A 3-Day, 2-Night Trip to Find the Lotus Pond at Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park

Hua Hin was a place we used to frequent (back when we were living the high life, sipping coffee at fancy cafes, haha).

However, I haven't been there much lately. I don't know why. This time, I had the opportunity to visit Hua Hin again because of a short film by The One Card called "Jib Dai, Fan Dtai Laew". Have you seen it? It's very popular. There's a scene where they filmed at the lotus pond in Khao Sam Roi Yot. I thought, "Wow, that's beautiful! I want to go there!"

Upon searching for information, I discovered that there is no available transportation information for those who do not bring their own vehicles. However, I decided to proceed with the trip, believing that I would find a way to get there once I arrived.

Initially, our trip was planned for three people: me, P'Pun, and P'Nida. We planned to take the 9 am train. However, P'Nida had to withdraw from the trip unexpectedly. On top of that, I had to work until 3 am the night before the trip. With only two of us left, we decided to take the 1 pm train instead.

Day 1:

It turned out that it was 11:30 by the time P'Pun was able to drag Pai awake. They ran like crazy to reach Hua Lamphong, but alas... they didn't make it in time!

The official informed me that all seats were fully booked. However, they surprisingly offered a standing ticket, asking, "Would you like it?" At that moment, my desire to attend the event was overwhelming. "Yes, please!" I exclaimed.

After getting the ticket, I rushed to catch the train.

Child of a bamboo: "There are seats here, why did they say it was full? Or did they say it was full because the first and second floors were full, but the third floor was up to luck whether you could sit or not?"

Pun: "I don't know either."

Walking along, I found an empty seat and asked the aunt sitting opposite me, "

Luuk Phai: "Is this seat taken?"

Aunt: "I don't know if there's an owner or not. You can sit down first, and then get up when the owner comes back."

Lukphai: "Thank you."

We boarded the train and it departed shortly after. As our stomachs were grumbling from the lack of breakfast, a vendor began selling food on the train. We spotted someone carrying a box of stir-fried basil with a fried egg, and our hunger pangs intensified.

Customer: "How much is it?"

Seller: "50"

Bamboo shoots: "50 baht per box?"

Salesperson: "Hmm."

We just found out that we were scammed! The actual price of the box is 25 baht, and some vendors even sell it for 20 baht. Wow, you really took advantage of us! (-“-)

As the train pulled into Bang Sue Station, the owner of the land appeared. Oh, I see. The tickets were indeed sold out, but people would gradually board at various stations. So we stood in the space between the train cars, which was a truly novel experience. 555

As I stood there for a while, a necklace vendor walked past.

Jewelry vendor: "Hey, where are you guys going?"

Daughter: "Hua Hin."

Salesperson: "Go to booth 2, seat 36. My partner will be there stringing bracelets. The seat is free. I bought a ticket to the final destination, but I'll be getting off at Salaya."

Wow, he's so cute! Taking the train allows us to meet a variety of people and experience acts of kindness that we would never encounter if we were driving ourselves.

We didn't have to stand for almost 5 hours, thanks a lot (>/l\<)

We finally arrived at Hua Hin Station around 6 pm. What a long journey! I fell asleep several times. 555

Let's find our way to the hotel now. Come on, let's explore the path ahead.

As we were traveling by train, we searched for accommodation. We contacted 'Baan Thong Mee' on Airbnb, but they did not respond until we arrived in Hua Hin. Upon exiting the station, we saw a line of public buses. We approached and inquired about the fare to 'Baan Thong Mee'.

They said we had to hire a car, which was very expensive. So we asked them if there was another way to get there without hiring a car. The staff were very kind and said that we could take a motorbike instead. The motorbike taxis were parked right behind us! 555

• The fare for a motorcycle taxi to Baan Thong Mee is 30 baht per person.

Just as the motorcycle taxi dropped us off in front of the market at the hotel entrance, the owner of Baan Thong Mee messaged us back, saying, "Our accommodation is full." Oh no!

No problem. There are many hotels along the way, so we walked around asking about hotels in the area. In the end, we found the 'Les Bobos Hotel', which is located opposite the small To Rot market. It has a good location and is easy to get around.

- Accommodation fee is 990 baht per night. We stayed for 2 nights, so it was 1,980 baht.

The rooms here are quite small, with limited storage space. Notably, there is only one electrical outlet available.

