Many people who come to visit the south of Thailand think of scuba diving to see the coral reefs. Most of the popular shallow diving spots for tourists are on the Andaman coast. However, many people may not know that Chumphon, a city that many people think of as a passing city, actually has hidden gems. What's good about Chumphon? Let's follow me on a trip together.

I usually plan my own trips and travel because I can choose where I want to go and how long I want to spend at each destination. If I go with a large group, it can be inconvenient and there are time constraints. That's why I don't usually use tour companies. But this time, I had to go with a tour company, so I considered this trip a relaxing one where I didn't have to plan any travel arrangements.

We set off early in the morning, but due to the large group, we lost a considerable amount of time on the road. We started losing time as soon as we left, as we had to wait for all the members to arrive before we could set off. Even stopping for bathroom breaks at gas stations took almost half an hour each time. As a result, we were only able to visit one place on the first day of our trip: the Rajabhakti Park in Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.

His Majesty the King has graciously granted permission to the Royal Thai Army to build the "Monument of Kings of Siam" along with a historical park, which has been named "Rajabhakti Park". This park was built out of loyalty to the monarchy and to honor and proclaim the virtues of the seven Kings of Siam.

For the 7 Kings of Siam, consisting of King Ramkhamhaeng (Sukhothai period), King Naresuan (Ayutthaya period), King Narai (Ayutthaya period), King Taksin (Thonburi period)

King Rama I (the first reign of Rattanakosin), King Rama IV (the fourth reign of Rattanakosin) and King Rama V (the fifth reign of Rattanakosin).

The Royal Park Rajapruek is built on an area of over 222 rai, located opposite the Royal Thai Army Rehabilitation and Recreation Center, Suan Son Pradipat. Admission is free. If you plan to visit, it's a good idea to bring an umbrella or hat, as the sun can be quite strong.

I then headed to Kui Buri District to check in at Vatika Resort Villa.

Getting to Vatika Resort Villa is not difficult. Just look for Wat Kui Buri on your right-hand side. Then turn left at the Kui Buri intersection and drive straight towards the beach for about 10 km. You will pass the Kui Buri train station. Continue driving until you reach the end of the beach and turn right. Then drive straight for about 4 km and you will find Vatika Resort Villa on your left-hand side.

The Reception area is located right at the front.

Facing the building, the left and right sides of the ground floor are the Lobby. The staff said that you can check in/check out on both sides. On the left side, there is a corner for internet use.

Welcome Drink is a fruit juice served with a cold towel.

Next to the Reception is the Fitness room.

The resort's interior design is very lush, with many stylish corners for guests to take photos.

The concept of Vatika Resort Villa is to offer a different experience every time you visit. Therefore, the room decoration style here emphasizes the uniqueness of each room, which will prevent guests from feeling bored if they return to use the service again. This is because they will get a different atmosphere from each room that is not the same.

Let's take a look at the room. Tonight I'm staying in the Country Family room.

The first bedroom has a single bed and an ensuite bathroom. However, this bathroom is shared with another bedroom.

The bathroom will have 2 doors because it will be a shared bathroom. Inside, the wet and dry areas are clearly separated.

Let's take a look at the second floor.

As you walk up the stairs, there will be an open space on the left-hand side for activities, while the right-hand side will be the bedroom.

This room has a double bed and the interior space is quite spacious. It doesn't feel as cramped as the bedroom downstairs.

The bathroom is also spacious, with the wet and dry areas adjacent to each other. When showering, water from the wet area splashes into the dry area.

Let's take a look at some other types of rooms. Since I was on a work trip, I was able to ask to see the rooms that my colleagues were staying in. However, I was only able to take pictures of the exterior of some of the rooms.

This room is a Villa Siam. The room is quite spacious and the amenities are no different from the room I stayed in.

The bathroom is quite spacious and has a clear separation between the wet and dry areas.

Let's take a look at other houses. From the outside, I can tell that it's a Japanese-style villa.

