"Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it..." - Greg Anderson
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| (Mae Rom Pheung Beach Rayong) |
Date: 16 Sep 2018 (Sunday)
Route: Koh Kong - Cambodia/Thailand border - Chanthaburi - Rayong - Pattaya
Hotel: Pattaya Old Golf Club Resort
Weather forecast for today: A little humid of anxiety, and a downpour of disappointment...
Because of the heavy rain and inaccessible roads, we decided to cut short our stay in Koh Kong and cross back to Thailand today even though we already paid for a 3-day permit for our 4x4.
Border clearance at Hat Lek Thailand border was fast and efficient. Once out of the border complex we drove on and stopped at some attractions along the way for photo opportunities.
We drove along the Chanthaburi River passing the photogenic old town with clusters of heritage buildings. Chanthaburi is also best known for the gem trade. Rubies and sapphires are among other precious stones discovered in rural parts of Chanthaburi, Trat and western Cambodia. We had Lamb Bryani and Murtabak for lunch at the Muslim Restaurant in Chanthaburi old town.
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| (Early morning crowd at the Muslim stall) |
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| (Not a good weather to lay back in the hammocks) |
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| (A very wet day for the Tuk-tuk operators) |
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| (Crossing Koh Kong Bridge in the heavy rain) |
We checked out and had breakfast at the Muslim Stall at the Jetty before we headed towards the Cambodia/Thailand border. There are a few attractions, mostly for tourists before reaching the border.
At Cham Yeam Cambodia border there were many locals offering assistance to tourists. Never allow these touts to assist you in border clearance as they may hold on to your passports if you don't pay them. They may ask between Baht100-300 per person and you will likely have your passport stamped very quickly. We decided to join the queue and wait a little longer for our passports to be stamped. We collected our vehicle grant back from the Cambodian Custom then drove to the Thailand border.
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| (An iconic monument at the round about) |
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| (Koh Kong Safari World) |
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| (Koh Kong Resort Hotel) |
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| (Koh Kong Casino) |
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| (Koh Kong busy local Market Place) |
At Cham Yeam Cambodia border there were many locals offering assistance to tourists. Never allow these touts to assist you in border clearance as they may hold on to your passports if you don't pay them. They may ask between Baht100-300 per person and you will likely have your passport stamped very quickly. We decided to join the queue and wait a little longer for our passports to be stamped. We collected our vehicle grant back from the Cambodian Custom then drove to the Thailand border.
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| (A nice stretch of beach between Cambodia/Thailand border) |
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| (Less crowd and no hassle at Cham Yeam Cambodia border) |
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| (The Bigfoot waiting on no-man's land) |
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| (Reapply custom clearance to enter Thailand) |
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| (Heavily guarded Thailand border) |
Border clearance at Hat Lek Thailand border was fast and efficient. Once out of the border complex we drove on and stopped at some attractions along the way for photo opportunities.
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| (A Monument at the border) |
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| (Brightly colored TRAT signage) |
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| (A small shrine by the main road) |
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| (A Napoleon Naval Warship, a new attraction) |
There were massive roadworks and it was raining intermittently along the route. Stopped at Cafe Amazon for a cup of hot coffee before we drove towards Chanthaburi and visited two mosques, Jannatul Muhajirrin and Islamic Centre Tamil Muslim Mosque and performed our prayers with the jemaah mostly made up of black Muslims.
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| (Jannatul Muhajirrin Mosque of Chanthaburi) |
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| (Chanthaburi Islamic Centre) |
We drove along the Chanthaburi River passing the photogenic old town with clusters of heritage buildings. Chanthaburi is also best known for the gem trade. Rubies and sapphires are among other precious stones discovered in rural parts of Chanthaburi, Trat and western Cambodia. We had Lamb Bryani and Murtabak for lunch at the Muslim Restaurant in Chanthaburi old town.
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| (Driving through Chanthaburi old town) |
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| (Having lunch in a Muslim Restaurant) |
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| (Brilliant colored Murals on the wall) |
After lunch we drove towards Rayong and visited several beaches and the Fishing Village. Rayong is situated on the Gulf of Thailand, known for its national parks and beaches. The beach at Ban Phe is home to a fishing community and is the gateway to Koh Samet island.
To the west, the long, flat Mae Ram Phueng beach offers panoramic views and there are many seafood beach-side restaurants lining the beach front. These restaurants are usually packed at night with locals dining by the seaside.
Laem Charoen Beach is the nearest beach from Rayong town. It is located at the mouth of Rayong River, just 5 km to the south of town. The beach is popular with the locals. It has a number of seafood restaurants. It is probably one of the most interesting of the Rayong beaches. As with the other beaches on this stretch of sand, there are man-made bays sheltering the beach and the fishing boats from the worst of the waves that tend to rampantly lash this part of the coast.
From the mouth of Rayong River there are several vantage points from which we witnessed the goings on of a busy fishing fleet harbor. The large, brightly colored trawlers come and go at regular intervals, and not without a bit of excitement on board. From the viewpoint, we watched the sun beautifully setting over the town of Rayong.
Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens everyday can end beautifully...
Although it was already dusk, we decided not to stay in Rayong and drove direct to Pattaya. Our destination for tonight was the Old Golf Club Resort. We stayed here on our last two visits to Pattaya and find the chalets quiet comfortable. Had a heavy dinner at the Resort Seafood Restaurant before we checked-in in one of the chalets by the pool for baht500 per night.
To the west, the long, flat Mae Ram Phueng beach offers panoramic views and there are many seafood beach-side restaurants lining the beach front. These restaurants are usually packed at night with locals dining by the seaside.
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| (Mae Rompheung Beach, pristine and clean) |
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| (Lovely clean sand beach with strong tide) |
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| (The life guard watch tower at the beach) |
Laem Charoen Beach is the nearest beach from Rayong town. It is located at the mouth of Rayong River, just 5 km to the south of town. The beach is popular with the locals. It has a number of seafood restaurants. It is probably one of the most interesting of the Rayong beaches. As with the other beaches on this stretch of sand, there are man-made bays sheltering the beach and the fishing boats from the worst of the waves that tend to rampantly lash this part of the coast.
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| (A lighthouse near Leam Chareon Beach) |
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| (A man-made barrier against the harsh tide) |
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| (Cycling is a popular activity along the beach) |
From the mouth of Rayong River there are several vantage points from which we witnessed the goings on of a busy fishing fleet harbor. The large, brightly colored trawlers come and go at regular intervals, and not without a bit of excitement on board. From the viewpoint, we watched the sun beautifully setting over the town of Rayong.
Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens everyday can end beautifully...
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| (The fishing habour at Hat Laem Charoen) |
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| (A line up of brightly colored trawlers) |
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| (Waiting for the sunset at Rayong Harbour) |
Although it was already dusk, we decided not to stay in Rayong and drove direct to Pattaya. Our destination for tonight was the Old Golf Club Resort. We stayed here on our last two visits to Pattaya and find the chalets quiet comfortable. Had a heavy dinner at the Resort Seafood Restaurant before we checked-in in one of the chalets by the pool for baht500 per night.
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| (A spread of mouth-watering dishes) |
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| (A chalet with a nice ambiance, quiet and peaceful) |
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