| Pattaya Beach Thailand August 2001 |
| During its Western Pacific cruise of 2001-02, the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)'s battle group made its first port call at Pattaya Beach, Thailand. At 100,000 tons, the Carl Vinson was too big to come very far in, and had to anchor five miles off shore. Liberty boats ran the Air Wing and ship's company to the city and back. Pattaya Beach is not indicative of Thailand over all; Pattaya Beach is a typical Far Eastern port town with all the expected vices fully represented. However, the Thais are an ancient people, steeped in Buddhist tradition. They are truly eager as a whole to show off their country, and are one of America's staunchest allies in Asia. Both thumbnails are clickable links to high-res images. |
| The carrier Carl Vinson lies at anchor five miles off the Thai coast. |
| The streets of Pattaya Beach suggest at once something out of an "Indiana Jones" movie and a National Geographic special. However, being a modern nation, Thailand has its share of McDonald's restaurants. |
| Street vendors hawk fans, carvings, paintings, and other works to U.S. Sailors on liberty. Visitors to Thailand must remember that haggling and bartering is an expected part of dealing with these vendors. |
| Smack in the bustling center of this busy, noisy port city is the Chaimongkol Temple, a small Buddhist enclave of quiet and peace. In the Buddhist religion, men may enter the monk's life any time they wish, and leave it when they feel their time is done, unlike Christian monks who take a life-long vow of fealty to the Lord. Judging by the tattoo on his right arm, this old monk was once a sea-going man. Both these thumbnails are clickable links to higher-res images. |
| Shining mother-of-pearl and lacquer covers the ornate rail posts along the temple's exterior (above). In the heart of the temple sits the gold-leafed Buddha (right). It is believed that this particular Buddha will bring peace to those who pray here and make contributions to the temple's upkeep. |
| Although most Americans associate Buddhism with China and Japan, Buddha himself was an Indian prince. The roots of Buddhism from the Indian sub-continent can be seen in these figures adorning the pillars (left) and doors (right). |