Villa Japan consists of 3 villas located in a Japanese-style garden.

Villa Bohemian will be a bright bohemian-style villa, giving the impression of a house built from earth. It also has stairs that lead up to the rooftop.

Villa India is a twin villa with 2 houses. One house has a single bed and the other has a double bed.

Let's take a look at the rooms located in the Vartika Resovilla building.

The bathroom has a wet and dry separation with a glass wall.

And the last room, which is probably the best room here, is the Penthouse.

This room is decorated in a modern style. The space in the room is very spacious. The bed is bigger than any other room I have explored. One wall is a mirror, allowing you to enjoy the sea view all the time, and there is also a private balcony.

The bathroom is located outside the room, semi-outdoor style, with a Jacuzzi where you can soak while enjoying the sea view.

Let's take a look at the Facilities that the resort has prepared for guests.

Starting with the Salt-Treated Jacuzzi pool, which is located next to the restaurant, it is a therapeutic salt jacuzzi pool where you can swim and enjoy the view of the lagoon outside at the same time. The pool may seem a bit small.

The Traveller's Restaurant is an open-air beachfront restaurant that offers stunning sea views. The restaurant is a bit small, so it can get crowded when there are a lot of guests.

The resort has set up tables on the beach for guests to dine at, but judging from the condition of the tables, it seems that not many people have used them.

Evening atmosphere.

This morning I went out to capture the atmosphere of the Bo Nok beach in the early morning.

The sea level was quite low in the morning, so I was able to walk quite a distance. After a while, I came back to collect my bags, take a shower, and prepare breakfast.

The Traveller's Restaurant is open for breakfast from 6:30 AM to 10:00 AM.

The breakfast line offers both Thai and ABF-style dishes. The food is prepared with organic vegetables and is beef-free.

Bread corner

Fruit corner

If you drive about one kilometer from Vatika Resovilla, you will find Vatika Adventure, a new branch of the resort. The accommodation at Vatika Adventure is available in both building and villa styles. The villas are designed in an adventurous style, and the buildings have different interior decorations in each room. I went to take a peek, and the ground floor of each building room is designed in a Venetian style. When you open the sliding glass door next to the bed, you will find a private Jacuzzi pool. When you step out of the Jacuzzi pool, you will be connected to the communal swimming pool in every room, according to the Venetian concept.

The Vatican Adventure zone is not located by the sea. There is a road separating the hotel from the beach.

After breakfast, we continued our journey to Chumphon. Our first stop in Chumphon was at Suan Nai Dam.

Suan Nai Dam is an agricultural tourism destination in Chumphon Province. Inside, there are fruit orchards such as papaya, mangosteen, longan, durian, and Shogun orange.

Within the garden, there are shops selling souvenirs, including OTOP products from Suan Na Dam, fresh fruits, and even trees.

The garden decoration here is beautiful. There is a path to study plants amidst a shady atmosphere.

Another unique feature of Suan Na Dam is its variety of toilets, each with its own unique design. You might wonder why there are so many different types of toilets here. Well, this is because Suan Na Dam is a learning center for public toilets in Thailand.

The various types of toilets will be built to blend in with the garden decoration inside Nai Dam's garden. There will also be signs explaining the meaning of each type of imaginary toilet. Each type of toilet that is built can actually be used.

The exterior and interior of the toilet outside the coconut shell

Sky toilet

Tarzan's toilet was born from the imagination of Tarzan (a human) who lived in the jungle with monkeys from a young age. He was close to the "Ken Mee" (smelly) tribe, who died from an epidemic because they defecated on the ground. After Tarzan met Jane, a beautiful city girl who knew about sanitation, they worked together to build a tree toilet for proper waste disposal.

The "Hole Toilet" and the "Gecko Toilet" are imaginative extensions of the "Tarzan Toilet," which requires climbing a rope ladder to defecate in a tree. The "Hole Toilet" involves climbing out through the "swan's neck" (toilet bowl hole) after defecating, hence the name. The purpose of these toilets is to create a positive attitude towards toilets, which are places of relief, not disgusting places.

