Pattaya Carnival 2006.

Pattaya is the city of parties all year round. Give them any excuse and the girls are ready to party, and of course the men too.

At the end of February every year the Pattaya Carnival is a three day extravaganza right in the middle of the busy tourist season and makes South and Central Pattaya one big party. Everyone is drawn by the entertainment on offer and Thais and visitors alike can enjoy the spectacular entertainment.

The whole party kicks-off on Friday afternoon with a procession all the way from the Dolphin roundabout, right the way down a crowd edged Beach Road and continues all the way along Walking Street to the very large park at Bali Hi Pier.

First in line are always the elephants which are so much a national symbol of Thailand, and following these is a seemingly endless stream of floats, dancers, acrobats, girls, more girls, more floats, more entertainments, the senior representatives of not only the local council and City Hall but all the clubs and societies in Pattaya, from the ex-pats to the Chinese, the Muslims to the golfers, all with smiles and gayety protruding from every pour (this year it was a pretty hot day for the time of year, around 34C).

Floats of all kinds are interspersed between the entertainments from a large cross section of local interests and businesses. Some really spectacular floats were made up this year from Alcazar, Tiffany, Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens, the ‘posh’ Marriot Hotel and Spa, and many, many others. There’s a competition with a 50,000 baht prize for the best float so they all make a serious effort to be just that!

It’s wonderful to watch the infectious Thai jollity sweeping up the road as the procession gets nearer and nearer to you. Then of course it overwhelms you too and you’re up for a party weekend. That’s what everyone else will do.

So what next? Easy. Follow the procession down and along to the Bali Hi Park. The procession is timed so that everyone (now many thousands with lots on the way) will be there after dark. Yes the Thai’s love fireworks.

They also know how to do it really properly, and particularly on Carnival Day, the firework Masters do their thing with incredible precision, artfulness and dexterity to produce a truly wonderful show of pyrotechnics.

Anywhere you go in Thailand in a gathering of more than one person there is always food and drink. With thousands of people around there is food and drink for thousands of people. All the bars and restaurants in the area are busy too. One big party.

You can eat in the park, on Walking Street or at any number of places, stalls, shops or restaurants in the area and maybe find a bar afterwards. Maybe you will find a friend or two as well. And this is only Day One! Tomorrow there’s plenty more of the same! Sunday too! Maybe one or two hangovers on Monday morning?

Submitted by : Rod Edwards
28-Feb-06

Muay Thai Parade.

More Photos of Pattaya Carnival 2006

Reader's comments:

Great procession, great variety from elephants to boombox pickups, beats being back here now in the UK. Added by: Julian    Report abuse

It was a beautiful event.. Added by: Ruby    Report abuse

The carnival was so much fun. I love the way people dressed. The girls are sexy. Added by: Anonymous    Report abuse

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