gomangosteen

I saw on another thread the statement 'Thailand has no cycling culture'

someone needs to get out more! Very strong cycling scene from social/family to serious racers locally.

Healthy living - billboard

Chao Lao, Chanthaburi

note another non-conformist in shorts and short-sleeve shirt

Never been in chanthaburi? the have a really great and new road/bicycle road there...better then most off road in europe.. searching on google and you wil see

The big-name - Chaloem Burapha Chonlathit Coast Highway - runs from Trat through Chanthaburi to Rayong province and continues to be extended in the 4 years we've been riding here

Marked red asphalt (though fading to pink) both sides of road, plus on numerous 'detours' to beaches, about 200km

I pedaled 1,014km around Chan last month, September 2014, much of it on these roads

Well promoted for tourism with organised/supported cycle tours of mainly Thai cyclists as well as regular Euro/UK tours, as well as many local club rides and individual/self-managed cycle tourists; a common trip is ex-Bangkok take the bus to Khlung (north of Trat city) and from there to the coast highway and head up to Ban Phe, bus back to Bkk.

Latest extension - a 2.5km no-exit from Chao Lao to Laem Sadet - pedestrian walkway, cycle lane separated from motorvehicle roadway

Coast highway at Khung Wiman, Chan province

And for racers:

Chanthaburi - East Coast Challenge Cycle Race

Cycling road race 16 November 2014 following the coast highway (Chaloem Burapha Chonlathit Road) from Rayong to Khung Wiman bay (Chanthaburi) and return, total 151km. Also a ‘couples’ option 117km return.

I'm away from the country from Sunday till early next year, hate to go, but work's work - and must be done

I'll be back!

One last cycle ride today, tomorrow I'll give the bike a good clean, oil etc and up on the wall rack it goes under it's blanket . . . tucked up for a while

I love the coast here, always something new to see around the fishing villages and river ports, and the changes of the weather, this rest stop area on the coast highway a favourite stopping place - Paknam Khaem Nu, Chanthaburi coast

Note: That little cloud showing top left. Photo 3.05pm.

At 3.40pm black skies, electrical storm and a downpour.

Third time this week I've been caught out - I never learn - 'won't rain today'

Also see this thread -

Hundreds of tourists flock to see colourful jelly fish

same coastline, just a bit further up at Rayong, some good pics from LennyW, as well as my 'jellyfish fishing' experience

I won't judge them all; just based on my own experience

When we lived in Chalong, Phuket, a neighbour's house cleaner was part of this evil flower-selling . . .

She had been left with less than nothing by the farang who fathered three children. He did a runner leaving debts she had to repay.

Anything re-saleable had been repossessed from their rented house, she'd moved into a smaller place.

She cleaned houses during the daytime, bought flowers at the market and with two of her children used to sell them in Karon in the evenings

Somehow she kept those three kids at school, always spotless clean/pressed clothes

Not the future she'd ever imagined, or desired.

^^ re my ship came in

there's one 'beached' like this 30km up he coast from my pic in #423

HMTS Prasae (formerly US Navy frigate Gallup PF-47) - on land at Prasae rivermouth in Rayong province

I've seen other similar pics, wonder how many of these landed ships are around the country?

There is some little irony that this ship ended up on land. It's predecessor HTMS Prasae was 'in action' in the Korean war 1951, the Thai navy managed to get lost in a snowstorm and ran it aground behind enemy lines; couldn't be dragged off the beach and had to be destroyed by the US.

I don't know how they do accounts over here. I dread to think!!

I can't believe there are no reconciliations done in what seems like a reasonable sized business!

Hardly a Thai-only scenario

Last year a financial manager at Queensland Health, Australia, convicted of AUD$16 million fraud over a three year period.

I'd rate Queensland Health as at least a 'reasonable-sized business'; he was smart enough to fool the Auditor-General's office two years running

Colleagues raised the alarm a year ago, but an internal investigation could not substantiate their complaint.

The Auditor-General failed to detect the fraud - said by Bligh to be probably the biggest single embezzlement in the history of the public sector in Queensland - two years running.

Expect every country has it's share of crooked accountants and lawyers.

right now it would be quite enough here in Chanthaburi - Chinese vegetarian festival and big plate servings 30-40 baht each; lots of 'instant restaurants' in our town as families share their culture selling home-cooked meals - not a money-spinner more a matter of pride in their heritage, we love it, go for a walk in the evening and try a different place each time.

Though the beers I buy on the way home would ruin the budget.

re your - 2-3k a month "room" - surely you can cut corners there? bed-share at alternate times with a shift worker?

Camouflage

Thursday ventured in to an abandoned yard filled with old vehicles, excavators, trucks, buses all overgrown with vines, trees.

