Spend a Day at Pattaya Floating Market

Sightseeing in Pattaya. What to see and do in Pattaya.

Most people who come on holiday to Pattaya tend to think that the only entertainment is to be found in the bars and on the beach.

Pattaya has much, much more to offer than that. In the 40 or so years since Pattaya first started to become a holiday destination, all sorts of sightseeing attractions have been developed. Many have been here since before the Farang arrived but only in the last 10 years or so have their economic wealth and vale as a tourist attraction been fully exploited.

Only a few minutes outside of Pattaya are many interesting places to visit, which is making the Pattaya of today a much more family oriented holiday destination than it once was.

The attractions are many, such as: 

Sailing. 

Fishing. 

Diving. 

Elephant riding. 

Pattaya floating market. 

Buddha mountain. 

Under water world to name but a few. This article is focusing on the Pattaya floating market.

The floating market is located just outside Pattaya going South towards Ban Sare. Approximately 6 km from Tesco Lotus South Pattaya.

There is no entrance fee so it's up to you what you spend. The facilities there are modern and clean with plenty of toilets seating and of course ATM's

To get there is easy. Many of the baht buses will take you there for about 500 Baht or you can join a coach from one of the hotels.

A day out at the market is a day well spent especially if you've only been spending your time on beach road.

The aim of the market is to show case the four regions of Thailand. North, South Esarn and Central Thailand. Inside the market you'll find food vendors and craftsman making traditional handicrafts.

The market is on a lake and the buildings are all built on stilts. There are walk ways between the four regions and as you walk from region to region the food changes as does the traditional local music. You can hire a longboat to take you around visiting the four regions. As you walk over the wooden gang ways you'll see vendors selling from their boats and cooking their local food. The floating market is not only popular with tourist but local Thai's as well go there. The food on sale is all at local prices that you'd pay outside which makes this not only an enjoyable outing but inexpensive as well. A typical meal will cost you no more than 50 Baht or $1.72c or £1.06p. Very good value for money. During the day there are shows of traditional Thai dancing and music. Sit and relax in one of the many wooden restaurants serving food from their region. There is always plenty to see at the floating market. Have your portrait painted, feed the Elephants, and try the local delicacies such as deep fried Locust, grubs, and pupae. Although fried chicken seems to be more popular. There are many events held at the market such as boxing over the lake on a log. The looser gets wet! The latest attraction is the rope ride over the lake, again not expensive and that can be said for the entire day out at the market. An interesting and memorable day out that doesn't cost a lot. If you want to avoid the crowds then don't visit at the weekend.

Bars in Korat

There are a number of good places in Korat where you can enjoy a few cold Singha beers or a bite to eat with fellow expats. Some special events are also organized at these watering holes and these include weekly quiz nights, dart tournaments and football nights.

If you are visiting Korat and would like to go out at night then please do visit some of the excellent bars listed down below. You will certainly have a great time!

The Ram

The newest place in town is The Ram which is located next to the Sabai hotel. This British pub offers drinks are very affordable prices and they also offer a great selection of pub food. A quiz is organized every Wednesday night and many local expats attend this event. There is also a proper pool table, large screen televisions and a dart area at this bar in Nakhon Ratchasima.

George and Dragon

One of the most established expat hang outs is the George and Dragon which is located in a side street located off the central square. It also offers some decent English pub style food including fish and chips. If you fancy a game of pool then please note that there is also a good pool table at the George and Dragon.

Sports and Cocktail

The Sports and Cocktail bar is a long time favorite Korat bar among the local expat community and was started by Paul and his charming wife. It has recently been sold to Jason and I am looking forward to see what he will do with this watering hole. There are a number of televisions showing various live sports and there is also a pool table. There is also a basic but good food menu and an excellent selection of local and foreign drinks.

Pizza Shop

This place is more of a restaurant however many locals visit the Pizza shop as they can enjoy a few nice drinks on the terrace outside. It is located in the center of town and is located only a short distance up the road from the George and Dragon pub. The Pizza shop has the best food menu of all the different Korat bars and it includes excellent pizzas, Swedish meatballs and a wide range of Thai dishes.

Chiang Mai Zoo

ituated in the heart of the evergreens of Thailand, the zoological gardens give people the opportunity to visit animals in their natural locale. The hilly terrain that surrounds the zoo is the perfect milieu for the thousands of resident animals, mammals, birds and reptiles. It is particularly popular among school children due to the novel experiences on offer.

