The new year exploded across Pattaya in a shower of fireworks and traditional celebrations as the city counted down to 2012.
Pattaya’s entire beachfront was lit up with fireworks displays, the largest of them staged at Bali Hai Pier where city officials presided over the official Grand Pattaya Countdown 2012. Shells exploded in a rainbow of colors for 10 minutes in a show seen across Thailand and Asia on television and by tens of thousands in town.
City lights match the stage lights at Bali Hai pier.
At Bali Hai, shoppers shopped and Thai rockers rocked the house as tourists and locals packed into the pier area. The finale of the week-long series of concerts resulted in nightmarish traffic, but filled with holiday cheer, few seemed to mind much.
Restaurants, entertainment complexes and hotels welcomed the new year with various festive events. Walking Street was packed shoulder-to-shoulder and the roads clogged with horn-honking vehicles and shouting revelers.
Hotels including the Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort, Montien Hotel Pattaya and Hard Rock Hotel held festive and traditional celebrations while pubs, beer bars and restaurants from Lan Po Park in Naklua to Jomtien Beach celebrated.
Other than traffic snarls, police reported few problems as the new year went off without a hitch.
Lovely ladies dress to the nines at Montien Hotel Pattaya.
Lovely dancers await their turn to take the stage at Lan Pho Public Park in Naklua.
Pirates of Pattaya take over the Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort’s welcoming 2012 party.
Father and daughter prepare to set free a khomloy (Chinese floating lantern) at the Montien Hotel.
Youngsters salute the New Year at Town in Town Hotel.
Traffic was at a standstill along Pattaya Beach Road on New Year’s Eve.
Rockin good time at the Amari Orchid Pattaya.
The whole troupe parties in the New Year at Joy’s Paradise in Jomtien.
It’s shoulder to shoulder at Bali Hai pier.
The cast and crew take a curtain call at the Mata Hari restaurant.
Young long drummers prepare to march through Walking Street.
When the clock strikes midnight, fireworks blast off from Bali Hai pier.
Pattaya’s Tourism Police set out to patrol the town to maintain peace and security during the celebrations.
Celebrities, both real and imagined, are out in force during New Year celebrations at Hard Rock Pattaya.
Dancing the night away on Pattaya Beach.
Rockin in the New Year at Hard Rock Pattaya.
A young contortionist amazes Walking Street visitors.
Pattaya’s Tourism Police and volunteers prepare to ensure a peaceful and safe New Year’s Eve.
Chinese acrobats thrill the crowds on Walking Street.
The beach side of the Royal Garden is brightly lit to welcome in 2012.