After we finished arranging our belongings, we headed to the Hua Hin Night Market to find something to eat, as we were all famished. The market was conveniently located nearby, so it only took a short walk to get there.

The market was as crowded as ever today. We walked all the way to the end of the market without finding anything to eat. We ended up getting grilled chicken from the stall at the very end of the market. It was delicious! I don't know if it was because we were hungry or what, haha.

After finishing my meal, I took a leisurely stroll through the market and found a comfortable and stylish outfit for only 100 baht!

After a savory meal, we stopped for some sweets. A mixed dessert with 3 ingredients for 30 baht.

Okay, everyone's stomachs are full of savory and sweet dishes, so let's continue exploring the market. Now, the market has expanded to the side, and there's another small market there. Or maybe it's been there for a long time, and we just didn't know.

This small market features a wooden house where visitors can climb to the top for photos. The interior is decorated with vintage items, creating a classic atmosphere.

After exploring the small market, we exited the Hua Hin market and crossed the street to find 'Ko Ti Restaurant', which was still as crowded as ever. 555

We strolled leisurely through the winding alleys, encountering numerous restaurants bustling with foreign patrons.

On the way back to the hotel, I encountered a Siberian Husky lying with its tongue lolling out in front of a shop, completely motionless. It looked just like a stuffed animal.

Day 2:

We woke up around 10:00 am today, as we planned to have a relaxing day exploring Hua Hin.

Before embarking on our adventure, we indulged in a leisurely breakfast at the hotel. The breakfast service extended until 11:30 am, allowing us to avoid the usual morning rush.

After a satisfying meal, we walked out and debated whether to rent a motorbike for the day. Considering our planned destinations, we unanimously agreed to rent one. We found a motorbike rental shop a short distance from our hotel.

• Motorcycle rental for 24 hours (excluding fuel) 200 baht

This is even cheaper than Phuket and Ayutthaya.

There are many charming cafes in Hua Hin, making it difficult to choose where to go. We stumbled upon one called 'Baan Kafe Hua Hin @ Yuu Yen-Hua Hin'. It boasts stunning sea views and a pleasant atmosphere, but...

Pun: "It's quite far from here. I think we should go around sunset. It's too sunny now."

The first restaurant we had in mind didn't work out, so we headed to 'Chub Chiwa' which wasn't too far away. On the way, we saw a sign for 'Yuu Yen' restaurant, so we turned around and went in. It was right by the sea, with the restaurant on the right. We took some photos while enjoying the breeze, then continued on to 'Chub Chiwa'.

We'll be at the restaurant in a moment. It's very quiet today, with hardly anyone around. The restaurant has both an air-conditioned room and an outdoor garden seating area.

The right side is the office. Please do not accidentally open their door.

We sat at the shop for a long time, choosing where to go for the day. Finally, we decided, "Okay, let's go to the 'Tea House' that our younger sister recommended." But at that moment, we were still full, so we decided to ride around town first. As we rode, …

Pun: "Hey, this is Auntie Juer's shop, the one we talked about."

We stumbled upon Pa Jeur's shop by chance! Pa Jeur's shop is a famous sticky rice and mango shop in Hua Hin. P'Pun told us about it when we first arrived in Hua Hin, but we couldn't remember where it was. Oops (- -“)

The best part is that Auntie Juer's shop usually has a long queue, but when we arrived, there was no one there. We were so happy that we parked the car across the street and walked over to ask.

Customer: "How much is the sticky rice with mango?"

Auntie: "120 baht, but the sticky rice is sold out. I'm making more right now."

Oh no!

Mr. Pun: "How much longer will it be?"

Auntie: "About 20 minutes, dear."

P'Pun turned to her and asked, "What should we do? Should we wait?"

Daughter: "It's up to you."

Pun: "Since we're already here, we might as well wait. Let's go for a walk around the area while we wait."

Luuk Phai: "Okay!"

We parked the car in front of the shop and went for a walk in the alleys and side streets nearby. It was much more enjoyable than sitting in a coffee shop.

Strolling along, I stumbled upon a narrow alleyway that served as a natural wind tunnel. A refreshing breeze swept through, creating a wonderfully relaxing atmosphere. A table from a nearby restaurant was strategically placed against the wall, offering an incredibly inviting spot to sit and soak it all in.

