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Published: September 29th 2005
Leaving Bangkok was interesting as it offered further insight into the region. I was surprised again that the road out was enveloped by sprawling heaving industry for around 25 miles. Within half an hour we had passed all things industrial from a coal burning power station, to tyre manufacturers, to breweries; all interspersed with the occasional giant golden gleaming buddha of course. The further down the cost and into the provinces we got the more rural surrounding countryside became, aside from proper towns in consisted mostly of coconut groves, tropical vegetation, and swamp, there was an odd occasional shanty town where life looked most depressing. A stop off for us, Rayong; around 200k south of Bangkok, seemed typical of Thai towns. The centre of town contained densely packed shops - all seeming to be selling the same things! There were no signs of disposable wealth as no shops sold luxury or convenience goods. Outside of the centre was fairly ramshackle one and two story housing. This is the Thailand I had imagined. A further 20k East we ferried from a small village, Ban Phe, to Ko Samet: a weekend breakaway island for wealthy Thais.
Ko Samet
The approach to
Samet via small haulage vessel was charming with first the islands undulating topography, and then as we got closer, villages and beaches materialising from the mist as we bobbed with the crest and fall of each wave in the warm afternoon. We laughed at a group of Thais who had pulleyed a pick up truck onto a boat to narrow to hold it; the trailer jaunting off the starboard, seemed perilously closely to tumbling into the sea as it sailed away. This seemed to capture the Thai spirit and ingenuity in making do with whatever is available.
Ko Samet was pleasant enough without being outstanding. In our 3 days there we explored half of the eastern coastline and found Hae Sae Kaew 'White Sand Beach' the best. After spending our days on the beach we ate delicious candlelit Thai food and sipped 6% Singha on the cushioned beachfront with the surf rolling almost up to our feet. Nice and chilled.
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Big Boots
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Amusing commentary wilbs- love Woodsy
I`m enjoying having a read of your travels mate....... for places i`ve not been you provide wilbur like commentary that i can almost imagine you saying!! and for places i have been to also it brings back good memories.... ahhhhh... those sweet smells of the bangkok market.... mmmmmm!