Pattaya's Dark Side: What You Won't Find in the Travel Brochures

[black tabby12345]

While violent crime is relatively rare...

 

ASEAN NOW posters aren't born yesterday though.

If they log in here often enough, they are all too familiar with those headlines from Pattaya with: Brawl, altercation, fight, assault, injury, robbery etc...

[AsiaCheese]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

leading to issues of human trafficking and sexual exploitation ... can obscure the harsh realities faced by vulnerable individuals caught in this profit-driven industry

 

Tell me: which "human rights NGO" scripted that once again? Everyone (and her sister) are in this business well knowing what it's all about. They're in it for the money. If they weren't aware of what the reality of it is, they'd be working as cleaning women or factory workers, and making a bare fraction of what they're making in this "harsh reality" in Pattaya, and lots of other places in the country. 

Everything else: delivered as ordered. A transformation from a idyllic village to a metropolitan hotspot is never painless, anywhere, and takes a lot of urban planning and inter-departemental communication (so that roads aren't cut open for long stretches during high season, among many other things). Where's city hall and/or trafic police when baht taxis can't be bothered to pull left, out of the trafic, to let cars pass while loading/unloading passengers? Or pick-ups double parking in neuralgic spots? I could go on for hours. But hey, we have vulnerable individuals to worry about, so the rest isn't really a biggie, is it now?

[AndreasHG]

Since I first visited Pattaya, 25 or so years ago, I don’t remember seeing any idyllic beach, or any cultural attraction worth visiting.

Pattaya has always been predominantly about elderly farangs, standing on their last leg, seeking the company of Thai teenagers, cheap booze, bad Thai food and bug infested accommodations.

There are some oases of peace and lush luxury in Pattaya. But their presence is hidden in a vast sample of the worst Thailand has to offer.

[Thingamabob]

'Excessive drinking, drug taking, and girls on offer all over the place. Sounds like my kind of town...

[thesetat]

2 hours ago, J Branche said:

Unfortunately there are many people from the US who can tell the same story.

 

Most of us just want to find someone who makes us happy, is fun, and share a good time with.  

 

The dating scene can be tough and takes a lot of time and work.  Sometimes ends up not being worth the effort.

 

This is proven by the fact that thousands of men come to Thailand to find a wife, girlfriend and have a good time.  Flying 20+ hours each way for a week or two of happiness before having to return home.

Do you actually believe what you wrote here? Thousands of men coming to Pattaya to find a wife? Seriously? 

ohh, perhaps you meant a short time wife or pretend GF. hmm... 

I do not think there are many men who would marry a prostitute in Pattaya. And since about 80% of the women working there will sell themselves that creates a problem for your theory. 

[Kerryd]

Go to ANY major tourist location and you will find the SAME problems.

Drugs, prostitution, crime, poverty.

Las Vegas, Amsterdam, Budapest, Delhi, Dubai, Cairo, Hawaii, Mexico, Jamaica (mohn). 

Really no different from most major cities in most countries. Anytime you get large populations, especially of "transient" visitors/workers, you are going to find the same problems.

It has also been my experience that the people who make a living from tourists (on the low end of the ladder like waiters, taxi drivers, vendors, security guards and so on) are often the ones who most resent those tourists. Because their livelihood is dependent on them and it's like a shackle around their necks.

They want the money that comes from working in a place like Pattaya, but hate seeing tourists running around spending more money in a night than they make in a month.


And we've had gov'ts for the past 20+ years that have "vowed" to get rid of the sex trade and vowed to "restore" Pattaya's image (as a world class family resort).

And what has happened ? 

There's more tourists now than ever. So many that even the locals that make a living from them are complaining that there are too many.

I don't know. Maybe if they shut down all those "BB Gun" arcades and Turkish Ice Cream stands on Walking Street the numbers of tourists might drop ?

Just open (or re-open) beer bars and go-go bars in their place and that should do the trick !

After all, no one wants to go to a "world class resort destination" - especially in the middle of a dreary winter back home - if there's a possibility that they may see some "sin", right ?

That would surely make the numbers of tourists coming here drop, which apparently would make a lot of the locals happier.

(LoL - it might cause the numbers from a couple lower-spending demographics to go down, while causing a surge in other, higher spending demographics. Pretty sure the locals wouldn't have a problem with that at all !)

