Nong Nooch Tropical

About 18 kilometres south of Pattaya, with a left turn from Sukhumvit Road, at Km. 163, Nong Nooch Garden is a sprawling recreation park in typical Thai settings. Groups of traditional Thai houses and gardens of different plants, for example, an orchid garden, a palm garden, a banana garden, a bonsai garden, a cactus garden and a heliconia garden, are dotted around the beautifully landscaped site. A zoo and a butterfly garden are also in the compound. There are daily cultural and elephant shows attracting crowds of delighted visitors. Show times are 10.45 a.m., 03.00 p.m., 04.00 p.m. Admission fee is 400 baht. The garden also provides a tram for touring around charge 50 baht/ round/ person. For more information, Tel. 0 3870 9358 to 63, or Bangkok Tel. 0 2251 2161, 0 2252 1786. www.nongnoochtropicalgarden.com