The history of the city of Pattaya
Pattaya in 1964
This week I was enjoying a cappuccino in a coffee shop when I was suddenly surprised by an old photo of Pattaya or as it was then called: Tappaya. In fact, Pattaya did not exist 60 years ago. There were only a few small fishing villages along the coast between Sri Racha and Sattahip and a few fishing families lived in the “Pattaya” bay.
They stayed here because of the calm waters and safety of the bay, protected by the northern and southern headlands and the mountains behind them. The closest "neighbors" lived further north where they produced salt (Naa klua = salt fields).
People traveled on foot or by bullock cart. Except for the Bangkok – Sattahip road, there were bad paths. The bay and nearby island provided good and safe fishing, so more people came to live there. Slowly a village developed called: Taphraya or Tappaya.
The common name given to the area after Pharaya Taksin encamped with followers to liberate Thailand from the Burmese. He came from Ayutthaya to Chanthaburi just before the fall of the Ayutthaya kingdom in 1767.
The village grew and the people wanted their own identity, so they chose the name Pattaya, named after the strong wind from the Southwest just before each rainy season.
The pace of life was slow, except for a few visitors, it remained quiet. But as more people began to visit the area, people understood that by selling fish and opening a restaurant, they could make a little more money. Also people out Krung Thep (Bangkok) started to visit this beautiful bay on weekends, a 3-4 hours drive at that time.
It was only during and after the Vietnam War and the arrival of the Americans with the construction of the U-Tapoa airport that everything changed drastically. In 1964 Pattaya was given the official status of a city and in 1979 a Tesaban Nahkon (Municipality = town hall) with its own responsibility for the city.
The current number of tourists (2013/2556) is between 6 and 8 million people per year from all over the world.
It is a persistent rumor that Pattaya as we know it was revived by the Americans. It is said to have been an R&R destination during the Vietnam War. This is being contradicted on all sides on the forums by Vietnam veterans who had never heard of Pattaya back then. Although there was an American base in U-Tapao, Pattaya was certainly not known as an R&R destination; Bangkok was much more that way, but that also lagged behind alternatives such as Saigon and Taipei, where there was more entertainment and fun at the time.
The introduction of the wide-body aircraft and cheap flying is more fundamental to the development of Pattaya. Australians and later English were the 'pioneers' here in the 70s. Americans arrived much later, and in much smaller numbers.
There is certainly no rumor that Pattaya was revived by the Americans. The first customers were the GIs who were based in Sattahip and near the Utapao from 1965 and who lived there at the time, mainly throughout
lots of little bars (with girls) all the way between Utapao and Sattahip. The most famous area was called Kilo-10. The GI entertainment became a bit too harsh for the locals at the time and most of it was declared off limits to US military by the late sixties. They then moved to Pattaya to enjoy themselves, out of the reach of the MPs. If I remember correctly, the first venue was a large dance hall, the Fantasy bar, in the street that later became Walking Street.
Anyway. The road between Utapao and Satthip was mentioned for entertainment (kilo sip or kilo 10) but the article was really about Pattaya and my comment was related to that. Pattaya was not a significant place before 1970, not even for American soldiers, who began to withdraw from Vietnam in 1969. In the 70s, Pattaya was mainly revived by Australians and English on holiday, and not by Americans, military or civilians. You should read this post and comments if it interests you. https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/358302-did-america-create-pattaya/
Dear Kees, do not know where you get the Pattaya history from. I was there regularly from 1971 to 1976, mostly at Nipa Lodge. Most visitors were US soldiers from Utapao. Few English and almost none from Down Under, except backpackers. (The latter did not stay in Nipa Lodge.) The US military remained there in Utapao until after the fall of Saigon, May 1975. Been there, done that!!
.
Although Rest and Relaxation (R&R) sounds unofficial, it is a formal event, supported by military orders and regulations. Pattaya was not an R&R destination (authorized location) for US military personnel. Bangkok does (also: Hawaii, Sydney, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur (later Penang), Manila, Taipei, and Tokyo). This explains that Vietnam veterans knew little or nothing about Pattaya. However, Pattaya was more or less “put on the map” by US military (mostly air force) because of the stationing of B52s and KC135s in the Pattaya area. Incidentally, Hawaii was popular with married military men (who met their wives there). Bangkok was popular with bachelors. R&R was 5 days for all destinations, except Sydney and Hawaii (2 extra days due to travel time). As an aside, R&R has changed a lot in the modern US military, in part because many soldiers are married and have children (older, not enlisted). In Bosnia in 1996, nearly half of my soldiers didn't take R&R home because leaving back would be too hard for their children to understand. This also applied to British soldiers.
I really enjoy your Thailandblog .nl
very clear and the info is extraordinary!
and unique.
