#pattaya — Public Fediverse posts

The Ghost Tower of Pattaya

Some buildings become landmarks because they were beautifully designed. Others become landmarks because they refuse to disappear.

I used to live close to this building in Pattaya.

Back then, I didn’t think of it as a landmark.

It was simply that enormous unfinished tower near Bali Hai Pier, standing beside Pattaya Bay and impossible to ignore.

I saw it from different places around the city. I passed it. I photographed it. I watched the skyline around it change while the building itself seemed frozen in time.

Years later, I realize that I wasn’t simply looking at an unfinished condominium.

I was watching a piece of Pattaya history.

The building that stopped

The building is The Waterfront Suites and Residence, a 53-storey condominium and hotel project beside Bali Hai Pier in South Pattaya.

The project had been proposed years earlier, with development beginning in the 2000s and construction eventually getting underway. It was envisioned as a luxury waterfront development, the kind of project that would take advantage of one of Pattaya’s most spectacular locations.

And what a location it was.

The sea directly in front.

Bali Hai Pier below.

Pratumnak Hill behind it.

Boats constantly moving across the bay.

From a marketing perspective, it was almost impossible to imagine a better address.

But the building itself became controversial.

Its height and location drew intense criticism because it obstructed views from the Pratumnak Hill area, including the seaward view associated with the monument to Prince Abhakara Kiartivongse, widely revered as the Father of the Royal Thai Navy.

Then came a much more serious problem.

In July 2014, Pattaya authorities ordered construction to stop after inspections found differences between parts of the building and the approved plans, particularly involving fire escapes and elevator systems. (The Pattaya News⁠)

And that was it.

The tower stopped growing.

Pattaya didn’t.

A city moving around a frozen building

This is what makes the Waterfront so fascinating to me.

The city kept moving.

New condominiums appeared.

Hotels changed.

Restaurants opened and closed.

Tourists came and went.

The roads became busier.

The boats continued crossing Pattaya Bay.

Life continued around that enormous unfinished skeleton.

But the Waterfront remained almost exactly where it had been when construction stopped.

The tower became part of the skyline.

Not a beautiful landmark in the traditional sense.

Not a completed architectural masterpiece.

But a landmark nevertheless.

If you have spent enough time in Pattaya, you know the building.

You don’t need an address.

You don’t need a map.

Someone can simply say, “the unfinished building near Bali Hai,” and you know exactly which one they mean.

The story became more complicated

The construction halt was only the beginning.

Legal disputes followed. The developer faced lawsuits and financial difficulties and eventually filed for debt restructuring involving more than 2.3 billion baht. The company subsequently went bankrupt. (The Pattaya News⁠)

The construction crane that had remained on top of the building for years was eventually removed in September 2018 because of safety concerns. (The Pattaya News⁠)

And the building stayed.

For years, there were discussions about demolition, modification, legal proceedings and the possibility of somehow completing the project.

But none of those possibilities seemed capable of changing the strange reality that had already settled over Pattaya:

the building was here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future.

I have so many photographs of it

Maybe that is why I finally feel the need to write about it.

I have photographs of this building from different moments, different viewpoints and different moods.

Sometimes the sky behind it is an impossible blue.

Sometimes the sea is crowded with boats.

Sometimes the tower looks almost elegant from a distance.

And sometimes it looks exactly what it is: an enormous unfinished structure watching over the bay.

Yet somehow, I never got tired of photographing it.

Perhaps because every photograph captured something slightly different.

Or perhaps because I knew that buildings like this tell stories.

They tell us about ambition.

About money.

About regulations.

About mistakes.

About dreams that were bigger than the circumstances that were supposed to support them.

And sometimes, they tell us something about ourselves.

When I lived nearby

Living close to it made the building ordinary to me.

That may sound strange, considering how enormous it is.

But when something becomes part of your everyday landscape, you stop seeing it the way tourists do.

You simply know it is there.

It becomes one of those familiar pieces of your life that you don’t think much about until you leave.

And then, years later, you see a photograph and suddenly remember.

