After wrapping up my Isaan journey, I discovered (the hard way) that flying out of Korat wasn’t an option. So I hit the road and drove straight to Pattaya — about six hours — which turned out to be the fastest way to get there. The goal was simple: meet my friend Eli again and spend a day exploring Pattaya and its surroundings by motorcycle.
The story about my friend Eli
I first met Eli in Bangkok back in April 2018. We were two strangers sitting side by side at a bar, swapping travel stories. At some point Eli told me something that made us both laugh: despite traveling around the world, he had never seen penguins. The next morning we decided to fix that. We headed for the aquarium in central Bangkok to find them… only to discover the penguin habitat was under maintenance. No penguins that day, just a memorable misadventure and the start of a friendship.
Since then, we try to meet up once a year somewhere in Thailand or Asia, and every time we do, we add another small story to this big, ongoing trip. This year, we explored Pattaya and the surrounding area by motorcycle.
About Pattaya
Pattaya sits on the eastern Gulf of Thailand, roughly 150 km southeast of Bangkok. The city grew from a quiet fishing village into a major resort town and today blends beaches, city energy, and a famous nightlife scene. It is known for Walking Street, trips to nearby Koh Larn, cultural sights like the Sanctuary of Truth, and the Songkran Wan Lai festival along Beach Road.
Population numbers vary depending on how you draw the map, but the city area is often cited at around 100,000–110,000 people. On weekends and holidays, the number of people in town is much higher due to tourism.
Places we visited during our Trip
Swiss Sheep Farm, Pattaya
This is a light, easy first stop. Think open paddocks, small barns, and a relaxed, slightly quirky layout that invites you to slow down for a moment. We rolled in, parked under a bit of shade, and wandered around to stretch our legs. It’s not a full attraction that demands a lot of time, but it’s ideal for a short minute pause to reset the day. Families take photos by the fences, couples sip a cold drink.
Khao Chi Chan (Buddha Mountain)
Khao Chi Chan is a special place. When you arrive, you’ll see a huge Buddha figure — 109 meters tall — carved into the cliff and covered with gold. From far away it looks small, but as you get closer you realize how big it really is. The gold shines differently depending on where the sun is. The area around it is peaceful, with small ponds, grass, and trees that give shade. It was very busy with tourists while we passed by. If you go early in the morning or late in the afternoon, it’s probably much better.
Anek Kusala Sala (Viharn Sien)
Anek Kusala Sala blends Thai and Chinese influences and is home to an impressive collection of sculptures, bronze figures, and cultural pieces. The building’s courtyards feel calm, and the galleries inside are cool and dim, which makes it a good mid‑day stop. We walked room to room, noticing small details on the statues. It’s an unhurried place where you can slow your pace, and get a sense of the region’s Chinese‑Thai heritage before heading back out into the sun.
Black Forrest Pattaya
We arrived at an in‑between hour — too late for lunch, too early for dinner — so we didn’t sit down to eat. Still, it was worth a short look. The garden area is relaxed, with plenty of shade and a mix of Thai and German touches that show Pattaya’s international character. After a few minutes walking around and checking the menu, we decided to keep moving and save our appetite for the market later.
Has Dong City Fresh Market
It feels like a real, working market that serves local families, not a place designed for tourists. We tried a couple of quick snacks — skewers hot off the grill and something sweet — and took our time people‑watching between the produce stalls and household stands. Prices are straightforward, vendors are friendly, and the pace is relaxed. As a rough guide, it’s about 8–12 km from central Pattaya depending on your starting point, roughly 20–30 minutes by motorbike with normal traffic.
Driving back to Pattaya
We topped up fuel, picked up water from a roadside 7-eleven, and let the route take us back toward the Gulf. Pattaya has more depth than its party image suggests; on a motorbike you can collect small, real moments — quiet temples, open fields, friendly vendors — and stitch them into a day that feels complete.
