Chanthaburi - Laem Sing

[genghis61]

Roundabouts - Chao Lao, and at turn-off to Khung Wiman


Small and brightly coloured township near Burapha Uni, C'buri Campus. Great place for students just a few km to Chao Lao beach


Cycle lanes on all the new stretch of coastal road - in December there was just 1.7km left to be sealed then there will be a 35-40km stretch along the coast with cycle lanes like this, and through Chao Lao itself there's a 2km cycle lane with its own median strip separating riders from the road.


South end Chao Lao beach and some reef for snorkelling.

[smeden]

sorry i can not give you a green before i spread some reputation

[genghis61]

some notes
May this piece of coast was deserted Mon-Fri, mildly busy on weekend; November the beaches were busy on Sunday so many families and uni students. December - we were there 1 week over Xmas - we could have beaches to ourselves on weekdays but Sat/Sun much busier and a lot of the restaurants only open weekends.

No pestering people selling sunglasses etc at the beach. Over the busy Xmas weekend saw 3 other farang, many of the little restaurants have menus in Thai only and in our visits haven't found much English spoken

No need to book accomm except for peak times - the place we stayed was fully booked for the days over NY from 29 December. Most have signs outside with daily rates; we met a German couple who paid 1200/night for the weekend, reducing to 600 during week. Same style accomm as ours, no better, and ours was flat rate 500 all week.

The shop that has the ATMs also hires out bicycles (including a four seater double-tandem) and one motorbike, unsure if they have more available.

Great seafood. Best meal I had a big sea bass for 200b, gf crabs taken straight from a holding tank. Prawns locally too, very cheap.

If you need western food it's 30km to a Tesco Lotus on the way in to Chanthaburi city

I use an AIS Edge aircard and signal strength was adequate for emails.

There are two ATMs in Chao Lao, and 2 small gasoline stations

Couldn't find anywhere that rented out kayaks, would be ideal in such calm waters.

The snorkelling we'd rate as disappointing right down this coast. In November we started at Ban Phe, out to Koh Samet, numerous beaches as we headed down the coast. None come anywhere close to what is on offer on the Andaman Coast/Phuket.

[genghis61]

sorry i can not give you a green before i spread some reputation

thanks; it's a nice part of the country, not so touristy, kind of place I could happily retire to

[drawp]

Wow looks great. The water is nice and calm, maybe I can finally convince my wife to get in.

[navynine]

Great pictures, My only problem with them is NOW along with the good tourest there will be a lot of ass'holes coming down this way and wanting to change things another 10yrs and the place will look like the rest of the shitholes. All I ask is come for a visit but DO NoT bitch about not having a McDonalds

[Ciaphas]

We've been going on holidays to Chao Lao beach for the past couple of years and it still is one of my favourite places in Thailand. Word of warning if you intend to visit over the song gran period stay in the huts on the opposite side of the road from the beach. Each day bus loads of workers arrive and sing karaoke very loud and very badly until the small hours. After the first night of listening to this I moved the family across the road for more relaxing holiday.

[khmen]

Really nice pics, looks like a beautiful place. Tried to green ya but got to spread the luv! I've wanted to visit Chantaburi for a while now, a mate lives nearby and I've passed through the town loads of times to visit him, I'll make sure I make the effort next time after seeing these beach shots.

[Bob63]

Great with all these informative pictures. Thanks.
I found out Chao Lao is down the coast east of BKK, towards Koh Chang.
Green sent :-)

[genghis61]

About 10km from Chanthaburi on the road from Chao Lao we saw a temple on a hill and headed up for the view. 394 steps then turn left and another 239 to the top (steps were counted on basis they may provide lucky lottery numbers).

****************

continuing on towards Chanthaburi city, Nuen Wong fortress



During the reign of King Rama III (1824-1851), Khai Nuenwong (‘Nuenwong Fort’) was established on a plot of land in the eastern province of Chanthaburi, alongside the Gulf of Thailand, as part of an effort at staving off a Vietnamese naval attack.

**************

Inside the fortress walls is the National Maritime Museum, which we now know is open Wednesday to Sunday 9am-4pm. Sadly we were there on Tuesday.

Among the fort’s ruins you’ll see canons and crumbling walls, along with two identical buildings that cover an area exceeding 3,500 square meters, housing tens of thousands of fascinating items that were retrieved from shipwrecks, or that relate to life at sea.

Under the administration of the culture ministry’s Department of Fine Arts, the National Maritime Museum Chanthaburi includes a huge variety of ancient artifacts retrieved from ships wrecked along the Gulf of Thailand.

Many of the exhibits in the Conservation Room, located on the ground floor of the building, relate to trading via sea routes during the Ayutthaya period (1351-1767).

[genghis61]

heading through Tha Mai (halfway between Chanthaburi city and Chao Lao) on Xmas Eve we stopped to watch a Xmas parade from the Catholic church there; a representation of the different cultures in the town.

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Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

Chanthaburi Cathedral on Chanthanimit Road on the river bank is the largest Catholic edifice in Thailand. Rebuilt in 1909, it is of Gothic architectural style. The original tall roof was taken down during World War II to make it less conspicuous as a possible target.



This church was renovated and rebuilt five times between 1711 to the present. The migrated Christian Vietnamese in Chanthaburi constructed it. The beautiful antique houses in Vietnamese style around the church are interesting and allow tourists to have a close-up view of the old community of Chanthaburi Province both lifestyle and culture.