This is how I experienced it from the early 80's to now. The decline will start from now on, partly thanks to the strong bath and the declining number of tourists. We have known the good times! But unfortunately that is over. Too bad, but the country will end up in a deep crisis. Everyone is already going to Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia. They cut into their own flesh, she will learn.
Funny you think you're the one and only Leo. You also write 'We have known the good times'. Who are We Leo? And as far as the exchange rate of the baht against the euro is concerned, I can still remember that at the end of the nineties of the last century, when I went on holiday to Thailand for the first time, you got about 14 baht for a guilder. So converted to the euro of now about 31 baht, while the current exchange rate is 34 baht. It is of course true that in recent years you receive significantly less for your euro and that will certainly have an impact on the number of European holidaymakers to Thailand. Honestly, I can't be sad about that myself. Mass tourism usually fills the pockets that are already filled and the local population has to deal with significant price increases while their income barely increases. I lack the predictive gift that you seem to have, but I highly doubt that the country will end up in a deep crisis and is also not in accordance with that strong baht. Greetings from one of the countless Leos on this globe.
1977 1 guilder 10 baht
1980 1 guilder 6.35 baht
1992 1 guilder 18 baht
The baht was once known to be very expensive, but somewhere in the 90s it was already 18 baht, I can prove that because I took a photo of the currency board, but you can't upload a photo on TB, but there will also be a graph somewhere on the internet can be found.
So 18 baht in 1992, then calculate the prices back then, I estimate that the prices were 50% lower then or even more (lady 300 baht) and then it is not that difficult to calculate that Thailand is now very expensive. NB I am not sure if it was 1992 then I have to look up that photo, but it was in the early 90s
So 34 baht for the euro now is less than was ever obtained for the guilder exchange rate. Now don't go roaring that we once had 55 baht too, I'm talking about now 2019 I've been against the euro from the start, what a disaster!
Then all the farang unfriendly actions in today's Thailand and the conclusion is that Thailand used to be many times better, it is over with Thailand, ie for the farang who has known the old Thailand, if you come for the first time then there is nothing to compare and then it will be quite pleasant.
So especially for the seasoned farang these are bad times. Yes I know there are also people who still love it now, I wish them a nice day too.
Regards KhunKarel
Dear Karel, you write that in 1977 you received 10 Baht for a guilder and in 1980 6,35. Later in your response you conclude that (according to the current exchange rate) 34 baht for one euro is less than was ever obtained for the guilder currency rate. So that's not right. On 23/2/1917 there was a reader's question on Thailandblog about the exchange rate of the baht. Joost Jansen responds and says he received 80 baht for 1 guilder in the 13,65s, Kees 2 received 1989 baht for his guilder in 12 and Harry Br., stationed in Thailand at the time, received 1994 baht for one guilder in 13. All converted less than the current exchange rate against the Thai baht. Of course the price level in Thailand, just like in the Netherlands and the rest of the world, has risen considerably compared to 1992, but that also applies to wages, especially in the Netherlands, unfortunately most pensions have lagged behind in that regard in the last 10 years. But to say that everything has become very expensive in Thailand I think is highly exaggerated, maybe that is true for the lady of 300 baht, but I would not know and in my opinion not exactly a strong example. Of course I don't know what you rank among all farang unfriendly actions, perhaps the vicissitudes surrounding the TM 30 form? Do holidaymakers who stay in Thailand for less than 90 days have nothing to do with it. You state that these are bad times for 'seasoned' farangs and that Thailand is over. Is the strong baht the reason for that? How gloomy on your part. Thailand is still popular, not only with millions of travelers but also with numerous winter visitors from Europe and Bangkok is in the top 10 of the cities to visit. It is not for nothing that Suvarnabhumi Airport is bursting at the seams. Some people romanticize the past, also in the Netherlands; everything used to be better in the 'good old days'. I now only have good memories of my military service, but during the 18 months that I was in service I often felt terribly disappointed and I went back to the barracks on Sunday evening with great reluctance. I'm certainly still having a great time on my holidays in Thailand, nice that you also wished me a nice day. I do you too.
Dear Leo, you should read better!
The 80s and 1989 and 1994 are not the years I am talking about, I am talking about 1980 and 1992, so then really more for the guilder than for the euro, I have no reason to make that up. that 18 baht was probably an outlier, then 17.80, 17.75, 17.60 etc.
I was in Thailand from November 1979 to March 1980 with my Thai wife, there was then an exchange rate of 1 guilder = 6.35, I even still have the old savings bank book that I exchanged money at the bank for 6.35, exchanged again later and then there was a better rate but still very low, I suspect that period was really an exception.