I used to live there.

I used to pass this place.

I remember seeing that building.

That is when a building stops being architecture and becomes memory.

For me, the Waterfront is now connected to a version of my life in Pattaya.

Not just the tower itself, but the roads around it, the sea, the boats, the heat, the movement of the city and those ordinary days that never seemed important enough to remember at the time.

Funny how memory works.

We don’t always remember the big events.

Sometimes we remember the view we saw every morning.

And now it is a landmark

There is a certain irony in the story of the Waterfront.

It was meant to become a landmark.

And it did.

Just not in the way anyone originally intended.

The project was supposed to represent luxury waterfront living.

Instead, it became a symbol of an unfinished dream.

It became known as Pattaya’s Ghost Tower.

And somehow, the ghost became part of the city.

As of 2026, the building’s future is still unresolved. Pattaya authorities are awaiting a Department of Lands ruling concerning the legality of the land title. If the title is found to have been unlawfully issued, demolition could follow. If it is upheld, the developer would need to pursue approvals to modify the building before any future development could proceed. (Pattaya Mail⁠)

So even after more than a decade, the story isn’t over.

In February 2026, authorities were still taking legal action after finding that parts of the unfinished building were being used for unauthorized parking, despite the long-standing prohibition on using the structure. (The Pattaya News⁠)

The building is still waiting for its final chapter.

Maybe that is why I keep taking pictures

One day, it may be gone.

Perhaps it will finally be demolished.

Perhaps the legal disputes will end and the site will become something completely different.

Perhaps, against all odds, some version of the project will rise again.

I don’t know.

But I do know that when I look at my photographs now, I see more than an abandoned tower.

I see Pattaya.

I see the city I once lived in.

I see the boats moving across the bay and the skyline growing around a building that never finished growing itself.

I see how quickly cities change, and how strangely some things remain.

The Waterfront was supposed to be a symbol of Pattaya’s future.

Instead, it became part of its past.

And perhaps that is the most unexpected thing about this building.

It failed to become what it was designed to be, but succeeded in becoming something nobody planned: a landmark.

A landmark made of unfinished concrete.

A landmark surrounded by stories.

A landmark that has watched Pattaya change for more than a decade.

And for me, it will always be something else, too.

It will be the Ghost Tower I used to live near.

💖💖💖

'Wanted' #Chinese #fraudster arrested in #Pattaya
"Police arrested a 30-year-old Chinese man wanted by authorities in #China for alleged fraud and #moneylaundering.. According to the CIB, Zhang stayed in #Thailand from June 2023 to February 2024 & used it as a base while he masterminded the transfers, withdrawals & laundering of scam-related money.. He was charged with overstaying his visa & will be extradited to China"
👉 Make sure to #blacklist the #PRC bastard! #จีนเทา 😡
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3302658/wanted-chinese-fraudster-arrested-in-pattaya

Thai Street Food Market in Pattaya, Thailand – Authentic Local Food and Market Life
#Photography #travelphotography #socialmedia #Thailand #Pattaya
My photograph is available for licensing on Alamy for editorial, travel, publishing projects.
https://www.alamy.com/thai-food-for-sale-at-a-street-market-in-thailand-asia-image574901878.html

Seafood Market in Naklua, Pattaya, Thailand – Local Seafood Trade and Thai Market Life
My high-quality photograph is available for licensing on Alamy for editorial, travel, tourism, publishing, food, cultural and educational projects.
https://www.alamy.com/seafood-market-naklua-thailanddocumentary-image383820254.htmlm

#Photography #travelphotography #socialmedia #Thailand #Pattaya

Pattaya Thailand: Illuminated Night Cityscape and Terminal 21 Mall During Blue Hour at Pattaya Bay
#Affiliate #photography #travelphotography #socialmedia #Thailand #Pattaya
Available for editorial licensing via Alamy
https://www.alamy.com/pattaya-thailand-illuminated-night-cityscape-and-terminal-21-mall-during-blue-hour-at-pattaya-bay-image741258506.html?imageid=346B09D9-A357-42E8-A199-9E61AA1A5C69&pn=1&searchId=5ecb979259010f54367a9c5e71fa3347&searchtype=11