The welcoming chirps and songs of hundreds of birds draw people to the 'Nakorn Ping' Bird Garden, where a myriad of colourful birds gaily flutter their wings. The tour continues to the Freshwater Aquarium where Ture Eels, Siamese Carps and Striped Catfish float about freely. Wildlife from around the world is on display at this zoo, including Indian Rhinoceroses, African Cape Fur Seals, Malayan Tapirs, Koalas and a two very special Pandas from China. The pandas are adored by all the visitors who feed and play with them. Elephant families, giraffes, hippopotamuses, zebras, deer, a gibbon and ostriches constitute the large and diverse animal population of the zoological gardens.

The authorities of the zoo permit camping overnight, which is an adventurous experience. Children love the excitement of sleeping amidst nature, under a starry sky by the side of a cascading waterfall, keeping an eye out for animal activity. Camping gear is provided at a nominal fee for enthusiasts to experience thrills of a night in a jungle. The 'Twilight Zoo', is another rare and exhilarating feature of this facility. Visitors can observe the behavior and attributes of nocturnal animal species from the safety of a tram car, at nightfall.

Golf in Pattaya

While you may not automatically associate golf with Pattaya, you might be interested to know that top golfers like Jack Nicklaus, Dennis Griffiths, Gary Player and Nick Faldo actually designed the course here.

Why Golf is Special in Pattaya

You could not ask for better weather for a round of golf. The climate is tropical, the sun is generous and you're surrounded by azure blue waters, emerald lagoons and evergreen rainforests. Oh, and in case you already forgot, a female caddy who acts as your own private cheerleader.

The courses in Pattaya are beyond spectacular. There are championship greens here that most people would not be able to afford to golf on back home. Fortunately, golf in Pattaya is cheap, really cheap! Green fees start at 500 Baht so even adding on a car, a girl, beer and a souvenir, you've still had quite an inexpensive day.

Where to Golf

Pattaya Golf and Sports Club - This is a fairly new course and one that stays pretty busy with both golfers and nature lovers. The greens are housed in a very natural environment with plenty of interesting birds and plants to observe. The club also has exceptional accommodations if you're looking for a place to stay as well as several restaurants and a spa.

Burapha Golf Club - David Graham along with Gary Panks designed these 37 holes found in Sri Racha's rolling countryside. The setting is tropical and elegant and is rated a must see. Although golf is traditionally cheap in Pattaya, Burapha Golf Club is the most expensive place you will find.

Laim Chabang Golf Club - This remarkable 27-hole course was designed by Jack Nicklaus. There has been several professional tournaments played here so you know these greens are challenging. Here you will find an abundance of ponds, creeks, lakes, extra-large rock formations and sand bunkers to get in your way.

Noble Place Golf Club - If you're looking for a super cheap place to Golf in Pattaya, Noble Place Golf Club is definitely it. Peter Thompson designed this 27-hole course that is perfect for the average player. It's challenging enough to keep you interested but modest enough to allow you to keep your dignity.

Bangkok Shopping

Bangkok is generally considered to be one of the leading shopping destinations in the world. There are so many outstanding Bangkok shopping venues where shoppers can shop until they drop. You can certainly find for sale whatever you are looking for. People from all over the world travel to Bangkok simply so that they can visit the wonderful shops, boutiques, markets and shopping malls.

Bangkok is well known for its pirated DVD movies and software as well as all the fake brand name clothing which is for sale in many of the street side vendors however there are also a large number of modern shopping malls in the Thai capital city. In these malls you can find many stores and boutiques from well known fashion designers and international brand names.

There are too many shopping venues in Bangkok to list in a single article however we have listed and reviewed for you some of the most popular Bangkok shopping venues.

Central World Shopping Mall

The Central World Shopping Mall in Bangkok is in fact the largest mall in all of South East Asia. This Bangkok shopping mall is home to over five hundred stores, various entertainment centers and over fifty restaurants. The largest supermarket found anywhere in Asia is also located at the Central World Shopping Mall.

Pantip Plaza

If you would like to buy some games, software or some IT products then the best place to visit in Bangkok is definitely Pantip Plaza. This large IT shopping mall consists off hundreds of both small and large computer stores and Pantip Plaza is popular with both local residents as well as tourists. Pantip Plaza is located along Petchaburi road nearby to the Amari Watergate hotel.

MBK Shopping Center

If you are a hard core shopper then you should definitely visit the MBK Shopping Center during your stay in the Thai capital. This well known Bangkok shopping mall has eight floors and over two thousand small stores. Opening hours at the MBK Shopping Center are daily from 11:00 until 22:00 and it is located right next to the National Stadium Bangkok Sky Train station.

Weekend Market

The most famous weekend market in Bangkok is the Chatuchak weekend market. This popular Bangkok market attracts close to a quarter of a million shoppers every weekend. Prices for many products found at the fifteen thousand market stalls are the cheapest found anywhere in Bangkok which is why both tourists and Bangkok residents enjoy shopping at the Chatuchak weekend market. Opening hours during the weekend are from 08:00 until 19:00.