Readme before you journey
Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, stated that
"We inhabit a wondrous world brimming with beauty, enchantment, and endless adventure. The possibilities for exploration are boundless if we simply open our eyes to seek out its wonders."
And Saint Augustine said that
"The world is like a book, and those who do not travel read only one page."
While browsing articles about tourism, we stumbled upon the aforementioned article. As tourism students and enthusiasts, we felt a surge of inspiration to explore the beauty and joy of new destinations. Fortunately, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) launched the "Social OSA Community Tourism" project, which we were fortunate to participate in. This project allowed us to promote "One Night Stay With Local" tourism.
Our destination was the Pa Tio (Bang Son) tourism community in Chumphon Province.
My journey with her is a learning experience.
We opted for a road trip, departing from Bangkok around 9:30 PM. We drove steadily, taking breaks as needed, covering a distance of approximately 483 kilometers. Our first destination was Baan Mai Sai Klong Homestay, our chosen accommodation.
7:30 AM. Finally, we arrived at our destination, the Baan Mai Khlong Homestay. The atmosphere is fantastic! The accommodation lives up to its name as a homestay. It's a wooden house by the canal with a cool breeze, perfect for a relaxing getaway.
Without wasting any time, we explored the homestay's interior and unpacked our belongings in our rooms. The rooms were well-equipped with air conditioning, pillows, and blankets that evoked a sense of community. The beds were incredibly comfortable, tempting us to simply lie down and rest. However, our thoughts were quickly interrupted by the realization that the highest peak in the Pa Tio district awaited our conquest. We had done some research and discovered that the views were just as breathtaking as anywhere else.
Never stop trying.....He is a pencil.
8:30 AM: After a refreshing rest from our journey, the fun and excitement began. We arrived at the Khao Dinso viewpoint by the trusty pickup truck of Uncle Somchoke, the owner of the homestay and our guide for this trip.
The journey to conquer the peak began. Uncle Somchoke said it was only an 800-meter climb, which filled us with excitement and energy. We set off without delay. The path was a mix of stairs and rocky, cemented sections. This was our first serious mountain climb, and while there were moments of fear, it was also exhilarating and challenging to navigate through the trees and observe the surrounding natural beauty.
The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.
As we ascend, the landscape reveals its abundance. Wildflowers and vibrant mushrooms peek out from amidst the lush greenery of towering trees.
We walked about halfway, fueled by anticipation and self-encouragement. We had already passed a couple of scenic viewpoints. Fatigue began to gnaw at our minds and bodies. However, having come this far, and unsure if we would have another opportunity, we mustered our strength and continued to push forward. Uncle Somchoke kept encouraging us, saying it was only about 20 more steps. We tried counting, but lost track. Haha! Uncle is such a lovely person.
Our efforts have finally paid off. It was worth it. We didn't hesitate to take a deep breath of fresh air. Usually, we are familiar with the sight of traffic jams and dust, but the view in front of us is green trees, mountains, the blue sea, and white mist floating past us. The uncle said that there is a lot of fog today. The air is cool and comfortable, and our fatigue disappeared immediately.
An army marches on its stomach....Baan Koh Samet
11:00 AM. After the climb up Khao Dinso, we were feeling drained. Luckily, Uncle Somchok took us to Ban Koh Samet, where we were warmly welcomed by Mr. Krai and his wife.
Adults taught us how to make fresh rice noodles, from kneading the dough to squeezing the dough into rice noodles in a pan. The dough is made from yellow rice from Pathiu, which is a prominent rice variety in Pathiu. In addition, the rice noodle press is a traditional type made of brass. In addition to making rice noodles, we also became vendors selling rice noodles. We were hungry while making them.
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The Culinary Delights of the Region
The first meal of our trip was an absolute delight. Every dish was a culinary masterpiece, from the shrimp curry noodles, which our host described as a harmonious blend of land and sea, to the "nam khao," a local delicacy similar to our fish sauce but made with fermented fish and seasoned to perfection. The flavors were so captivating that I couldn't resist the urge to bring some back to Bangkok with me.