[Nicholas Paul KNIGHT]

This so-called tale of underground nastiness hidden from public view is nothing new in a town o

pr city that offers the range of services from the humble drink to a full blown physical encounter with a member of the opposite sex..

I remember Wanchai , Hong Kong., Boogie Street Singapore, Even in the UK there are places that almost seem off limits to sane adults.

However what is evident here is the Authorities lack of uprating the infrastructure to deal with the teeming visitors all out for a good time. Hence overcrowding, lack of facilities, oppresive environments. Lack of any local officials to deal with the mainly drunk patrons.

Change doubtful as this shady situation is NOT recognised by officials because they would have to admit it actually happens contrary to main Government view. 

[Shocked farang]

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Not a particularly interesting article it doesn't reveal anything that we didn't already know. I have a friend who cannot get a date to save his life in the US, and he comes to Thailand once a year gets on in a taxi and goes directly to pataya and spends 10 days to 2 weeks there gets as much action as possible. He never gets taken in by the stories because he has no interest in a girlfriend, he's a total mama's boy. 

So, most probably he dates a ladyboy in Pattaya! 

[Shocked farang]

2 hours ago, AndreasHG said:

Since I first visited Pattaya, 25 or so years ago, I don’t remember seeing any idyllic beach, or any cultural attraction worth visiting.

Pattaya has always been predominantly about elderly farangs, standing on their last leg, seeking the company of Thai teenagers, cheap booze, bad Thai food and bug infested accommodations.

There are some oases of peace and lush luxury in Pattaya. But their presence is hidden in a vast sample of the worst Thailand has to offer.

The demographics of the typical Pattaya tourist have also changed. Now you see a lot of groups of Chinese and Indians. Most people seem to stay short term, too short to notice the total fakeness of Pattaya. 

[BangkokReady]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Yet, beneath this glittering facade lies a more troubling narrative that many tourists might not see.

 

Beneath this glittering façade, lies stuff that everyone sees and knows about...  🙄

[BangkokReady]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

More troubling are sporadic reports of street violence and altercations among inebriated tourists, which tarnish the city’s hospitable image.

 

Even more troubling is when Thai people attack drunken tourists and leave them severely injured.  That's even worse for the city's image.

[newnative]

2 hours ago, black tabby12345 said:

While violent crime is relatively rare...

 

ASEAN NOW posters aren't born yesterday though.

If they log in here often enough, they are all too familiar with those headlines from Pattaya with: Brawl, altercation, fight, assault, injury, robbery etc...

     Yes, Pattaya gets your laundry list of crime--'Brawl, altercation, fight' . . . etc.   So does Phuket.  So does Bangkok.  All three places are in the top 20 places visited in the world.   When you have millions of tourists visiting, of course you'll get some crime--whether you're in Paris, Phuket, or Pattaya.   I think most people who actually live in Pattaya, including myself, find it a safe place to live.   In 14 years living here, I've never had any of the crimes on your list happen to me--or any other crime,   But, I'm not a tourist out at 3AM, drunk, wearing a flashy gold necklace.

     You're correct that AN posters are 'all too familiar with those headlines'--because AN seems to emphasize crime happening in Pattaya over, say, Bangkok.    This can leave a false perception with some AN readers.  Let's not forget the AN reader who posted that 90% of the crime in Thailand happened in Pattaya.  When I called him on it, he responded that the 90% figure was his 'impression', being a regular reader of Asean Now.  

[sambum]

At last - a post that gets down to the "nitty gritty" of Pattaya instead of the "Family friendly resort" posts that we are used to seeing!

[sambum]

6 minutes ago, newnative said:

     Yes, Pattaya gets your laundry list of crime--'Brawl, altercation, fight' . . . etc.   So does Phuket.  So does Bangkok.  All three places are in the top 20 places visited in the world.   When you have millions of tourists visiting, of course you'll get some crime--whether you're in Paris, Phuket, or Pattaya.   I think most people who actually live in Pattaya, including myself, find it a safe place to live.   In 14 years living here, I've never had any of the crimes on your list happen to me--or any other crime,   But, I'm not a tourist out at 3AM, drunk, wearing a flashy gold necklace.