**********

The town of the moon -- better known as Chanthaburi -- is a melting pot of Asian cultures whose people have flocked here seeking to find their fortune in the lucrative gems and precious stones trade.

From the faces of the inhabitants to the architecture lining the narrow streets you'll see Khmer, Vietnamese, Chinese, Burmese and French influences.

The French, who ruled the province between 1893 and 1905, have left behind streets filled with decaying but charming buildings, mostly concentrated around the Chanthaburi river, which snakes through the town's centre.

An interesting part of town is the busy Chinese and Vietnamese quarter by the river. The Vietnamese, mostly Christians, arrived in droves on three separate occasions -- during the persecution of Vietnamese Christians in the 1800s, during French rule in the early 20th century and in 1975 following the reunification of Vietnam.

[genghis61]

For the May trip we took the car (kids) but November and December we traveled on the Fino (minus kids); November was an epic trip from Sa Kaeo to Chanthaburi on highway 317 and up to Rayong/Koh Samet on highway 3; December a more leisurely Sa Kaeo - Chao Lao return journey with numerous day trips in the countryside.

[genghis61]

where?

[genghis61]

Kids joined us for last few days of Nov trip, took them to the pier at south end of Chao Lao beach asked if anyone would take us out for short (paid) trip. No luck.

Then this trip went back, asked about going fishing, no again.

Next time take my own rod etc and try off the beach, the bridge or pier.

[Ciaphas]

Have you tried the night fishing there for squid last time we got the place we were staying at to organise it. Take a couple of beers with you and it makes for a pleasant evening, the kids loved it but the wife spent the whole time throwing up.

[genghis61]

^ saw signs for night squid fishing trips when we were at Ban Phe, think it was 500b, is there an option for this at CL? I'd give it a go bu don't expect any family interest in that one

[Ciaphas]

They send a truck to pick you up from your bungalow in CL and take you home.

[genghis61]

some other good threads on this area of Thailand

https://teakdoor.com/thailands-travel...ml#post1661794 (Laem Sadet , Ban Laem and a crack in the hill)

and

https://teakdoor.com/thailands-beache...ri-update.html (Chao Lao Beach , Chanthaburi ( update ))

[Bangyai]

^ Thanks for the free advertising mate !




We were wondering what this beach was like but didn't have time to check it out. Now we know !

I was looking at Sunsetters thread about his time at Ko Samet the other day and the contrast between the island and the mainland is very noticable. So many people at such a small place ! Personaly, the emptier it is the better I like it !

Not really a big beach fan myself but a few days now and then make a great holiday. The nearest place for us is Cha am and if you go midweek it can be very nice. There is an excellent restaurant on the second road back from the beach that does good western and Thai food at fair prices and doesn't charge for corkage. I'll take some pics next trip and give it a plug.

[genghis61]

I was looking at Sunsetters thread about his time at Ko Samet the other day and the contrast between the island and the mainland is very noticable. So many people at such a small place ! Personaly, the emptier it is the better I like it !

we went to Koh Samet in November - one day was enough, nice looking beaches but almost nil fish life for us snorkellers and simply too many people. I hadn't researched beyond reading it was a 'national park'. A np that (our count) has 7 tattoo shops inside its gates, coyote bar, and so on. Not what we expected; I saw his NY pics and that is absolutely the last place I'd want to be. Give me a deserted beach at Chao Lao anytime.

[genghis61]

referring again to the nightmare of Koh Samet at NY - 'great, travel to Thailand to get drunk with 1000 farang' reminded me of the worst aspects of Phuket - this is Chao Lao beach on Christmas Day 2010. Unspoilt apart from my bamboo and tree leaf Xmas tree creation.

And two people in the distance, who we later met, from Roi-Et, they invited us for coffee and we went out for lunch in the township.

The quiet life.

[bankao dreamer]

Wonderful thread mate thanks for sharing it all with us. We will definitely go there for a break.

[Panda]

Great pics and travelogue.

My wife has family in Chantaburi so I expect to be spending some time in that area. Chao Lao looks like a great place to spend a few days R&R.

Re the fishing from the wharf; -- I bought the inlaws a couple of light fishing rods a couple of years back. I was told they went down the wharf and caught a load of Garfish. They are small but tasty. Didn't hear of any larger fish caught.

[genghis61]

for more on the history of the French in Chanthaburi, started another thread, some duplicate info/pics but more detail

Refer to: French occupation of Trat and Chanthaburi provinces

[genghis61]

Located in Samet Ngam village, we went there via Chanthaburi city (13km), alternative route is from Laem Sing on the coast (about 6km).

Somdet Phra Chao Taksin Maharat (King Taksin the Great) reigned from 1767-82 and regained Ayutthaya seven months after it was seized and razed by the Burmese.

Several kilometres inland in the river/estuary for Laem Sing, this area was once a dockyard for trade, also recorded as being where King Taksin re-grouped his forces and ships to re-take Ayuttaya from the Burmese in 1767.

Very much a 'work in progress' it is an archaeological project, museum and accompanying temple under construction on the banks of the estuary.

Temple objects currently in a temporary building while a new building is constructed. The day we were there group of army and navy cadets were assisting with building work.