This meal not only filled our stomachs, but also provided us with valuable experiences we had never had before. The adults, including Mr. Korn and all the aunts, were incredibly kind and welcoming.
The crab has eggs... The crab pawnshop
The group's energy was waning, but there was one more stop on their itinerary: the crab bank. At first glance, it might seem like nothing more than a collection of crabs and their young. However, for the group, this place held much more significance. Beyond the millions of crabs awaiting release into the wild, the crab bank's story is one of resilience and triumph. From overcoming initial skepticism and financial challenges to navigating community resistance, the crab bank has proven its worth. It has not only generated additional income for the community but also contributed to ecological restoration. This success has attracted support from both government agencies and private organizations, making it a source of pride and joy for everyone involved.
Visiting Laem Yang Temple for religious merit.
Recharge your energy at a wooden homestay by the canal.
And then it was time for us to relax and soak in the atmosphere around the homestay. Even though it rained all day, it didn't hinder our trip or diminish our happiness. In just a few hours, we felt the warmth and kindness of everyone here towards us. The day isn't over yet, as there's a full-course dinner waiting for us, as Uncle promised.
After a good night's sleep, my stomach started to rumble. For dinner tonight, we had both savory and sweet dishes. I finally got to play the role of a housewife. We made cockle curry and even grated coconut from a coconut scraper. I was a bit nervous as I had never done it before, and the coconut ended up a bit mushy. However, everything we made turned out delicious, thanks to my mother and P'Kaew who helped with the seasoning. We managed to pull it off!
It was time to devour the feast laid before us. According to Uncle's plan, we were to enjoy the meal and float down the Bang Son Canal to the mouth of the bay. However, our dreams were dashed as the rain began to fall again. But nothing could dampen our appetites, so we ate at the homestay on a dining table where we could dangle our legs and let the archerfish splash us. It was an absolute delight.
Rowing, rowing, rowing... rafting
**
The rain has subsided, and Uncle Somchoke takes us to see the way of life of the people along the Bang Son Canal. The atmosphere is full of lush houses with mangrove forests next to them. Fishing boats are the tools of the people here.
We have rafted to the mouth of the bay. We took photos as a memory that we have been here, at Pa Tio.
After soaking in the atmosphere of the twilight sea, it was time for us to return to our accommodation to recharge for the next day.
Day 2
Waking up to a new day, my stomach started to rumble as if it knew that my uncle had prepared breakfast for me. Today's breakfast was fish porridge, with plenty of fish meat to keep me full for another meal.
Grow up quickly and meet me, little crab.
After visiting the Poo Bank yesterday, we released the crabs back into the wild today. This time, the release was overseen by our elephant friend and Uncle Chorn.
Oh, the beautiful sea… Koh Kai.
Khai Nok Island is an island with a very rich ecosystem and has a white sand beach. When we arrived on the island, we found coral debris, tiger cowries, starfish, and sea cucumbers.
Unfortunately, due to the stormy weather during our visit, the waves were too strong for us to capture images of the coral reefs. However, we did manage to glimpse the beauty of the corals and the abundance of fish, particularly the parrotfish.
After a refreshing diving session, it was time to face reality and return to the hustle and bustle of traffic and demanding work. However, the two-day, one-night trip left us feeling incredibly fulfilled. This homestay was more than just a place to stay; it felt like a home away from home. The warm and welcoming hosts treated us like their own children, showering us with care and attention. We are grateful to the TAT's "One Night Stay with Locals" program for introducing us to this hidden gem. As someone once said, "The journey is not the destination, but the way we see things with new eyes." Come experience the charm of One Night Stay with Locals for yourself and you'll be captivated by its magic.
Other transportation options
- Bus from Bangkok to Chumphon
- Train from Bangkok to Phathiu Railway Station
- Flight from Bangkok to Chumphon Airport
Travel Expenses
- Tour package: 1,500 baht
- Roundtrip LPG gas: 1,060 baht
- Other expenses: 500 baht
Accommodation Booking Contact
Contact 080-779-1650, Mr. Somchoke.
See tour program details at
twingirl
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 8:14 PM
