Pattaya – the Best of the City’s Wining and Dining Scene

The city meets this demand admirably with a plethora of venues dedicated to satisfying the needs of the hungry and thirsty. A large number of establishments are aimed specifically at tourists, while others continue to provide the same fare to the same Thai clientele that they always have.

For lunch, fast food lovers will find the City Grill restaurant on Walking street a good call, with its excellent selection of burgers, hot dogs and similar fare, while Bob's BBQ & Grill makes some pretty awesome Wagon Wheel burgers and tasty barbecued ribs. In addition, a branch of the famous chain Subway is located on Pattaya Klang road and sells the usual impressive selection of hearty sandwich creations.

For a lunch with a distinctly English flavour, Pat’s restaurant on soi 3 is well -known for its fish and chips, pie and chips and Sunday roasts, while the Queen Victoria Inn on soi 6 has favourites like shepherd's pie, ploughman's lunch and Cumberland sausage with mash.

Come sunset, hunger will be creeping up on you again and it’ll be time to find an evening dining destination. The selection in this category is a good deal wider than that of lunchtime venues, with many establishments only opening their doors for evening business including many Thai eateries of the roadside variety.

The stalls of Thai food vendors are ideal places at which to find cheap and authentic local cuisine. As long as you don’t mind the absence of competent English speakers and the grit and grime of the roadside setting, these stalls are great places to enjoy an evening meal.

If you still want Thai food but in a more pleasant environment, then Somsak on soi 1 offer authentic cuisine at affordable prices, while Baan Thai on Central road presents a nouvelle cuisine approach to Thai food (and its prices reflect this). For dining alongside live performances, head for PIC Kitchen on soi 5 or Adam & Eve’s at Sabai Jai Village, Sukumvit road.

International options in Pattaya are plentiful and include French, Belgian, German, English, Italian, Mexican, Japanese and Indian. While international establishments are invariably run by Thai staff, the proprietors are generally foreign and on hand to oversee operations.

Pattaya has a good selection of French eateries among which is Mon Ami Pierrot on Walking street and Au Bon Coin on soi 5 (the latter having the better reputation of the two). At Klein Vlaanderen on the Pattaya 2nd road customers can enjoy authentic Belgian cuisine, as they can at Patrick's Belgian situated at the Diana Arcade. Italian food is best enjoyed at either Duilio's on Central road or at Little Italy situated opposite the Royal Garden Plaza. Pattaya’s finest restaurants

For a good curry of the Indian variety, Ali Baba on Central road or Sher E Punjab on Beach road should fit the bill, while Yamato on soi Yamato is a safe bet for Japanese cuisine. Daidomon at Big C and the Royal Garden Plaza also offer Japanese food although they have a chain-restaurant feel. Finally, if it’s tacos and chili you are after try out the Mexican cuisine at either the Tequila Reef on soi 7 or the Blue Parrot on soi 2.

After dinner, the appeal of an ice cold beer or wine cooler at one of Pattaya’s watering holes may well encourage you to set off in search of the best spot at which to enjoy a pleasant drink. Depending on the kind of character you are after, you may want to take advantage of the city’s abundant girly-bar selection, a booming scene which dominates the main drinking area known as Walking street.

It is however possible to avoid the venues associated with this scene. Kilkenny's Irish Pub, for example, is a great little place to enjoy a drink with likeminded individuals, as is the Bamboo Bar on Walking street. On Beach road, the Hard Rock Café, Hopf Brew House and Rosie O'Grady's offer pleasant ambiences with no skin trade associations. For a pub with a traditional English atmosphere and beverages to match, try the Queen Victoria Inn on soi 6 of the Pattaya 2nd road, while Shenanigans, located on the same road, is a cheery Irish style venue.

To be entirely sure of avoiding the riff-raff and not having to be accosted by flirtatious young Thai ladies, visitors are advised to seek out the bars at the city’s respectable hotels such as the All Seasons on Pattaya 2nd road, Sheraton in Pattaya Hill, Royal Orchid Resort in North Pattaya and Marriot on Beach road. Best Pattaya bars While these venues are unlikely to raise the roof, they do offer quiet and upmarket settings where drinks may be pricey but the atmosphere is anything but cheap.

These hotels and others of a similar rating all have their own restaurants and it’s worthwhile considering enjoying a high quality meal of either Thai or international food in one of their dining suites before retiring for a relaxing drink in the bar.

