Thung Wua Laen Beach, Chumphon to Thap Sakae, Prachuap Khiri Khan

 

Today we kept off the highway and travelled along the Royal Coast Route. Thailand has been developing this road for several years renewing it and installing bicycle paths with the intention of promoting it as a tourist destination, It is a very quiet road that hugs the coast and is a pleasure to drive along it, although, in places, it twists and turns through hilly areas. The drive is so rural and quiet that you have to be aware of dogs asleep in the road, hens and their young crossing the road, and, today, even a rather large monitor lizard attempting to cross the asphalt. There are many places to see on the route, but unfortunately, the weather today was in the grip of the North-East Monsoon which particularly affects this area so we did not stop at any. As we have done the trip many times before, it was not a problem for us.

Rocky Point, is also well known to us as we have stayed there several times in the past including 2 nights in 2020 with Katie. It has nice villas surrounding a swimming pool next to the sea. It is particularly good value at the moment costing only THB 1215 including a good breakfast.

What we have noticed already, is that these areas are quite clearly suffering due to the ongoing pandemic. Many small resorts, hotels and restaurants are closed and the ones that are open seem to be finding it hard to attract any clientele. It would appear that these areas have not benefited from the opening up of Thailand to foreign visitors as areas such as Phuket have. 

As the weather today, was bad, we have raided our archives for some of the sites along the route we have travelled.

View from Rocky Point, Thap Sakae

Swimming Pool at Rocky Point, Thap Sakae

The Royal Coast Road

Dawn at Sanamwan Beach

Thung Maha Bay, Chumphon

Collecting coconuts 

STOP PRESS. It stopped raining and we got a sunset!

Fisherman at sunset, Rocky Point, Thap Sakae

Maliblues Bed & Dinner, Thung Wua Laen Beach, Chumphon

 

Packed and ready to go

As expected, we arrives here well before 12 having left at 6 am. Of course, we were too early to check-in so sat on the beach and had a drink whilst watching small crabs scurrying across the sand and lulled by the sound of the waves rolling majestically over the beach. The Gulf Coast of Thailand is under the influence of the North-East monsoon at this time of year which often means that the weather can be variable and the area is especially prone to heavy thunderstorms. The weather was initially fine, however, and we sat on the beach, Ann reading her Kindle, and both of us enjoying a glass of chilled Sauvignon Blanc in the warm sunshine until the clouds started to build over the sea promising the oncoming deluge. As the wind increased, we stoically remained in our seats willing it not to rain but were eventually forced to retreat albeit briefly before the sunshine returned. 

We didn't know what to expect of Maliblues but on being shown to our room, we were delighted. Bright and clean with lots of windows and the most fabulous of sea views in every direction and right on the beach. At 1500 THB per night, it is not the cheapest option but we considered it to be well worth the money. The restaurant serves thin crust pizza and it is amongst the best we have ever tasted for around 250 THB.

Thung Wua Laen Beach

Thung Wua Laen Beach

Maliblues Beach Hut

Maliblues Beach Hut

Rain coming!

Ann and large palm trees

Friendly locals

We're off!

 

Tomorrow, we set off on our journey to Bangkok. First stop is Maliblues Bed and Dinner on Thung Wua Laen Beach in Chumphon Province. We expect to leave around 6 a.m. and arrive before lunchtime .at our destination.

What are we leaving behind for 6 weeks? Below is our villa and a photo of our nearest and most favourite beach in Phuket - Bang Tao, where we often walk to.

Itinerary Phuket to North Thailand via Bangkok

Here is our Itinerary as far as Mae Sot. We have booked all hotels, but at the moment, are not sure exactly where we are going to stop and stay on our return trip from Mae Sot to Phuket.    

 Date From To nights kms Time

Friday 4/2/2022     Phuket Chumphon 1 387 05:40

Saturday 5/2/2022     Chumphon Prachuap Khiri Khan 1 140 02:10

Sunday 6/2/2022     Prachuap Khiri Khan Bangkok 9 369 05:19

Tuesday 15/2/2022    Bangkok Trat 3 357 04:50

Friday 18/2/2022    Trat Nakhon Nayok 1 371 05:30

Saturday 19/2/2022    Nakhon Nayok Phitsanulok 1 382 05:04

Sunday 20/2/2022    Phitsanulok Nan 2 293 04:09

Tuesday 22/2/2022    Nan Chiang Saen 3 293 05:16

Friday 25/2/2022    Chiang Saen Chiang Rai 2 80 01:38

Sunday 27/2/2022    Chiang Rai Phayao 2 102 01:54

Tuesday 1/3/2022     Phayao Lampang 2 189 03:00

Thursday 3/3/2022     Lampang Chiang Mai 3 106 01:27

Sunday 6/3/2022     Chiang Mai Pai 2 130 02:49

Tuesday 8/3/2022     Pai Mae Hong Son 2 107 02:18

Thursday 10/3/2022    Mae Hong Son Mae Sariang 1 163 03:06

Friday 11/3/2022    Mae Sariang Mae Sot 3 234 04:19

First stop is Thung Wua Laen beach in Chumphon

 Facebook apparently do not like travel blogs being posted so I have harnessed this old blog to add details of our travels over the next 6 weeks or so. Below is the original entry'.

Having lived in Thailand for roughly 16 years, we are no strangers to most of the country having travelled extensively by air, car, and occasionally by train, to most parts. We decided that this February and March would be a good time to continue our explorations in addition to spending 9 days in Bangkok, a city we know and love well having lived there for over 4 years. This is a blog about our daily travels. Our itinerary will appear as the next post

Bangkok Street and Market Vendors

 

Bangkok Market and Street Vendors

https://twitter.com/khellon/status/1457150585443024896 

Oxford Covered Market

 This historic market in the centre of Oxford was opened in 1774. 

Street Art in Old Phuket Town, Thailand

 Like many towns and cities, street art can be found in parts of old Phuket Town, Thailand. Here are some examples

Street art

Street art

Street art

Street art

The Erawan Shrine, Bangkok, Thailand

The Erawan Shrine, formally the Thao Maha Phrom Shrine ("Shrine of Lord Brahma the Great"), is a shrine in Bangkok, Thailand, which houses a statue of Phra Phrom, the Thai representation of Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. It often features performances by Thai dance troupes who are hired by worshippers in return for seeing their prayers answered at the shrine. Wikipedia

All photos are available for sale at reasonable cost depending on usage. Email me at kevinhellon@gmail.com

A Virtual Tour of Thailand - Ranong

Today we are in the Southern province of Ranong on the Andaman Sea which has a border with Myanmar. It is officially the wettest province in the country but you wouldnt know that from this photo taken on Koh Phayam an island just off the coast.

Sunset on Koh Phayam, Ranong, Thailand

A Virtual Tour of Thailand - Khon Kaen

In Khon Kaen today which is a large province in the North East of Thailand, part of an area known as Isaan. Every year they hold a silk festival with parades.

Young Girl Dancer at Silk Festival Parade, Khon Khaen, Thailand

A Virtual Tour of Thailand - Lopburi Province

Lopburi is the destination on our virtual tour today. This Central Thailand province has fertile plains where they grow sugar beet.

Farm workers harvesting sugar beet, Lopburi, Thailand