The first time I visited Pattaya I confess, I was dubious. Other journalists I know had turned down the job due to the destination’s famously seedy reputation. Just an hour’s drive southeast of Bangkok, Pattaya has been known as “Sin City” for generations, and unless you live in Thailand, this reputation is likely all you’ve heard. But I’m glad to have found that there’s much more to Pattaya than the recent headlines would have you believe.
The city has been in global news this week as the colossal nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has docked in Laem Chabang Port near Pattaya for R&R – but the world wonders just how much rest versus recreation will be savoured. The vessel of 5,000 personnel has been kept at sea for 286 days, with the crew last stepping foot on land in November. Suggestive jokes and memes on what the marines will be getting up to in Pattaya only serve to perpetuate the grim stereotypes of the area.