In addition to souvenir shops and various types of toilets, Suan Nai Dam also has a restaurant. For lunch today, I came to eat at the Suan Nai Dam restaurant.

Starting with stir-fried pork with curry paste, a spicy dish in the southern style.

The deep-fried garlic pomfret was gone in a flash, leaving only the bones in the blink of an eye.

Stir-fried seafood with a spicy kick, featuring a medley of fresh shrimp, squid, and scallops. The bold flavors are enhanced by the aroma of fresh peppercorns and galangal. This dish is sure to get your taste buds tingling and leave you wanting more.

Stir-fried fiddlehead fern with oyster sauce, the taste is just right. It helps to reduce the spiciness from the stir-fried pork with red curry paste and stir-fried jungle curry.

This fresh shrimp curry is also delicious.

And the highlight would be the chili paste menu. I don't know the name of the chili paste, but it looks like shrimp paste with fresh shrimp. This menu was sold out quickly.

The meal was concluded with incredibly sweet papaya from Thung Tako, as well as mangosteen and rambutan. Overall, everything we ate here was delicious. It wasn't just my opinion; my friends on the trip also agreed that the meal at Suan Nai Dam was the best of the entire trip.

After the meal, coffee is available for those who want it.

This is a seating area for sipping coffee. Everything is still in the "toilet" concept.

The most famous coffee here is civet coffee, which is a must-try for coffee lovers. It costs 199/209 baht per cup.

Even the size of the cookie is written as "shit cookie". I don't know if it will sell with this kind of writing.

Great quotes about poop, I love it!

For those who are traveling south and will arrive at Tung Tako District around noon or evening and are looking for a place to eat, I recommend you to have a meal at Suan Nai Dam. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. The entrance to Suan Nai Dam is located on Highway 41, at Km. 54 on the way to Bangkok.

This temple is a place for practicing meditation. There are three main highlights of this temple.

The first point is a marble temple.

On the opposite side of the temple, there is a staircase leading up the hill. At the middle of the hill, there is a cave where a Buddha statue is enshrined.

If you continue walking up, the top will be the pagoda. At this point, you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view.

From the stupa, you can see palm trees everywhere. Behind, you can see high mountains descending in tiers. I guess in the morning, if there is fog, this place would be quite beautiful.

I have no information about this temple. The guide also has no information to give to the tourists.

From Wat Tham Khwan Mueang, we headed to Hat Sai Ri to pay respects to Krom Luang Chumphon Khet Udomsak.

At Hat Sai Ri beach, there is a hill-like feature that has been shaped to resemble the warship Luang Phra Ruang. The warship's cannons are pointed towards the sea, and at the bow of the Luang Phra Ruang is the shrine ofกรมหลวงชุมพรเขตอุดมศักดิ์.

The Shrine of Prince Chumphon is constructed from marble. Inside, it houses the memorial of His Royal Highness Prince Abhakara Kiartivongse, Duke of Chumphon, the founder of the modern Royal Thai Navy. He is revered as the "Father of the Royal Thai Navy" and is respected by all sailors and the general public. Incense and candles are not allowed inside the shrine, but there is a designated area for burning incense and candles in front of the shrine.

Near the shrine of Prince Chumphon, the decommissioned HTMS Chumphon warship is on display. The ship was decommissioned in 1975 and 1979, and the Royal Thai Navy brought it to Hat Sai Ri beach, facing the sea. The HTMS Chumphon is a large torpedo boat, 68 meters long and 6.55 meters wide.

From the replica of the ship's bow, you can enjoy a beautiful high-angle view of Haad Sai Ree beach.

After paying respects to Prince Chumporn for good luck, we headed to our accommodation. Before checking in, we stopped for dinner at Nai Lek Restaurant, which is located not far from my accommodation. When the bus arrived at the restaurant, the food was already set. When all the members were present, we started eating without hesitation. I could barely take pictures of the food fast enough.

