Fireworks cover the Pattaya
sky during the festivities.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Pattaya hotels and merchants counted up their good fortune as
Pattaya residents and tourists from around the world counted down to the new
year together.
As was evident from huge traffic jams on Sukhumvit Road, throngs of Thai and
foreign tourists flocked to Pattaya to toast 2010 at celebrations at Bali
Hai Pier and area resorts. An estimated 700,000 people attended Pattaya’s
week-long Pattaya Countdown celebration at Bali Hai, many of whom stayed for
the stroke of midnight New Year’s Eve.
South Pattaya was the heart of the city’s celebrations with vendors lining
both sides of Walking Street, offering food, drink and souvenirs. At the
pier, visitors enjoyed fireworks and music from top Thai bands, including
Bodyslam, Hangman, Buddha Bless, So Cool, Paradox, Clash, Star 5 and
Retrospect.
Pattaya officials estimated that countdown week generated more than 100
million baht for the city. The city had spent more than 26 million baht
organizing and marketing the festival, which was broadcast live New Year’s
Eve on Channel 9 and to 15 other countries.
Giving their wishes that the high season will remain strong, city officials
were up early New Year’s Day making merit by giving food to 84 monks in
Naklua, Pattaya and Jomtien Beach.
Women from TOT add beauty to
the celebrations.
Pattaya Tourist Police prepare
for an evening of providing full security for visitors.
Staff takes time out from the
New Year festivities
at the Diana Dragon to pose for a photo.
Guests enjoy a fun-filled New
Years Eve at the Captain’s Corner Restaurant.
A costume booth was set up at
the Captain’s Corner Restaurant, and guests had fun dressing and taking
loads of pictures in the various elegant costumes.
Wild times during the Hard
Rock Pattaya celebrations.
The Mata Hari team dresses in
fancy costumes to welcome the New Year.
Sopin Thappajug (center), MD
of Diana Group joins
the celebrations with staff at the Diana Garden Resort.
Artists from the Star 5
project greet the audience.
Toon Body slam rehydrates.
Nong Grand from the Star 5
woos the crowd.
Artist ‘So Cool’ thrills the
crowd.
Hangman’s lead singer Toa
makes the night a memorable one.
Dome Pakorn Lum is all smiles
during his part of the show.
Famous Rap-Hip Hop group
Buddha Bless
inspires the crowd to dance the night away.
Centara Grand Mirage Beach
Resort Pattaya’s live band entertains the guests.
Hot, loud and decorated
vehicles on display as part of the celebrations this year.
Samantha Rupp, age 4, a
resident of Pattaya and Bangkok, stars in the current Thai Airways
commercial, as “Nong Ploy.” Here she happily poses for a photo with one of
the clowns at the Pattaya Countdown 2010 in Bali Hai. (Photo by Jason Rupp)
Witthaya Kunplome (2nd left)
and Itthiphol Kunplome (2nd right)
announce the itinerary for the weeklong celebrations.
Sattahip residents pray at
midnight to welcome the New Year full of merit.
Pattaya Officials begin the
countdown to the lighting up
of the Xmas tree on the first day of the celebrations.
