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Locally (Chanthaburi) it's durian theft season; where a single fruit sells for more than a farm workers daily pay, too tempting for some. There will be the annual photos on Facebook of police accompanying a thief pointing at a durian.

i guessed it was this one, but the ages don't match, Nov 20 2024. A 75 year old man narrowly escaped a life-threatening encounter with a giant Asiatic black bear while collecting fishing traps near Khao Yai National Park. The bear attack left him with severe facial injuries and a desperate struggle for survival. source

The bridge at Phang Rad, border of Chanthaburi and Rayong provinces; don't feed the monkeys, but feeding cyclists is ok. Wednesday 26 March 2025, 89km ride. Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

Drive belt life - I saw the latest vlog from Life with Serg he's touring Isaan on a 160 ADV - drive belt disintegrated at just over 12,000km (and only a few weeks since a Honda service - guessing they didn't look?) - he says: "I've been pushing this bike beyond its capabilities for a year. The high heat and humidity here attributed to the belt breaking prematurely." My Click also had it's 12,000km service last month, I see they've ticked the box for belt check (of course they have) - what do you expect to be its normal lifespan? Thought I'd replace at next service, under 500B for peace of mind.

On the weekend 7-9 Feb we were in Bo Rai district in the eastern hills of Trat province near the Cambodian bordervfor a running event - Valentine's Run For Love 3/6/10/21km races. Race started at Dan Chumpon and coincided with a gathering of classic Jeeps and their owners who got into the spirit of things. decorating their vehicles. I know little about cars, and less about Jeeps, but these may be of interest hopefully to someone...? And for the record, didn't win, but we both came home with age-group place trophies

Ang Kep Nam Khlong Manao reservoir, Chang Thun, Bo Rai, Trat 8 February 2025 Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

As a pharmacist I hope she is able to mix up a nice doggie treat for these 'bullies' to solve the problem

Rocky coastline of Koh Proet 17 January 2025 Koh Kwang as seen from an abandoned development on Koh Proet. Boat trips are available to Koh Kwang, 500b for six passengers, there's a small beach and snorkeling off the rocks. Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

Mixed messages in different provinces, there's a lack of consistency in what passes as 'rules' Plenty of examples in Chanthaburi of the hard shoulder being designated for use by motorcycles and cycles, or cycles only (but used by motorcycles anyway)

Happy to offer suggestions on my preferred cycling routes; we're between city and Khung Wiman I go there often. Less keen on city riding but there's options to avoid the worst of it if you're in no hurry.

Khung Wiman beach; pink lane part of the coast highway cycle lane which goes from Trat through Chanthaburi to Rayong province. 8 January 2025 Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

Beach fishing at Bang Kachai 6 January 2025 Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

The one times we avoid going to or through the city is between 4-6pm on Friday, and if there's a festival around the lake as this diverts traffic. Small town stuff, it's nothing like I've experienced in larger cities here. I mostly cycle, survived so far. Enjoy your stay. Coast road traffic jam

Highway 317 Chanthaburi-Sa Kaeo From four up to ten lanes (pic in Soi Dao) 29 December 2024 Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

Blue skies, dry and dusty for new year in Sa Kaeo 30 December 2024 Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

Market, Sub Somboon, Sa Kaeo 30 December 2024 Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

Hi - have you replaced your tyres - and if so, at how many kms, and what brand did you put on? Thanks

Click 160 ABS one year old on 19 December. 12 months, one puncture, two scheduled services, 10,400km. Regular trips Chanthaburi to Rayong, Trat, and Sa Kaeo (going there again tomorrow). It's a 70k scooter, no complaints. A note on the Fino that won't die, now 104,000km.

Abandoned quarry - Google Maps identifies this area as Chanthaburi Grand Canyon! Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

Various news sources / reports. "not one hundred percent" as my wife politely described him ... Thai tv news report this morning was clear in pointing out this guy was mentally challenged / intellectually disabled. Goes some way towards explaining the peak of his career was selling flower garlands and traffic lights and more recently singing and dancing with the flowers to get more sales. Orphaned / abandoned seems he'd do any stunt to support and house the grandmother who raised him. Also apart from alcohol already consumed it reported he was also force-fed 'lubricant' but didn't specify exactly what that was ... and ended with a 350ml flask of Thai whisky. No doubt the person/people behind this will have been getting their lies straight. Nothing will result from his death, a wai or two and and a donation towards the funeral. He was in no form an influencer, rather he was some notoriety from other people's videos of him on tiktok etc.

I just completed this quiz. My Score 30/100 My Time 128 seconds  

It's six lanes through that intersection on Sukhumvit and an absolute racetrack at all hours of the day, go through there often as wife works 400m before the lights, daughter is at uni a few km further along and there's no choice but to carefully drive along. 10.40pm ideally the pickup had functioning headlights and was visible, though it's well lit. Wife saw the pickup still there in the morning. Just a guess, it was moving fast. The risks people take on that stretch of road - as the u-turns are about 1km apart there's also a steady flow of vehicles going the wrong way on the hard shoulder so save time . . . Long time ago now but i was new to the area, cycling, and stopped by Highway Police, he was very clear in saying 'never' ride along there; gave a number of how many deaths in that year on that road; handed me a bottle of chilled water, took my photo for his 'helped a daft farang' report and showed me an alternate route to where I was going. Good advice.

Yes, a real classic, blame that bend in the road, despite: "suspected he might have been intoxicated and lost control of the motorcycle on the bend, crashing into the streetlight pole." I had my closest miss in my years here at 3am Sunday morning - I was in Chanthaburi heading on motorbike to the start of the marathon / half-marathon at Laem Sadet; aware of car approaching fast from behind I went as left as possible it went past me at high speed by which time I was braking due to the 90-degree corner before a bridge, car crossed the road, spun 180 so now I had its headlights in my face. Driver re-started, did a wheelspinning u-turn and raced away. Almost a pity he hadn't gone into the river, would have been a favour to humanity. A reminder of how quickly it can change from life-death.

Some useful tips! for avoiding confrontation with elephants

Chao Lao pier, Chanthaburi 18 December 2024 Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat