Photographers in Pattaya

Pattaya is where Bangkok goes to the sea, about two hours away by road, and for a photo session it is more varied than its reputation. The main beach faces west, so evenings end with the sun dropping into the Gulf behind the boats moored in the bay, and the long, quieter sweep of Jomtien to the south gives a family room to spread out. The Sanctuary of Truth, on the shore at Naklua, is the frame nobody expects: a hall about a hundred metres tall carved almost entirely from wood, under construction since 1981 and still unfinished, standing at the edge of the sea. From the viewpoint on Pratumnak Hill, Pattaya Bay curves away to the north and Jomtien to the south, and Koh Larn, a short ferry ride from Bali Hai pier, has the clearer water and paler sand the city beaches lack. Pattaya suits families and groups who want the sea without a flight, and couples who want a sunset after a few days in Bangkok. The cool, dry months from November to February are the best; the rainy season runs from about May to October.