I went for a walk with my grandma and my mom along Jomtien Beach today. It's Loy Krathong day and Pattaya is famous for Loy Krathong on the beach/in the sea. I had never experience one before, so I decided to cross the road and checked it out. It was nothing but disappointment.

The sea is too vast, too dark and too windy, so there was no candle light from the float, nor that you can actually see the floats in the dark sea. People were just sitting along the beach and getting drunk, both farang and Thai. Not much of a tradition here.

I remember when I was young, my mom would take me and my brother to a temple close to our place, and we'd float a krathong at a small pier there. There would be a lot of floats in the canal, brightly lit candles in each krathong. Some kids would be swimming and collecting money that people put in the krathong. It's partly a way to give to the poor. Oh... and normally on the day, we'd be making our own krathong from school and float our handmade krathong. Good old times.

Since I arrive here, I have been spending most of my time in the room working. Walking out there today just reminds me of why I dislike Pattaya. Like I said in my previous post, I do discriminate and I am not afraid to say it. So here are some of things that truly dislike about Pattaya.

1. Old farang walking with a lady 20 years (if not more) younger than him

2. Thai lady who would just do anything just to be with a farang

3. Loud, incomprehensible English

4. Drunkards

5. Loud, manner-less White trash

I don't feel at ease in this area. I feel like I'm an outsider and I do not want to be part of this area. It's just me and my negative attitude. But I'm not sure if I would be able to stand myself if I ever start having positive attitude about this place.

Oh... if there's anything and any reason why I'd wanna be here, it'd be for seafood and nothing else.

P.S. I miss Bangkok very much.

Don't worry. I dislike Pattaya as well. I think the worst farangs in all of Thailand end up in Pattaya. That doesn't mean everyone in Pattaya is bad but it seems the worst farangs in Thailand tend to be in Pattaya.

Why would someone go to Pattaya and let something float a khatong in the water there? Thats a strange idea especially when it comes from a Thai.

Maybe you said in a previous blog or something but why are you in Pattaya if you dislike it so much? You can visit your family for a few days then there are other places in Thailand you can go (if you're trying to escape the flooding) I don't know...... I went to jomtien beach not long ago & knowing what it's like I stayed at a hotel that has it's own private section of the beach so I didn't encounter all of your 'bulletpoints'

I hate Pattaya. It's gross and I have no idea how anyone is able to live in that area.

It's funny but although we also always joke about the "bad" Pattaya life, we are going there on a regular basis as it is not too far from our home and we found a nice hotel, calm, easy to access by car, good value for money and a very nice swimming pool. Actually, we see the town only during evenings when we walk Walking Street or get something to eat or a foot massage.

Bill -- I guess Pattaya has always been famous for its bars, bar girls and nightlife. It attracts certain type of people and I guess that will not change anytime soon.

Andy_bkk -- Water is already way polluted, so I guess a bit more of banana leaves and flowers, wouldn't do it any more harm than waste from hotels and factories. Loy krathong is a tradition to pay respect to Water Goddess, although it has lots a lot of its essence through time. I guess that's why people float their krathong in the sea.

Teila -- Reason I"m here is because further pass my area is expected to be flooded. If it is flooded then it'd cut down the way to the South of Thailand and cutting my escaping route from Bangkok. Right now the only dry way out of Bangkok is unfortunately to the East. We found this place for a reasonable price, good location (not far from market and superstores), and the place is spacious with internet connection that I can work, so we decided to stay here. Given a choice, I'd prefer to go the West. The apartment we are in isn't too bad, as long as we don't walk towards the beach, it's quiet. Just scene on the beach reminded me the reason why I do not like this place.

Japamerican -- Definitely not a place for kids to grow up. But I guess if you are a native here, you don't have that many choices but to take good care of your kids not to be corrupted by this place.

Kaunitz -- Are you talking about Siam Bayshore? I love that hotel and they have good food too!

Well, Pattaya is the most frequent beach that I ever visitted when i was young(er) and energetic (and arty -lol ) sometimes I drive there just for som tum and sea foods ( drinks as well ) and drive back bkk, and sometime stay couple nights on the long weekend or on my holiday. And there is also the first beach in my life that i have been to pass to Koh Larn when i was just 11 - 12 years old.

I have no comment with what you dislike in Pattaya, (oh time up in office to log on TF, back to cont. later )