Travelbeat Inside Information Thailand Places of Interest in Pattaya With so much on offer, in Pattaya, everyone has the choice, to do something, nothing or everything! But for the latter, be warned you’ll need plenty of time, as there’s so much available! Before even dipping a toe in the waters of Pattaya, there a number of interesting and worthwhile places to visit, many of which feature on organised tours. Some of the most popular choices include Suan Nong Nooch, a Thai village style theme park with superb gardens, an orchid nursery, and entertaining cultural performances, including an elephant show. Pattaya's most important temple is Wat Yansangwararam, a modern building under His Majesty the King's patronage. It incorporates buildings of different architectural styles, including Japanese, Chinese and Indian influences, and is a centre for meditation. Wat Khao Cheejan is located nearby Wat Yansangwararam, where the biggest Buddha is carved with gold on a stone mountain. Khao Kheaw Open Zoo with 1,200 acres of forest and natural beauty is one of the largest zoos in Asia, offers the basic open zoo excursion and night safari and Asia's Largest Butterfly Garden - Saithip Butterfly Garden, which occupies 15.22 acres of beautiful landscape in Khao Kheaw area, experience floral gardens with over one hundred species of thousand of butterflies. Sriracha Tiger Farm, is a mini-zoo, with crocodiles, tigers, camels and many birds. The Million Years Stone Park & Crocodile Farm houses over 1,000 crocodiles, plus a zoo and a bonsai garden, set amongst some interesting rock formations and fossils. Pattaya Elephant Village features well performed demonstrations of elephantine skills, such as logging and re-enactment of their role in historic battles, plus the enduring favourite, the elephant football match. The Siriporn Orchid Farm has some splendid displays of orchids, including catteleyas, daedrovium, pompadours and vandas, with cut flowers and plants also on sale there. The Bottle Art Museum comprises a collection of more than 300 glass bottles, containing miniature replicas of churches, temples, palaces and much more, the clever handiwork of a resident Dutch sculptor. Mini Siam & Mini Europe puts on a daily cultural show and features an interesting selection of beautifully crafted scale models of major buildings both in Thailand and elsewhere, on a scale of 1:25 and Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum is an entertaining retreat on the odd rainy day. Pattaya Park Tower rises some 240 metres and provides a revolving restaurant, as well as spectacular views and Pattaya Water Park provides thrilling waterslides, whirlpools and swimming pools for family fun. Bamrung Sailing and Paramotor Centre at Huai Sak Nok Reservoir offers different varieties of aquatic sports. Certificated courses are offered for windsurfing, sailing, paramotors and para-gliders. Canoes, catamarans and kayaks are also available for rent. The reservoir is, additionally, a stop for many migratory birds, between November and February. Other options include the Lakeland Water Cable Ski, a recreational sports centre on a fresh water lake, featuring cable skis, a slightly easier and safer alternative to being towed by a speedboat at sea. Pattaya boasts a wide range of land sports, with over a dozen top golf courses, including the Laem Chabang International Country Club and the Sriracha International Golf Club, designed by Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player respectively. Pattaya also has a calendar of international tennis tournaments, including the Volvo Open Women's Tournament. The Bira International Racing Circuit (named after Prince Bira, Thailand's famous racing driver) offers motor and motorcycle racing on its 2.4km circuit, where Formula 3 racing cars and go-karts can also be hired. Races take place regularly on weekends. There is also a Miniature Racetrack (The Pattaya Cart Speedway), where separate tracks are provided for professional and amateur drivers. A riding school with 40 horses and an indoor stadium teaches classical skills and organises rides on the club's 2,500 acre grounds. Visitors can also participate in elephant or pony treks through hinterland meadows villages and farms, which provide a pleasant ever-changing vignette of Thai rural life. Pattaya boasts three international bowling alleys with top of the range equipment, and has its own Thai boxing stadiums, plus a professional training camp that offers short courses for foreigners. Elsewhere, paintball ‘battles’ are conducted in a mock-up Thai village, and can be excitingly adrenalin-boosting. For the real thing, there is an air-conditioned shooting range, with 19 fully-equipped galleries, qualified instructors and a selection of powerful weapons from hand guns up to assault rifles. After experiencing all or many of the fun activities and interesting places in Pattaya, Amari Orchid Resort & Tower (pictured above), located on the quiet northern end of Pattaya Beach Road, offers 5-Star accommodation and services with superb facilities. Guests can experience luxurious comfort at the Ocean Tower, which has 297 stylish rooms and suites, including the Horizon Club executive floors, or at the resort-style Garden Wing, offering a further 228 rooms and suites. There is also a fabulous choice of restaurants and bars as well as enticing leisure activities. For more information about the Amari Orchid Resort & Tower, visit www.amari.com/orchid Back to Front Page