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  1. #1
    loob lor geezer
    Bangyai's Avatar
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    One day in Chanthaburi

    Another visa run and hadn't been to Ban Laem for over 18 months so that , plus being clean out of xanax , meant it was time for another visit. However, the weather was crap so rather than getting the visa first then hitting a beach we decided to overnight in Chanthaburi on the way out and get the visa on the return drive since Ban Laem is only 1 hour from the town

    Using google maps the Kasemsarn Hotel looked like the best bet , being both clean ( according to net reviews ) and near the old part of this historical town.
    It also has a sheltered car park :






    Apparently this is the oldest hotel in town ( a claim I find hard to believe ) and has been in the family a long time. Every 5 years the owner redecorates and I must say ...... nicely done. Even the annex to the toilet is thoughtfully decorated.




    Room was a bit small and cost 980 baht not including breakfast . However , it was spotlessly clean and had a very comfortable bed with soft pillows.




    The little balcony had a pleasant enough view as well.



    Public areas also very well maintained










    After checking in we went to the shopping area to eat and check out the local Chatuchak market a short drive away on the other side of the river.

    First stop was this cheap steak house opposite the market



    Cheap and enough to keep us going until the evening. You never get large portions in Thai style steak houses but this was o.k. by the average so no complaints.

    Chatuchak market is opposite :





    Pretty typical sort of market boxed in by a large Robinsons store and this colourful building



    Since Ms Bangyai started her own market stall she has taken a new interest in fashion, to my eternal regret.







    And to paraphrase Mark Twain , she never prospects without striking gold . The amount of shorts she seems to need suggests that in her previous incarnation she was a centipede.




    Without any further fear of being arrested by the BIB for vagrancy , it was safe to drive back to the hotel for a rest. On the way we passed the KP hotel. Well situated for shopping but the net reviews report it as being a bit grubby and entertaining noisy guests, down to buy jewelry.



    Part two to follow .

  2. #2
    Elite Mumbler
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    I've stayed at the Kasemsarn a few times and it was great value, though it was only 800 baht the last time a couple years ago. There is a great restaurant on the next block north of it that has been around for 40 years or so apparently, and they make the best masaman curry I've ever had. Made with chicken thighs, with the bone on, and what tastes like a hint of cinnamon. Mmm......yummy.
    Last edited by pickel; 26-08-2012 at 01:08 PM.

  3. #3
    loob lor geezer
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    As evening came on I wanted to take the short walk through the old town to get some twilight pictures of the Catholic Cathedral.Unfortunately, Ms Bangyai ( surname Slowcoach ) took a bit too long getting ready so the light was fading fast before we finaly left the building.

    Walking down the sidestreet next to the hotel brings you to the riverside which is only about 80 metres away.




    Looking back at the hotel




    At the end of the sidestreet is the riverside walk. But by now it was getting dark so a lot of long exposure shots were blurred.




    This area is very popular with tourists and contains a lot of old buildings and hole in the wall bars that front onto the river...thus :





    Walking down this street for about 600 metres you come to an alleyway on the left that leads to the footbridge over to the church ( cathedral if you prefer )




    On the footbridge you can see the lights from the bar terraces that overlook the river



    Another shot that would make a good jig saw




    Pretty dark by now and without a tripod only managed a couple of this much photographed place of worship.

    The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception



    The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception





    Walking back we ate at one of the places overlooking the river. Very busy but managed to get a table with a view. Food was o.k. but nothing special. More of a place to drink and nibble than find exceptional victuals. Not too pricey. three dishes and a couple of Heinekens came to 550 baht.

    Back at the hotel I had another bottle of H in the very nice lobby area.




    The next morning it was time to consider breakfast. 150 baht will get you an English breakfast in the hotel, complete with baked beans but Ms Bangyai was still in the land of Nod so I went for another walk along the riverside to try and get some better photos.

    At the top of the street is this Chinese temple :




    Then, you can walk back towards the church






    If I were traveling alone I think this old hotel would be good for a night. Cheap and clean with a bit of history




    Continuing along here there is a museum and some fine old buildings, some restored, others not.










    An alley leads to this temple. Typical except for its Chinese facade






    Which fronts onto an old market




    Back on the riverside, if you're a fan of old interesting portals then you won't be disappointed













    Then i was back on the bridge looking at the same things as before in the bright light of day










    At the end of the bridge there is a ot of blurb telling you the history of the area







    And several of the buildings have historical notes attatched if your Thai is up to it.




    Leaving the riverside I walked back to the hotel on the parallel main road. About 100 metres short of the hotel on the same side of the road I passed an icecream parlour that also did coffee and hot eggs in a dish ( ky gata ) . Ms Bangyai was awake by now so I dragged her back to this place for a cheap breakfast of coffee , eggs and a roll. O.k. if you don;t fancy paying 300 for breakfast at the hotel.

    Nice town....will come again

  4. #4
    loob lor geezer
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    Quote Originally Posted by pickel View Post
    I've stayed at the Kasemsarn a few times and it was great value, though it was only 800 baht the last time a couple years ago. There is a great restaurant on the next block north of it that has been around for 40 years or so apparently, and they make the best mamasan curry I've ever had. Made with chicken thighs, with the bone on, and what tastes like a hint of cinnamon. Mmm......yummy.
    Sadly , I missed that. Love a good masaman curry myself , even if the mamasan is not sitting in it
    Will look for that next trip.......thanks for the tip.