Russisches Dorf in Pattaya: Polizei sprengt Milliarden-Netzwerk

775 Häuser, fünf Milliarden Baht,
Strohmänner die gar nicht existieren – und ein russisches Dorf mitten in Pattaya, das offen im Internet beworben wurde. Was die Polizei bei der Razzia vom 17. Juli wirklich vorgefunden hat.

https://www.wochenblitz.com/russisches-dorf-pattaya-polizei-milliarden-netzwerk/

#Thailand #Asien #Pattaya #Razzia #Immobilien #Russen #Polizei

Bakery Creates ‘Hairy Croissant’ Sparking Debate | Ratopati

Bangkok. Croissant, which has been a main part of French cuisine for centuries, has not been considered con…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #FineDining #Frenchfinedining #ArthitChomchavath #Bakery #debate #ediblealgae #francais #france #French #Frenchcuisine #hairycroissant #Pattaya #Prisme #SaiwanBakehouse #socialmedia #UniqueDessert #Viral
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2729491/bakery-creates-hairy-croissant-sparking-debate-ratopati/

Bakery Creates ‘Hairy Croissant’ Sparking Debate | Ratopati https://www.diningandcooking.com/2729491/bakery-creates-hairy-croissant-sparking-debate-ratopati/ #ArthitChomchavath #Bakery #debate #EdibleAlgae #FineDining #francais #france #French #FrenchCuisine #FrenchFineDining #HairyCroissant #Pattaya #Prisme #SaiwanBakehouse #SocialMedia #UniqueDessert #Viral

Gulf of Thailand Sunset: Sunken Abandoned Wooden Fishing Boat Tilting in the Sea Near Pattaya, Thailand
#Photography #travelphotography #socialmedia #Thailand #Pattaya
This image is live on my Alamy account and available for both editorial and commercial licensing, including extended options. View the collection here: https://www.alamy.com/an-old-ship-during-the-sunset-on-the-sea-in-the-gulf-of-thailand-image396730641.html?imageid=8FCE65B7-4390-4CAA-B8BF-7EC2C02E4822&pn=1&searchId=632b6cfff32e0335e9f211d9ef832a8e&searchtype=11

How a Thai teen’s night at a Pattaya beach ended in death

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2026/07/01/315743/how-a-thai-teens-night-at-a-pattaya-beach-ended-in-death/

Learning to Build Healthy Boundaries in Relationships

“Not everyone deserves unlimited access to your heart.”

For a long time, I believed that being a good person meant always being available, always understanding, and always giving people the benefit of the doubt. I took pride in being dependable. Whether at work, as a mother, a colleague, a friend, or a partner, I wanted people to know they could count on me.

But there is a quiet danger in living this way.

When we become accustomed to carrying other people’s burdens, we sometimes forget to ask who is carrying ours. We become so skilled at understanding others that we stop paying attention to our own needs. We mistake self-sacrifice for love and patience for compatibility. Then one day we find ourselves exhausted, disappointed, and wondering why our relationships feel unbalanced.

Healthy boundaries are not walls built to keep people out. They are gates that allow the right people in while protecting our peace, dignity, and emotional well-being.

One lesson I am learning is that love should not require constant proving. The right people do not need endless demonstrations of loyalty before they choose to stay. They do not leave us guessing about our value. They do not take our kindness as permission to give less in return.

A boundary says, “I can care about you without neglecting myself.”

It means recognizing when effort is one-sided. It means refusing to chase people who consistently fail to meet us halfway. It means understanding that being understanding does not require accepting behavior that hurts us.

For someone who naturally nurtures others, boundaries can feel uncomfortable at first. Saying “no” may feel selfish. Speaking up about our needs may feel demanding. Walking away from unhealthy situations may feel like failure.

In reality, boundaries are acts of self-respect.

