Visiting the Fruit Basket of Thailand

Visiting the Fruit Basket of Thailand
Rayong Province

EVERY YEAR FOR THE PAST 14 YEARS, Khun Jae, the master architect of the Kad Suan Kaew Shopping Park and the Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel complex has been hosting as many at 80- reporters from northern Thailand with a visit to Rayong province in the eastern coast of Thailand. This year the familiarization trip spanned 5 days. The drive took about 15 hours by air conditioned bus. If you haven't driven south to the central plains, the roads are very good condition over and around many clover leafs, underpasses and overpasses make the drive smoother than ever before.

Rayong is a land of plenty. Abundant crops of tropical fruits such as rambutan, mangosteen and durian are harvested in May each year. Preserved seafood products for which the province is well know are shrimp paste, fish sauce and dried seafood available year round.

The group was accommodated at the Hin Suay Nam Sai Resort Hotel in Glaeng (Klaeng District) of Rayong province for 3 nights. The resort sits atop a cliff at a height of 8 storeys. There are 215 rooms at rates of Baht 2,500 for guest rooms to Baht 15,400 for those who stay in the 2-3 room bungalows. The facilities include 3 swimming pools, 3 restaurants and long pathways for those who enjoy walking in the great outdoors. The Cat Shark Theater seats 220 and offers a full range of audiovisual, projector, light and sound systems. Hin Suay Nam Sai is a great place to relax and focus on nature and the wild sea.

The reporters got a first hand inspection of the entire 100 rai property during a sports walk rally over a course measuring 1.8 kilometers in length. There were 7 teams competing against each other and all in good fun. Later, the Volleyball and Soccer games were rained out.

On the second day, the group visited a royal project, Aow Khoong Grabane or 'the lagoon of stingrays.' Before the royal project was established this was an ecological disaster. Now this area is a study and development center for black shrimp farming, and specialty fish farming plus several community service projects improving the quality of life for the local people. It was the first time for many of the reporters to walk through the sea marsh area to observe the plants and wild life.

There was a stop at Laem Sadet beach for soccer and volleyball games. Most preferred to climb around on the big boulders or sit in the shade talking with each other. Later, a quick shopping trip to Chantaburi downtown market was made. There were several types of gem shops from the elegant stores to the over-the-counter buying from the wholesalers. Of course, one couldn't help but notice the 'oceans' of red rambutans, mahogany mangosteens and thorny durians wherever there was a market or a place to sell fruit.

The third day excursion was to Chonburi province. As we drive around a mountain in Sattahip District, there was a golden line drawing of a Buddha at a length of 18 storeys created by a laser. A stop at the Xian Chinese Temple situated on 3,700 rai. Construction took 4 1/2 years to complete. The museum mansion is a duplication of the Chinese Emperor's Palace. The interior is filled with an outstanding collection of Chinese historical treasurers such as stone soldiers and horses from 2,000 year old tombs in Xian, 500 year old paintings, ceramics and musical instruments. Too innumerable to identify in this article. And then an hour stop at the Bang Saen Marine Aquarium at the Burapa University Institute of Marine Sciences located in Bang Saen Subdistrict of Sri Racha District. Here were living samples of sea horses, sharks and dolphins, and stingrays as well as peculiar and poisonous fish swimming in tanks.

The theme of the farewell gala dinner was 'Loog Toong' a fancy dress competition was held and many of the group were on stage singing their favorite melody.

On the final day we left the resort and headed back to the provincial town of Rayong with a visit to Baan Pae beach market about 15 kilometers before the provincial center for more fruit and of course souvenirs. The popular island of Ko Samet was in view. Some interesting buys were sea shell picture and mirror frames and even the dentures of a baby shark. We passed the awesome Eastern Seaboard industries and refineries. The driver made good time to Ayuthaya and all returned safe and sound to the Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Chiangmai hotel at midnight.

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Visiting the Fruit Basket of Thailand Rayong Province

Visiting the Fruit Basket of Thailand
Rayong Province