History

   In  fact  only  40  years  ago  Pattaya  as  we  know  it  today,  didn't  even  exist.   On  the stretch of coast between Sriracha and Sattahip,  there  were  only  a small number of fishing villages and in Pattaya bay itself, there were just a few fishing families who had settled  here  because  of  the  calm waters and the safety of the bay, protected headlands to the North and South and by mountains behind.  Their  nearest  neighbors lived just around the headland to the north, where, in the old days salt used to be produced (Naa-Klua = salt fields)  but  where  there  were  now  mainly  fishing  families.  People  traveled  about by foot or by bullock carts because, except of the main road from Bangkok to Sattahip, only a few dirt roads and tracks existed.

  Location

  Nevertheless, the bay and nearby islands provided good, safe fishing and more and more families came here to settle down, Gradually a village developed. At first was know as Tupphraya the general name for the area which dated back to the time when Pharaya Taksin (Duke Taksin) camped near here with the followers he had gathered to help free Thailand from the Burmese (Tupphraya - the Pharaya' - army)

   The pace of life was slow and it seemed as  if  Pattaya  would  remain  an out-of-the-way  place  forever.   Even up  to  30  years ago  there were  only  a few  buses serving the  100  or   more  families  who  lived  here and visitors from elsewhere were few and far between. But things were destined to change and as usual, it was a war (the Vietnam War) which changed them. The U.S.A. sent soldiers to build the air base at U Tapao and many of these took to spending their leisure time and money in Pattaya.

   The  beaches  were  clean  in  those  days  and  the  sea  breezes  made it pleasant and cool. People in the surrounding  areas were quick to spot the business opportunities and bars guesthouses begun to spring up. The fisher - folk  probably resented this intrusion, but it provided a good market for their catches and they soon got on the  bandwagon  by offering fishing trips to Koh Larn for about 50 Baht per head. Gradually, visitors from Bangkok also begun to use the resort at weekends, although the trip was a tiring 3 to 4 hours on the two-lane road.
           Later  the  US  Military  based  in  Thailand  begun  to  use Pattaya for rest and recreation (R&R) and bigger hotels and entertainment places (including the oldest profession of them all) were built to cater for them. Thus the' 60s  and'  70s  saw  the  most  rapid  change and development. In 1964 in view of its new importance, Pattata was raised  to  the  status  of  a  village  and in 1979, elevated to that of a Teasban Nakhon (Municipality), responsible now for its own administration.

     Today  Pattaya  is  Thailand's  premier  beach  resort and attracts annually more  than  a  million  tourists  from  all  over  the  world.    Pattaya  provides  high standard  hotels,  restaurants, sports, entertainment and shopping facilities. The resort  is  Thailand's  most  important  diving  center and the east coast is also a paradise for golfers.

Durian
Thai name:             Thurian
Scientific name:     Durio zibethinus L.
Season:                   May to August

 Beginning  in  May and extending through August, the durian announces its presence in Thai markets with a distinctive, highly pervasive aroma. To Thais, as well as to many other Asians, the  stin k is  a  welcome  odor  for they regard durian as the king of fruits, a delicacy that is well worth the comparatively high price it commands.
     Some  visitors,  on the  other  hand,  are  deterred  by  the potent  smell  and  never actually sample  the  creamy  golden  flesh hidden within the spiny exterior - thereby missing one of the truly  great pleasures  of  fruit eating. "The more you eat of it the less you feel inclined to stop," wrote  Alfred  Russell  Wallace,  after  eating  his  first durian on Borneo in the 19th century, and most of those who follow his example are likely to agree with him.
     Thai durians are noted for their subtle flavor and smooth texture, often winning over gourmets who have failed to respond in other countries where the fruit grows. Three of the most popular varieties (and there are several dozen to choose from) are cha ni, kan yao, and, perhaps the most prized of all, monthong.

Longan
Thai name:               Lam-yai
Scientific name:     Euphoria longana L.
Season:                   June to August

Text Box (douGrown extensively in the north, especially in the Chiang Mai area, the longan is much esteemed by Thai fruit lovers, who eagerly await the annual high season from June to August when piles of the small brown fruit can be found in markets throughout the country. The crisp skin is easy to remove and the white flesh has a texture and sweetness reminiscent of litchi. Thais generally eat longan fresh at room temperature, but the canned fruit is often served over ice as a dessert.ble-click to edit)

 Mangosteen
Thai name:               Mang Khut
Scientific name:     Garcinia mangostana L.
Season:                     April to September

 Southern  Thailand  (see  entries  on  Surat  Thani)  is  the  home of the mangosteen, which appears on markets  in  May  and continues through most of the rainy season. This delicious fruit has a thick, dark-red skin,  inside which are creamy white segments with a sweet, slightly tart flavor; as a general rule, the more segments a mangosteen has, the fewer seeds one will find.
     A  knife  is used to slit the skin around the middle, after which it opens easily and the flesh can be eaten with a fork as a memorable after-meal treat.

  More  and  more  visitors to Thailand have discovered to their delight that Thailand is not only a kingdom  of fruits, but also a kingdom of seafood. Anyone who has experienced Thai seafood will readily agree to its great variety and its savoury taste and sweet smell.