Hi, I’m Darren, author of Pattaya Unlimited. I come from Lancashire in the United Kingdom. I first visited Pattaya in 1999 as a backpacker who only planned on staying for a short while, but the place grew on me. It felt like somewhere I would like to live.
I left Pattaya as a failed backpacker, but with both a longing and a plan to return.
Back in the UK, I saved my pennies for a while before training to become a commercial diver.
With a new profession that would pay decent money and enable me to live in Pattaya between stints working offshore, I returned to Pattaya in 2000 and have been calling home ever since.
My journey has taken me from being single, a backpacker who never backpacked at all, living with a friend on Soi Kohpai off South Pattaya Road, to a long-term expat living on the east side of town (The Darkside), married with two sons. Living in Pattaya and loving it.
Pattaya Unlimited
I started Pattaya Unlimited in 2009. If you asked me what it’s about and what’s in it for you, I would say it’s a visitor’s guide to Pattaya, where you will find guides and tips on everything from travel, local transport, when and where to stay, hotels, and beaches to top things to see and do, by a local with over 20 years of experience and local knowledge. But actually, it goes beyond just that.
A lot of the content is about things that I’ve found either interesting or amusing, and hope you will too. That includes local insights and Thai life and culture.
So, if you take a deep dive into Pattaya Unlimited, here is a taste of articles and topics you’ll find across the site’s categories:
- About face in Thailand and why Thais wai
- Tips on changing money, tipping, and where you can haggle
- How to tell the time in Thailand and swear in Thai
- Thai ghosts, spirit worship and superstitions
- Thai girlfriends, ladyboys, and Toms and Dees
- Hindu deities, sacred trees, and a demon god
Start Here
If you’re new to Pattaya or planning your first trip, a good place to start is my first-time visitor guide to Pattaya You’ll find everything you need to both help plan and find your feet when you arrive, from getting around and where to stay to things to see and do, with links to more in-depth guides along the way.
Contact Me
Please note, I don’t accept guest posts or ads.
You can contact me by emailing me at this address: pattayaunlimited.com@gmail.com
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