在泰国东部海岸线上,从湄南河口沿着海边延伸至500公里外的柬泰边界的海岸线上点缀着大小不一的度假区,其中最著名的要数芭提雅了。 曾经的芭提雅是一座不起眼的小渔村。20世纪60年代,连绵松软的海滩、晶莹翠绿的海水、新鲜可口的海鲜、傍海而建的渔屋把从越南战场撤回的美国兵折服。美军在此修建了度假中心,从此,便成就了芭堤雅这个海湾的繁花似锦、无限魅力。
芭提雅的海湾,是一望无际、清澈的散发着宝石蓝光芒的海。滚滚蓝色尽处彩霞万道,岸边的椰树摇曳,栋栋西洋、泰式建筑掩映其间,一尘不染。微微带咸的海风柔柔地抚摩着脸,海水轻轻地、轻轻地冲上沙滩上又退去。看着眼前博大的海,听着悦耳的涛声,李商隐的一句诗“曾经沧海难为水,除却巫山不是云”便自然而然涌上心头。
芭提雅明媚动人的海滩风光,使它享有东方夏威夷的称号。
大自然给芭提雅铺上洁白柔软的沙滩,万顷碧波,远处小岛隐约可见。距离曼谷2个小时车程的这个旅游胜地以它的水上运动及娱乐场所而闻名于世。
芭提雅海滩提供丰富多彩的海上活动,若你热爱海上运动,那你肯定会爱上这里的海岛寻幽探密之旅。而爱好冒险的朋友们,不妨试试蹦级跳。假如你又不爱探险式的活动,何不来一场高尔夫球呢?这里有多座设有18洞、72杆的高尔夫球场。每当夜幕降临,大街小巷的商店,摊档陈列着泰国的手工艺品及各种舶来品,供游客选购。
毫无疑问,这里的中天海滩是这里首屈一指的景观。它全长6公里,不但水清沙幼,四周环境也极美。悠闲地坐在海滩上,看着渔船在波光下浮动,或在附近一带水准极高的餐厅,一面用餐,一面欣赏海上的日落景致,实在是人生一大快事。水上活动方面,这里也样样俱备,游客可以玩风帆、水上摩托车、拖曳伞、滑浪、游泳或享受日光浴,最适合一家大小前往。
在芭提雅,得要抓紧机会进行潜水活动,欣赏这里奇异多彩的海底世界。听说泰国各地的潜水活动,皆起源于这里的Koh Larn。在这里各个珊瑚岛中,最大及最容易前往的是Loh Larn。它以漂亮的珊瑚礁而闻名于世,加上丰富的海产,吸引无数美食爱好者慕名而来。芭达雅海滩有前往Loh Larn的小船出租,往来时间只须半个至一个小时,岛上也有旅馆可供住宿。你也可以租用潜水仪器或玻璃底船,观看海底奇形怪状的珊瑚奇景及穿梭于五光十色热带鱼之中。
位于Koh Larn以东,相距15公里。进入东芭乐园大门,两边都是人工湖泊,中间有小桥拱跨其上,湖中有小岛和浮台,可供泛舟游弋。每天上午九时和下午三点半各有一场民族歌舞节目,在游客多时加演到上午和下午各两场。每场表演向游客介绍了泰国的文化和风土人情。诸如泰国的婚礼仪式、泰国男子出家当和尚的仪式。
这里以北部一座丛林密布的山,名叫大佛山。沿着山路走到最高处,你会发现一座大佛像。它的存在推翻了人们普遍认为芭提雅缺乏宗教风气的错误观念。大佛像被很多小佛像包围着,它们的形状,跟东南亚其他地区的佛像差不多。人们为了祈求好运,往往会挑选特别的日子才来参拜。在这个小山上,你可以尽情饱览美丽、宁静及祥和的风景。
白天的芭提雅是沉睡的,入夜才开始活跃起来,到了午夜才进入状态、进入高峰。所以凌晨的时候大街上才是灯火辉煌,处处回荡着动感十足的音乐,以及拉客妹们扭动的性感,当然更是人流不息。
海滨大道上的酒吧还稍微有一点点含蓄,至少还可以找到几个酒吧,到了芭提雅2路的露天酒吧街那就只能用High来形容,因为酒吧是露天的,所以少了约束就更放纵。只要你够High可以跳舞跳上吧台,只要你够High做任何动作也不过分。口哨声,尖叫声,混和着酒精便是激情的芭提雅。芭提雅的成人秀遍布大街小巷:气功、蒙喳喳秀、艳舞秀、金丝猫秀、神秘秀⋯⋯
在芭提雅还有最著名的东方公主号人妖表演。看人妖是每个到泰国的游客必不可少的节目,在曼谷的大剧院看人妖表演是远距离的,在东方公主号却是近距离的,只要你愿意甚至就可以零距离接触,而职业化的人妖将始终保持他们妩媚的微笑。而东方公主号集中了泰国最漂亮的人妖,身材相貌自然不用说,甚至皮肤都光滑细腻,而且才艺出众、劲歌辣舞都够专业。
The “Oriental Hawaii” Pattaya
Pattaya is a city in Thailand, on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 165 km southeast of Bangkok located within but not part of Amphoe Bang Lamung (Banglamung) in the province of Chonburi.
The city of Pattaya is a self governing municipal area which covers the whole tambon of Nong Prue (Nongprue) and Na Kluea (Naklua) and parts of Huai Yai and Nong Pla Lai. It is located in the heavily industrial Eastern Seaboard zone, along with Si Racha (Sri Racha), Laem Chabang, and Chon Buri (Chonburi).
Pattaya is also the center of the Pattaya-Chonburi Metropolitan Area, the conurbation of Chonburi Province.
For centuries, Pattaya was a small fishing village. But a change occurred on April 26, 1961, when the first group of about 100 American servicemen who were fighting in the Vietnam War arrived in Pattaya for relaxation. From this beginning, Pattaya became a popular beach resort which now attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. Fishermen"s huts along the beach were replaced by resort hotels and shopping malls. Fishing vessels were adapted to become tourist boats.
"Greater Pattaya" occupies most of the coastline of Banglamung (one of the eleven districts that comprise Chonburi Province). It is divided into a larger northern section which spans the areas to the east of Naklua Beach (the most northern beach) and Pattaya Beach (the main beach) plus the Buddha Hill headland (immediately south of Pattaya Beach), and a smaller southern section covering the area to the east of Jomtien Beach (which lies directly south of Buddha Hill).
The city and its suburbs have a very large number of bars and nightclubs, and some discotheques. Many major hotels also operate restaurants, cocktail lounges, nightclubs and supper clubs which offer food, drinks, music and international entertainment. The Walking Street is a pedestrian area south of the beach and a center for nightlife. Boyztown and Sunee Plaza provide locations for the gay community. Muay Thai (Thai boxing) matches aimed at tourists can be seen at several open-air beer bar complexes.