Cha Am Beach, 3 hours south of Bangkok

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On the morning of Jan 23, we arrived in Bangkok.

We immediately took a local bus to the long distance bus station and boarded a bus to go to Cha-am beach, three hours south of Bangkok.

South of Cha-am, is Hua Hin. A lot of foreigners live in Hua-Hin. We decided to stay in Cha-am and then visit Hua Hin, just to see what Hua Hin is like.

We came to Cha-am, expecting to stay a day or two. We ended up staying 6 days. We could have stayed longer, were we not have had other plans.

Cha-am beach is a beach frequented by more Thai's than foreigners. It is a very long beach. The waves are a bit at this time of the year, but still lovely.

The vendors set up lounge chairs and umbrellas along the stretch of the beach.

Our guesthouse is just 20 steps across the street from the beach.

On Jan 25, we rented a motorbike and check out Hua Hin, about 25 km south of Cha-am beach. We ended up going to several housing developments (for foreigners) to check them out. The real estate in Hua Hin has skyrocked in the last few year, but the houses and condominiums are beautiful. Hua-Hin is very busy, with half its population foreigners. We found a lot of older Europeans here. Tourist buses are about 3 times more expensive, than tourist buses originating from Khoa-San road in Bangkok. For example, a tourist bus from Bangkok to Krabi costs 300B, from Hua-Hin, it is at least 950 B.

On Jan 28, we walked north of the beach and found a fishing village that offered seafood. We had "blood clams" for about US$2 per kilo, scallops for US$5 per kilo, squids for US$3 - $5 per kilo. The price includes cooking. There are also oysters, shrimp and fish, which we did not get a chance to sample.

On Jan 29, we will go to Hua Hin, then catch the overnight bus to Phang Nga to visit the famous "James Bond" Phang Nga bay.

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Photos

2007-01-23 11-24-55
This bus has no windshield wipers. Luckily it rained only briefly.

2007-01-24 19-54-32
Night Market in Cha AM.

2007-01-24 20-03-57
These are "Blood Clams"

2007-01-25 10-05-27
Rented a scooter to go to Hua Hin, about 25 Km south of Cha Am.

2007-01-25 11-04-51
We checked out a new real estate development called "Boat House". It is like a resort here. Prices start at $4.5 million (about US$120,000)

2007-01-25 11-08-17
The swimming pool at "Boat House", very long, occupying the length of, and in the middle of the development.

2007-01-25 11-14-20
Inside one of the units of the "Boat House". Pictured here is the sales manager.

2007-01-25 11-28-39
The model of the "Boat House"

2007-01-25 12-11-08
Hua Hin beach. Very touristy.

2007-01-25 13-58-49
Overlooking Hua Hin

2007-01-25 17-11-11
Monkeys waiting for my left-over guava.

2007-01-25 17-32-45
At a koon-yin temple in Hua Hin.

Comments

[Peter Li]

Your travel log and pictures bring back some fond memories. Thanks