Sabai Sabai

Been feeling a bit boxed in lately so last Saturday, we got into the car and headed east towards the coast of the Gulf of Thailand (after circling around in the city, trying to find the entrance to the Motorway; my fault mostly- I am a terrible navigator).

The roads were surprisingly good, which says a lot about how often we embark on road trips (never!). From the Motorway, we got onto Highway 344 (Ban Bung-Klang) towards Chantaburi. After 2 hours, we opted for Rayong at the split, ending up on a pretty stretch of road flanked by rubber plantations, palms, and ubiquitous stalls selling local specialties like coconuts, sweet snacks, and roasted chicken.

The town was pretty mellow. Its extensive concrete boardwalk was lined with umbrellas, deck chairs, and makeshift seafood restaurants, but there was hardly anyone about. As the sun set, we walked on the main stretch of beach, watching families playing football, flying kites, and wading into the placid surf. Very sabai sabai. (Aptly, we stayed at a low key little place called Baan Sabai Sabai.)

The beach wasn't bad - Mai thought it was nicer than Cha-Am or Huahin - but there was a lot of trash, including light bulbs, toothbrushes, and plastic ribbons from garlands, strewed on the sand. It's easy to see why people pass through Rayong simply to catch the ferry to Ko Samet, but it's a shame the municipality isn't cleaning up public areas on the mainland.

As it got dark, a couple of the beachside eateries began blaring folk songs, often featuring the incessant tinkling of the onomatopoetic 'ching chap' cymbals. After dinner by the water, we changed our minds about visiting the nearby market and called it a night.

The next morning, we stopped in Pattaya for lunch and then hit the clothing outlet before driving home. Next time we'll take the other prong of Highway 344: Chantaburi.