232. THE EASTERN SEABOARD, BANGKOK

 

This region is about a 2 hour drive from Bangkok towards the East of the city. It covers Chanthaburi, Rayong and Chonburi. It's an agricultural region, a fruit bowl - this country is self sufficient, producing its own rice, tropical fruits, vegetables, seafood...I had the chance to savour what they produced...

The coast is washed by the Gulf of Thailand...

Spotted this at a beachside eatery, love it. I've long admired the creativity of the Thais and I see this everywhere. 

In this small fishpond. they threw in these floating croc heads...!

In this parking lot of a private property, instead of a mundane No Parking sign, this skull and crossbones flag spoke volumes and is more intimidating...the message is clear...'park at your own risk !'

...and on the wall behind the hotel's reception counter, folded tee-shirts in those cubicles make a statement, at first glance, appear to be a collage of acrylic paintwork...

The verandah overlooked on one side, a languid river with mangroves, on the other side across the road, the sea with crashing waves...

Stopped enroute at this place to check out what the fuss was about - it was about this piece of artwork done by lasers, engraved into the side of this rocky outcrop and outlined in goldleaf. Didn't I say the Thais are a creative lot - who else would have thought of this? Marrying the old (goldleaf) with the new (lasers)...and me standing there is sooo goofy!

On every visit I come across such wash basins, each is different, and these are public loos in the petrol stations...

This small town by the water produce loads of pestle and mortars, the stone mined here...

Right of way - Lizard crossing

This beachside/seaside accommodation is gracious and elegant. The well appointed rooms were huge, the bed a king...

Stopped at this plantation for a fruit buffet...

The aptly named Snakeskin fruit. The Thai variant is reddish vermillion and pointy. The Indonesian variety is brown and rounder.

Thai street food is legendary - this is just a fraction of what is available, stalls everywhere are so numerous it's too many to document...it's a wonderful culture, be it outdoors or in a mall food court, the Thais do it with aplomb. They are a huge tourists draw as well...

I'm aghast - I had thought horseshow crabs were a protected species but at this coastal fish market, they are on sale as they are rich with roe this time. The Thais sell every damn thing as long as there are buyers. They sell all manner of snakes, even wild cats at their famed markets, I'm sure some critters are banned from sale but somehow, it's possible to find a seller somewhere. 

This is a coastal region so its seafood galore - these are mantis shrimps...

A live seafood cafe, sea urchins are scooped out of a tank and served still kicking I suppose, I didn't want to find out...

I did have 2 oysters taken out of a chiller but they didn't squirm so I guess they were in suspended animation...

Sign of the times - in Bangkok city, legalised cannabis cafes are a common sight. Their tourism people have no qualms as long as it helps the economy by an increase in tourism receipts...they inconvenience visitors from countries with strict drug laws, like Singapore - on arrival in Changi, everyone flying in from BKK were subjected to screening of all bags...

Another area they excel in - live music at public dining areas, be it in a mall food court or outdoors in a night bazaar...diners linger a little longer, spending more on food and drinks...

As a 'cheap' travel destination, Thailand is hugely successful - their tourism people are a savvy lot. 

Dinner by the beach culminated in this fire display...

This boat ride and bike transfer took me to a beautiful, mangrove forest, a huge expanse of green, connected by a boardwalk. I walked through one recently in Krabi (post 229) equally beautiful, clean and fresh...

The Thais are an intelligent tribe and have focused on what's important in their environment...as well as been self sufficient. There were oyster farms all around, prawn and fish farms, many others I'm sure, not in my view, including cannabis farms!

Oysters galore!

Family outing - fishing for their supper...I like that jetty!

Simple pleasures...using bottle caps...life flows along as languidly as the Chao Phraya... 

An altar, below - what was explained about the rooster image wasn't convincing - that its about a cock fighting culture, I need to find out more...as this is a altar to sea spirits, those images are more likely donations and is therefore, linked to religious or spiritual beliefs, possibly animism and that could be passed down by their indigenous tribes and respected as part of their ancestral/inherited culture...

Some pics/video contributed by fellow travellers. Trip made successful, varied and interesting by Jimmy Ooi & Co. of ISE Travel - the meals especially were 😋!