Creepy place, huge area maybe 3-4 acres, however my visit was cut short by the inhabitants - dogs - and I made my exit (cycle, fast!)

a pity, maybe in another lifetime it'll be located

Search for Dhammazedi Bell ends

The Dhammazedi Bell search team yesterday terminated its mission, after the failure to find the mystic bell in the past month.

San Lin, the team leader, announced that the search was over. The 400-year-old bell weighed nearly 300 tonnes.

San Lin has been heavily criticised in the past weeks for sparking false hopes. Weeks after the search began on August 8, he announced that the bell was found under the riverbed of the Yangon River. However, no further evidence was disclosed.

Thant Nyunt, a diver, on September 12 said that what they found was a shipwreck not the bell. Two days later, revered monk, Sayadaw Natsin Tayar, a member of Mon Literature and Culture Organisation as the spokesperson of the search team, said that San Lin should not have given the public a lie.

Tomorrow, another member of the search team, Win Myint, will host a press conference. San Lin is not expected to show up.

The search team earlier announced that well-wishers who provided the Ks 13 million fund to finance the search could retrieve their money. It was reported that none of them showed up to reclaim the money.
Kyi Win, a member of the team, said that there are 132 of them.

Published on Wednesday, 24 September 2014 18:14

Part of the local Chanthaburi culture.

There are many horses in Chanthaburi - seen in temple grounds cared for by monks (but not ridden by them) and often see horses featured in temple artwork/murals

Also several riding facilities, the newest one optimistically named '15 Cowboys' but they have just 6 horses (job share?)

Cowboys on horseback often feature in local parades.

These three near our home were colour-coded, keeping their distance from three brown horses in the same field.

presume you know your way around?

Turn off Thanon Chalaeb at Eastern Hotel intersection and about 800m on the left

this building, ground floor on the left

Upstairs is all gems retail, also a 'history of gems' display, a cafe.

I enjoyed browsing - but suggest leave you wallet at home

Building was unfinished for years, and I'd rate it as a financial flop for those involved, hope was that retailers/gem merchants would move from the gem markets area in Chan city near the river, that didn't happen and it has never had full occupancy. Rent must be cheap for Immigration; one bonus is no problems with parking.

It is a secret!

Discovered new location by accident weekend before last

The big Gem Centre - not far from the Eastern Hotel, no external signs I could see, but ground floor to the left is where they're at now

Best to go alone - the multiple jewellry outlets upstairs could be costly

Chanthaburi durian

I'll change my user name to Jellyfishsteen!

in the news again today

'Millions of' jellyfish float to surface of sea of Sattahib Naval Base The sea next to the Sattahib Naval Base and the Jook Samed Pier in Chon Buri's Satahib district is filled with floating jellyfishes.

Assurancetourix - look forward to seeing more photos

You'll maybe appreciate the fun i have - I cycle with social groups in Chanthaburi, the only foreigner and being 1.87m guess I stand out even more; i wear shorts, short-sleeve jersey while the rest of the group have every piece of skin covered - I do not know who is under there unless I can match rider with a particular bike. Then i get met in the city by people in business or casual clothes I have no idea who they are until cycling gets a mention (and sometimes have to pretend I remember them!)

I don't ride with the group on on Sundays now, it is dedicated as 'family day' as the only day of the week partner and daughter are home from work/school. Yesterday we went to the beach, as usual not a good pic, but saw this mother arrive, her little girl on the carrier behind her and a small puppy in the basket. It was their family day too. The joys of cycling!

they're back . . . today's jellyfish news

yesterday swimming with a group of friends at Chao Lao beach on the Chanthaburi coast; but not for long, people making a quick exit as we encountered dozens of jellyfish in water about waist-deep, they were just above sand level, squishy around the feet!

I came out with just itches but some children and one of the mums has raised pink welts on their ankles/calves.

Perhaps I can thank my hairy legs for that.

Nothing serious and they had faded within 30 min to just 'itchy'

The water wasn't very clear and I couldn't see what type of jellyfish they were; back today and many of these ones - appear to be two differing varieties - washed up along the high water line. Could see smaller ones in the water - like the ones in the earlier photos about 12-15cm across, these other ones a different variety far bigger, but i I still unsure what had done the stinging.

not suggesting jellyfish eat frozen Liptons Lemon Iced Tea! but a size indication, that packet is 20cm/8 inches, so this one is almost double that. When i was there today looking at the water a lady walked down from a resort and told me not to swim, jellyfish, at least they are warning people.

On the way home I crossed the bridge at Paknam Khaem Nu and hundreds of whitish jellyfish visible in the area river meets sea, bt couldn't judge size from so high up.