"Hey, I'm craving crab. Let's go for a crab buffet!"

"Huh? Where?"

"Chanthaburi"

A Craving for Crab: A Culinary Adventure in Chanthaburi

This short sentence sparked the inspiration for this journey. A colleague's insatiable love for crab, coupled with the rising popularity of Chanthaburi's homestays and their enticing seafood buffets, led to the formation of our "buffet gang" (a group dedicated to indulging in all-you-can-eat experiences). Our primary mission was to satisfy our friend's crab cravings, but we couldn't resist exploring the local attractions while we were there. After all, a trip deserves to be well-rounded.

We roughly planned to visit whatever we came across. The rough plan included Pliu Waterfall, Laem Sing Beach, Ao Kung Wiman Bay, and Nang Phaya Viewpoint. We also visited a Catholic church.

This trip consisted of five young women, some single and some not. They started their journey from Buriram at 4:00 AM, feeling very sleepy. They continued sleeping on the car while the driver drove. The distance was quite long, almost 300 kilometers, but the driver managed to complete the journey in just over 3 hours.

It was around 8 am when we arrived at Pliew Waterfall, and the sun was already scorching hot.

Follow this path to the waterfall.

Along the way, you will start to see a lot of fish, indicating a rich natural environment with an abundance of aquatic life.

We have never been here before, but we know that in the past, visitors were allowed to feed the fish, such as with green beans. However, currently, feeding the fish is prohibited.

We think it's good to let them live their lives naturally, following their instincts. The more we look, the more hungry we get. Yeyyyyyyy

There is a nature trail, but we didn't go. If you have plenty of time, we think it's worth a try.

I thought there wouldn't be many people because I came early, but to my surprise, it was packed. It might be because it's a holiday.

Found this gang sleeping, must be tired from playing in the water, knocked out cold. 555

The water level is not very high.

There were butterflies too, cute and adorable, but they wouldn't stay still for a photo.

This location boasts a unique pagoda nestled amidst a verdant forest and cascading waterfalls. Known as the "Alongkorn Pagoda," it was commissioned by King Rama V in 1876 to commemorate his visit to the Pliew Waterfall with Queen Sunandha Kumariratana. The image captures the awe-inspiring beauty of the pagoda.

After exploring the waterfall, we were famished. We hadn't eaten anything since morning and couldn't decide where to grab a bite. We asked the waterfall staff for recommendations, and they suggested Chaba Restaurant, located near Laem Sing Beach.

I arrived at the shop just as it was opening. I also ordered crab fried rice from the shop across the street, which is likely owned by the same people.

The crab fried rice was only 40 baht, which was very cheap and delicious. However, the toast was a bit hard, but the smoothies were good. We originally planned to eat light because lunch was waiting for us at the accommodation, but in the end, we were stuffed.

The shop is decorated in a cute style according to the story.

The homestay we have chosen for today is "Rattanasorn Homestay", which costs 1500 baht per person.

Includes unlimited food and drinks for 3 meals, along with an evening raft ride on the Pa Piak River.

The brightly colored houses are situated on a canal. Be careful when walking, as you could fall in.

Due to the limited activities available, our primary activity was mental math tutoring (similar to simply changing locations), followed by waiting for mealtimes.

Lunch (which was less than an hour after breakfast) was a buffet with unlimited refills. However, it was almost impossible to finish everything, except for the crab dishes, which were frequently refilled.

Deep-fried sea bass with chili sauce. Delicious and the fish is big.

The crab paste dip is a bit too sour, or maybe this is how it's supposed to taste. We've never had it before.

Shrimp fritters

The stir-fried crab with curry powder was amazing. The crab was incredibly fresh, and I ended up ordering several plates.

There was another clear soup dish that I didn't take a picture of. There was also ice, plain water, and unlimited soft drinks available.

Around 5 pm, they will take you on a pickup truck to the nearby wet raft.

The atmosphere at Pakpia Pier is calm, with a view of the mangrove forest.

Initially, we planned to play in the water, but after seeing the color of the water, we changed our minds and decided to go back to playing in our local canal. We took a boat ride and saw a red hawk, which is one of the highlights of this area. However, our GoPro camera was unable to capture good photos, so we don't have any pictures to share.

Another activity after the paper soaking was finished was duck pedaling. While others went back to take a shower, I was afraid that I wouldn't get my money's worth, so I had to go duck pedaling first.

