It was almost nightfall but the sun was nowhere to be found. We slowly chugged along the placid waters of Prasae River aboard a rua pra mong, a traditional Thai fishing vessel quite common at this town know for fishing and ship-building. I went to the prow, a can of Chang beer in tow, looking for the great ball of fire on the horizon, but all I saw were thick mangrove forests accenting the edge of the river and the twilit sky.

WHAT TO DO IN PRASAE, RAYONG WHAT’S INSIDE? • TAMNANPAR RESTAURANT • SONGSALUENG NATURAL AGRICULTURAL CENTRE • TUNG PRONG THONG RAYONG MANGROVES • PRASAE 500 YEAR-OLD IRON WOOD TREE • PRASAE RIVER BRIDGE • HTMS PRASAE MEMORIAL • BAAN CHAN SAMUT HOMESTAY • PRASAE SUNSET CRUISE DINNER • PRASAE RIVER VILLAGE • KHANOM CHIN PA-NA

RAYONG HAS A VERY PROVINCIAL FEEL

Our day started out from the capital of Thailand, Bangkok. The TBEX Asia conference has just ended and we’ve just checked out of Siam@Siam, our home for the last three days in the city. Choosing the Rayong-Chanthaburi trip for the Post-BEX tours, we boarded our van, said our goodbyes to fellow TBEXers who’re doing other tours, and were soon zipping through the highway en route to Rayong Province.

AN OLD LADY MENDING NETS IN TAMBON PRASAE, RAYONG

Rayong is located on the east coast of Thailand, almost 200 kilometers away from Bangkok or approximately three hours by bus from the Bangkok Northern Bus Terminal. It is a popular weekend destination for Bangkok residents with its many island beaches and laid back destinations—but you can hardly see any foreign backpackers visiting the place. And that, I guess, adds to the charm of Rayong.

► BOOK A DISCOUNTED 3 ISLAND DAY TOUR FROM RAYONG

TAMNANPAR RESTAURANT

---

ADDRESS: 167/6 MOO 7, PHE, RAYONG | CONTACT NO: (038) 652884 | EMAIL: TAMNANPAR_RESORT@HOTMAIL.COM | GPS: 12.636308, 101.404994

MAN-MADE FOREST OF TAMNANPAR RESTAURANT

Noontime found us still on the road to our destination, the subdistrict of Prasae in the town of Klaeng. A quick stop at Tamnanpar Restaurant made our grumbling tummies happy.

The restaurant is situated on a man-made tropical rainforest complete with waterfalls and ponds. Wending our way through a zigzagging path, we finally ended up at the open-aired dining hall made from stone and wood. It even has a central garden where a spray of water trickles down through the trees, giving the place a very rainforest-like ambience.

SPELL MONSTER PRAWNS!!!

Trays of delectable Thai dishes were immediately slid onto our table as soon as we took seat; roasted ducks with honey, stir fried veggies, fried chicken with herbs, chili paste with crab eggs, steamed crab legs, morning glory salad, and gigantic baked prawns.

A FEAST OF THAI DISHES AT TAMNANPAR RESTAURANT

It was quite a feast! After our cameras stopped snapping, we started raiding the table. Everything was good, but the very crispy fried chicken, the succulent crab legs, and the giant prawns were the ones that made lasting impressions on me (and my tummy).

SONGSALUENG NATURAL AGRICULTURAL CENTRE

---

ADDRESS: 322/2 MU 8, SONG SALUENG, KLAENG, RAYONG | CONTACT NO: +6681-982-2404 | GPS MAP: 12.723638, 101.559350

TRAPPING RIVER WATER FOR IRRIGATION  +  CAUGHT A DUCK LAYING EGGS

With no time for siesta, we boarded our van again and spilled out at the Songsalueng Natural Agricultural Centre. There we met Mr. Somsak Khruewan, the farm owner, who guided us around. He is a beneficiary of the Thai Royal Project and we saw how successful he was in maximizing his land.

