross boarder trading, ???? but don't the pharmacies sell them? He was only looking to buy on the street. if anybody knows I'll pass the info on to him.

[hotandsticky]

16 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

My mate goes there to stock up also, he tells me he couldn't find any ED medication for sale, due to no cross boarder trading, ???? but don't the pharmacies sell them? He was only looking to buy on the street. if anybody knows I'll pass the info on to him.

 

 

Pharmacies do sell them...... but check prices. For example a drug store on soi Buakhao wanted 800 Baht for a 4 pack of generic Cialis; the same pack was 400 Baht from a pharmacy on Pattaya Tai on the left just before 3rd Road traffic lights. Buy 4 or more packs and the sell for 400 Baht.

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

On 7/17/2020 at 11:05 AM, superal said:

So true , go there and stock up on some of your favourite non Thai foods that are not available where I live in the north east of Issan .  I am probably the same as many guys who have done the 2 week millionaire thing at some time but my visits now are mostly to play golf on some top courses in Chon Buri  .  The odd visit to a girlie bar with mates is always fun but for sure I could not live there around the hot spots . The dark side is far more laid back , civil and some nice communities and I could settle there. 

 

I second your points on the Darkside.

 

Just spent two nights on the beach side behind Big C Extra on Klang. Used to live there and still know some guys around there. It was deadly quiet both in traffic and people, with loads of empty restaurants at prime time. You could sense an edge of stress all round.

 

Then spent two nights on the Darkside, on Nern Plub Waan, well east of the railway bypass road, around the PT Gas station/Pizza Hut area. Totally different vibe, busy, relaxing, happy and, dare I say it, normal. I lived in that area for near four years straight and left during the Great Sukhumvit Tunnel mess. The pub/hotel I stayed in was busy, with dozen or more customers each night and the food was very decent. Popped down to Khao Noi and Murphy's Irish Pub one night for a real ale or two.

 

In both pub cases, lots of decent people to chat with and have a laugh. And dare I say it, expats proud to live in the Darkside. Still miss it.

[jacko45k]

On 7/17/2020 at 8:55 AM, superal said:

In these quiet times what an opportunity to lay pedestrian friendly pavements where you do not have to walk in single file or use the road  , do away with high drop down kerbs , move electricity poles out of the way and try to maintain and repair broken slabs and potholes . Maybe make beach road traffic free with a completely new layout designed as a promenade . 

Pattaya needs a make over  

My thoughts as I walked around soi Buakhao last night even with the reuced traffic.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 7/16/2020 at 8:22 PM, rott said:

If it stayed like this the places you enjoy visiting would possibly go out of business. 

Also, it is neither squalid, polluted nor unpleasant. Occasionally noisy in parts and too often congested. 

I am sure you would be happier elsewhere. 

 

I am not particularly a Pattaya lover though I have lived here off and on for over twenty years, but it is what it is. Has good and bad points but no reason to exaggerate either. 

 

But looks like you will be able to enjoy it for a while longer. 

Also, it is neither squalid, polluted nor unpleasant. Occasionally noisy in parts and too often congested.

 

I loved Pattaya, but it was always squalid, polluted and congested. I think I liked that about it as it kept the bagpackers, families and other undesirables away.

[rott]

Please clarify squalid. 

I have lived in Africa and travelled overland from Joburg to Nairobi and return. I have seen squalor.