We have fried fish cakes today.

Followed by an omelet

Soft-shell crab stir-fried with black pepper

Deep-fried Sea Bass

It looks like fried whitebait with garlic, but I'm not sure if it's whitebait.

Deep-fried Acacia pennata in sour soup with fresh shrimp

Seafood Tom Yum

Mr. Lek's restaurant may look small, but it can comfortably accommodate 2 buses of guests. The restaurant is located right by the sea, and the food is decent.

I'm staying at Novotel Resotrs Chumphon Beach Resort & Golf tonight. I'll be staying here for 3 nights.

The lobby is very spacious and has a seating area for guests to relax.

From the Lobby, if you walk to the guest rooms, you will pass The Square restaurant.

It also has a recreational area.

Let's take a look inside the room.

The room is decorated in a modern style with a fairly spacious living area. There is also a work desk. The amenities provided by the resort include an LCD TV with satellite channels and free wifi. However, everything in the room looks quite old, including the furniture and electrical appliances.

Look at the condition of the cabinet. The walls of the cabinet are completely blackened.

The bathroom has a see-through design. What I noticed is that the blinds that cover the glass are usually inside the bathroom, but here, the blinds are outside the bathroom. Inside the bathroom, there is a bathtub that is shaped like a quarter of a circle. When you stand in the bathtub to shower, the water splashes all over the floor.

After finishing my shower, I took the opportunity to lie down and relax. I have to leave tomorrow at 5:30 AM to prepare for scuba diving at Koh Nang Yuan.

The next morning, I had a plan to take a boat to Koh Nang Yuan and go snorkeling around the island. We gathered at 5:30 AM and the wheels started rolling at 6:00 AM. As soon as we got on the bus, we had breakfast boxes prepared by the resort.

Laem Phraya Pier is located at Tung Makham Noi Beach. Actually, the distance from the resort to Laem Phraya Pier is not far. However, since this trip is by a large boat (Lomprayah) that has to travel with other people, we have to arrive at the pier early in the morning to wait in line to board the boat. I think I arrived at the pier early, but there were other groups of tourists who arrived earlier than me. Most of them were foreign tourists.

Around 7:20 AM, the boat started its journey. The boat used by Lomprayah is a catamaran. The distinctive feature of a catamaran is that it is a double-hulled boat, which allows it to sail at high speeds in the sea. Inside the Lomprayah boat, there are 3 floors of seats. The tickets we bought allow us to sit on the lower floor and the second floor at the back of the boat. As for the top floor, it is suitable for those who want to sunbathe because the top floor is open and has no roof.

On the second floor, at the bow of the ship, there is a VIP room. Passengers who wish to sit in the VIP zone must purchase an additional ticket, which can be purchased on board.

It took about 2 hours to reach Koh Nang Yuan.

From the boat, you can see the white sand beach (Juwa) connecting the two islands.

The boat docked smoothly at the pier. This is my second time visiting Nang Yuan Island. The first time, I also used the services of Lomprayah. However, the boat would dock at Koh Tao, and then we would take another boat to Nang Yuan Island. This time, the Lomprayah boat will go directly to Nang Yuan Island first, and then it will take tourists to Koh Tao and Koh Samui.

From the pier, looking to the left, you can see very clear water. You can see pieces of coral and fish swimming out to greet tourists.

The water on the right side seems to be deeper than the left side, as the water appears emerald green.

From the pier, we walk along the wooden bridge and we will find a resting point for tourists, which is built as a large pavilion.

I arrived at Koh Nang Yuan in the early morning, so there weren't many tourists yet.

After listening to the guide's instructions and letting the members spend their time as they pleased, I walked up to the viewpoint, which is another activity that should not be missed if you come to Koh Nang Yuan.

Once we reach the end of the bridge, we will have to climb the hill. The path is quite steep. It takes about 10-15 minutes to walk from the bottom to the top without stopping. I recommend walking slowly so you don't get too tired.