Walking to the end of the path, I realized it led to the sea. The path was lined with rocky cliffs, offering a panoramic view of the ocean. A Guanyin temple stood nearby.

As we walked up, we saw this elderly gentleman sitting in the sun, drawing. Wow, isn't it hot? I took a peek at the picture he was drawing, and it was beautiful!

As we continued walking, we stumbled upon the beach of Hua Hin, complete with horses. Wait, Hua Hin has a beach? Well, excuse us for not knowing that before.

Every time we come here, we only encounter rocky terrain. We've never stumbled upon a beach like this before.

This area is filled with sunbathing foreigners, likely guests from nearby beachfront hotels.

But the highlight is this! This uncle!

Despite the scorching sun, the old man lay comfortably sunbathing, reminding me of a sun-dried fish.

This beach is perfect for a relaxing stroll and taking photos. We climbed the rocks and took some pictures of the ocean. After a while, we heard a sound.

Note: The original text is empty, so the translation is also empty.

Pun: "The bamboo is stuck in the frame."

Smiling, she gestured with her face, saying, "Get out, we're filming the foreign uncle!"

Luk Phai: "Okay, okay, I'll go out!"

This is a small beach. We walked for a while and then decided to head back. By then, we were starting to feel a little hungry, as we had only eaten breakfast at the hotel. So, we decided to have lunch at the breezy alley. It was amazing!

We shared a plate of fried rice, as we needed to save room for other dishes.

The fried rice is only 50 baht per plate, which is cheaper than I expected. At first, I saw that only foreigners were sitting there, so I thought it would be a price for foreigners. If you want to sit and relax with a cool breeze, I highly recommend this restaurant. I love it!

After finishing their meal, they walked back to the sticky rice and mango shop, having strolled for more than 20 minutes.

Daughter: "Will the sticky rice run out again, P'Pun?"

Pun: "I have no idea. They're selling really well."

Upon returning to the sticky rice and mango shop,

Mr. Pun: "Is there any left?"

Auntie: "There's some left."

Hurray! Finally, I get to eat mango sticky rice!

The dish was delicious, but the mango was slightly sour. I think the taste of mangoes really depends on the season. My favorite vendor in Pattaya once told me, "The mangoes will be a little sour, it's not the right season for them."

After a satisfying meal of both savory and sweet dishes, the sun began to set, casting a gentle glow. It was time to close up shop at the tea house, which was run by my younger sister. The tea house was located about 20 minutes from the center of Hua Hin, and we had to ride our motorbikes along the superhighway. The wind whipped against our faces, making us laugh.

The restaurant is located right next to the FN Outlet. Walk straight in until you reach the end, and you will find the restaurant. The restaurant looks very upscale (typical of Plab), and the staff are very welcoming even before you enter. It's quite crowded.

Sister Pun: "Bring Marco Polo, please."

The young woman sat browsing the pastries, turning to smile at the staff member. "Do you have any recommendations for cakes?" she asked.

Employee: "Have you tried Ferrero Youngteen? It's a crunchy mousse cake, similar to Ferrero Rocher."

Daughter: "Then I'll take this one."

As the employee walked away.

Luuk Phai: "Marco Polo, what kind of tea is this? Does P'Pun like to drink it?"

Pun: "I don't know, but it's the restaurant's signature dish, so I thought I'd give it a try."

Luuk Phai: "Ohhhhhhh"

After a while, the staff brought tea and cake. The tea was fragrant and light, just right. As for the cake, wow, it was really delicious. At first, we were a little worried about whether the mousse texture would be okay, as we don't like mousse. But this one was really similar to Ferrero, it was delicious.

While we were eating, an employee from behind the counter came out and played the saxophone for everyone in the restaurant.

Mission Complete. The tempting photos of the plums have been sent. The plums say they will definitely follow up.

The shop owner mentioned that they will be opening a branch in Bangkok soon.

Our next destination is Cicada Market, a trendy and popular market in Hua Hin that is a must-visit for anyone visiting the area.

Before reaching our destination, we stopped to ask a van driver parked near the clock tower for directions to Khao Sam Roi Yot. The driver informed us that we needed to take a van to Pran Buri to transfer to another vehicle.

Child: "Where do I get on the van?"

Mini-van driver: "There are always vans running around the clock tower."

Child: "What time did they start running? The earliest time?"

Van driver: "Oh, it's early. They're already running at 6-7 am."