They teach others how we expect to be treated. They remind us that our time, energy, and emotions have value. Most importantly, they help us distinguish between people who appreciate our kindness and people who simply benefit from it.

Healthy relationships are built on reciprocity. Both people contribute. Both people listen. Both people make room for each other’s dreams, struggles, and growth. The relationship becomes a shelter rather than a burden.

As I continue growing, I want to stop measuring my worth by how much I can give. I want to measure it by how well I honor myself. I want relationships where I can be loved not because of everything I do for others, but because of who I am.

Setting boundaries does not make us less compassionate. It makes our compassion sustainable.

And perhaps the most important boundary of all is this: never allowing loneliness to convince us to accept less than we deserve.

Because the right people will never ask us to shrink, chase, or prove our worth. They will recognize it, respect it, and cherish it from the beginning.

That is not a fantasy. It is the standard.

💖💖💖

When the neon fades: Capturing Pattaya’s raw, unfiltered 4:00 AM street life. 🇹🇭📸
Discover the storytelling and technical details behind this photo.
#Photography #travelphotography #socialmedia #Thailand #Pattaya #streetphotography
Click the link for the full breakdown from my journey as a photographer in Thailand!
https://buymeacoffee.com/wilfriedstb/when-neon-fades-capturing-pattaya-raw-unfiltered-4-00-am-street-life

This Is What Pattaya Looks Like When Almost Everyone Has Gone Home
#Photography #travelphotography #socialmedia #Thailand #streetphotography #sonyalpha #Pattaya
Want to know the story behind the shot?
Click the link to dive into the technical details and storytelling from my firsthand experience as a photographer traveling Thailand
https://buymeacoffee.com/wilfriedstb/soi-buakhao-4-00-am-this-is-what-pattaya-looks-like-when-almost-everyone

Seeking Clarity

If humans had taglines, mine would be:

“I ask questions not because I doubt life, but because understanding helps me embrace it.”

I have never been someone who simply accepts things at face value. When something feels unclear, unusual, or incomplete, I ask questions. Not because I want to challenge everything, but because I value understanding. Clarity brings me peace, and knowledge helps me move forward with confidence.

This habit has followed me through every chapter of my life. In my work, it means looking beyond the obvious answer and searching for the real cause of a problem. In learning, it means staying curious, even when I think I already know enough. In relationships, it means seeking understanding before judgment. And in life, it means listening to both facts and feelings, because both have something important to say.

Some people see questions as signs of uncertainty. I see them as signs of engagement. Questions are how we learn, how we grow, and how we discover truths that might otherwise remain hidden. Every meaningful lesson in my life began with a simple question.

My journey has not always been straightforward. There have been moments of change, responsibility, and challenges that required courage I did not know I had. Through each season, curiosity became my compass. It helped me navigate unfamiliar places, make difficult decisions, and continue growing into the person I wanted to become.

I believe feelings are valid. When something does not sit right with me, I pay attention. Instead of ignoring it, I explore it. Sometimes the answer is practical. Sometimes it is emotional. Often, it is a combination of both. Understanding what lies beneath a feeling transforms worry into awareness and uncertainty into wisdom.

At the heart of it all, I am simply someone who wants to understand the world a little better today than I did yesterday. I am a learner, a seeker, a problem-solver, and a storyteller of my own experiences.

So if I had a tagline, it would not be about having all the answers.

It would be about having the courage to keep asking the questions.

💖💖💖

#Blackchintilapia reportedly found off #Pattaya coast
"Blackchin t is an African species tt was originally #imported to #Thailand for research purposes in 2010. Te importer, #agribusiness group #CP Foods, said the fish died within 3 weeks & were subsequently disposed of using approved methods, w samples & doc'n sent to Fisheries Dept.. blackchin t later started showing up in local #waterways in 2012. As their population grew, native #fish species started decreasing in #"🤦‍♂️
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3254920/blackchin-tilapia-reportedly-found-off-pattaya-coast

