Family-friendly Pattaya

Pattaya has a reputation for being a red light district, but it has wholesome attractions too.

Long a city associated with neon-lit streets, go-go bars and sex for sale, Pattaya is a city with a, urm, reputation.

I made a recent trip to see just how much of this reputation is deserved and what it is about the city that lures Thai families on weekends. Surely it can’t be the go-go bars?
The awe-inspiring Sanctuary of Truth.

The coastal city is a two-hour bus trip from Bangkok. The adventure starts even before one arrives in town, for just on the outskirts is a must-see stopover — the Pattaya Floating Market.

Much smaller than its counterpart in Bangkok, this floating market is nonetheless a fun experience. Wooden pathways snake around standing retail structures, and there is a large variety of food and snacks on offer. There is no entry fee but if you choose to take the boat-ride, it’s 200 baht (RM18) per boat, with a maximum of four people on board.

Seaside monolith

From the charming, we ventured upon something awe-inspiring — the Sanctuary of Truth, a temple-like building constructed entirely out of wood. It greeted us out of the surrounding greenery as if it were an apparition out of an Indiana Jones movie.

The owner started building this wooden structure in 1981, intending it to be a memorial to peace, tolerance and respect among mankind. The Buddhist-inspired building is so large that even though work on it is not complete yet, its sheer size already boggles the mind.

The building stands 100m high at the centre and is equally wide. It is held up by gargantuan columns and boasts chiselled images with painstaking detail all around. The Sanctuary of Truth is so spectacular that one does not deem it inappropriate to compare it to the Taj Mahal.

Authentic Thai cuisine is served outside in the park in which the sanctuary is located. The surrounding greenery made for a great lunch experience. Entry fees are 500 baht (RM56) per person, and well worth it.
The Nongnooch Tropical Botanical Garden and Resort

Staying in Pattaya

Pattaya looks larger than our own Petaling Jaya but with huge hotels lining its coastal road, known as Beach Road. All kinds of accommodation can be found here, from the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya to the more family-friendly Holiday Inn.

I stayed at the newly-opened Zign Hotel, one of the many designer hotels here. It provides easy access to Beach Road while allowing for some peace away from the hubbub. The rooms are comfortable and stylish in an almost quirky way (no carpeting, bright colours).

I enjoyed the large pool despite the fact that the hotel has its own stretch of beach.

Pattaya can get quite crowded in the middle of the year and towards year-end, with lots of tourists jostling for space with the city slickers from Bangkok. Booking ahead for accommodation is recommended. In terms of shopping, there’s plenty on offer — from touristy trinkets to designer boutiques.

The next day I ventured to the city’s famous botanical park, the Nongnooch Tropical Botanical Garden and Resort. The experience began with an animal-petting experience, starting with parrots and orang utan, and proceeding to — gasp — an adult tiger! The oversized feline is kept in chains, of course, and one has to pose for pictures in the correct position to avoid being targeted as prey!

A cultural show, with Thai costumes and musical accompaniment, followed. An hour later, we were in another compound enjoying a hilarious elephant acrobatic performance. Yes, you read right. It was a huge thrill to all the children and foreign families, as the Thai elephants performed highly skilled feats, from scoring goals to throwing darts!

People were invited to feed the adorable giants, but watch out, you might get dragged into the arena for an impromptu performance!

After lunch, we spent a good hour taking an electric cart ride around the sprawling gardens. It seemed to us that no expense had been spared in procuring the flora and fauna of the gardens, particularly the large reserve set aside for orchids.

The orchid is, after all, Thailand’s national flower. Entry fees are a little steep at about 700 baht (RM78) per person.

For a bit of night-time sightseeing, a walk down Beach Road can be an enjoyable experience. One can do a bit of shopping or try a Thai massage at affordable rates. A seafood dinner is not to be missed, either. Unfortunately, not much is available late at night except for risque drag shows.

Those with a faint heart will not want to venture into the infamous Walking Street with its go-go bars are. All kinds of interesting characters abound here and, yes, the garish neon signs are indeed everywhere. It’s all very fascinating, but the place is not exactly family-friendly.

We spent the last day travelling southeast. The sleepy sea-side town of Rayong beckoned, and just beyond, the booming island of Koh Samet, playground for backpackers and the affluent alike. Getting to Koh Samet takes no more than 90 minutes from Pattaya, and is a viable option for weekend excursions.

Then again, one has plenty to do in Pattaya itself.

Keep your money for the various entry fees and the buffets, and leave the rest for souvenir shopping. And with all the walking that the trip entails, don’t forget a good foot massage before dinner for the family. They’ll thank you for it.

Getting there

Buses to Pattaya depart from Bangkok’s Eastern Bus Terminal daily. Journey time is two hours and costs around 117 baht (RM13). Taxis are available but you’d have to cough up 1,110 baht (RM125). Buses also depart from Suvarnabhumi airport, with a journey time of 90 minutes and a fare of 105 baht (RM12).