Pattaya's "physical" boundaries
Construction continues in Pattaya and Jomtien. Both hotels and condos, but also the many 7-Elevens, which are popping up like mushrooms.
However, how much longer? The city already has a traffic jam on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And not only by tourists, but also by the days of people from Thailand itself and the many school trips to the coast. The existing roads are sandwiched between the buildings; no expansion is possible there. There was once a plan to create a lot of one-way traffic, especially in the center. That plan died a quiet death.
A second cry for help, which is getting louder and louder, is the irreversible amount of waste, which is still insufficiently disposed of. A state of emergency has even been declared on the once beautiful Kho Larn. But it appears to be impossible to enforce a proposed measure. Allowing fewer days of people! Which also applies to all those speedboats from Pattaya Beach, which transport a lot of Chinese people. The government stood by and watched!
Little information is given about the water reservoirs in Pattaya East, both Maprachan Lake and Chaknork Lake (see photo). It still has enough water, although at Maprachan Lake it keeps draining for unknown reasons. So far, no measures have been announced, but looking ahead is not “of the Thais”. Sometimes the municipal authorities refer to the military administrators. They just have to tell you how to proceed! It is almost impossible to imagine a more pathetic position.
It is indeed mainly the provincial tourists who cause the traffic. And where do they come from? At the major shopping centers such as Central Festival on Second Road, Big C Extra, and recently a new mega complex on Central Road if I'm not mistaken. All roads that are already quite full. Such attractions should therefore be located more on the outskirts, including parking transferium. Just tell us where we have our Ikea's, and then, if desired, take shuttle buses further into the city, because everyone with their own car that won't always work.
Maybe you mean Terminal 21 at the Pattaya Nua?
I think Frans means the Harbor on the Central Road. Terminal 21 at the Dolphin Roundabout is far from finished, no people can come to it now.
And the worst part is that all those new condominiums are more than half empty.
Mobility is becoming one of the major policy issues for the country. If the socio-economic development continues, all those moped Thais will be in a car tomorrow. No, not a small one, preferably a whopper of a pickup with soot vomiting big diesel.
Then the whole country is shuffling around 7/7 12/24.
Thailand seems to be a scooter and moped country, but they all want to slip into such an air-conditioned glimmer as quickly as possible … to stay there for hours … even if necessary.
We have set the example in the West.
Now blame them for following
Personally, I enjoy motorcycling in Thailand… great in this climate. Between a still look, the fun is over. But we also experienced that before in Europe.