Bangkok's many faces to chilled Railay Beach and Islands
17.11.2019 - 28.11.2019
-34 °C
Back in Thailand again!
The bustling pace of Bangkok lured us back on our return through Asia. We started with the "same same" but tried to look through different lenses.
View of Wat Arun Ratchavararam and Sanam Luang from the Chao Phraya river
Hawker's food market
Ducking in for a brunch after our ferry ride, we met this lovely lady serving the most delicious soup. This started our walk toward Bangkok flower market.
The intention was to follow the "famous" street art but we got lost and only saw a few pieces.
Streets on the way all had their explicit roles. "Motor-parts" street left me flabbergasted with each shop in the dim, narrow road, each selling their trade on one part of the car. There was exhaust shop, engine shop, wheel shop - all with piles of metal and often one person working on one part.
Flower Market
The people
We walked back to this lady's eatery from our first visit in Krum Kasem Road. We remembered her for the amazing flavours and her lovely smiles.
This lady just beamed when we passed her. She was working with her sewing machine, on the street, as many vendors do around Bangkok.
Salt Farm
We escaped the hustle and bustle on a "Withlocals" tour. Hansa our amazing guide took us to a salt farm, fish farm, mangroves and for a lovely meal. Truly the only tourists we saw for the whole day, were us! Magical. It was a completely fascinating day to the south of Bangkok city. We met the farmers and had a glimpse of day to day life for many people, not just our hosts.
Fish Farm
We travelled up the watery streets on a boat, powered by gas canister. This was the only way to get to the stilted village.
The farm had it's own jetty which led to a path along the bank of one of their lakes (straight off the sea) and to the farm house.
It was a beautiful location with lovely people.
The Lunch
And the food kept coming! It was a spectacular spread with so much local seafood- straight out of the seawater. Delicious battered prawns, mussels, fish in spices and royalty parcels stuffed with prawn and pork- a foodies heaven.
Flying south....Ao Nang, Railay Beach and the islands
Ao Nang, famed for being a bit touristy certainly lived up to this but it was a fabulous gateway to explore for a few days.
Our favourite restaurant- the most amazing battered prawns, but everything was delish!
Railay Beach
Railay Beach is more laid back pace wise. The only way there is on the water, for us by long boat taxi.
Monkey monkey on the tree...and path...and roof...and balcony...
Not uncommon for these cheeky characters to climb onto your balcony, check the doors, open if they can and steal from the mini-bar.
The odd human monkeys like to climb the cliffs here too. Railay is a climbing destination.
Five Island Day Trip
Our day out on the sea was so lovely. Visiting Phi Phi Island and surrounds we soaked in the crystal clear, luke-warm waters, dived off boats in natural steep cliffed lagoons, snorkelled and dined. It was great to see slightly fewer crowds to begin with as we left on an early bird tour- really worth it!
Path to the Phallic Cave
One unusual (for me anyway) place on Railay Beach is the cave on Pranang Beach - dedicated to the gifting of male penises!
The beach/cliffs are is also a rite of passage for climbers....not the cave that is.
And after all that hard work, there are many chilled out bars...
That should put a smile on your face.
Posted by PhilFhi travels 22:37 Archived in Thailand Tagged food bangkok "ao_nang" Comments (0)