Day 5, Friday 7 December - Ban Krut Beach

A plan to do nothing........Waking early, I consider my options for today. Just after 7 am the owner of Proudthai is preparing coffee for his guests. I pop out to 7-Eleven for something I will call breakfast then return the motorbike keys. Whatever, I don't need transport today; it's time to give it a rest. After a chat with the resort owner I decide to stay another night. The resort is occupied by other foreigners who content themselves by simply lazing around. Suitably impressed, I will do the same today. Why not? I walk into the village for lunch, but otherwise I work on my website taking a late afternoon break to go for a swim in Ban Krut Bay. The main thing I notice from my swim is the relatively deep water because of the size and shape of the bay. That makes it unsuitable for smaller children and may explain a lack of activity and sports. I also manage to do some research. Tomorrow I'm heading for Chumphon. As if by sign of farewell, I order a Korean style BBQ which I consume on the veranda. Wonderful!

Day 6, Saturday 8 December - Haad Thung Whua Laen

Ban Krut farewell..... I wake early eagerly awaiting my pot of coffee. I consume the remaining leftovers from my stay here and order transport to the main road, the standard motorbike and sidecar. I figure that arriving earlier at my next destination will improve my chances of getting accommodation to my liking. That rules out using the afternoon Ordinary train service as this doesn't arrive in Chumphon till 6pm. While I wait for my transport, I engage in conversation with my neighbour, a German, who works as a doctor for the International Red Cross. It's strange that you take the opportunity to engage with someone just as you are about to leave. He does offer good advice and conversation though. My transport arrives, but the onwards journey by road becomes tedious and expensive. After my arrival at Petchkasem road it's some time before any suitable form of transport arrives. When a minivan does arrive it's not going all the way to Chumphon, so I have to change at Chirach near the Chumphon provincial border. I arrive in the town just after 1 pm and, after a simple meal, am directed to the markets area where a songtheaw (converted pick-up) can be found to take me on the final leg to my planned destination, Haad Thung Whua Lan, 16 kilometres from Chumphon. This of one of three main beaches nearby. I hope I'm not disappointed having made some effort so far.
Sea Beach Bungalows..... Near the marketplace the only local transport appears to be a yellow songtheaw already overcrowded, but this is heading for Haad Thung Whua Lan. This service, just 30 baht, will have to do as I note at least 15 bodies occupying this standard flat-bed pick up. It certainly does feel homely. I later find out that the taxi rate to the beach from the bus station is 600 baht! When my odd-looking taxi arrives at the beach road I'm not sure where to get off. This time I don't have an advisor, so I just have to pace it till I find something suitable. Finally, near the end of the beach road, I find a bungalow for an acceptable 600 baht with usual facilities of air conditioning, hot shower and fridge. Oh! The TV doesn't work, but that's no problem. Finding no major reason for disapproval I book this for three nights. I later find out that this room is only available because of the non-arrival of guests calling by phone. On the face of it this resort could do with some TLC, most of the shortcomings merely cosmetic.
Haad Thung Whua Laen..... After a rest from my journey, I venture out around 5 pm. I make a preliminary assessment of my surroundings tempted by the comparison with Ban Krut Bay. Basically, Chumphon is quite mountainous all the way to the coast which, unlike Prachuap Kiri Khan, means the coastline is quite rugged and the beaches smaller and compact. The beach road, unlike Ban Krut is narrow and lacking pavements. It is therefore easier to feel cramped particularly this weekend with more visitors. The beach itself is littered with debris. I understand that this area including Ban krut suffered from storms last week but unlike the latter no attempt has been made to clear up the beaches. In other respects the local authorities impose almost draconian measures to ensure this area is no repeat of Cha-Am which permits deck chairs and umbrellas on a grand scale with its food hawkers and vendors of other goods. Most people, undeterred, simply bring beach mats. On the plus side, the beach itself looks quite shallow and more accommodating for families. As at Bang Krut there are many foreign visitors. It seems, these days, no place is inaccessible, courtesy of the internet. In fact, while searching for information on this area I read a review stating that Haad Thung Whua Lan has no atmosphere. I just wonder how the reviewer would describe Ban Krut Bay and what it is that brings people so far to this part of Thailand. I find a restaurant nearby and it's another plus. As I have already explained, this beach is more compact. My final chore for today is to inquire about motorbike rental. The going rate is 200 baht making the total cost of my stay here cheaper than Ban Krut.
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