I was in Pattaya!

September 24, 2014

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I was on holiday in Thailand for two weeks recently. The first part of my trip began in sin city, Pattaya.

Pattaya is a small town most famous for its bars and ladyboys. I stayed at the Mariott Resort & Spa {I highly recommend it. GREAT hotel.} There was a beach within walking distance of the hotel, but not a great beach so I didn't visit it or swim. But overall it was a great experience to visit a sin city where there are no restraints on anything, and where the massages and Thai food are heavenly and cheap!

{Click on the pictures to enlarge.}

Here's all the stuff I did.

I visited the Sanctuary of Truth, which is a gigantic temple constructed completely out of teakwood. There are beautiful carvings inside based on Hindu and Buddhist mythology and teachings.

My guide told me that the wood is brought from Laos and Thailand, and carvers and carpenters are from Cambodia and Thailand. I say 'is' and 'are' because there's constant refurbishment and expansion work going on at this temple. Imagine this: it's made out of wood. And wood deteriorates with time and weather. So the owner of the temple has maintenance work going on all. the. time. {Notice the scaffolding on the left in the picture above.} That guy must have some serious money!

Next, I attended the Tiffany's Show- a famous cabaret performed entirely by ladyboys. You're not allowed to take any photos or videos during the show, but you can take a photo with them outside once the show ends. The show was spectacular, to say the least. It was 90 minutes long and had me enthralled from start to finish. I didn't want it to finish!

The sets were elaborate, the costumes even more. The choreography and performances were breathtaking. It was a miracle these women could even move with those heavy dresses and huge headgears, let alone dance in them!

And these women are so beautiful, so delicate and graceful, there's no way you can tell they're technically men.

The one I'm posing with is my favorite. She's gorgeous and I loved her dancing skills and grace.

That's it! All my other time was spent relaxing, getting messages, and of course, walking around. I'll leave you with a beautiful sunset shot over the beach that I was lucky to capture.