MR. SOMSAK KHRUEWAN, THE OWNER OF THE FARM, IS A PRETTY FUNNY GUY

TEAK WOOD TREES AT THE SONGSALUENG FARM

From his piggery, to his fishponds, to his orchards—everything is interconnected. The waste from one area is utilized on another, making a very tight ecosystem of sorts where nothing is wasted. This is how every farm should be run.

TUNG PRONG THONG RAYONG MANGROVES

---

ADDRESS: PAK NAM KRASAE, KLAENG, RAYONG | GPS MAP: 12.707546, 101.716317

RIDING A SALENG, WHICH LITERALLY TRANSLATES TO THREE WHEELS

Finally entering the town of Prasae, we boarded a saleng—Rayong’s own version of a tricycle—and roared to Tung Prong Thong, a mangrove forest at the Khao Laem Yai National Park.

A SEA OF YELLOW MANGROVES AT TUNG PRONG THONG

This is one of the largest, if not the largest, mangrove forest in the province of Rayong. It spreads over 2,400 hectares of land with a one-kilometer walkway that can be reached from Prasae. The rickety path pushes into a dark, heavily wooded forest of roots and slim mangrove trunks. Overhead, the canopy is several meters high. Eventually the path opens to an open deck surrounded by lush golden leaves.

INTO THE DARK MANGROVE FOREST…

The drama of compression and decompression is perfectly executed at Tung Prong Thong; the heavy atmosphere of the initial walk which opens up to a vibrant open field after a few minutes makes one feel a sense of freedom upon arriving at the deck platform.

…AND OUT INTO THE SUNNY MANGROVE TOPS

These mangroves are quite different from the usual ones in that its leaves turn into a bright yellow hue. The whole panorama almost looked like we were standing on a field of flowers instead of trees. With limited time, we were unable to walk all the way to the sea where the pathway ends though, nor were we able to witness the magical parade of fireflies through the forest at night.

PRASAE 500 YEAR-OLD IRON WOOD TREE

---

ADDRESS: 223 THETSABAN 2 ALLEY, PAK NAM KRASAE, KLAENG DISTRICT, RAYONG | GPS MAP: 12.708650, 101.707469

THE IRON WOOD LANDMARK

Still on our saleng, we dropped by a 500 year-old iron wood tree or takhian; a tree harder than teak wood. I’m not sure what the historical significance of this tree is, but with colorful ribbons wrapped around its trunk, I’m pretty sure it has a good back story attached to it.

PRASAE RIVER BRIDGE

---

GPS MAP: 12.700966, 101.702006

GOING TO PRASAE BRIDGE BY SALENG

PRASAE RIVER, LOOKING TO THE FISHING VILLAGE

The bridge spanning the Prasae River was our next stop. Made from ferroconcrete, it stretches for about two kilometers and looks over the mouth of the river on the south, and the fishing village at the north. Judging from the number of vehicles stopping in the middle, I presume that this is a popular place for taking in the view; and yes, having selfies too, lol.

HTMS PRASAE MEMORIAL

---

ADDRESS: THETSABAN 9 ROAD, PRASAE, RAYONG | GPS MAP: 12.696749, 101.704576]

THE HTMS PRASAE MEMORIAL AT THE TOWN BOARDWALK

Our last stop for our mini saleng tour of Prasae was the HTMS Prasae Memorial. This is a gunboat docked on the grounds of the town’s sea boulevard. The ship is originally from the US, went to World War II, was secretly transferred to the Soviet Navy, went to the Korean War in the 1950’s, before being handed over to the Royal Thai Navy a year later.

WOULD LOVE TO EXPLORE THIS LOVELY SEASIDE BOULEVARD MORE

I actually saw a lot of locals checking the interiors of the boat, but I was more interested in the street food and sceneries around the park, which is located along the coast.

