I can't comment on Pattaya, as I have not yet been there. In Bangkok, where I go frequently, there was no gay area in 1978, my first visit. You relied on Taxi driver, or concie to find the action. I am talking about sex effectively, though perfunctory massage was often involved. Action there was, I had an excellent gay threesome, but it was out of sight. Slowly bars began to develop, though my memory is not great, again word of mouth. I remember being ushered into places, where boys suddenly appeared, cocks out. Then Soi Twilight started, Barbiery in Surawong? I think the soi 6 scene had also started then, Golden Cock et al. Ditto Silom soi 2. So, by the late 80s, sex in all forms was available!