     You're correct that AN posters are 'all too familiar with those headlines'--because AN seems to emphasize crime happening in Pattaya over, say, Bangkok.    This can leave a false perception with some AN readers.  Let's not forget the AN reader who posted that 90% of the crime in Thailand happened in Pattaya.  When I called him on it, he responded that the 90% figure was his 'impression', being a regular reader of Asean Now.  

 

I am that guy, and stand by what I said - I did NOT say that 90% of the crime in Thailand happened in Pattaya - I said "it would appear that..............", and as I said in another post, I find this article a refreshing change from the usual "Family Friendly Resort" type - in other words  - getting down to the "nitty gritty"! 

[terryofcrete]

There was no sex in Pattaya before the American troops used it for R&R...troop left ladies stayed...punters arrived gradually turning into a deluge of sex tourists..who can't get a date...lol..But now Pattaya is "nestled" somewhere and I never read beyond Nestled...

[Celsius]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Pattaya's Dark Side: What You Won't Find in the Travel Brochures

 

Genital herpes 

[J Branche]

2 hours ago, thesetat said:

Do you actually believe what you wrote here? Thousands of men coming to Pattaya to find a wife? Seriously? 

ohh, perhaps you meant a short time wife or pretend GF. hmm... 

I do not think there are many men who would marry a prostitute in Pattaya. And since about 80% of the women working there will sell themselves that creates a problem for your theory. 

My post said Thailand.  Yes you can tell stories all day long of guys coming to Thailand to find a girlfriend or wife.  

 

I understand the confusion as the article was more specific mentioning Pattaya.

 

Merry Christmas 

[MalcolmB]

4 hours ago, BarBoy said:

....I thought there was no sex industry or prostitution in Pattaya??

That's always been the official line, hasn't it?

Or is someone telling porky pies?

No official ever claimed that.

 

[BarBoy]

2 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

No official ever claimed that.

 

Many a copper has been to Pattaya over the years and claimed there is no prostitution there.

 

Articles have been posted here about it in the past.

 

Do you actually know anything?

[MalcolmB]

1 minute ago, BarBoy said:

Many a copper has been to Pattaya over the years and claimed there is no prostitution there.

 

Articles have been posted here about it before.

 

Do you actually know anything?

No they didn’t.

 

[BarBoy]

1 minute ago, MalcolmB said:

No they didn’t.

You really are a silly boy, aren't you Malcolm? 

[MalcolmB]

Just now, BarBoy said:

You really are a silly boy, aren't you Malcolm? 

That is walking street.

Pattaya is a lot bigger than walking street.

 

[BarBoy]

Just now, MalcolmB said:

That is walking street.

Pattaya is a lot bigger than walking street.

 

walking street is in Pattaya!!

 

what the hell is wrong with you lad?

[MalcolmB]

Just now, BarBoy said:

walking street is in Pattaya!!

 

what the hell is wrong with you lad?

Show me an official that has said there is no prostitution in Pattaya. 
His or her name and the exact quote.

You have fallen for click bait news, that is not my fault.

No official has ever said that

[BarBoy]

Just now, MalcolmB said:

Show me an official that has said there is no prostitution in Pattaya. 
His or her name and the exact quote.

You have fallen for click bait news, that is not my fault.

No official has ever said that

whatever Malcolm.

 

just go away.

 

you are a total lost cause.

[MalcolmB]

Just now, BarBoy said:

whatever Malcolm.

 

just go away.

 

you are a total lost cause.

Just a quote and the name of the official who said it.

It is a myth. Never happened. 
You have had your leg pulled.

[BigStar]

OMG. The Pattaya bashers dream thread! Let a thousand flowers bloom. 😉 

[newnative]

56 minutes ago, sambum said:

 

I am that guy, and stand by what I said - I did NOT say that 90% of the crime in Thailand happened in Pattaya - I said "it would appear that..............", and as I said in another post, I find this article a refreshing change from the usual "Family Friendly Resort" type - in other words  - getting down to the "nitty gritty"! 

Thank you for reinforcing exactly the point I was making in my post.  

[smew]

uneducated, lazy and angry young people fuel the crime rate as in some many othe rplaces in the world  

[sanabavy IV]

Dear me, and I thought I would finally learn something on that subject...