In just a moment, we arrived at the viewpoint of Koh Nang Yuan. In front of me, I saw three small islands connected by a white sandbar, beautifully contrasting with the blue water of the sea. Even though the sky was overcast on the day I went, I could still see the blue color of the water. If it were a clear day, the beauty would be even greater.

Legend has it that in the past, a Vietnamese woman was swept away by the waves and ended up on this island. This is where the name Koh Nang Yuan comes from.

With a full stomach, I decided to explore other parts of the island. This time, I walked to the right side of the island.

When the appointment time arrived, we prepared to board another large boat to go diving at Ao Huai Duen. The atmosphere around the bay was beautiful with large rocks. At this point, I did not go diving to see the coral. After the members finished diving, we returned to Koh Nang Yuan again to prepare for the return trip to the shore of Chumphon.

Around 5:00 p.m., I returned to my accommodation. I arrived early today. In fact, I wanted to go see the view at Khao Matree Viewpoint, which is not far from the hotel. However, the road leading to Khao Matree is quite steep, and I don't have a car to take me there. Walking would be impossible because it's a long uphill climb. So, I decided to explore the area around the resort instead.

In front of the resort.

The front area is where cars will pick up and drop off people to walk to the Lobby.

The seating area in front of the Lobby.

The swimming pool here has 2 sections. The first section is located in front of the restaurant.

The other point is right next to it, but this pond is in front of the accommodation building.

Building area of the accommodation.

The building you see on the left, which appears to be sunk into the ground, is divided into two sections.

The first section is a gym, which has exercise equipment and a ping pong table.

Part 2 will be Kid club.

Let's take another look at the front of the hotel. Just across the street, you'll see Phara Daraphi Beach.

The evening atmosphere is quite beautiful. Tonight there is a small party. I was busy waiting to take pictures of the hotel during twilight, so I didn't have time to capture the atmosphere of the buffet line.

This morning I had the opportunity to dine at The Square restaurant.

The Square restaurant is divided into two sections. The first section is located in an air-conditioned glass room, while the other section is located in front of the restaurant, next to the lobby. This section is open-air.

Eggs Station

Salad corner

The Thai food corner is located at the pillar of the dining room. There are 2 menus to choose from.

Fruit corner, fruit juice, fresh milk

I think the food is not very diverse. There are only a few types of each nationality. For example, there are only 2 Thai dishes to choose from. I'm not very impressed with the breakfast. I think the food should be more impressive for a Novotel.

Overall, the Novotel Resorts Chumphon Beach Resort & Golf was far from what I expected. While I trust the Novotel brand, my experience during my three-day stay was disappointing. The resort appeared quite old, and the food lacked variety. If I have the opportunity to return to Chumphon, I will likely choose a different accommodation option.

This morning's program is to experience the underwater world of Chumphon Archipelago National Park. The tour company I went with bought a tour from Siam Catamaran, just like yesterday's trip to Koh Nang Yuan.

Chumphon Archipelago National Park is made up of over 40 islands, each with its own unique natural beauty. Some islands have white sandy beaches, while others are limestone mountains with unusual shapes. The islands are also surrounded by healthy coral reefs and a variety of fish species.

Upon arrival, we listened to a briefing from the staff who introduced the places we would be visiting. If anyone wanted to rent a fin, they could do so here.

As I was walking to board the boat, I came across this little rascal. When I went to look at it, it turned around and showed me its red butt. It even picked up a rock and threw it at me. How dare it!

The boat that will take my group to explore the underwater world of the Gulf of Thailand is the boat on the left. It is a double-hulled, 3-story boat with 2 bathrooms and can accommodate up to 150 tourists.

When the members are ready, we will start our journey. Along the way, we will pass a large fishing village with fishing boats and crews of various nationalities. Behind the fishing village, you can also see the viewpoint on top of Khao Maedri.

Not long after leaving the fishing village, we arrived at the mouth of Chumphon Bay.

It took us about an hour by boat to reach our first destination for the day.

