Thread: Laem Sadet , Ban Laem and a crack in the hill

So, there I was on Monday evening getting my legs up after dinner when the phone rings. Its a friend from England who wants to know ...

" Have you done your visa run yet ? "
" Nope. Next week "

It appears his girlfriend has gone a bit doolally and entered a Bhuddist retreat in Chantaburi. Would I mind going down to see if she's o.k.

" Er ..... its a bit early "
" Well, it would be a big help as I've no one else to ask "

As we've met the girl in question and like her we don't need much persuading so on Tuesday morning, 5 days early, we head off to Chantaburi. First stop, a Bhuddist sanctuary 20 k from the town at the end of a 4k track into the hills :








I'm not too good with dealing with Thais who have gone off the rails so after a brief chat ( she just seemed a bit depressed about life in general ) I leave Ms Bangyai to dig deeper and have a look around .

The whole place is build in a narraw gulley amidst a jungle of fallen boulders , some of considerable size. A little stream runs between them and provides all the water















After a while I get the idea that the cold water in the stream might sooth my big toe which is a bit sore after I cut the nail in the corner a bit close. It works ! After a 10 minute soak the pain is very subdued so it was worth the trip.








After about an hour and a half I'm begining to think I wouldn't mind a break here myself. If only I could bring a 5 lire bottle of wine, a few books and my guitar it might make a pleasant escape from civilization.

I go and see if Ms Bangyai is getting anywhere and our friends friend seems o.k. so we decide to head out for the nearby beach at Chao Lao

After the 30 minute drive we check out a few new places but end up back at Laem Sadet where we went last year. The price has not gone up and at 1200 is a pretty good deal for such a nice position. As usual midweek, the place is very quiet and we are the only guests





We manage to find a couple of plastic deckchairs where we settle down to wait for the sunset over a couple of cold Leo's. Further down the beach someone is doing a fashion shoot






A little boy is trying to fly his kite but can't keep it airborn for more than a few seconds so soon gives it up as a bad job and starts collecting seashells.








Little chaps well on the way to being a man, flying his kite and looking for a little hoy.

Then Ms Bangyai gets on her swing and calls up a sunrise as the Leo starts to kick in.




Hard to beat the sunsets on this stretch of coast. Free show every night and very nice to behold creation in all its majesty. You can just get the idea that you are sitting on a ball in space and another ball is slipping out of view across the universe






And then I have a religeous moment and the lord speaks to me




" Life is very transient and over before you know it ........ so have another Leo my son.......you deserve it "

Good, sage advice instantly acted upon.

Next morning, feeling a little pasty, we wake up to a cool breeze and take breakfast out by the beach. A lovely backdrop. And after being in Thailand so long even a Thai American breakfast looks good and I don't mind the bread or the ham




Then its into the car and off to the border at Ban Laem, just an hour and a half away. No change here except the old hut where you apply for your visa is now a concrete building, even if it is just as shabby inside




Then its through the green gates to look at the duty free. Not much on offer compared to what there used to be but I was lucky enough to get a sheet of xanax for 250. A bit pricey but too easy so I go for it.



Wanted to take some more pictures but the battery on my camera gave out so that was the end of that.

Leaving the border we checked back at the temple again and our friends friend was a bit more chirpy then it was back to Chao Lao. Arrived a bit late for sunset so decided to find somewhere cheaper.

This place was on the main drag and only cost 500 baht. A bit basic ( T.V. hot water but no fridge ) but good enough. In fact, after a meal somewhere else we got good mileage out of the porch table and had another 3 Leos to chase down the two we had with our meal.






Next day, it was an easy 3 and a half hours back to Bangyai, all missions accomplished.

And oh yes,and isn't it a bitch when you do a photo thread only to find you havn't logged in so you have to do it all again. Hung over ? Me ?

Nice thread, I could do with sitting on that quiet beach downing a few cold ones enjoying a sunset

Did yer mate believe you

Originally Posted by LooseBowels

Did yer mate believe you

Sent him an email but no reply as yet. Not as bad as he feared anyway. She was a bit out of it but nowhere near as suicidal as he had imagined.

good thread - we've holidayed at Chao Lao 3x now, most recently over Xmas, the yellow place you stayed looks like the one we've used twice, Ton Wa, nice people and fine for 500/night.



We're slowly getting organised to move down that way, 3.5hrs from the farm easy enough to come back on weekends if necessary.

So much construction going on, that and the new coast road from Laem Sing will result in a lot of changes next few years.

one more sunset from Laem Sadet - later that evening there were dolphins out near the point



more at https://teakdoor.com/thailands-travel...em-sing-2.html

^ yep, I'm not a massive beach fan but I'll make an exception for this place though. Very far from the madening crowds. One of the those bungalows was occupied by a bloke and his girl who had made the trip down from Bangkok on a motorcycle.

And yes......the owners were very nice and friendly. An on the spot breakfast would have been nice though.

Have you got a name or website for that place on the beach ?

Ton Wa is back from the beach - on the land side of the main road - ph 086 017 5726 - may be easier if you can speak Thai. There's plenty of similar places along the main road.

Also have larger units [at] 700/night with 2 kingsize beds we used that when we took the kids down

^ yes Ton Wa is about 200m past his place - that'll be the minimart with the two ATMs and the coffee shop that never seemed to be open? We hired bicycles from there. The burger place across the road - will pay more attention to the music, we're going back in 10 days time

Originally Posted by sunsetter

chao lao is very nice during the week, theres a policeman that has a little resort on the main road, chao lao resort, has a petrol station too, and mini mart, nice place. 500bht also did you find the burger hut? thai bloke called dan runs it, has great music as i gave him all mine from my ipod

Only saw one place selling honky food so it must be the place you mentioned. Didn't open until 3.00 p.m. though so can't asses your taste in music yet

genghis, thats the place

as per the burger hut....
oldish bald thai guy called dan, nice chap, there be farangs in them places too euro guy who has a net shop not fair away, and an english bloke with lots of dogs,all good people

Real beautiful nature pics of Thailand. The beach and the countryside pics are quite scenic.