It's difficult to get a good view of the Festival building from the beach area, and it tends to merge in with the surrounding area a bit. Don't expect it to jump out and grab you by the throat and say - "Hey! Come inside!" No bad thing perhaps, for it fits in with its surroundings without causing undue disturbance to the eye. In fact, walking along the seafront, it would be easy to pass it by un-noticed!

But! Go inside you must, because the Central Festival Shopping Centre at Pattaya is the new 'standard' for shopping in Thailand. Wake up Bangkok. Pattaya and it's Central Festival is just a short trip away!

Central Festival, lays claim to having the biggest of several things inside. No argument there, for central is big on most things. The Book place (B2S) is something else - as well as being the biggest in Asia. A brilliantly thought-out layout. But the guys and galls that do the pricing codes will have to have a bit of a re-think if my purchase is anything to go by!

My ticket/barcode price was for 695bht (Yes it was a good book!) but I was actually given 695bht as change out of a 1,000 note! I will leave you to work out the maths. I did point it out to the cashier, but that's what the till insisted on giving me back. I am just a human (it has been said!) so I don't argue with things that go bleep! Anyway, it left me with an unexpected windfall with which I could have a meal! Talking of which, there is a good range of spacious restaurants at Central Festival - especially if you like japanese food!

Teething problems at the book shop paled into insignificance with the gentle chaos in the restaurant (It will be nameless, and in any case they are normally so efficient!). The problem started when I sat at one of two adjoining small tables. Whether or not I was the reason I know not, but the couple at the adjoining table decided to move further into the restaurant. No problem, other than the fact that they had previously ordered a couple of coffees. These coffees - along with my own, were then delivered to my table. Easy mistake, for there was no-one sat at the other adjoining table. Bemused waitress readily agreed that I only needed one cup, and returned soon with my food, which she placed upon the empty table. I explained that no-one was sat there, and as it was identical dish that I had ordered twenty minutes earlier, it was probably mine! We agreed, and I was fed.

Enter a farang couple, to occupy said empty table next to me. I asked for bill, which duly arrived, and was presented to the couple on next table. They looked new to Pattaya - you can tell them - and didn't quite know how to deal with the bill, that they had just received, for food which they yet had to order! Could it get any better I thought? Firstly a book, that I got for one third of it's price, and now a meal which someone else has been asked to pay for!

It got much better. A lovely girl phoned me to tell me she was in Pattaya - did I want a drink! Ah well - more about Central Festival later, because I really do like it. For now, a drink and great company awaits me on the beach!

In keeping with the rest of Thailand (The world) Pattaya needs a few more customers. Central Festival certainly needed a few more on my visit - Sunday 1st Feb 2009, the weekend  after pay-day for those that still get it, and traditionally the busiest week of the  month.  Once the word gets round the place, it will get the customer - probably at the expense of some other big shopping centres, because Central Festival is most certainly going to be the place to spend it.

Gliding up to the third floor - there are seven in all - you get to the biggest Electronics City in Thailand, whilst the amazing sports goods store area can only claim to being the biggest in eastern Thailand! Up another couple of escalators, and you are at SFX cinema level, and bowling of course.

There is a good range of the shops that you would expect to see - and also quite a few others. The overriding impression being that here at Central Festival, all the staff had been on 'display' courses, for the layouts of all the shops I visited was superb. Bright Colours are in - big time in Pattaya.

If you have visited Central Festival Shopping at Pattaya and want to have a say - do it here. We would like to hear from you

If you have time after Central festival, then also try Pattaya Floating Market - Different!