Lacking an adequate sleep, I hurriedly pack my things and bid goodbye to our awesome stay in Bangkok after I gobbled the heaviest breakfast in recent memory. We’re heading to Pattaya which is known as a resort city and is less-than 2 hours away from Bangkok. Here’s the part two of our Thailand trip.

Frost – Magical Ice of Siam

Frost Magical Ice of Siam is a new attraction in Pattaya that allows visitors to experience winter feels in a tropical country like Thailand.

Frozen Tuktuk

The cold room is the main attraction of Frost. Visitors experience temperature below zero. Thus, it is encouraged to stay inside the room only for less than half an hour. Challenge accepted. The iconic tuktuk was given a chilling touch. Some of the ice sculptures inside the chamber were created by Thai artists. Part of the experience is to share ice-cold cola served on a ice carving mug. When socials are done, visitors can throw the ice mugs on a wall for disposal similar to Takshapo in Tarlac, Philippines.

The Himmapan Era
Outside is a forest of white sand sculptures that depicts the Thai mythical creatures from the Himmapan era. These creatures are based from the legends of Thailand and India.

Forest, White Taker

To name a few, the forest creatures include dragons, unicorn, fish, and lions. So this is how it feels to be part of the White Walker army in Game of Thrones.

Pekeng Duck

Outside the Frost theme park is a rubber duckie. The biggest dilawan creature I’ve seen so far. Not part of the snowy white installations of Frost but of the neighboring Pattaya Sheep Farm. I am assuming this stretch in Pattaya could be the next capital of theme parks.

Pattaya Floating Market

The Floating Market didn’t impress me at first. I thought I would be seeing an authentic one but I wandered where they built an attraction to replicate a floating market community. When I went deeper and farther in the market maze, I saw more of the raw local scenes.

Tom(yum) Cruise

Either you walk or you take the boat ride for a fee to get around the floating market. We went in the area in time for lunch but the heat of the sun is scorching so it’s ideal to see the place by foot instead. One of the cruise activities is to take an amphibian ride where the vessel takes you to both land and water terrains.

It’s a Thai!
One of the beautiful lady servers who refills the buffet lunch banquet. She has a beautiful tattoo covering her back. You can see such art on my video soon.

Market! Market!
The Pattaya Floating Market are is divided into regions showcasing respective products and delicacies. But for me, the separation is quite different. Restaurants located near the entrance are spotless and more aesthetically inclined. The farther you go for a food, it becomes more exciting and raw. Imagine the difference of the vibes between a restaurant and a floating carinderia. I enjoyed the latter more.

Crocs
They serve skewered crocodile meat. Legit asf.

Ba ba ba banana
I started craving like a yellow creature minion looking for a familiar taste. Turon, it is!

Whatever floats the boat
Think of it as the usual street food but this time over a man-made river. The cook and server are on the boat while the visitors are on the nearby deck platform.

From Thai With Love
Postcards, shirts, local snacks, handicrafts and some ancient toys made from wood or die-cast metal are widely sold in the market.

Cartoon Network Amazone

Cartoon Network Amazone is the reason why I signed up for this trip. I am a great fan of theme parks. When I go abroad, I include this kind of attraction in my itinerary. Theme parks with exciting rides are only appreciated by a kid at heart who is braver than most adults. And I already foresee that kid in Amazone mere moments after I learned it is indeed included the itinerary.

However, it seems I was the only interested in the water theme park that time. After some tiring hours of exploring, my fellow tour participants were already settled in their respective villas. I couldn’t blame them for staying in SeaTwo Villa Resorts Pattaya since it has gorgeous villas with exclusive pool within the perimeter. Again one villa and one pool for each one of us. But I wouldn’t let Amazone just pass without me trying the slides even though I have less than 2 hours to enjoy them.

To each his own
Each of the adult slides has an identifying feature. And I tried them all. I’ve been to the longest ones and the steepest ones.

Workout
To enjoy some slides, visitors are required to carry mats or lifebuoys from the bottom to a height of at most 5 stories. It’s pretty much of a workout. But adrenaline kept me going.

Hide your GoPro
They don’t allow action cameras in most of the slides for safety reasons and to prevent spoiling other visitors who wish to enjoy Amazone. I successfully sneaked mine at some slides. Just don’t stretch your upper limbs.

Nice Staff
Some water slides are restricted to more than one guest per descend. One of the staff was helpful in looking for other folks who can join me in the lifebuoy for 2 or for 4. One time I was with a Euro group of 3 and the other time is I was with the lifeguard.

Jomtien Beach

Sunset Beach

We’re to witness the last sunset in Thailand. And while it is the same sun, the dramatic switch of day to night in a the gulf of Thailand is a nice visual treat to experience. Jomtien Beach stretch is a reminiscent of our own bay walk in Manila, only tidier and Instagram-able.

Sea food, See food

We ate our dinner, the best we ever had in this trip, in Poo Pen Seafood Restaurant. They were wrong when they thought our organizer ordered food too much for the group. I dominated our dinner – the fish, the prawns, the crab and the best tom yum. But even though we’re served with the best seafood dishes, I couldn’t resist this dried squid stall outside.

Max Muay Thai

One of the mutual interests shared by Thai and Filipinos is their love for muay thai and boxing. It is a stark contrast to the warm smiles and hospitality which the two countries are also known for. When the group had to decide between Max Muay Thai or Alcazar show, I went to the former to witness the combat sports in modern setup.

There were three match cards happening that night. Two of the fights will have an international fighter battling the local fighter.

Art and Science of Eight Limbs

Before the fight begins, the contenders are given time for tribute ritual dance. That homage is called wai kru. It is different per training camp. The performance is actually a respect to the teachers. Even the Czech contender did it.

Each fight has 3 rounds. Judges decide the winner.

Nong Nooch Garden

We still have one destination in Pattaya the next day before we go back to Manila. I was definitely wrong when I thought Nong Nooch Garden is just a usual botanical garden. With hectares of gardens of different theme and landscape, we surely can’t visit every attraction and activity in Nong Nooch Garden for less than 4 hours.

Cultured
Yet another grand production we watched featuring the history and modernity of Thailand. One highlight is when they showcase the love of Thailand for beauty pageants and each country in the South East Asia including the Philippines were represented. Some of the performers are transsexuals similar to Alcazar show which the other group went to the other night.

Elefunk

A controversial tourism practice is the use of elephants as performers. The elephants seem enjoying their pleasing performance as the crowd applauded. To whether how the elephants broke in to be tamed or how they’re treated behind the curtain is another question.

Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden

From fruit plantation to a wildlife conservation project, Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden is a wide plot of land with different themes such as European and Stonehenge gardens, ant and butterfly swarmed tower and hill, and land of pottery highlighted with orchids.

Pottery Garden

The strangest part of the Nong Nooch Garden is the plot of space filled with clay pots of different sizes, forms, and faces.

More Than Just A Resort City

If you’re going to Thailand with your family or with your group of friends, Pattaya is a good stop for entertainment. It offers a variety lineup of wholesome fun. It was only when we roamed around Pattaya at night that I learned it has a reputation as a sex city. Disclaimer: we didn’t step out from the van. My photography enthusiastic me would enjoy Ayutthaya which was our original itinerary but Pattaya is pure enjoyment and pleasure fitting before I went back to the harsh reality of Manila inside my cubicle.