Here's a non-TAT shot of Pattaya Bay taken in 1952. Not a whole lot going on. Unappealing scrubland tends to hog the view. The extreme city wasn't yet even a twinkle in a Thai hooker's - or American G.I.'s - eye. Just a few fishing families eking out a living.
And just so Smiles doesn't feel left out, here's a shot of Hua Hin taken in the 1930s. As you can see, positively congested compared with Pattaya. It had been favoured as a royal retreat for some time, especially during the reign of Rama VI (1910-1925). The little plane buzzing along aptly heralds what was to be the most important single factor - air travel - in transforming Thailand from a destination for a few wealthy and hardy travellers with time on their hands to one of the prime places for mass tourism in the latter decades of the 20th century.
Reply With Quote
