Day 3, Thursday, 13 October - Rayong
Heading East....... last night I slept better but I still would prefer a more comfortable bed. In keeping with the honeymoon mood neither of us is eager to leave the room until late morning and I guess that's normal behaviour but we can't stay the room all day and at 11:00am we decide to go out to explore again. As it's not in our nature to sit around on the beach we draw up a plan to visit more sites. Two locations in particular are on our list. The journey will take us well away from the city, a distance that will take well over an hour to cover. This should work as we would arrive conveniently at lunchtime. We head towards the eastern part of the province but before we reach our first destination, we get distracted.
Phra Phutthabat Noen Kho (Buddha Mandop)....... As a rule of thumb Thailand's main attractions are sign-boarded in blue but the routes are not always that clear. You need a map to to verify the location and usually Google Map obliges. However, just to confuse matters we see a sign board in brown pointing to Phra Phutthabat Noen Kho. I don't need long detour but fortunately the map confirms that there might be something of importance not far away. As we turn right onto a narrow concrete road lined with rubber trees, we locate a mondrop. This is the centrepiece of a meditation centre. As there is currently no activity to report we move on to a location that seems to be more interesting as it's sign-boarded in blue.
Ruksame Bridge....... The Ruksame Bridge is a footbridge crossing the Ramphaen River, a tributary of the Prasae River. The bridge and the mangrove lining the river creates a magnificent photo opportunity and the local authority is keen to promote this area as a tourist attraction and has built a mud crab monument nearby. Now we must head to that first selected attraction.
Familiar Territory....... We now reach an area I know quite well having spent many months in Kleang district in the past. Way back then I had not started this website so many of my visits went unrecorded. Another thing of note is then there was no Prasae River Bridge crossing here. I was only familiar with the eastern bank of the Prasae River which is where we are heading. However, yet again we get distracted.
The unfamiliar Western Bank of the river has an attraction that I never knew was here. Before heading across the bridge, we head to the coast to investigate.
Laem Son Viewpoint....... Laem Som Viewpoint has a lovely beach and is totally undeveloped which is wonderful. The only thing that's here is exactly what we need, a local restaurant. Consisting simply of a covered area with tables this is most welcome despite the lack of choice. After spending a little time looking around, we finally cross the Prasae Bridge.
Thung Prong Thong (Golden Meadow)....... The Golden Meadow is in the Pakman Prasae Mangrove Forest. Although this patch is familiar to me, it's through my own ignorance that I've not visited before. Today I put that right and arrive in the car park created for visitors. The parking fee is 20 baht, and you can either walk or take a motorbike sidecar to one of the tributaries of the Prasae for just 8 baht. Here you will find the entrance to several kilometres of walkways through the mangrove. While I can report on some improvement after my leg injury this is not what I really need but I had to make it here. Fortunately, the gods are smiling at me today for here is a boat pier with trips arranged through the mangrove. By sharing a boat, I manage to pay just 100 baht for a 30-minute tour which take us out within view of the open sea. We travel through oyster beds in an area teaming with wildlife. There are water birds here, of course but I wasn't expecting fruit bats too. The boat trip is all over too soon but I'm surprised that we are dropped off not where we started. Instead, alongside a viewing tower we ascend to a walkway and need to walk the rest on the way. Soon the reason becomes clear. I am aware from previous mangrove walks that there are various species of the mangrove. Initially one type rises high into the canopy creating tunnels but soon another species takes over. With lower profile and with green/yellow, almost gold leaves this species creates a meadow of foliage which is an amazing sight and wonderful for photographers. We make our way back to the pier and back to the car park.
Change of Plan....... At 3:30pm I have a decision to make declaring that the second must-visit attraction is not possible for a visit today. The Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park which although it's on the way back will take time to cover to justify paying the park fee. With rain threatening also it's just too much of an ask and I can easily fit it in tomorrow. Instead there are gap fillers to occupy the void.
HTMS Prasae....... Although I've visted the preserved naval vessel HTMS Prasae a number of times, the only time in recent years I've visited it was raining heavily. This time I can take some better shots of her as well as the beach and estuary.
