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Besides sandy beaches, shopping centres and night-time
entertainments, Pattaya also offers a great number of
interesting sports and other activities for visitors,
especially those who plan to have a long stay in
Pattaya. Here are some of them.
Diving
Pattaya is the nearest and most convenient diving
location from Bangkok. Although it may not be
interesting enough to most advanced divers, it is a very
suitable place for beginners. There are many scuba
diving shops in Pattaya that offer PADI or NAUI
certificate courses with competitive prices. And the
trips are centred around Ko Lan, Ko Sak and Ko Khrok.
One-day and half-day excursions to these islands are
also available at quite reasonable prices.
For accomplished divers, the outer
islands of Ko Man Wichai and Ko Rin which have better
visibility are offered. Also worth visiting are the
several wrecks off Pattaya's shore, especially the
Hardeep and the Bremen. The Hardeep, a 420-metre long
ship that sank in 1942, is considered the most
interesting dive site in this area.
Windsurfing
Jomtien Beach is the chief centre for windsurfing. Board
competitions are organized regularly by the Pattaya
Windsurf Club. The best period for windsurfing is from
October to June, when the water and wind conditions are
very good.
Water skiing
The most popular spots are the northern and southern
parts of Pattaya beach and Jomtien beach. Besides, water
skiing on fresh water is also available.
Golfing
Pattaya and Chon Buri boast an abundance of Championship
class golf courses, some of them are designed by
renowned golfers. Golfing holidays in Pattaya have
become more and more popular due to the low cost, good
quality service and large choices of accommodation.
Horse riding
Located off the Siam Country Club Road at Km. 12, the
Horseshoe Point Resort & Country Club offers several
kinds of riding for all levels, including dressage,
trail riding, jumping, polo and pony club riding for
children.
Outdoor Riding Stables Pattaya is located at Km. 11 on
Highway 36 in the mountainous area east of Pattaya. It
provides excursions on horse back for experienced riders
and beginners as well.
Bowling
Among several bowling alleys with international standard
in Pattaya, Pattaya Bowl and PS Bowl are popular with
both locals and foreign tourists. Pattaya Bowl is
located on Pattaya 2 Road and PS Bowl is on the third
floor of the PS Plaza at the corner of the Central
Pattaya Road and Pattaya 2 Road.
Other sports
Other sports and activities which can be enjoyed in
Pattaya include tennis, squash, badminton, bungee jump,
shooting, archery, sailing, parasailing, gamefishing,
etc.
Interested persons should contact the hotel information
desk for details. Besides sports, fitness centres are
available in many hotels and health clubs can be found
easily in this city.
Traditional Thai massage & foot massage
Thai massage is famous for its therapeutic efficacy in
relieving muscular pain and stiffness. For foot massage,
its benefit is curing backaches and stimulating the
circulation of blood throughout the body. If you are
tired or stressed, you are recommended to have a try to
relieve your tension and pressure. Or you may even learn
the beneficial massage techniques at numerous resorts
and spas or teaching establishments.
Health spas
Like other major tourist cities in Thailand, Pattaya
offers a good opportunity to enjoy a variety of spa
treatments. There are many quality spas and hotel spas
around the city and most of them also provide beauty
treatments.
Learning Thai cooking
Thai food is not only delicious, it is also very healthy
as its main ingredients are herbs and spices. You can
learn this culinary art at cooking schools or Thai
restaurants in any major hotel.
Learning the Thai language and culture
For long-stay travellers who are interested in Thai
culture and ways of life, learning Thai language and
culture is another inviting activity which will
certainly make your stay more amusing and meaningful. |