Pattaya - Been there, done that.....

   We had a long weekend due to the Chulalongkorn Day, commemorating the rule of Rama V, so we decided to take a trip within easy reach of Bangkok. Pattaya is a beach resort less than 2 hours drive from the capital. We arranged details of the trip then started researching Pattaya. After a bit of reading, we realized that Pattaya was not going to be our cup of tea,  but decided to proceed with the trip to escape the heat and bustle of Bangkok. Pattaya used to be a quiet little coastal town; then, during the Vietnam war, it became an R&R spot for U.S. soldiers. Despite efforts to clean up its image, the wildness of the town remains and there is much development and encroachment by Russian investors. 
     As we drove through the town to reach our hotel, there was little appealing to be seen so we decided to  stay out of  the main area of town and enjoy the views and relaxation at the Birds and Bees Resort. This is run by the Population and Community Development Association, the receiver of $1 million from the Gates Foundation for its effective campaign to reduce population growth in Thailand. They run hotels and restaurants in many areas of Thailand, employing many from the rural north of Thailand. All of their facilities have a very upbeat, tropical feel with humorous, sometimes acerbic,  political comments.

Thai resort thoughts.

  We have never spent a vacation relaxing poolside at our hotel but that was our primary activity. We did venture out to a temple on a hillside above Pattaya. It was within walking distance from the hotel, albeit a hot, uphill hike. I have a feeling that the temple was build primarily as a draw for tourists; vendors were selling small bamboo cages full of little birds. The selling point was that freeing the birds in the area of the temple would bring one good luck.  We did not bite!     Temple visitors leave many different offerings at different spots of the temples; some consist of food and personal items for the monks, their sole source of food. Some are figurines of gods, goddesses or animals.  Incense is burned in remembrance of deceased family members; flowers are left in front of statues. Gold leaf is purchased to rub onto statues of Buddha. Temples are vibrant and sensory scenes.