7 reasons to visit Pattaya

Pattaya, just a mere mention of this place gets people grinning. And why not, it’s a place where you get to do whatever you want, it’s a happy place, for everyone.

This city has its own charm, cheerful vibes and a relaxed atmosphere. No wonder it’s considered to be one of the top tourist destinations in the world!

To me, Pattaya is an escape. An escape from your state of mind. If you’re happy, then that’s good because this city will just pump up your mood all the more. But, if you’re worried and gloomy, this city will ensure you forget all your worries and have the time of your life. Basically, make memories, which is, if you remember anything. ;)

Pattaya is like that person, you can love it or hate it, but you just can’t ignore it! Here’s why you should visit Pattaya:

Beaches

Pattaya has gorgeous beaches! You can spend your entire morning and evening walking by the beach side and never get bored of the view. If you’ve come here to unwind, beach side is the place to be!

Eating joints – cafes

Pattaya has these beautiful cafes and I reckon you visit at least 2-3 of them to enjoy their ambiance and food!

Tourist attractions

Alcatraz show, Tiffany’s show, Art museum, the list goes on. Reiterating what I said earlier, something to offer for everyone!

Also, Tiffany’s show is a bit over rated but never the less it’s an experience!

Water sports

Coral Island is over rated and crowded! Instead, I would suggest to go to other islands such as Koh Lan and Koh Phai. For me, the best part about Pattaya was doing water sports – Scuba diving and Snorkeling, best experience I’ve ever had!

And to be very honest, it’s these moments of your trip you will love the most and always remember. So go dive into the goddamn sea when you are here!

Nightlife

Like Bangkok, this city comes to life at night. Loud music and crowded streets, best describe the streets of Pattaya in the evening, specifically, walking street! Additionally, you have these mobile bars on the streets in the evening, these are a must try!

Street shopping

Oh yes! For all the shopaholics, if you haven’t gotten tired of shopping at Bangkok, Pattaya has more to offer. One of the aspects of Pattaya nightlife is shopping! Long stretches of markets, you can spend your entire night doing nothing but shopping! Also, if you are looking to buy gifts for your family/friends, suggest you do it at Pattaya at one of these night markets. A variety of gifting items can be found here at a very reasonable rate.

To experience the happy vibes

Like I mentioned earlier, Pattaya is a happy place. It’s the good vibes, you just can’t get enough of it. It’s a place where you get to be yourself, no judging what so ever!

Pattaya is a beautiful place, no doubt! Yes, it’s over rated and yes it remind me of Goa, just a lot more commercialized. But, it’s an escape route, an escape to another world altogether! :)

8 reasons why I love Bangkok

You never forget your first time. Every time you do something for the first time, the memories of it never fade, not one bit. You remember every tiny detail of it, loud and clear. Which is why I ensure, every time I am doing something for the first time, it has to be special.

Thailand ended up being my first international trip. To get the first stamp on my passport, oh that feeling is can't be put in words! :)

Bangkok and Pattaya were the two places I visited. I would have loved to visit Krabi and Phuket as well, but that is what next time is for, right?

So did I like Bangkok? No, I didn’t! I loved it, and here’s why:

Infrastructure

In a word, Majestic! Wide and well maintained roads, tall buildings and well-spaced. Bangkok leaves you in awe.

The people

People here are friendly and understanding. That is exactly what you would want when you are visiting a new country and not familiar with their language. Thai’s are lovely people, communicating with them wasn’t an issue at all. When they see that you trying to speak Thai (hello’s and thank you’s), their faces lit up! Speaking in broken English is the way to get around here.

Extremely approachable, you can always ask for help in case you feel a little lost.

Money matters

Unless you aren’t constantly converting Baht to Indian Rupee, you will find Thailand to be cheap! Extremely reasonable would be precise. Be rest assured, you wouldn’t be drilling a big hole in your wallet.

Massage parlors

Thailand is famous for their massage parlors, and why shouldn’t it be! A lot of people here make their living as a masseuse and trust me, they are very good at their job. A visit to Thailand is incomplete if you haven’t visited a massage parlor for a rejuvenating massage session. And yes, unlike in India, the massages here are very cheap.

Night life

This city never sleeps! These four words sums up the night life in Bangkok.

The city comes to life at night! Nightlife in Bangkok is an experience in itself.

Street food culture

I love street food, which is another reason why I loved Bangkok. Here, the street food scenes begin from morning. Stalls are set up by the road side which offer a range of items to eat. Yes, being a vegetarian there was a lot that I couldn’t try but, whatever I could, it was delicious.

Shopping

If you really plan on shopping here, do keep aside a good amount of money. I say this because while the shopping is cheap here (you get really pretty stuff for 200 -300 Bahts), there is no end to it. Once you start shopping, it really does take a lot of self-control to not over spend.

Yes, this is the place for one, especially shopaholics to test how much they can control themselves.

From street shopping in Sukhumvit to malls like Platinum and MBK to street markets like Jatujak, you name it and they have it. From clothes to accessories to antique pieces, they have it all! If you are keen on shopping, I would recommend you to visit the Jatujak market during the weekend and Platinum mall. They have a lot of variety and all items are priced at a reasonable rate.

Because it reminds me of Mumbai

Yes, Bangkok reminds me so much of Mumbai. From the buildings to the streets to night life, it screams Mumbai. Mumbai gives me a sense of independence, a feeling of warmth. Bangkok evoked the same feelings. Bombay is a feeling, so is Bangkok!

Crowded yet uncongested, noisy yet peaceful, strange yet so familiar. That’s how Bangkok was for me. You can get lost here yet never be lost, and that is the beauty of this city.