Luk Phai and P'Pun: "Oh, okay, thank you very much."

We then headed to Cicada. When we arrived, it wasn't dark yet, and some shops were just setting up.

We walked until it was dark. Now, they have expanded the concert area compared to before. It seems like it's been a really long time since we last came here.

We originally planned to have seafood at a restaurant by the sea today, but we're starting to get a little hungry.

P'Pun: "Let's grab a bite to eat here to hold us over for now, okay?"

Okay.

The food at Cicada is quite expensive. I feel like I'm wasting money on everything I buy there. T^T

To satisfy my hunger, I grabbed some grilled pork, barbecue, coconut pancakes, and fresh sugarcane juice. (I swear this was just a snack!)

After walking around the entire market, I decided to take a detour to the front. There was a Thai musical ensemble playing here, and they were really jamming!

As I made my way back to the parking lot, I passed by the market next to Cicada, which was now fully set up with stalls. I decided to stop by and take a look.

The food selection here is much more extensive than at Cicada, and more importantly, the prices are significantly lower.

Child: "Sister Pun, I don't have to eat at a seafood restaurant, you know."

P'Pun: "Lots of food, huh? 555"

Daughter: "Yes, it's so dazzling!"

This place is called "Tamarind Market". If you come here, we recommend you to eat here. The seats may be more crowded than Cicada because people probably come here to eat a lot. But the air is much more open than Cicada. Plus, the food is more plentiful and cheaper.

We ended the day with a refreshing watermelon before heading back to the hotel to relax.

Day 3:

We attempted to wake ourselves up at 7:00 AM, pack our belongings, prepare to descend for breakfast, and subsequently check out.

They walked to the clock tower together. The streets were still empty this morning, which was nice. It wasn't too busy.

A few moments later, a van drove by.

Luk Phai: "Hey, P'Pun, is there a bus going to Pranburi?"

Pun: "Really?"

Run! What are you waiting for?

Brother Pun: "Top up 300 baht."

As we were driving, we were looking down at Google Maps and started to feel unsure.

Mr. Pun: "Excuse me, where should I get off if I want to go to Khao Sam Roi Yot?"

Driver: "Where are you going?"

P'Pun: "Let's go to Khao Sam Roi Yot."

Driver: "There are no cars going in, you have to hire a car to go."

The elderly woman in the car heard this, so she called her friend to ask for directions.

The old lady: "You need to get off at Pranburi intersection and then take a taxi to your destination."

Mr. Pun: "Are there any motorcycles available for rent there?"

Auntie: "No, most foreigners rent from Hua Hin and ride there."

Driver: "Wait, wait, wait, where are you going?"

Lukphai: "Khao Sam Roi Yot, the one with the lotus pond."

Driver: "Okay, I'll take care of it."

He then picked up the phone and called his friend. They talked about something, and then he took us to park in front of a motorcycle taxi stand.

The elder brother called his friend who is a motorcycle taxi driver to ask if anyone wanted to go to Khao Sam Roi Yot. Could he take them there?

Here's a summary of how to get there:

Take a van from Hua Hin city center to 'Rai Mai Market' for 50 baht.

Take a motorbike taxi to go inside (it's quite a distance). It costs 80 baht. It's recommended to ask for the motorbike taxi driver's phone number once you arrive inside, so you can call them to pick you up when you want to leave.

After a chaotic search, we finally figured out how to reach Khao Sam Roi Yot by public transportation!

We arrived at Khao Sam Roi Yot around 10:00 am. It was very quiet and there were no people around.

Tickets are sold at the front entrance for 40 baht per person.

Officials reported that the recent drought has caused widespread lotus deaths.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by a refreshing breeze and a seemingly endless wooden walkway. Contrary to popular belief, there were no lotus flowers in sight, only floating lotus leaves scattered across the water's surface.

This place also has birds, many species, but I couldn't capture them all on camera.

This bird has incredibly fast reflexes. We only walked about 5 meters away, and it flew away! Anyone who wants to take a picture of this bird will need a long-distance telephoto lens.

Our initial plan was to walk around the entire wooden walkway. However, after walking for a while, we realized that the path ahead was closed for repairs and renovations. As a result, we had to turn around and walk back the way we came.

The return journey was no longer relaxing, as the sun was blazing and there was no shade in the open area. We were exposed to the full force of the sun. If we had chlorophyll, we could have photosynthesized for years. Haha.

