Day 4, Thursday, 14 October - Rayong
Moonlight Beach....... This morning is a repeat of previous mornings as we make no attempt to go traveling until the 11.00am. On Thursday we covered some of the attractions in the north of Rayong province while yesterday we were in the east. As to the south is the ocean today, we'll head west first crossing the Rayong River where we were yesterday's stopping to take some photos. Next, we head alone Moonlight Beach, noting the lagoons which are both safe areas to bathe and help as a breakwater for ocean waves. For a long holiday weekend this lovely beach is relatively quiet. Perhaps that will change later.
As we head out of town, we need to fill the tank and find somewhere for lunch. That's always easy in Thailand and on this occasion, we find somewhere with a natural feeling. Clearly the restaurant owner loves shrubs and plants which provides perfect shade while the food is not bad either for the price.
PTTLNG Maptaphut....... As we continue west views of the massive industrial complex of Maptaphut comes into view and it appear from the satellite navigation that's where we're heading. For the type of attraction, we've selected it should be nowhere near an industrial zone. I'm confused as we're directed to the entrance of the PTTLNG Complex. PTT is a Thai Premier Multinational Energy Company and LNG stands for Liquid Natural Gas. What we're trying to find is the Flora Exhibition Hall. We arrive at the gates of the huge complex and clearly something is happening because the roadside and car parks are packed with vehicles with queues of people at the gate. Well, I just must see what this is all about and we join the queue, show our ID and receive visitor passes. Once inside the gates a complete transformation takes place. A walkway takes you across an area of mangrove and signboards start to appear which give the first signs of what is here. I read there are some 500 species of trees and shrubs that have been planted here. In the distance I can see what looks like a grass covered hill, but this is the roof of a building. After a short walk we arrive at the exhibition building and I finally realize that while there's an energy production plant here, they've gone to great lengths to make it carbon neutral. Inside the building they described the process of extracting natural gas from under the seabed using tunnels. The huge offshore natural gas wells provide natural gas which is pumped ashore to be processed. A pipeline has been built along a pier stretching out into the ocean, high enough not to interfere with local fishing. Once ashore the natural gas is converted into LNG, a process which requires huge investment.
Thailand has put a lot of thought into its energy sustainability. It's a model, other countries in the world would like to replicate having relied for so long on Russian piped natural gas. Once the infrastructure is in place the LNG can be easily transported.
Having understood what's going on here let's find out what the Flora Exhibition Hall is. We follow the crowds filing into the floral section of the exhibition hall and surrounding humanity there are tulips, thousands of them in an amazing blaze and variety of colours. Here and there are groups of hydrangeas too. Thais flock here hardly believing the tulips are real (the climate in Thailand is unsuitable for growing tulips) and may be missing the point. In this climate controlled environment, they are demonstrating carbon neutral sustainability. There is clearly an awful lot to learn here.
Maptaphut Freight Yard....... The next location is most opportunistic. While navigating around Maptaphut I realize there is a freight terminal here. Just maybe there is some activity. We arrive and there is one freight locomotive ready to depart north with an oil train. Well. that's a bonus and totally unexpected. From here there's no point continuing west as we will be passing this way tomorrow. Instead, we head back to Rayong and on towards the attraction we missed off our list yesterday.
Khao Laem Ya National Park....... Now, in later afternoon I will bite the bullet and pay the park fee at Khao Laem Ya. The 200 baht is cheaper than many national parks and includes the islands of Koh Samet and a few smaller islands but even so, I still find it hard to accept the dual-pricing policy in Thailand. On the plus side, Thailand has so many attractions that are free that I can fill a whole tour with material collected from ancient sites, temple, forest parks, museums etc.
Today I am aware of the long public holiday which means holiday crowds. At the park entrance there is already, a queue of cars and then at the car park the staff are struggling to cope. We need to take a pickup truck from the Park HG and head down to the coast. My fear about visiting at this time is the amount of walking I might have to do while I am not in the best of shape and already we need to park some way from the transport.
The short journey takes us to the coast which, of course, allows for those gorgeous views of Koh Samet but you can easily see those views from many other locations outside the park. What I have paid for is the use of a long-planked walkway which reaches around the headland: Fantastic news when you have a leg injury then add to that the number of people using it which must be a thousand. Ok so it is not for me so let's see what Wikipedia says: 'Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet is a Thai marine national park in the Gulf of Thailand off the coastline of Rayong, approximately 180 km southeast of Bangkok. In 1981, the Royal Forest Department declared the archipelago of Ko Samet, along with nine other small islands, the headland of Khao Laem Ya, and the 11 kilometre Mae Rampeung Beach to be a national park, and thus these areas are under the jurisdiction of the national parks department.'
Rayong Aquarium....... While I am in the area there is one more attraction worth mentioning, the Rayong Aquarium. I visited this aquarium not long before the birth of this website so there is no need for another visit and Katoon shows no interest either. This means I cannot review it only mention it here. In any case though, the park is now closed.
Pak Klong Seafood....... It's interesting that near the aquarium is a small marina with equally good views of Koh Samet and the smaller islands. From here I had thought to go back to Rayong for seafood on the beach but at 5.30pm we find ourselves at Pak Klong Seafood restaurant beside the mangrove and that will do just as well.
It's been another good day all told but my last night in Rayong.
Next Page.