HTMS Prasae was originally USS Gallup (PF-47), a Tacoma-class frigate was in commission from 1944 to 1945 and from 1950 to 1951. It was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for Gallup, New Mexico. She also served in the Soviet Navy as EK-22. In October 1951 she was transferred to the Royal Thai Navy and served until decommissioned in 2000. She has been on display at the HTMS Prasae Memorial beside the Prasae River since 2003. Now, heading back east there is another attraction which in the past I've paid little attention to.
Sunthon Phu Monument....... The Sunthorn Phu Memorial was built to commemorate poet Sunthorn Phu of the Rattanakosin era. He was Sunthorn Wohan, known as Sunthorn Phu. The Sunthorn Phu Memorial is a park in Kram, Klaeng District. It is believed to be his father's birthplace. Now in late afternoon we can make our way back to the city where there is one final attraction before we can call it a day.
Phra Chedi Klang Nam (Samut Chedi)....... Phra Chedi Klang Nam was built approximately 2 kilometers away from Rayong city and is in the middle of the mouth of the Rayong River. The Chedi (pagoda) was constructed in 1873 by Kate Yomjinda, who was the Rayong provincial administrator at the time. The feature of the pagoda is its large white bell shape standing 10 metres high.
Curious Topography....... At this point I'd like to explain the curious topography of Rayong City. The Rayong River from its mouth runs parallel to the coast leaving a coastal strip a mere 200 metres wide for most of its length. It's here where the beaches are. At the river's mouth larger fishing boats are located but further along the river's length there is mangrove. This is where the chedi is and where the city has built, with walkways and bridges turning it into and excellent recreational attraction. It's a credit to designers that they've managed to accommodate man and nature within the same space. With the sun setting, that will do it for today and in contrast to previous days we don't need a special dinner. Lighter food for a change will do.
With today's visits I've gone a long way to put to rights my neglect in the past in a province which is underrated in my opinion.
Next Page.
Heading East....... last night I slept better but I still would prefer a more comfortable bed. In keeping with the honeymoon mood neither of us is eager to leave the room until late morning and I guess that's normal behaviour but we can't stay the room all day and at 11:00am we decide to go out to explore again. As it's not in our nature to sit around on the beach we draw up a plan to visit more sites. Two locations in particular are on our list. The journey will take us well away from the city, a distance that will take well over an hour to cover. This should work as we would arrive conveniently at lunchtime. We head towards the eastern part of the province but before we reach our first destination, we get distracted.
Phra Phutthabat Noen Kho (Buddha Mandop)....... As a rule of thumb Thailand's main attractions are sign-boarded in blue but the routes are not always that clear. You need a map to to verify the location and usually Google Map obliges. However, just to confuse matters we see a sign board in brown pointing to Phra Phutthabat Noen Kho. I don't need long detour but fortunately the map confirms that there might be something of importance not far away. As we turn right onto a narrow concrete road lined with rubber trees, we locate a mondrop. This is the centrepiece of a meditation centre. As there is currently no activity to report we move on to a location that seems to be more interesting as it's sign-boarded in blue.
Ruksame Bridge....... The Ruksame Bridge is a footbridge crossing the Ramphaen River, a tributary of the Prasae River. The bridge and the mangrove lining the river creates a magnificent photo opportunity and the local authority is keen to promote this area as a tourist attraction and has built a mud crab monument nearby. Now we must head to that first selected attraction.
Familiar Territory....... We now reach an area I know quite well having spent many months in Kleang district in the past. Way back then I had not started this website so many of my visits went unrecorded. Another thing of note is then there was no Prasae River Bridge crossing here. I was only familiar with the eastern bank of the Prasae River which is where we are heading. However, yet again we get distracted.
The unfamiliar Western Bank of the river has an attraction that I never knew was here. Before heading across the bridge, we head to the coast to investigate.
Laem Son Viewpoint....... Laem Som Viewpoint has a lovely beach and is totally undeveloped which is wonderful. The only thing that's here is exactly what we need, a local restaurant. Consisting simply of a covered area with tables this is most welcome despite the lack of choice. After spending a little time looking around, we finally cross the Prasae Bridge.