The first island we went diving at was Koh Matra. Looking up at the island, we saw a clean white sand beach interspersed with rocky outcrops in front of the island. The water here is so clear that you can see the coral reefs all over the front of the island. On Koh Matra there is only one place to stay, which is the Bangalow Baan Lung Khao. And when our boat stopped to let the members dive, Lung Khao paddled over to greet us.

Then head to Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai.

The island on the left is Koh Ngam Yai, while the island on the right is Koh Ngam Noi.

Ngai Noi Island boasts stunning coral reefs and anemones, making it a haven for marine life. Divers can encounter moray eels, groupers, angelfish, and a dazzling array of butterflyfish.

After diving at this point, it was time for lunch. During the day, the tour company arranged a buffet lunch. I didn't want to eat much this time because I didn't want to feed the fish in the sea.

Ngaam Yai Island is a steep cliff with no beaches. There is one cliff that resembles the palm of the Buddha's hand, which is the highlight of Ngaam Yai Island.

The boat anchored on the west side of the island, allowing us to dive at one more spot here.

Koh Talu is a small limestone island with several large caves that straddle the water's surface. You can swim through the caves to the other side.

The coral at this island isn't as beautiful as the one I went diving at this morning, but this place is known for its schools of small fish. The guide and a large school of fish led us through a swim-through to the other side. It was amazing! It felt like I was a whale shark with a large school of fish circling around me, just like I've seen in documentaries.

Note: Thanks to all the underwater photos in Chumphon Archipelago National Park from my fellow travelers.

Starting with the first menu, it looks similar to a rice paddy fish salad.

Followed by stir-fried squid with black pepper.

Stir-fried Parkia speciosa with shrimp

Steamed Sea Bass with Lime

On a new morning, I went out to capture the atmosphere at Phra Borommathat Chaiya Ratchaworawihan Temple again. This morning, the sky was clearer than yesterday, allowing me to see a bit of the morning light.

I stopped by to buy souvenirs near the Hin Chang Shrine. This one stop shop seems to have all the best and most famous products of Chumphon, from fresh lady finger bananas, which are a local specialty, to processed lady finger bananas like banana chips and dried bananas, available in both sweet and salty flavors. They also have mangosteen paste, durian paste, shrimp paste, and stink beans. I spent quite a bit of money here myself.

We then headed to Ao Prachuap to have lunch at the Plearn Samut restaurant.

The Plearn Samutr restaurant is located right on the front of Prachuap Bay. You can sit and enjoy your meal while taking in the sea view. The atmosphere in the evening must be very good.

Let's start with the crab rolls, which are not just a hint of crab but are packed with real crab meat.

Followed by a sizzling hot plate of oyster omelet, listening to the sizzling sound while enjoying the delicious taste.

Mixed vegetable stir-fry

Steamed squid with lime. The squid pieces are bite-sized and the dish has a perfect balance of sourness.

I don't know what kind of chili paste it is, but I know it's delicious.

Stir-fried seafood in a spicy sauce, featuring a medley of shrimp, squid, and fish, perfectly balanced in its spiciness and bursting with flavor.

Beat the heat with tofu clear soup

Topped with steamed sea bass with lime.

Today's meal was another delicious one for the group. During the meal, we didn't have time to soak in the atmosphere of Ao Prachuap because we were afraid we wouldn't finish our food in time with our friends.

After being fully satisfied with the food for both our eyes and stomachs, we turned back to the Plearn Samut restaurant. It turned out that all the members were busy buying souvenirs from the vendors selling in front of the restaurant. In order not to be outdone, I had to go and support them as well. After distributing income to the villagers in Chumphon and Prachuap Khiri Khan, if we didn't distribute some income to the people of Phetchaburi, it would be considered unfair. Before heading back to Bangkok, when we entered the Phetchaburi area, we had to stop to buy some "Khanom Mo Kaeng" (a kind of Thai dessert) as a souvenir for our family as the last stop. After that, we headed straight back to Bangkok.