The
Father Ray Foundation says Merry Christmas
at the Centara Hotel and Resort.
Manoon Makpol
Pattaya’s countdown to 2011 was given a seven-day head
start, kicking off on Christmas night when government officials joined Thai
pop stars for the start of a week-long holiday festival.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome kicked off the Grand Pattaya
Countdown at Bali Hai Pier Dec. 25 with Chonburi and Tourist Authority of
Thailand officials joining sponsors from beverage, music and automotive
companies.
The Chonburi and Pattaya governments spent about 30
million baht to stage the week of music, shopping and fireworks with the
hopes of attracting more than 400,000 people to town.
Each evening featured live music from GMM Grammy
recording artists, including Bodyslam, Potato, Big Ass, Chin Chinwut, Joey
Boy, Thaitanium, Ice Saranyu, Da Endorphin, Kala, Yingyong Yodbuangam and
Arpaporn Nakornsawan.
Christmas also saw singing contests, cartoon mascots and
clowns entertain the crowds.
Perhaps more importantly, however, were all the parties
and religious ceremonies held throughout the city to celebrate Christmas.
From Midnight Mass at the Royal Cliff, to drunken Santas on Walking Street,
residents and tourists celebrated the Western holiday with panache.
Nearly every hotel in town, and certainly every
entertainment establishment, held special events both on Christmas Eve and
Christmas night. Christmas turkeys and ham, gingerbread houses, and staff
dressed in Santa Claus red and white were seemingly everywhere. And if the
Christmas celebrations are anything to go by, this year’s New Year’s Eve
parties could be the best ever.
The party wraps New Year’s Eve with a three-hour
spectacle broadcast on Channel 9 starting at 10:30 p.m. and around Asia via
satellite.
City
officials wish everyone a Merry Christmas and kick off the Pattaya countdown
to 2011 at Bali Hai pier.
Santa
towers over the front of Mike’s Shopping Mall.
Guests
revel after an enjoyable Christmas Eve
meal at Centara Hotel and Resort.
That’s
using your head - entertainment at Hard Rock Pattaya.
Santa
says hello to mom and daughter at Dusit Thani Pattaya.
The
dancing Santa’s elves entertain at the Dusit Thani Pattaya.
Pretty
Santa’s helpers at Hard Rock Pattaya.
Pretty
Santa’s helpers welcome guests to Walking Street.
Beautiful Christmas deserts at the Hilton Pattaya.
Thousands of lights illuminate Beach Road at the Royal Garden Plaza.
With
these beautiful Santa’s helpers, how could you resist going to this
Christmas Eve party at the Hilton Pattaya?
Christmas celebrations wouldn’t be the same without gingerbread houses, like
these at the Marriott Resort and Spa in Pattaya.
No,
you’re not seeing double - there really is two Santas and 3 Santa’s helpers
on Walking Street.
In case
you forgot to wear your Christmas hat, bows or bunny ears, this vendor would
be happy to sell them to you.
The
entertainment is quite enjoyable on Christmas Eve at the Marriott Resort and
Spa in Pattaya.
Santa
brings a smile to one of our foreign tourists.
Somsak
Tanruengsri (2nd right), GM of the Marriott Resort and Spa in Pattaya,
celebrates Christmas Eve with friends and staff.
Stunning
foreign guests are dressed for the occasion.
Santa
Claus arrives at to the Montien Hotel, Pattaya’s Verandah Coffee Shop to
spread good will, whilst the singers perform beautiful renditions of
Christmas carols and staff hand out presents for the children.
