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Pattaya; A City Full of Surprises

As a disabled person who has been bound to a wheelchair for nearly two decades, I am forced to look for destinations that are wheelchair-friendly. Since I am Iranian, the developed Western countries have made the path very difficult for us, so I must find destinations mostly in Asia. Of course, traveling to these countries can be very challenging for people with disabilities. Thailand is no exception. For almost three months, I searched every single day just to find my minimum needs, such as a wheelchair-accessible van and a patient lift. Finally, I decided to take the risk, even though I wasn’t completely sure about the conditions, and planned a trip of two days in Bangkok and four days in Pattaya.

The reason this trip was short was that, in the media, on the internet, and in public perception, Thailand was mostly portrayed as a destination for sex tourism, which was not at all the purpose of our journey. During the first two days in Bangkok, there wasn’t really enough time to see much. Besides, because of the heavy traffic, it would take hours to reach any tourist site, which for me on a wheelchair was exhausting. I was starting to feel disappointed with my trip until we arrived in Pattaya.

Everything was beyond my expectations. It is true that Pattaya is the most famous city for sex tourism, but surprisingly, it was more wheelchair-friendly, quieter, cleaner, and had many more accessible tourist attractions compared to Bangkok. These were places that one must see at least once in a lifetime: the Sanctuary of Truth, a temple made entirely of wood, every part of it filled with stories and mysteries, iinterestingly, equipped with a wooden elevator for wheelchair users, making it 100% accessible. Then there was Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, a huge park filled with fascinating plants along with a very entertaining elephant show; Mini Siam; the Big Buddha; and many other attractions you can easily find with a simple online search.

I realized that four days in Pattaya were far too short. After that, I traveled there two more times, and now I am already planning my fourth trip to this beautiful city. The people of Thailand are very cheerful, kind, helpful, and supportive. On my second trip to Pattaya, I had the chance to meet a young lady who embodied all the positive qualities of the Thai people. Ms. Nina Doowa is the manager of a company that provides wheelchair transport services with vans- called BB Travels. Throughout our journey, she made everything smooth and easy for us with great patience and compassion. Even in matters outside of her job responsibilities, she would help sincerely and wholeheartedly. Her wheelchair van was always on time, comfortable, spacious, and very affordable, taking us to Pattaya’s attractions without any stress.

In one sentence, I can say Pattaya is paradise on earth. In my opinion, anyone who wants to experience a combination of beach, sea, jungle, delicious and affordable food, good hotels and resorts, ever-smiling energetic faces, and of course lively nights(all in one place)must definitely visit Pattaya at least once. I believe that cities like Pattaya, besides being affordable, are far better than European and Western cities for those who love sunshine, nature, and the sea.

Written by Hiraad