"When the city gets too hectic, escape to the simple life in Saen To…"

If you're tired of the daily grind, whether it's the rain, traffic jams, being late for work, your boss yelling at you, or a thousand other reasons that make you bored and fed up with our capital city, and you just want to escape to a slow-paced life, relax, and immerse yourself in the simplicity, tranquility, and beauty of nature, then you've made the right decision by opening this review of "Slow Life Trip: A Chic and Cool Trip: Rowing, Clam Digging, and Floating @ Saen To Homestay, Uncle Son, Bangkok." We'll take you on a journey to experience a level of bliss beyond words that will leave you wondering, "Is this really in Bangkok?!"

Photo taken with a Samsung Galaxy S8 by Stop me!!

The journey was incredibly easy. We started by taking a car to Rama 2, then hopped on a red double-decker truck to the front of Pitiyalongkorn Pitiyakom School. We called Uncle Sorn to pick us up at the pier opposite the school. We waited there, either standing or sitting by the shrine, and within moments, a large long-tail boat powered by cooking gas appeared, expertly steered by Uncle Sorn himself. He looked incredibly handsome from afar.

Photo taken with Samsung Galaxy S8 by Stop me!!

As we boarded the boat, we took in the cool air that hit our faces and skin, giving us a little thrill. The scenery began with houses where people lived, and gradually transitioned to dense mangrove forests, which brightened our view. The gentle sunlight reflected off the water, creating a beautiful sparkle all along the way. It only took us 10 minutes to reach Uncle Sorn's house.

Photo taken with Samsung Galaxy S8 by Stop me!!

Photo taken with Samsung Galaxy S8 by Stop me!!

Upon arriving at the house, Aunt Euan, Uncle Sorn's wife, who would be taking care of us throughout the trip, came out to greet us and showed us to our room. Our room was a spacious one with an old-fashioned CRT TV. But don't be fooled by its age, this TV still works perfectly! We also had to set up mosquito nets, lay down mats, and sleep with a fan that night. It was a truly simple and natural experience. There are a total of 3 bathrooms here, so even if you come with a large group, there's no need to worry about fighting over the bathroom. Uncle Sorn has also prepared cool water in a large jar for us to bathe in, which was a welcome relief from the heat.

Photo taken with Samsung Galaxy S8 by Stop me!!

After packing our belongings, we explored Uncle Sorn's house. There is a pier in front of the house, and behind the house is a pond for raising shrimp, shellfish, crabs, and fish naturally. They find their own food and don't need to be fed. Moreover, the pond behind the house can also be used for swimming, rowing, and digging for shellfish. Without further ado, let's go rowing and digging for shellfish!!!

Photo taken with Samsung Galaxy S8 by Stop me!!

Paddling our kayak to the middle of the pond, we reached into the water about half a cubit deep. Our hands glided across the soft, fine mud until they encountered the firmness of something. We picked it up and found a large, fat cockle, perfect for our dinner tonight. After collecting a few cockles in our black bucket, we took them up to wash off the mud before handing them to Auntie Aeun to prepare them for us.

Photo taken with iPhone 6 Plus by Monchai Jirayupong

After paddling in the afternoon, we spent the evening lowering a monkey ladder into the water, leaning it against the pier. This ladder was for us to play in the shallow pool behind the house. Uncle told us that the water here was seawater, which explained why it wasn't fresh. For those of you who are short like me, be warned that your feet won't touch the bottom. So, I had to wear a life jacket because I can't swim.

Photo taken with a Samsung Galaxy S8 by Stop me!!

Another essential activity after arriving here is planting mangrove trees. The mangrove species we planted is the large-leafed mangrove. We will use the green pods and stick them into the mud for about one inch, then let the other end of the seed protrude from the soil. The place where we planted the trees is in front of Uncle Sorn's house! We asked Uncle to plant two trees: one with brown seeds and one with a regular green tip.

Photo taken with Samsung Galaxy S8 by Stop me!!

In addition, exploring the mangrove forest nature trail is another highly recommended activity. Uncle Sorn led us on a tour of this nature trail early the next morning. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a lush, 2-kilometer path filled with the intermittent sounds of birdsong. The muddy terrain was teeming with life, including mudskippers, fiddler crabs, and various other unexpected creatures. It was truly remarkable to experience such a natural environment within the bustling city of Bangkok. The distant horizon, where the sky met the sea, offered a sense of tranquility and relaxation.

Photo taken with Samsung Galaxy S8 by Stop me!!

During our two-day, one-night stay, we were fortunate to have Chef Auean, a kind and meticulous chef, prepare all three of our meals. Each meal was a seafood feast, featuring shrimp, oysters, crab, and fish that we couldn't find anywhere else at this price. The food was not only fresh and delicious but also incredibly good value. In addition to the delicious food, Chef Auean also told us that we could refill our plates as many times as we wanted. However, we were so full from the first round that we couldn't even finish everything. Chef Auean, you gave us too much!

Cost per person summary

1. Round-trip fare for a songthaew: 18 baht

2. Accommodation and 3 meals included for 700 baht.

Total: 18 + 700 = 718 baht

This homestay is perfect for those seeking tranquility and nature, without venturing far from Bangkok. Located in Bang Khun Thian, it offers a unique experience with limited phone signal. While this may pose a challenge for social media enthusiasts, the two-day, one-night stay is undoubtedly worthwhile. Notably, Uncle Son, the owner, only accepts one group of tourists per day, so booking well in advance is crucial. Due to its popularity, securing a reservation can take months.