Moonlight Beach....... This morning is a repeat of previous mornings as we make no attempt to go traveling until the 11.00am. On Thursday we covered some of the attractions in the north of Rayong province while yesterday we were in the east. As to the south is the ocean today, we'll head west first crossing the Rayong River where we were yesterday's stopping to take some photos. Next, we head alone Moonlight Beach, noting the lagoons which are both safe areas to bathe and help as a breakwater for ocean waves. For a long holiday weekend this lovely beach is relatively quiet. Perhaps that will change later.
As we head out of town, we need to fill the tank and find somewhere for lunch. That's always easy in Thailand and on this occasion, we find somewhere with a natural feeling. Clearly the restaurant owner loves shrubs and plants which provides perfect shade while the food is not bad either for the price.
PTTLNG Maptaphut....... As we continue west views of the massive industrial complex of Maptaphut comes into view and it appear from the satellite navigation that's where we're heading. For the type of attraction, we've selected it should be nowhere near an industrial zone. I'm confused as we're directed to the entrance of the PTTLNG Complex. PTT is a Thai Premier Multinational Energy Company and LNG stands for Liquid Natural Gas. What we're trying to find is the Flora Exhibition Hall. We arrive at the gates of the huge complex and clearly something is happening because the roadside and car parks are packed with vehicles with queues of people at the gate. Well, I just must see what this is all about and we join the queue, show our ID and receive visitor passes. Once inside the gates a complete transformation takes place. A walkway takes you across an area of mangrove and signboards start to appear which give the first signs of what is here. I read there are some 500 species of trees and shrubs that have been planted here. In the distance I can see what looks like a grass covered hill, but this is the roof of a building. After a short walk we arrive at the exhibition building and I finally realize that while there's an energy production plant here, they've gone to great lengths to make it carbon neutral. Inside the building they described the process of extracting natural gas from under the seabed using tunnels. The huge offshore natural gas wells provide natural gas which is pumped ashore to be processed. A pipeline has been built along a pier stretching out into the ocean, high enough not to interfere with local fishing. Once ashore the natural gas is converted into LNG, a process which requires huge investment.
Thailand has put a lot of thought into its energy sustainability. It's a model, other countries in the world would like to replicate having relied for so long on Russian piped natural gas. Once the infrastructure is in place the LNG can be easily transported.
Having understood what's going on here let's find out what the Flora Exhibition Hall is. We follow the crowds filing into the floral section of the exhibition hall and surrounding humanity there are tulips, thousands of them in an amazing blaze and variety of colours. Here and there are groups of hydrangeas too. Thais flock here hardly believing the tulips are real (the climate in Thailand is unsuitable for growing tulips) and may be missing the point. In this climate controlled environment, they are demonstrating carbon neutral sustainability. There is clearly an awful lot to learn here.
Maptaphut Freight Yard....... The next location is most opportunistic. While navigating around Maptaphut I realize there is a freight terminal here. Just maybe there is some activity. We arrive and there is one freight locomotive ready to depart north with an oil train. Well. that's a bonus and totally unexpected. From here there's no point continuing west as we will be passing this way tomorrow. Instead, we head back to Rayong and on towards the attraction we missed off our list yesterday.
Khao Laem Ya National Park....... Now, in later afternoon I will bite the bullet and pay the park fee at Khao Laem Ya. The 200 baht is cheaper than many national parks and includes the islands of Koh Samet and a few smaller islands but even so, I still find it hard to accept the dual-pricing policy in Thailand. On the plus side, Thailand has so many attractions that are free that I can fill a whole tour with material collected from ancient sites, temple, forest parks, museums etc.
Today I am aware of the long public holiday which means holiday crowds. At the park entrance there is already, a queue of cars and then at the car park the staff are struggling to cope. We need to take a pickup truck from the Park HG and head down to the coast. My fear about visiting at this time is the amount of walking I might have to do while I am not in the best of shape and already we need to park some way from the transport.
The short journey takes us to the coast which, of course, allows for those gorgeous views of Koh Samet but you can easily see those views from many other locations outside the park. What I have paid for is the use of a long-planked walkway which reaches around the headland: Fantastic news when you have a leg injury then add to that the number of people using it which must be a thousand. Ok so it is not for me so let's see what Wikipedia says: 'Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet is a Thai marine national park in the Gulf of Thailand off the coastline of Rayong, approximately 180 km southeast of Bangkok. In 1981, the Royal Forest Department declared the archipelago of Ko Samet, along with nine other small islands, the headland of Khao Laem Ya, and the 11 kilometre Mae Rampeung Beach to be a national park, and thus these areas are under the jurisdiction of the national parks department.'
Rayong Aquarium....... While I am in the area there is one more attraction worth mentioning, the Rayong Aquarium. I visited this aquarium not long before the birth of this website so there is no need for another visit and Katoon shows no interest either. This means I cannot review it only mention it here. In any case though, the park is now closed.
Pak Klong Seafood....... It's interesting that near the aquarium is a small marina with equally good views of Koh Samet and the smaller islands. From here I had thought to go back to Rayong for seafood on the beach but at 5.30pm we find ourselves at Pak Klong Seafood restaurant beside the mangrove and that will do just as well.
It's been another good day all told but my last night in Rayong.
Next Page.
Rayong Province
Rayong River, Nai Mueang Rayong
Moonlight Beach, Nai Mueang Rayong
Flora Exhibition Hall, PTTLNG Maptaphut, Mueang Rayong District
Maptaphut Freight Terminal, Maptaphut, Mueang Rayong District
Khao Laem Ya National Park,
Mueang Rayong District
Rayong Aquarium, Phe,
Mueang Rayong District
Phe Marina, Phe,
Mueang Rayong District
On the Menu, Mueang Rayong District