This area is mainly composed of shrimp, crab, and fish farms. The atmosphere is calm and there are not many sights to see.

After showering and getting ready, they eagerly awaited dinner. 55555

Upon arrival, the food was served promptly, filling the table without any delay.

All-you-can-eat crab, incredibly fresh. Delicious, but peeling is a pain. Being single means peeling it myself. The first plate comes with big, impressive crabs, but subsequent refills gradually decrease in size. The taste remains consistently good, though.

This shrimp is huge! The flesh is very firm. Personally, I prefer river prawns because I like to eat the shrimp heads. This breed of shrimp doesn't have any fat in its head. And the worst part is, I was greedy and ate the biggest one, which was the size of my palm. After eating just one, I was so full that I couldn't eat anything else. I'm exhausted! 5555

This shrimp is the reason we didn't get our money's worth.

Fresh oysters, quite decent.

Fully equipped, refillable.

The Tom Yum soup was slightly sweet, but still delicious.

Shrimp in fish sauce and some kind of fish salad (not pictured).

Halfway through, our team is still going strong. We'll keep pushing forward.

The meal concluded with mangosteen, of which I consumed an entire kilogram. I am exhausted from overeating.

After a satisfying meal, they returned to their number-counting activity, thus concluding the day.

The day begins with an endless supply of food, just like before. Oh, the good life! 5555

A pot of seafood rice porridge.

The stir-fried crab with vermicelli was delicious. It was my first time trying it, and the taste was a bit sour and sweet. However, it might be a bit too rich if you eat too much.

Deep-fried dough sticks with your choice of fresh milk, coffee, or Ovaltine.

The feeling is like coming to a buffet restaurant, eating, eating, sleeping, sleeping, hahahahaha. But I also got to rest, eat well, and sleep well, so it's okay. Come to change the atmosphere, find a place to chat with friends.

We'll switch to travel mode now. I feel like I posted in the wrong room. Maybe I should go to the kitchen instead. 55555

"Nang Phaya Viewpoint" I've seen pictures on various review pages for a long time. I've wanted to go for a long time. I've passed by many times. This time I finally made it.

From Laem Sing, we took a detour along the coastal road, arriving in the late morning. The crowds were starting to gather, but the view was still beautiful.

The view is truly beautiful.

This is a road that is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Thailand.

This sentence is in Thai and translates to:

"I don't know how this is related, but there's a padlock log and an abandoned minion. It's so sad. Hehe."

Before going to Khao Nang Phanom, I also visited Khao Khi Kai and the Red Building.

We took photos without reflecting on the cruelty.

Nearby, there is a red building, also built by the French soldiers. It is likely that it was used as accommodation.

It's noon, time for another meal. Head to Chanthaburi city center to try the famous "Jay Pen Yen Ta Fo"เย็นตาโฟ.

Initially, I was hesitant due to some negative reviews. However, my curiosity and desire to experience it firsthand outweighed my apprehension.

The first dish was fried tofu, which was incredibly delicious. The tofu was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the dipping sauce had the perfect flavor. I could have eaten it all day, but I had to stop myself so I wouldn't be too full before the cold noodles arrived.

Following closely behind is the satay, which is also good. It's delicious.

After a long wait, likely due to the restaurant being full, our food finally arrived after almost an hour.

We ordered a bowl of crab and crab meat with spicy and sour soup for 100 baht. At first, we were unsure of the price because the bowl was large and contained a lot of ingredients. The crab and crab meat were plentiful, and we looked at each other, wondering if it was 200 baht per bowl. 55555 But when we paid, it was actually 100 baht per bowl. In conclusion, it was good, worthwhile, and delicious. You can add a little more seasoning to your liking.

The final stop, "Catholic Church," is located in Chanthaburi city center.

Upon arrival, a storm was brewing, and rain was imminent. I had to quickly take a few shots, resulting in these captures.

The atmosphere was like Hogwarts is no longer safe. I was thinking too much, haha. On the day I went, there seemed to be a ceremony in the church, so I couldn't go inside.

After the trip, we headed back amidst the refreshing rain. The scenery of the roadside in Chanthaburi was truly captivating. We stopped to buy some fruits before returning, making the trip even more satisfying.

The trip concluded with everyone gaining a couple of kilos.

This trip was incredibly budget-friendly. Including accommodation, food, and fuel, it cost less than 3,000 baht per person. We were satisfied, full, and it was easy on the wallet.

Goodbye for now, see you on the next trip ^^

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