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Phuket Has Everything For A Perfect Holiday

One of the largest islands in the Indian Ocean, Phuket is probably the most popular holiday resorts in Asia. Located about 850 kilometers south of Bangkok - the capital city, Phuket is a tropical paradise, in the sparkling waters of the Andaman Sea.

Sometimes referred to as 'Pearl of the South', or 'Pearl of the Andaman,' Phuket has all for a perfect as well as memorable vacation, boasting of glorious beaches, sparkling waters with diverse marine life, breathtaking natural beauty, magnificent coves and bays, dazzling waterfalls, lush forested areas, salubrious tropical climate, and Sino-Portuguese architecture. Phuket holds the distinction of being the only island in the country with the provincial status.

Sprawling over an area of about 540 square kilometers, Phuket is the largest island in the country. From ancient shrines and interesting museums and historical monuments to parks and gardens, Phuket presents a diverse range of attractions. Some of the not to miss attractions in the destination are:

Wat Chalong - This is a beautiful Buddhist temple situated on the outskirts of Phuket town. It enshrines statues of several prominent Buddhist saints such as Luang Por Cham, who in turn played a pivotal role in putting down the Angyee, otherwise known as the Chinese Coolie Rebellion.

Thalang National Museum - Exhibited here are arts and artifacts that throw light on the cultural as well as historical past of the town.

Phuket Sea Shell Museum - On display here are a valuable collection of sea shells that have been collected from different parts of the world. The museum is also attached with a section that sells seashell items.

Orchid Farm and Thai Village - This is a must visit destination for the lovers of traditional Thai culture. Everything from classical Thai performances and Thai boxing to sword fighting and elephant shows can be spectacled here. Alongside the village is a beautiful orchid garden, which is worth visiting.

Laem Phromthep or Phromthep Cape - This is a great place to enjoy the picturesque views of the sunset. A large number of tiny elephant statues can also be seen here.

Phuket Aquarium - The most prominent marine biological research station in the country, the aquarium is home to hundreds of fish species, both freshwater and saltwater.

Phuket Butterfly Aquarium - Among the specialties seen here is a large number of tropical species of butterflies and insects.

The Zoo - Situated south of Phuket town, the Zoo contains a large number of African and Asian animals, birds, reptiles, and insects. Included in the specialties are about 5000 crocodiles, more than 50 species of birds, and about 100 species of butterflies. Elephant, monkey, and crocodile shows are also conducted.

Khao Rang - Located on the southern part of the island, this is a hill in Phuket. Climb atop this hill to have a great view of Phuket town.

Phuket Fantasea - For those looking for a unique experience, then take a tour to Phuket Fantasea, where you can see cultural traditions blended with the latest in Las Vegas style technologies. Some of the highlights of Phuket Fantasea are magic elephants vanishing into the air, musical fountains, and gymnastics.

A tour to Phuket would not be complete without having a look at its incredible antique buildings, many of which are a fine example of beautiful Sino-Portuguese architecture. Must visit attractions in Phuket also consist of Wat Phranang Sang, which is the oldest temple in Phuket; Wat Phra Thong, whose centerpiece is an ancient Buddha image.

The Two Heroines Monument, which is dedicated to two heroic sisters who led the army in order to defeat the Burmese invaders in the Battle of Thalang in 1785; The Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Sanctuary, in Thalang District; and Sirinat National Park - the first marine park in the area. Further, people touring the place can indulge in an array of activities such as golf, cruising Phang Nga Bay by sea plane, taking traditional Thai cooking classes, and go-kart racing.

Despite any other attractions, perhaps the greatest of all attractions in Phuket are its beaches. Just few to mention are Karon Beach, Kata Beach, Bang Tao Beach, Kamala Beach, Laem Beach, Mai Kao Beach, Nai Yang Beach, Surin Beach, Rawai Beach, Patong Beach, and Pansea Beach. Majority of these beaches serve as a perfect base for enjoying a continuum of activities such as sailing, paragliding, parasailing, diving, cruising, and much more.

In short, There are also certain travelers, particularly westerners, who prefer to stay here for a long period, inspired by its incredible beauty as well as options. Apart from hotels and resorts, Phuket comes with such options as serviced apartments and villas, for those who interested in long stays.

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