Being within driving distance of the beach is a tremendous asset for a city. I've pretty much always lived within two hours of a beach (Ocean City, Coney Island...) and felt deeply sad for people who live in states like Nebraska. There are two main options close to Bangkok.
First up is Ko Samet. Very beautiful, even for Thai standards. About a 2-3 hour drive, followed by a short ferry ride. Maki's co-workers planned the trip, and I was lucky enough to tag along. Relaxing small hotels and restaurants right on the beach. Here is a dog relaxing under my chair, with the beach stretching out beyond it.
And then there is option two, notorious Pattaya. Pattaya is an unruly beast that sprang up during the Vietnam War era. (Or as they call it in Vietnam, the Second War for Independence.) Bangkok has a couple red light districts, and most visitors are pretty shocked to see these one block-long stands of go-go bars and hostess bars. Well, take that one block and mushroom that into miles on endless red light sprawl. Pattaya is truly the sex tourism capital of the world. The sheer number of places like the two pictured below was unbelievable.
Much like Atlantic City, however, segments of the community are trying to clean up their act and diversify. So walking down the street you would pass: sex tourist, Russian family, sex tourist, bus full of Chinese tourists, sex tourist, young Thai couple, etc.
Here is pretty much the prototype of the traditional Pattaya visitor (also get a look at the beach, which is far less stellar than Ko Samet):
But suffice to say, Pattaya does have a lot of interesting things besides the nightlife. Beach, good restaurants, people-watching, and Miss Tiffany's lady-boy revue. Here is a picture of me and one of the Tiffany's girls.
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