 Pattaya
is Thailand's busiest beach resort, with a wide range
of accommodation, restaurants and shopping centres
lining Pattaya and Jomtien beaches, as well as a very
lively nightlife. It is also one of the country's biggest
diving centres, with high quality dive shops taking
clients to offshore wrecks and coral beds at the nearby
islands. There are close to 20 golf courses throughout
the province, and you can
also go sailing, windsurfing, go-karting, play tennis,
ride elephants ortry all manner
of activities on land and sea.
Popular
attractions around Pattaya include the offshore islands,
particularly Larn island with its clear waters
and coral beds; Khao Khieo Open Zoo with a wide range
of wildlife wandering its 2,000 acres; Si Racha Tiger
Farm combines the
sights of a tiger-breeding facility, crocodile
farm, scorpion farm and daily performances.
To
the south is Nong Nooch Village, a botanical gardens
famous for its orchids and palms, which also puts
on daily cultural and elephant show. Wat Yansangawaram
is a royal sponsored temple withnumerous pavilions of
different national designs. Highly popular is
the Chinese Pavilion housing antiques and art objects
Bang
Saray, a fishing village with numerous good seafood
restaurants around its pier, is the centre of
the province's sports fishing activities.
Chai
Nat is home to the Chao Phraya Dam, built in 1956 to
control the water supply to farmland across the
rich Central Plains. The nearby Chai Nat Bird Sanctuary
protects over 100 species of bird in huge cages, and
is the setting for the Straw Bird Fair every February.
There is also a large aquarium and handicraft shops.
Chai
Nat Muni National Museum displays artifacts discovered
in the town, Thai and Chinese ceramics, several
Buddha images and votive tablets. Of its temples, Wat
Phra Borommathat is the oldest and largest, with a pagoda
housing Buddha relics. Wat Mahathat is an ancient
temple, dating back to the Dvaravati period.
Chanthaburi
was occupied by the French during the early part of the
20th century. Their influence can be seen in the
architecture of many buildings including the largest
Catholic cathedral in Thailand, catering to a sizeable
Christian population.
As
well as a signature noodle dish, the province is a major
centre of ruby and sapphire mining, with dealers
turning Si Chan Road into a great weekend market for gemstones.
For
a bit of fun, Oasis Sea World, a breeding and conservation
centre for river dolphins, puts on daily shows.
Or for a different type of show, try the Chamsom Crocodile
Farm and Zoo, just off the Sukhumvit Road. The Underwater
Archaeological Museum at Khai Noen Wong displays
relics and treasures
recovered from old sunken ships, including a lot
of pottery.
There
are spectacular waterfalls at Khao Khitchakut National
Park, whose Krathing Falls courses down
13 levels, and at Phliu-Kha Sabap National Park, with
a royal connection when King Chulalongkorn
visited the Phliu Falls and built a memorial there.
About 70 kilometres from Chanthaburi is Khao Soi Dao
Waterfall. The trail to the 15-level waterfall
is amid unspoiled forests with a large variety of butterfly
and bird. As it is a waterfall within a wildlife
sanctuary, visitors are permitted only daytime
only.
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