The park has a restaurant inside. We were getting hungry from all the walking, so we decided to eat there and take a break.

This restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes to choose from, but the prices are much higher than the restaurant's appearance suggests. We therefore opted for a popular single-dish meal instead: stir-fried basil with fried egg. P'Pun ordered kale with fried egg, which cost 60 baht per dish.

The result is that you can eat to survive, but everything is salty. 555

While waiting for the bamboo to dry, she called for a motorcycle taxi. Then, she went to play with her beloved belongings.

Fat cat!

Brother Win took us to the van queue on the opposite side of the road from his motorcycle taxi stand. At first, we thought it would take us a long time to find our way around and we would be stuck there for the whole day. After walking around, we planned to take a van from there back to Bangkok. However, we were wrong! It only took us half a day. With plenty of time to spare, we decided to take a van back to Hua Hin city center to continue our exploration.

The minibus dropped us off right at the Hua Hin Night Market, which was just a stone's throw from our hotel. We decided to walk back to the hotel to drop off our luggage before heading out again. Carrying our bags around all day would have been a recipe for backache. As we walked back, we took photos along the way. A middle-aged man walking past saw us taking pictures and mimicked holding a camera and pressing the shutter button.

Man: "Take a photo of the two of you."

Pointing at both of us, he asked if we wanted to take a couple's photo and offered to take it for us.

Confused, we turned around and said, "Oh, thank you."

Man: "Oh, you're Thai?"

55555

And then we arrived at the hotel. The hotel was lovely, and they were happy to let us leave our luggage. The lady (who I believe was the owner) came to chat with us and was very friendly and welcoming. After leaving our luggage, we went for a walk. First, we stopped by the van queue to buy tickets back to Bangkok in advance. We got the 6:10 pm slot, which was perfect. We had time to walk around and wouldn't arrive in Bangkok too late.

Today, we tried walking through the alleys that we didn't walk through two days ago.

Entering the "Wat Hua Hin", there was nothing there. 555

Walking down Walking Street, I just realized that there are also...

As I walked along, I came across another path leading down to Hua Hin Beach. In front of me was a long row of shops. Walking a little further, I found the entrance.

Centara Hua Hin is secretly looking very wide and large. I really want to stay there once T^T

As you continue walking, you will start to see a path leading down to the beach. There are also shops selling goods along the way.

In Hua Hin, they have signs posted with the standard prices for food and goods to prevent shops from overcharging. This is a great idea, and they should implement something similar in Phuket, where food is incredibly expensive.

This side of the beach is much wider than the one we visited yesterday. There are also more horses and sunbathing tourists.

We took a leisurely stroll along the beach, enjoying the fresh sea breeze. As our energy began to wane, we decided to have dinner at a nearby seafood restaurant called "Chaw Lay." This was the same restaurant we had intended to visit the previous day, but our plans were thwarted by the bustling Makham Market.

Upon our arrival at nearly 5 pm, the extended seating area overlooking the sea was still under construction. Consequently, we were seated in the covered area beneath the roof, offering a slightly distant view of the ocean.

Upon opening the menu, we were initially surprised by the restaurant's high prices. However, after placing our order, we realized that the portions were incredibly generous. For two people, two dishes were more than enough. The food was delicious and well worth the price.

As I sat and ate, I looked out at the sea and saw a long bridge stretching out into the water.

Pun: "What bridge is that? How do I get there? It's nearby."

Luukphai: "That's right. When I walked past last night, I didn't see any path leading in."

Before leaving the shop, we asked the staff where the bridge was. They gave us directions.

The entrance to the bridge is currently under construction, making it difficult to see the way in.

Upon arriving, I realized I had made a mistake. Why did I have to be here when I only had less than an hour before I had to return to the car?

Pun: "Wow, I have to come back again next time."

This bridge offers stunning views, refreshing breezes, and a truly pleasant atmosphere. The remains of a ship serve as a playground for children, while anglers cast their lines in the water below. Birds soar overhead, adding to the picturesque scene.

The sunset was breathtaking.

I must return to take photos here again next time.

Alas, it's time to return. Before I knew it, I was already yearning for another trip. 5555

See you next trip!

Join the conversation with Phai and P'Pun here: https://www.facebook.com/wherewegopage/