That companion for 300 baht is, in my opinion, a very good indication of price level, I am not an economist, but you can tell a lot from certain standards and amounts that people use for certain services. good thing I hadn't taken into account all those people who don't like this, Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! and there are a lot of them in Thailand according to the latest rumors 🙂 my exuus for this, but to please you I have a few more, large bottle of beer 25 baht, bottle of coke 5 baht. rent a water scooter 1 hour 100 baht, a whole chicken on a spit 50-60 baht, a bowl of fried rice kouwpat 10 baht.
red Bus without windows (bor knor sor) from BKK to Pattaya I believe something like 10 or 20 baht
I see I made a mistake by stating that it was 50% cheaper back then, it must be anything from 75% to 150% This means you should now have around 70 – 80 baht for 1 euro to do the same can do.
Leo I am so happy for you that you are having such a good time, but when I think of Thailand now I am indeed very gloomy because Thailand is going to be in your genes, it will become part of you and if you are then bullied away , without good reasons then of course you will not be happy, so from last year I will no longer receive a Non-immigrant visa because I must now first be retired (67 years old) that you have money in the bank, they don't care. another great new rule that doesn't make anyone happy.
You go through TB well for an evening, then you will notice that a lot of people are gloomy at the moment, The regime of Prayut no longer knows what to think of to chase the farang away, it's great that you don't suffer from that have.
I had hoped that there would be a new government that would change course, but unfortunately it is the same clique that pulls the strings as before.
Greetings to everyone, KhunKarel
Dear Karel, you really write yourself: 1977 1 guilder 10 baht and 1980 1 guilder 6.35 baht.
I don't understand your comment that I should read better. I assume that you received 1992 baht in 18, but that does not imply that the exchange rate would have been lower in 1989 and 1994. The exchange rate fluctuates quite violently, about 10 years ago you received 52.50 baht for a euro, but at the end of 2014 that had dropped to the current rate of 34 to 34.50 and then rose again to 41 baht in 2015. Your assumption that I am horrified that you or anyone else uses the services of a lady companion is incorrect. Brrrrrrrrrrr you won't hear that coming from my mouth, apologies are unnecessary. I didn't call it a strong example because it is unclear which services were used for that paltry 300 baht, in my opinion, and moreover that there is no unambiguous rate for this. existed and exists. You also write that the government in Thailand is doing everything it can to chase the farang away and that you think it's great that I don't suffer from it. You probably read that I only come there on vacation and therefore don't live there, so nothing is put in my way during my vacations. The fact that you can no longer obtain a non-immigrant visa is very annoying for you. Are there any fixed rules, Ronny, the expert par excellence on Thailandblog, might be able to give you advice. By the way, I don't have to make an evening free to dig through Thailandblog looking for gloomy people. Would have a depressing effect, but I already read Thailand blog every day and see many positive messages there, also from visitors to the various immigration offices in Thailand. Of course I realize that many pensioners are struggling in Thailand because of the currently strong baht and in addition many of them have not had their pensions indexed for the last 10 years. But of course you can't blame Prayut for that. All in all I hope for you that you can leave the gloomy thoughts behind you because it doesn't help you at all and it doesn't solve anything.
Should be: Does not imply that the rate would NOT have been lower in 1989 and 1994.
Nice, those old films about Pattaya, as I still know it, from 1974! Now 45 years ago…
The time when the tourist flow started. The drive from Bangkok to Pattaya took about 4-5 hours, including lunch on a single lane and partly semi-paved road…
The first large luxury hotels were built in Pattaya, including “The Regent Pattaya” on beach road, where I stayed (still on the film from 1979).
And far in the distance, in the middle of nowhere, lay the Royal Cliff, the first tower.
The beach was nice and wide. But even then, Pattaya was bursting with many willing girls (and boys)… The beach was unlit, and bustling with tourists and locals offering her or his services… So not much has changed.
It has just become much, much more froter, more extensive and more touristy… with its advantages and disadvantages.
I have been living in Jomtien for 11 years now, and enjoy every day here!
What caught my eye in the video. At 7.24:2019 min. a woman already in mini shorts and white sneakers. You could project her like this in XNUMX, Fashion changed nothing.
In the seventies we were allowed to use the weekend house of my father's landlord. It was in Seagull Village on Jomtien. With my Thai stepbrother I cycled to the end, at the bottom of Royal Cliff, because there was a noodle place where you could have breakfast. Other than that there was really nothing and you really had to go to 'the city'. At that time it was really still a village and you hardly met anyone on the way on Jomtien. It went very quickly and in the 80s you no longer recognized Jomtien after all kinds of hotels had sprung up like mushrooms. Well, I also remember that Samit14 (later 90) only cost 8 Thb :), less than a guilder, while as a student in the Netherlands I already paid 2,50 for a packet of Samsom! #gone times