I don't spend a lot of time in Pattaya because I think it is an exhibition of all the bad things about this country. People that don't live here have this impression that this entire country is about sex-tourism, drugs, ladyboys, and overall debauchery. Most of the country is not like this, but Pattaya is off the charts as far as any of this is concerned.
It's easy to understand why they would do this because as far as the beach and natural beauty of the place is concerned, Pattaya is exceptionally shit compared to other, far-more-beautiful places that are all over the place in this country.
This is a cherry-picked photo that I did not take but it kind of sums up what this place is all about. It is a "ho hum" beach that if you ever see the water in a picture appearing aqua-marine it was photoshopped. The beach is also completely filled with touts constantly trying to sell you something and the water is filled with rented jetskis and the sky is filled with paragliders. It's annoying and the opposite of relaxing in my opinion.
The nightlife is what most people come here for though even if they don't want to admit it. There are an estimated 20,000 prostitutes here and I have no idea where they get this number from. A while back I found it just so "Thai" that a formal inquiry was made by the department of tourism about overabundance of "red light districts" in Pattaya so the government went and investigated.
This tongue-in-cheek article shows how the police found zero prostitution in Pattaya and the authors of it, who operate out of Thailand, had to be very careful with how they worded it because the media only has the illusion of being part of a free press in Thailand. Say anything that makes the government look bad and media outlets can expect a visit from the government that is going to shut them down.
Everyone knows that Pattaya is absolutely filled with prozzies including and especially the police who benefit from the bribes that are paid by the hundreds of operations here that are technically operating illegally.
Something new has popped up there though and that is "illegal" selling of bootlegged or illegally imported alcohol that is combined with kratom leaves being openly sold on the beach walkways. Kratom is not technically illegal anymore after the country went through a renaissance of sorts with legalizing marijuana. However, kratom is potentially a very dangerous thing because it is both a pain killer and a stimulant. The effect, which I have never experienced because I am not interested, is reckoned to be similar to PCP if taken in high enough quantities.
I have heard from people that spend more time in Pattaya than I do - which is almost no time at all - that these beverages were always available but now they are openly being sold on the beachfront although doing so is technically illegal.
Kratom isn't necessarily a bad thing and the fact that it is just a plant makes it appeal to me but you know, if people can find a way to get trashed off of something they are going to do exactly that. This is why we can't buy Sudafed in pharmacies anymore. I know some farmers that chew on a few kratom leaves while working to get some pep in their step, but according to people who are aware of the process involved with these street sellers, they are putting a puree made of many leaves that will definitely get people high - sometimes dangerously high.
I think that people should be allowed to do what they want but it is just a shame that his part of the country seems to be dead-set on maintaining a dirty, wild west sort of aura. When people say that they are going to Pattaya for the scenery they are definitely lying. There is only really one reason to go there and if that is you thing, whatever, go for it.
The thing that I find a bit sad as well as amusing is that the police are actually a big part of the reason why operations like this exist. They know it is there and are benefitting financially from the fact that it is there. This is obvious to everyone. I personally would find it very refreshing if they were to just come out and say "you know what, just do whatever you want but don't kill anyone" because that is basically what the real rule in Pattaya is.
Maybe I just got too old at a young age but the idea of dropping $1000 on a few days of hookers and being off my head high the entire time isn't exactly what I consider fun.