Thung Prong Thong (Golden Meadow)....... The Golden Meadow is in the Pakman Prasae Mangrove Forest. Although this patch is familiar to me, it's through my own ignorance that I've not visited before. Today I put that right and arrive in the car park created for visitors. The parking fee is 20 baht, and you can either walk or take a motorbike sidecar to one of the tributaries of the Prasae for just 8 baht. Here you will find the entrance to several kilometres of walkways through the mangrove. While I can report on some improvement after my leg injury this is not what I really need but I had to make it here. Fortunately, the gods are smiling at me today for here is a boat pier with trips arranged through the mangrove. By sharing a boat, I manage to pay just 100 baht for a 30-minute tour which take us out within view of the open sea. We travel through oyster beds in an area teaming with wildlife. There are water birds here, of course but I wasn't expecting fruit bats too. The boat trip is all over too soon but I'm surprised that we are dropped off not where we started. Instead, alongside a viewing tower we ascend to a walkway and need to walk the rest on the way. Soon the reason becomes clear. I am aware from previous mangrove walks that there are various species of the mangrove. Initially one type rises high into the canopy creating tunnels but soon another species takes over. With lower profile and with green/yellow, almost gold leaves this species creates a meadow of foliage which is an amazing sight and wonderful for photographers. We make our way back to the pier and back to the car park.
Change of Plan....... At 3:30pm I have a decision to make declaring that the second must-visit attraction is not possible for a visit today. The Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park which although it's on the way back will take time to cover to justify paying the park fee. With rain threatening also it's just too much of an ask and I can easily fit it in tomorrow. Instead there are gap fillers to occupy the void.
HTMS Prasae....... Although I've visted the preserved naval vessel HTMS Prasae a number of times, the only time in recent years I've visited it was raining heavily. This time I can take some better shots of her as well as the beach and estuary.
HTMS Prasae was originally USS Gallup (PF-47), a Tacoma-class frigate was in commission from 1944 to 1945 and from 1950 to 1951. It was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for Gallup, New Mexico. She also served in the Soviet Navy as EK-22. In October 1951 she was transferred to the Royal Thai Navy and served until decommissioned in 2000. She has been on display at the HTMS Prasae Memorial beside the Prasae River since 2003. Now, heading back east there is another attraction which in the past I've paid little attention to.
Sunthon Phu Monument....... The Sunthorn Phu Memorial was built to commemorate poet Sunthorn Phu of the Rattanakosin era. He was Sunthorn Wohan, known as Sunthorn Phu. The Sunthorn Phu Memorial is a park in Kram, Klaeng District. It is believed to be his father's birthplace. Now in late afternoon we can make our way back to the city where there is one final attraction before we can call it a day.
Phra Chedi Klang Nam (Samut Chedi)....... Phra Chedi Klang Nam was built approximately 2 kilometers away from Rayong city and is in the middle of the mouth of the Rayong River. The Chedi (pagoda) was constructed in 1873 by Kate Yomjinda, who was the Rayong provincial administrator at the time. The feature of the pagoda is its large white bell shape standing 10 metres high.
Curious Topography....... At this point I'd like to explain the curious topography of Rayong City. The Rayong River from its mouth runs parallel to the coast leaving a coastal strip a mere 200 metres wide for most of its length. It's here where the beaches are. At the river's mouth larger fishing boats are located but further along the river's length there is mangrove. This is where the chedi is and where the city has built, with walkways and bridges turning it into and excellent recreational attraction. It's a credit to designers that they've managed to accommodate man and nature within the same space. With the sun setting, that will do it for today and in contrast to previous days we don't need a special dinner. Lighter food for a change will do.
With today's visits I've gone a long way to put to rights my neglect in the past in a province which is underrated in my opinion.
Next Page.
rayong Province
Phra Phutthabat Noen Kho, Noen Kho, Klaeng District
Ruksame Bridge, Noen Kho, Noen Kho, Klaeng District
Crab Monument, Noen Kho, Noen Kho, Klaeng District
Laem Son Viewpoint, Noen Kho, Noen Kho, Klaeng District
Thung Prong Thong (Golden Meadow), Pak Nam Prasae, Klaeng District
HTMS Prasae, Pak Nam Prasae,
Klaeng District
Sunthon Phu Monument, Kram,
Klaeng District
Phra Chedi Klang Nam (Samut Chedi),
Nai Mueang Rayong