Day 2, Night 1: In Search of Durian at the Edge of the Orchard, Part 2: The Lost Durian Orchard

Auntie Klab's Garden

After arriving in Chanthaburi with the clear objective of finding durian, I still haven't found any after finishing the first episode. In this second episode, I'm sure I'll find it. I'm here for you, durian!

Shop for agricultural processed products from the garden

After lunch, we explored the nearby area and then set off to find durian using GPS. The first orchard we visited was "Aun Klab's Durian Orchard." However, the weather was not on our side. It had been raining on and off all day, and when we arrived at the orchard, it started to rain again.

Aunt Glaeb's orchard does not emphasize entering the orchard, so products are brought out of the orchard to be sold in front of the orchard, such as durian, mangosteen, and others. We inquired and found that the Mon Thong durian was sold out, leaving only the Chanee durian. Therefore, we probably won't have to buy any today. Let's walk around and buy things at the store instead.

Leaving Aunt Klab's garden, we headed to "Sawan Sadet Yai" because we saw that it was in the same location. We circled around four or five times and ended up back at the same place, a fruit purchasing warehouse. We went down to inquire and were told, "They've stopped doing it here. They don't do it here anymore." Oh my goodness! But the man was still kind enough to tell us to keep driving, and that the garden was now open across from Khao Sukim Temple, not far away.

We were easily misled and drove for almost half an hour without finding the Saded Yaad Garden. We passed the point where we were told to go and drove around again. We only found "Arun Burapha Garden," which is also a fruit garden, but not the Saded Yaad Garden. The staff at Arun Burapha Garden told us that the Saded Yaad Garden had closed down. Arun Burapha Garden is a newly opened garden located opposite the market at Wat Khao Sukim.

Welcome to Arun Burpha Park

As we drive inside, we will encounter a few small sheds. The first one on the left is the residential area, while the one on the right is a shed that resembles a cafeteria. It has only a roof and no walls, and it sells a variety of products from the garden, both fresh and processed.

Wholesale fruits being prepared for transportation

The durian at the orchard sold very well today, almost to the point of being sold out (except for what we'll eat tomorrow). There were only durians that needed to ripen or be eaten immediately, so we decided to hold off for now. The younger siblings mentioned that the orchard is open to the public, anyone can enter without an entrance fee. As for the third greenhouse inside, we're considering opening it as a coffee shop.

Rambutan tree in the garden

The two-story building, which will soon be a coffee shop, does not have walls on the second floor, but instead has a railing to prevent falls. The owner plans to let customers sit there to enjoy coffee and durian while taking in the view. However, the shop is not yet open to the public as it is still under construction. The owner then invited us to go upstairs to see the view.

Many children

We were hesitant to impose, so we didn't buy anything from him. We played with his dog and asked to walk around his garden, but we didn't go inside. Instead, we walked around the area until the rain subsided, and then we asked to return to our accommodation because it was getting late.

Rows of durian trees, planted in beautiful lines.

Many children from every tree

Durian for sale at Arun Burapha Garden

Mangosteen

Various processed products

Chao Lao Beach Hotel Chanthaburi

We arrived at our accommodation, the Chaolao Toa Sang Beach Hotel, in the late afternoon, just as the sun was setting. The sky was overcast and threatening rain. As soon as we checked in, a heavy downpour began, almost blinding us. The rain continued for most of the night.

Different Room Types

The sun is setting.

Deluxe Room at Chaolao Toasang Beach Hotel

Note: The original text was in Thai and has been translated to English.

This time, our accommodation was not in individual bungalows as they were all fully booked. Instead, we were assigned a room in a large four-story building. Specifically, we stayed in a Deluxe room, which was decorated with an elegant and luxurious atmosphere, accentuated by a deep blue color scheme and strategically placed lighting that enhanced the room's beauty and grandeur.

Morning Alms Offering Ceremony at the Hotel

Despite the intermittent morning rain, the hotel's morning alms-giving ceremony continued uninterrupted. Alms-giving sets, or "เครื่องอัฐบริขาร," were conveniently available for purchase at the hotel's convenience store for 50 baht per set.

Early Morning Bridge in the Drizzle

Near the luminous Chaolao Beach, a short distance away, lies a bustling fish market where fresh seafood can be procured. Following breakfast, we seized the opportunity to explore the market. Unfortunately, our arrival coincided with low tide and heavy rainfall, resulting in a scarcity of fishermen offering their catches. Despite the absence of marine bounty, the ambiance was invigorating, characterized by a refreshing drizzle and cool breeze.

Shallow Beach at Low Tide

We checked out early in the morning because we wanted to stop by and buy souvenirs and the durian that we had been looking for for a long time. We also didn't want to return to Bangkok too late and intended to stop by and visit places along the way.

Manatee Roundabout

We stopped by a local market near the manatee roundabout to buy some processed seafood souvenirs. There was a wide variety of options available, including fresh seafood, dried seafood, ready-to-eat meals, and most importantly, **durian**.

Durian shop at the Phayun roundabout

The seller quoted a price lower than the orchard, even mockingly suggesting a refund if the mangoes weren't good. We bought four boxes, four mangoes per box, at 140 baht per kilogram. The seller, with a confident demeanor, selected and peeled the mangoes for us right there, ensuring the desired firmness. This saved us a trip back to the orchard, allowing us to continue our journey.

In addition to durian, there are also salak and pineapple for sale.

Dried food and souvenir shops around the Dugong Roundabout

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Related Topics

2 Days 1 Night: Durian Hunting at the Edge of the Orchard, Episode 1: Chanthaburi, Never Gets Boring

2 Days 1 Night: Durian Hunting at the Edge of the Orchard, Episode 2: The Lost Durian Orchard