  5. #5
    ความสุขในอีสาน
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    Fantastic pics and comments mate ,, brought back some memories from when I was last there .

    Sorry I'm unarmed and extremely greenless

  6. #6
    Elite Mumbler
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bangyai
    Love a good masaman curry myself ,even if the mamasan is not sitting in it
    Haha, just noticed that error. Oops...all corrected now.

  7. #7
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    Really good location shots that would have done any film producer proud.
    Thank you for sharing.

  8. #8
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    Thanks khun Bangyai for another interesting thread and some great pic's.

  9. #9
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    Good photo's and commentary thanks for sharing.

  10. #10
    loob lor geezer
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    ^ ^^ ^^^ Thanks for the comments. Glad you enjoyed the pictures.

  11. #11
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    sunsetter's Avatar
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    i like chanta town,chantaburi province is a great area to explore, some outstanding beaches and coastal roads, must go back sometime.

    thanks for sharing mate

  12. #12
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    greenthaiway's Avatar
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    Thanks for sharing!
    Nice pics...

  13. #13
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    Thanks

    Great pics and so nice to see a positive post.

  14. #14
    Thailand Expat
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    Nice pictures, thanks for posting. If I'm reading the original post right, wouldn't it be a whole lot safer to buy your Xanax in Thailand than on a visa run? You do need to cross the border, why take the chance?

  15. #15
    loob lor geezer
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    Quote Originally Posted by BobR View Post
    Nice pictures, thanks for posting. If I'm reading the original post right, wouldn't it be a whole lot safer to buy your Xanax in Thailand than on a visa run? You do need to cross the border, why take the chance?
    Simple , illegal in Thailand and cannot be bought over the counter at most chemists. Having said that , if you know where to go , you might find a chemist who will sell it to you illegaly but believe me, they are pretty few and far in between and can be expensive. It is not illegal to buy in Cambodia and at the border they are very lax as there are people wandering back and forth all day. I've never heard of anyone being searched for anything at these crossings except visa overstays occasionaly. These can be quite lucrative and there is the odd crackdown.
    In the end , we're not talking about class A drugs but of course it is up to the individual whether to buy or get a prescription from a docter in Thailand.
    Last edited by Bangyai; 28-08-2012 at 03:49 PM.

  16. #16
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    Much more to see than I expected. Very good report with fantastic pictures. Thanks !

  17. #17
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    navynine's Avatar
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    Lived there for several years and never seen it all yet. Very nice town and area

  18. #18
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
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    Xmas/NY round Chanthaburi

    Chanthaburi, or without the h, Chantaburi, or from a checkout receipt at Tesco-Lotus, Jantaburi, also saw a resort Juntaburi

    Some pics to add to this thread (hope Mr Bangyai doesn't mind the intrusion)


    Shellfish and fish farming on the Chanthaburi River at Laem Sing, a better camera than my 1500b Fuji would show the buildings of C city in the distance

    Pic taken from the Laem Sing Bridge (correctly: Taksin Maharat or King Taksin The Great Bridge)


  19. #19
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
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    hanging around the wharf area at Laem Sing





    This was a barracks building when the French Army ran the area 110 years ago; empty apart from one cannon retrieved from the river.thought it'd be ideal for a little local museum

  20. #20
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
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    White Christmas
    A salt farm between city and sea, about 6km inland


  21. #21
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
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    Laem Sing beach facing south. Not overly crowded.
    Another 60km south, and Trat police struggling to manage the extra 1500 vehicles a day taking ferries to Koh Chang between Xmas/NY
    Having said that, the water here at LS is crap, been here at all times of year and after rains it is silt-laden, plus whatever washes down that huge river. Lots of nice resorts, nice white sand but being so near the rivermouth sea is permanently cloudy, far better 15-20km further up the coast
    Last edited by prawnograph; 05-01-2014 at 09:34 AM.

  22. #22
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
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    better here
    this is Khung Wiman (also signposted as Koong Viman) 10km north of Chao Lao



    Not much here, resident fisher-folk, a couple of resorts, thatched roof 'restaurants'; easy snorkeling for kids in 1m deep water

    North end KW - this rocky point is 'the end' as far as Chanthaburi beaches go - beyond here towards Rayong province it tends to be mudflats, may look ok at high tide but who wants to squish around in mud?

    A lot of fishermen here, surfcasters as well as spearfishing off those rocks


  23. #23
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
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    This looks ready to move in, just waiting for staff
    A new Tourist Information Centre on Sukhumvit about 8km before C city


  24. #24
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
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    Chao Lao beach is the most popular area on the coast



    About 4km long, at the northern end is Laem Sadet there is an aquarium (free), small zoo for kids, campground, a conservation area and access to an estuary about 3km across where the advertised kayaks were nowhere to be seen


    Laem Sadet in the distance of this pic, the north end of Chao Lao beach. The building I thought was a hotel is a Buddhist education centre used for school groups.
    Laem Sadet has warning signs re swimming - it drops off into deep water very fast - 5m out you're in 2m water at high tide.
    Chao Lao the opposite - quite a walk to reach deeper water

  25. #25
    Thailand Expat prawnograph's Avatar
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    Happy New Year
    A high School street parade on Jan 1



    not everyone looked happy to be there


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