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IN the East is a long coastal plain that runs from Bang Saen, near Chon Buri, past the naval headland of Satthahip all the way to Trat at the Cambodian border, with a series of incredible beaches and two popular marine national parks of Ko Samet and Ko Chang along the way.

All the activity -- for golfers and those who love sea sports -- happens at Pattaya, Thailand's most famous beach resort and now centre of many industrial activities along the Eastern Seaboard. This once small fishing village is now a major resort with an excellent range of accommodation, accessible from Bangkok in less than two hours thanks to new fast motorways.

For golfers, there are 15 international standard courses within 30-40 minutes of Pattaya, all with excellent facilities at inexpensive rates, making the resort an ideal centre for golf vacations.

Pattaya and its accompanying beach area of Jomthien offer a wide range of sea sports activities -- swimming, windsurfing (especially off Jomthien), para-gliding, jet-skiing, sailing (out of Varuna Yacht Club and Ocean Marina) and deep sea fishing. Diving clubs offer scuba further south around some interesting old wrecks and at the offshore islands.

The offshore island of Ko Larn is a popular day trip for visitors, to enjoy the superb beaches, view the coral, dine on very fresh seafood and just relax. If you prefer more privacy, the islands of Ko Pai and others further out are virtually deserted, visited mainly by dive boats and charters.

Back on the mainland, there are plenty of things to do, such as visiting Khao Kheow, Thailand's largest open zoo where you can wander and view a wide range of animals, or join the night safari. For a bit more danger, the Sri Racha Tiger Farm houses tigers, crocodiles and other exotic animals. More docile are the pachyderms of Pattaya Elephant Camp where the elephants put on a daily show and take visitors on brief treks.

For a cultural experience stroll through Nong Nooch Village, a beautiful park famous for its palms and orchids. The village puts on daily cultural and elephant shows, and has a mini zoo where children can touch the animals. Nearby the fascinating temple of Wat Yan displays an amazing range of architecture.

Pattaya comes alive at night, with a wide variety of restaurants offering everything from seafood by the beach to find French and Italian cuisine. Afterwards, visit some of the many pubs, beer bars, discos and other interesting places to hang out, like Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum.

A must for visitors is the outstanding cabaret at Alcazar or Tiffany's, where beautiful performers put a superbly choreographed shows nightly.

For a quieter atmosphere, visitors should move to the peaceful beaches of Rayong or Ko Samet, an island known for its sandy beaches, quiet covers and laid-back accommodation.

Even better go all the way to the border where the marine national park of Ko Chang is the latest getaway spot, featuring unspoilt beach and sea areas, basic accommodation and a chance to explore your own desert islands.