A tattoo studio in Pattaya City, captured at night. The black and white edit really emphasizes the raw, urban vibe of the scene
#Affiliate #ad #travelphotography #socialmedia #photography #Thailand #Pattaya
Take a piece of Southeast Asia home with you
You can now purchase this photo as high-quality wall art, posters, stickers, and more! 📸✨ Check out all the available print options here:
https://lumenira.com/image/8a572468-bc2d-4945-a3f4-d81a24bb90fd

The Side of Pattaya in Thailand You Never See: Local Football Culture
Step away from the tourist zones and into the "Dark Side" at Nong Prue Stadium.
#Photography #travelphotography #socialmedia #Thailand #Pattaya
Experience Pattaya United vs. True Bangkok United through documentary photography
https://www.strangphotography.com/pattaya-in-thailand-more-than-just-stereotypes#pattaya-united-vs-bangkok-united--football-in-pattaya-at-the-darkside

Ich, heute so, nach ca.45 km einfach mal fotografieren lassen! 📸😊

#magischerOrt
#Thailand
#Pattaya
#ThaiSi26

Pattaya Street Photography, Thailand - Soi 8 Before Dawn
There’s a specific silence in Soi 8 once the Beach Road crowds disappear. It’s my favorite time for street photography.
#Pattaya #photography #travelphotography #socialmedia #Thailand #travel
​Check out the "Life Before Dawn" series and storytelling on my site:
https://www.strangphotography.com/-soi-buakhao-pattaya-street-photography-and-life-before-dawn#pattaya-street-photography--soi-7-and-soi-8-before-dawn

Morning in Soi Buakhao – When Pattaya Wakes Up, Thailand
Explore Pattaya’s Soi Buakhao at 8 a.m. – quiet streets, soft light, and authentic Thai street life captured with my Sony ILCE-7M4.
Travel, Documentary and Photography in Southeast Asia
#Photography #travelphotography #socialmedia #Thailand #Pattaya
Discover my full story & photo series:
https://www.strangphotography.com/-soi-buakhao-pattaya-street-photography-and-life-before-dawn#morning-in-soi-buakhao--when-pattaya-wakes-up

Found at the rest stop between #Bangkok and #Pattaya ... This is the kind of food that will put you to sleep at the wheel!

#Thailand #Travel #Food

2026 is a year for dichotomies.

An acceptance for who I am; a rejection of false impositions.

An acceptance for what is; a rejection of false narratives.

A compassionate welcome for decent people; a dispassionate denial for the rest.

Most importantly, the beginning of the best years of my life with my better half, @Chescheese; the end of the lonely existence that came before.

#HappyNewYear #2026 from #Pattaya!

Forget the players — this Bangkok United fan already won the match! 💃⚽️, Thailand Southeast Asia
Before kickoff at Pattaya United, one Bangkok United fan decided the real action was outside the stadium.
Who needs VAR when you’ve got these dance moves? 😂🔥
#socialmedia #photography #travelphotography #Pattaya #Bangkok #Thailand

https://lumenira.com/image/9949d558-75eb-b9c5-e449-8452bee6703d

The Sanctuary of Truth Pattaya – Thailand’s Majestic Hand-Carved Wooden Temple by the Sea

Located in Pattaya, Thailand, the Sanctuary of Truth (also known as the Heiligtum der Wahrheit) is a breathtaking, still-unfinished wooden museum and temple-castle hybrid that stands as one of the country’s most extraordinary architectural achievements.

#Photography #socialmedia #travelphotography #Thailand #thai #Pattaya

https://lumenira.com/image/455ebb82-5b47-facb-df79-0f1bc64cc69a

The Sanctuary of Truth Pattaya – A Magnificent Hand-Carved Wooden Temple in Thailand

Discover The Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya, Thailand – an awe-inspiring masterpiece of traditional Thai architecture and spiritual philosophy. Located on Laem Ratchawet, Na Klua Road, this remarkable hand-carved wooden temple blends elements of a temple, museum, and art gallery.

#Photography #socialmedia #Thailand #pattaya #travelphotography #photooftheday #Southeastasia