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Pattaya brings in 2004 with a bang as thousands converge on South Pattaya

City hotels and pubs make the best of New Year celebrations

Pattaya brings in 2004 with a bang as thousands converge on South Pattaya

City jumps with merriment as lavish celebrations countdown the New Year

Suchada Tupchai and Damri Muangkaew

Thousands of residents and tourists converged on South Pattaya’s Walking Street and Bali Hai pier to see in the countdown to 2004, making the largest celebration in the city.

Billed as Heavenly @ Bali Hai - Pattaya celebration 2004 saw the largest party the city has ever seen, and as an international affair ranked high on the list of festivities.

Partygoers were constantly entertained through the night. Numerous acts kept merrymakers in the party mood, including local dancers and DJs spinning their discs with a funky beat. A host of games and other entertainment activities were laid on around the grounds of the pier and Walking Street.

One of the main highlights of the show was the special guest appearance by Luktoong (Thai Folk Song) singers, Jonas and Christy Anderson, well known around the nation for their musical talents in the popular Issan-style music.

As midnight drew near, throngs of people filled the streets and crowds gathered on Pratamnak Hill in South Pattaya, and along Jomtien and Pattaya Beach to witness a spectacular array of fireworks that illuminated the sky over the entire city.

Back at Bali Hai, Mayor Pairat Sutithamrongsawat and city council members led the countdown on stage as the night sky lit up with array of color.

Happy New Year! Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat pops the cork at the stroke of midnight.

Photo by Dave Malhotra

Pattaya Bay is lit up with a myriad of fireworks, a good omen for a bright year ahead.

Jonas, Christy and Petch flank the mayor as he wishes everyone a happy, and prosperous new year. Chanyuth Hengtrakul (2nd right) was also on stage to welcome in the New Year.

The vivacious, talented and sexy Christy goes through her repertoire singing fluently in the Isaan dialect.

The Walking Street Committee in their distinctive strawberry shirts taking care of their guests. (standing l-r) Vichai Wongdecho, Santi Pakdee-ratanamit, Mayor Pairat Suthithamrongsawat, Erika and Bruno Keller and Pisan Pon-lookin. (Seated (l-r) Sukhraj Kalra, Sukum Viputanont, Pol. Col. Kamolchai Tienrungroj, Chief of Pattaya Police and Soonthorn Kangsirikul (Chairman).

The four stars on stage, (l-r) Petch, Christy, Jonas and Tony.

Amidst the explosions and bright lights of fireworks fired at midnight, fans rush to the stage to greet the stars.

Activities galore, on stage, along the Bali Hai Pier and all along Walking Street.

City hotels and pubs make the best of New Year celebrations

With the advent of the celebrations in South Pattaya, the city’s hotels and pubs proved to be an eclectic mix of the old and the new, entertaining their guests and visitors throughout the New Years celebrations with parties held in ballrooms and poolside shows.

The variety was vast in terms of options available for those who were not comfortable with negotiating the masses in South Pattaya to bring in 2004. The one thing they did have in common was the festive mood, as everyone ate, drank and danced their way into the final 10 seconds of 2003 as the countdown to 2004 was ticked off.

All the major hotels fired off a myriad of skyrockets and fiery flowers, lighting the skies above to bring in the New Year, leaving many of those on the city streets to gaze in awe at the pyrotechnics display that has become synonymous with New Year celebrations in Pattaya. Afterwards, everyone continued to party on until the very small hours of January 1 in true Pattaya style.

Khun Kamala Sukosol (2nd right) MD Siam City Hotels & Resorts entertains H.E. Mr. El Hassane Zahid, (2nd left) Ambassador of Morocco to Thailand and his wife Mrs. Naima Kouate Zahid (right) and son Ahmed Al Azhar (left) at the Siam Bayshore Hotel.

Khun Chatchawal Supachayanont (right) GM of the Dusit Resort Pattaya, having a good time with hotel guests.

Kim Fletcher and the usual gang of party animals cheer in the New Year at Shenanigans Irish Pub.

Khun Achana Snitwongse Na Ayuthaya (MD) presents a prize to the lucky winner at the Montien Hotel.

Somsak Tanruengsri, (3rd left) cluster manager of the Pattaya Marriott Resort and Spa and his team await the arrival of their guests for the New Year revelry.

Amari Resort had an international theme as can be seen by this colorful mixture of cultures.

Dancing into 2004 at the Hard Rock Hotel.

These lovely lasses preferred the Sea Sand and Sun for a serene yet fun filled New Year’s Eve party.

Khun Sopin Teppajug (Noi) brings a lot of luck and love to all who were at the Green Bottle Pub to ring in the new year.

Gerrit Niehaus (center) is surrounded by the Pisters family, (l-r) Rene, Anthony, Jessica and Ploy at the Thai Garden Resort New Year’s Eve festivities.

Skal International