North Pattaya, Pattaya
Pattaya is split in three main areas that bring diverse activities and venues from one to the other. We have summarized below North Pattaya:
The area starts with the Dolphin Roundabout, North Pattaya and Na Klua Bay offering a quieter atmosphere in contrast with the bustling beach road in Central and South. This is the area where you will find upper market and classy restaurants, more luxurious hotels and resorts facing out to the beach as opposed to those within the city itself.
The major events of Pattaya do extend to the northern area. The Wan Lai Festival is the most popular. The heat in Thailand intensifies during the month of April. Thai people of old were wise enough to initiate the Songkran festival to cool themselves off from the heat and celebrate it as the Thai New Year. In the central region, the festival is usually held on the 13th, l4th and 15th of April while in the East there is a difference as the water throwing activities commence on the 16th or 17th, 18th or 19th known as "Wan Lai" (Flowing Day).
Expect to get wet, wet, wet as people flock to the streets and attack each other with water and white talcum powder, cooling off and expressing any latent unneighbourly feelings. Pattaya City holds its Wan Lai festival annually on April 19th with activities such as water pouring for the elders, processions and the fun of dowsing and another with water, a time for Thais and foreigners alike.
Pattaya Festival is usually held at the middle of April to promote tourism and Pattaya's reputation. Floral floats are paraded along the streets. The Miss Pattaya Beauty contest is held as well as traditional aquatic sports competitions and construction of sand castles. A spectacular fireworks display takes place on the beach and fire crackers are also set off. Simultaneously, there are arts and cultural performances, exhibitions and souvenirs for sale.
Pattaya is working hard to reinvent itself as more than a sex tourism destination, and this festival, relying heavily on North Pattaya, highlights the attractions of the city for all visitors, families included.
Chonburi Buffalo Races are held in Chon Buri during October every year. The water buffalo is one of the mainstays in the life of a Thai farmer, but in this annual event it is put to more amusing uses than ploughing the local fields, such as buffalo races and contests pitting buffalo and man. Beauty and the Beast contests add to the fun a festival that attracts crowds from nearby seaside resorts.
North Pattaya villas and apartments
The villas in North Pattaya are usually of a higher quality, and price, than their neigbours in Central and South Pattaya, and more sought after at least in terms of privacy and surroundings. It's always worth checking what exactly is nearby depending on your reasons for visiting. The apartments are luxury condominium range.
