City Hall claims that Pattaya is a well organized Resort, but on its website City Hall forgot to announce the famous Pattaya Countdown 2012. Since many years Pattaya City Hall is known for its last minute announcements. It seems the responsible people do not have the slightest idea how to run a international tourist destination.

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According to our information, the Pattaya Countdown 2012 is jointly organized by Pattaya City Hall (managed by Itthiphol Kunplome), the Chonburi Administration Organisation (managed by Itthiphol Kunplome's brother Wittaya Khunplome) and former Sports and Tourism Minister Sontaya Kunplome (the Mayor's elder brother) with a total budget of around 12.5 million Baht. The Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) is 'ignoring' the event until today (December 21st) too! Amazing: TAT is a co-organizer of the event. According to the (dis-)organizers, the Grand Pattaya Countdown is a new highlight in Thailand's (obviously non existing) Tourism Calendar. As far as we know, Itthiphol Kunplome's father Somchai Kunplome isn't involved in the planing of the event. He is still hiding himself in Cambodia. Thailand's Police is hunting him for corruption, an implicated murder, and a few other offences.

Nevertheless: The Countdown happens daily from 18:00 - 24:00 on Bali Hai.

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Update: On December 22nd 2011 City Hall installed banners announcing the Countdown 2012 all over Pattaya...

During October 2011 the Tourist Authority of Thailand (also known as TAT) alleged that about 80 per cent of hotel rooms in Pattaya are already occupied by tourists from Russia and Europe. On November 4th 2011 Thai TV Channel 7 reported that the Resort is badly missing its tourist from Western countries. Now President Khun Boontarik Kusolwit of the Thai Hotel Association revealed that room reservations were way down on recent years to a staggeringly low 50% for the Christmas and New Year Festivities... Lies have short legs - even in Thailand!

The maps just show Beach Road, 2nd Road and 3rd Road and a lot of advertisements, but not the many Sois inbetween the streets. The map is obviously made to collect money from advertisers but not for providing real information for potential users. Some information are even wrong: McDonald's fastfood outlet on the map published above is in front of Pattaya's International Hospital - and not after the hospital, as shown on the map.

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Chonburi's Senator Surachai Chaitrakulthong is luring potential investors from Taiwan and other countries by promising 'Thailand's plus is the availability of a skilled workforce'. The contrary is true, Thailand's problem is the lack of a skilled workforce.

The rapid increase in population from evacuees fleeing to Banglamung from inundated areas stretched the local water-distribution system beyond its limits, Srit Osaneejarukjit from the Provincial Waterworks Authority says. Therefore many homes and businesses suffered low water pressure or complete shortages. PWA's Pattaya branch manager insists that Pattaya has more than enough water. The problem is to bring the water to the people... The long-term solution is the installation of wider pipes to bring more water to those on elevations higher than sea level(!). However those pipes will not be laid until next year. The spokesman said there is little that can be done and simply offered an apology to those affected.

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As usual myLady™ has another view: The Provincial Waterworks Authority gives the privat water distributors a chance to sell their waters to the homes affected by the shortages. Small gifts will keep the friendship - or something like that...

The expanded Sapphire A Go-Go opened on November 25th 2011 on Soi 15, off Walking Street. The club is so hot it even had to place its sign behind bars.

A: If the first row is almost occupied please park your car in a second or third row - until the street is fully closed for Pattaya's unwanted traffic: Pattaya's street are designed as parking lots and are not suitable for traffic.

B: Streets marked as one way streets are describing Sois that are too small for large vehicles. They can be used in both direction, but for one vehicle only at a given time - with no possibility to change the direction.

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Warning: This information is a joke to explain the actual situation on Pattaya's streets. A few weeks ago City Hall announced that Pattaya Police will take tough action against second row parking. But as usual, nothing happened. We don't know if City Hall's disclosure was a publicity gag only or if it forget to inform Pattaya Police about its decision. myLady™ has another explanation: Pattaya's Police is simply to lazy for an additional job.

The area and the building of Tony's former Europa Club is on the block. Perhaps it even announces the end of the European Union. Who knows?

With hunderts of empty shophouses and thousands of unused apartments & condos Pattaya's property market is a real buyer's market. Don't believe the 'only 3 units left!' advertisements. There is nobody in Thailand that checks this claims. Property sellers can tell you any story in this country - without fearing any punishment! In a nearby housing estate we can see that 'only 3 units left!' sign since 2 years, the 3 empty houses too - plus a few unused parcels of land! Never buy an unfinished or planned object! Naklua, Pattaya and Jomtien are full of unfinished buildings. We know a housing estate were the investors had to wait a few years until the construction company finished the promised clubhouse and swimming pool. Before you buy a condo rent one in an already finished condominium, preferably in a few years old building. Check if you can live in a room surrounded by 7cm strong walls and doors and windows that do not really close. Check if you can run through corridors with inadequate lightings and use a lift that complains about its old age after being used for a few years only. The word maintenance is widely unknown in this country - and if somebody use the expression he or her doesn't understand the meaning of the word. During a power blackout your condo can be like a prison, or do you have the power to use the dark stairs from your 22nd floor room(s) down to the next restaurant? Most buildings do not have an emergency power generator. Most lifts in this country are so small that an emergency ambulance can't use a stretcher. Take care that you get your heart attack on the ground floor of your condominium - and not in your room!. You saw the advertisement presenting a world-known snooker legend saying 'The choice was easy - I bought in the best location!'? We know it better: According to a local TV station he got his condo at a special low price. He's a clever man. We recommend: Be as smart as Jimmy White!

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It's hard to understand why Thais can buy a 3-storey 90-sqm shop- or townhouse for less than 1 million baht, but you have to pay 1, 2 or even 3 million baht for a 30 to 40 sqm condo. An insider told us that every buyer has to pay the unsold units too. Check the free (?) furniture carefully. Most of them are well below IKEA's standards.

Only a few meters from a High Class housing estate and located on a small Soi extending Na Jomtien's Beach Road you can visit the 'Garbage Street' pictured below. The street provides direct access to Na Jomtien's Beach.

Na Jomien is part of Sattahip and does not belong to Pattaya.

Photo taken at a venue in South Pattaya that believes to be a 'Délice' French Pastry and Restaurant.

The attractive castle on this photo is (un)fortunately the home of a Gay Sauna and Guesthouse located on Soi 11, of Thappraya Road.

Apple, the short-time bungalow motel located in a small Soi off Pattaya's 3rd Road in South Pattaya, closed. Its 3-rai ground is on the block.

The country needs all the water to transfer Bangkok into the Venice of Asia...

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All information published on this page are as accurate as possible, but this one is a joke - we just like Beer Chang's 100% Malt banner placed in restaurants around the city.