Pattaya, Thailand

It’s all happening down in the red light district these days!

Disclaimer: this post contains vague adult content!

Pattaya, once a quiet fishing village on Thailand’s Eastern Gulf coast has a history of sea, sun, and sex. It’s a place the marketing people like to describe as the seaside destination, which found fame and fortune amongst American servicemen during the Vietnam War enjoying some “R & R”.

Its reputation goes before it and let’s just say the nice people in Bangkok head in the other direction to Hua Hin. Hua Hin was made famous as a well-heeled summer retreat for Thai royalty. Argh yes, that’s more like it!

The only problem is that Hua Hin is a nightmare to get to. The traffic is crazy unless you leave at 6 am and who wants to do that on a weekend break?  And the beach is really only just so-so in my humble opinion, although to be fair I am coming from the world’s most liveable city, Melbourne, where the Great Ocean Road beckons.

Pattaya, bless is trying hard to sharpen up its image, it yearns to become a liveable city, and its long stretches of beaches have had some investment over the years. We’re talking diggers and imported sand, the good stuff. High-end Condominiums have appeared, oh yes Pattaya is definitely on the rise.

We needed a little Bangkok escape and were happy to find a lovely looking resort called Sea, Sand and just good old Sun… doesn’t that sound lovely?

Pattaya Sea, Sand Sun

We left Bangkok at 8 am and were enjoying most authentic French croissants at La Baguette by 10.15 am, so far it’s hard to spot a prostitute or an overweight western man with a 17-year-old Thai bride, and what’s not to like?

We then drove through the centre, long gone from its sleepy fishing port days but apart from the bra and naughty knicker shops in between endless massage parlours, really where’s the difference to a lot of Bangkok (ok, ok it’s still early but Sin City where are you?

Pattaya’s crackdown on crime has seen many attempts over the years. Now before those of you in the know raise an eyebrow to this, just remember we are told that Ladyboys were cleared off the streets a few years ago after public complaints that unsuspecting tourists found their new friend for “R & R” were not quite as they seemed. 

Roger Crutchley’s Bangkok Post story: “breaking news: Pattaya to be livable,” tells of previous raids on elderly ex-pat bridge players, in a leaving no-stone-unturned halt of unwanted crime in Pattaya. Gambling is illegal here in Bangkok (unless you go horse racing at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club)

We drive along the beachfront admiring the set-up for the forthcoming fireworks party and before we know it we are in trouble. The car is surrounded by traffic police and an on the spot fine issued for driving through a red light. Ha, and there I was convinced by the marketing hype that Pattaya’s red light district had all but disappeared!

Oh no, not only was it firmly there but all three of us in the car had failed to spot the red-light. Now everyone in Thailand knows you never debate with the police any infringement, obviously, we were in Pattaya’s red light district and we should pay the penalty. 

We give the driver 400 Baht (12.50 USD) to pay his fine. He trots off following driver after driver, caught for the same error. Co-incidentally or should I say happily, we are right outside the police station. Well, how’s that for luck?!

Yay, I’m pleased we found the red light area of Pattaya. I said to Mr Wren to go to Pattaya and not see it, would be like going to Amsterdam and not seeing the red light district, I mean where’s the fun in that?

Linking with thanks to Maggie at Mosaic Monday and the team at Our World Tuesday