BAAN CHAN SAMUT HOMESTAY

---

ADDRESS: 185/1 PAK NAM KRASAE, KLAENG, RAYONG | CONTACT NO: (081) 209-2108 | EMAIL: CYN_DY_45@YAHOO.COM | GPS: 12.713074, 101.703744

BAAN CHANSAMUT HOMESTAY FACADE

And finally, we putt-putted to the narrow streets of Prasae and into Baan Chan Samut Homestay, our home for two days in the province. There are actually not a lot of accommodations in Rayong, only a handful of homestays. You definitely won’t find hotels here.

► CHECK FOR CHEAP HOTELS IN RAYONG

MY ROOM FOR THE NIGHT, YES, PLUSH TOY INCLUDED

THE DINING HALL OVERLOOKING THE PRASAE RIVER

Our lodging is very straightforward. It has single and double rooms, but they also have a few that can accommodate big groups. Every room is air-conditioned and has its en suite toilet and bath. It is pretty clean.

PRASAE SUNSET CRUISE DINNER

---

SUNSET DINNER AT THE INN’S FISHING BOAT

What I love about Baan Chansamut Homestay though, is its location, which is located right along the Prasae River. In fact, right after dropping our bags inside our rooms, we immediately boarded their ten-meter double-decker wooden fishing boat and went around for a mini cruise around the river. We feasted on fresh oysters, shrimps, crisply fried bass, spicy Thai salads and, of course, cans of Chang and Singha beer.

SEAFOOD GALORE!

SHRIMPS AND BEERS; PERFECT COMBINATION

It was such a fun way to end our first day in Prasae that we decided on continuing the party at the inn’s river deck. The amount of stories, laughter, and alcohol we spent that night was astonishing, considering how early we would have to rise the next morning, lol.

PRASAE RIVER VILLAGE

---

WALKING ALONG THE STREETS OF PRASAE

MONKS RECEIVING ALMS FROM LOCAL RESIDENTS

A walk along the narrow street of Prasae’s River Village was set early the next morning. We got to witness a slice of Rayong life as we passed by locals giving alms to saffron-robed monks. The place slowly woke up as we went.

The street, which is beset on both sides by two-storey wooden houses—usually with a shop front on the ground floor—was pretty quiet. In between houses, we’d see glimpses of the river, these residences sit right beside the water, a few of them on stilts. Only the occasional motorcycle passing through broke our early morning reverie.

AT THE MARKETPLACE

NOT TOO EARLY FOR BARBECUES

We passed by a small, colorful market, which was already bustling with activity. I love marketplaces—this is usually where you’d observe a community’s way of life. Well, besides the fact that this is also where you can get the cheapest and most legit local food.

KHANOM CHIN PA-NA

---

WE FORGOT THAT WE ALSO HAVE BREAKFAST PREPARED AT THE INN

And speaking of food, we were unable to resist trying out khanom chin, a popular dish this side of Thailand which is made of fermented thin rice noodles paired with your soup of choice which ranges from curries to peanut-based sauces. We picked a hole-in-the-wall aptly named Khanom Chin Pa-na, which literally translates to Pa-Na’s (the owner) khanom chin.

PREPARING MY KHANOM CHIN  +  KHAO MAN GAI

The noodles are set on a bunch, they scoop one with their hands and put them on your plate, then you choose which sauce you want with it. I tried the noodles with green curry sauce, peanut sauce, and Thai spicy soup—plus, a helping of khao man gai or chicken rice with spicy dip. I absolutely adore it and cannot wait to have another one! I was gut-bustingly full as we went back to the inn.

LOVING THE VIBE OF PRASAE, A SUBDISTRICT OF RAYONG’S KLAENG DISTRICT

Rayong was a big surprise for me. Before this trip, I have absolutely never heard about this place. I love how laid back its atmosphere is, how untouched it is by commercialization, how provincial it still is, and how good its food is. I would love to stay longer, if given the chance, to explore and interact with the locals some more, but we have another province waiting.

Next stop, Chanthaburi!

~ THIS TRIP IS SPONSORED BY TBEX ASIA 2015 VIA THE TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND

• BOOK PRIVATE TRANSFERS FROM BANGKOK TO RAYONG •
• CHECK DISCOUNTED HOTELS IN RAYONG •