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Where the wavelengths match

White sand and gentle waves in plenty. Pattaya is all this and much more

ON THE WATERFRONT Pattaya offers multiple options to tourists to relax

I am writing this from the garden-facing room at the homely, yet modern, Royal Orchid Beach Resort in North Pattaya. Pattaya is a paradise for all those who love the sun, the sea, the sand and the surf. The resort is located at Naklua, a short walk away from Naklua beach, one of the many beaches that dot Pattaya. Here you will find old wooden houses and narrow streets with traditional shops and several traditional Thai houses overlooking the creek. As one walks along the cobblestone streets that lead to the beach, there is still an air of a quaint little village about Naklua. One can find several shops selling handicrafts and domestic goods along the street corners.

The story

There is an interesting story about the origins of the name Pattaya. In 1767, Thailand lost Pattaya for three months to the invading Burmese army. The Thai king Tap (Phraya Kamphangphet) made it clear that had his general fought with greater effort, Pattaya would never have been lost. So the king raised another army of 500 to repel the invaders. On reaching Pattaya, a local warlord called Klom and his army joined the battle against the Thai king. As the two armies prepared to fight, King Phraya appeared in person.

Overwhelmed by the presence of the king and his forces, the Klom army surrendered and were integrated into the King's own forces. Thus strengthened, the combined army rested at a local lake. The local people called this place Thapphraya after the king's name but due to mispronunciation, tapphraya soon metamorphosed into Pattaya. As one crosses the Dolphin Point and heads towards South Pattaya, one can walk along the edge of the sea on a newly constructed promenade, under the shade of the swaying coconut palms! Several coral islands are scattered around Pattaya and are easily accessible by boat. The beach at Naklua is relatively quiet. The sea is calm and the greenery starts where the beach ends! Jomtien beach is the other beach at Pattaya. Two coral islands, namely Koh Larn and Koh Sak, are a short boat ride away from Pattaya.

Island charm

The visit to Koh Larn is an extremely pleasant experience. One takes the morning boat, which leaves Bali Hai pier from South Pattaya at 6:00 a.m. Boats go at one-hour intervals to Koh Larn and cost 20 Baht. The boat ride takes 45 minutes one way. The island is spread over four square kilometres. The boat gently rides the waves, and one can get a magnificent view from the upper deck.

The turquoise waters stretching from horizon to horizon, the snow white clouds suspended above the water and the light blue sky, are a stark contrast to the waters.

Sun and sea

Soon one lands on a white sandy beach surrounded by crystal clear waters. There are corals of every shape and size here. The beach is no less beautiful.

White sands stretch for kilometres. I enjoy soaking in the warm waters of the sea, feeling the gentle waves lapping at my feet.

Once the novelty of the water wears off, one can explore the island, which is largely uninhabited.

A few stalls selling souvenirs, coconut water and boiled corn surround the beach.

I climb the hill, which is covered with a dense growth of trees, to reach the top.

The view from the top of the hill is picturesque... the silvery sands, the wide arced bay, the swaying palms and the green treetops.

The ocean breeze is cool and rejuvenating. Meditating on the hill is a divine experience.

There are several other tourist attractions around Pattaya including the Underwater World, Crocodile Farm and Mini Siam, which contains replicas of 80 sacred sites and important historical sites around Thailand.

Tesco Lotus and Big C are two supermarkets at Pattaya selling everything from pins to washing machines.

Local handicrafts, silverware, pottery and traditional clothes are sold at night bazaars.

The unique feature of Pattaya is the availability of motorbike taxis and shared tuktuks, which make commuting in Pattaya easy and affordable as compared to meter cabs.

How to get there

The nearest international airport to Pattaya is the Suvarnabhoomi International Airport at Bangkok .

By bus: The easiest and most popular way to get to Pattaya from Bangkok is by bus. This 140 km trip takes two hours.

MURLI MENON

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