Day 0.5 - Drag Bangkok to Trang

Escaping work and hopping on a motorbike at a speed that's almost 5 pm on a normal workday. I'm fleeing the chaos of the capital and heading to Trang province. Luckily, next week's calendar has a gap, allowing a vacation day to slip in and line up perfectly with this month's holiday. From BTS Chidlom, I head to Bang Wa station, then take a taxi to the Southern Bus Terminal. Oh no! I got the time wrong. The bus leaves at 9 pm, but I arrived at 5 pm. But I sit and sip coffee waiting for the bus, and finally, the long sleep on the 13-hour journey begins.



Day 1 - Go to Koh Hai

The sky opened its eyes again... The tour bus brought me to Trang Bus Terminal at 7.40 am. Along the way, I was impressed by the many townspeople who were wearing yellow shirts. Yes, today is December 5th, Father's Day for us Thais. Even tourists who come to visit Trang beach, big and small tours, all join hands to show their love on this day.


We set off by van and arrived at the pier at almost 9 am. Here we go again (and probably many more times). I'm not the type to research or plan anything related to time. The boat was scheduled to leave Pak Meng Pier right when the sun was directly overhead. The only thing I could do was walk around exploring the beach. I walked and walked, kicked sand, took pictures, stopped by that shop, ate at this restaurant, until finally I sat down for a long rest at a rice shop, waiting for the time to travel to Koh Ngai Cliff Beach Resort, which would be my accommodation for the next 3 nights.


Sea trumpet or trumpet vine - Locals say it's edible, but I'd rather not. Hehe.

Walk carefully, walk aimlessly, walk slowly, be careful! I don't know if it's friendly or poisonous.


The journey from Pak Meng Pier to Koh Hai takes about 40 minutes. Along the way, we took photos as we went.


The younger sibling said that the water is very clear today. If you're not afraid of getting tanned, you can snorkel along the entire beach to see the coral reefs. (It probably won't get any whiter than this, haha.)


Upon arrival, we checked in and paid the remaining damages. The staff then took us to our room in a golf cart. It would have been quite tiring to walk up ourselves (although we did walk up and down ourselves for the next few days), as it was quite steep and far away. The atmosphere today was very quiet. The staff told us that if we wanted peace and quiet, we should come here, but if we wanted lights and colors, we should go to Koh Hai Fantasy on the other side (well, the name says it all).


Cliff Beach Resort from the outside


View from room 521 (cheapest)



The atmosphere at Cliff Beach Resort at 3 pm


Day 2 - Rok Island

The army must march with the army, a big ladle. Free breakfast, why hesitate? Eat it. Luckily, I'm on a dinner break, so I'm saving money on rice. Yesterday I tried to open the menu and saw that the price of fried egg rice was 90 baht. It's not too expensive, but it's still expensive. Haha, then I'll save my stomach for breakfast today.

Breakfast



Morning atmosphere


Book a tour to Koh Rok with Jaravee Tour, meet at the accommodation at 10 am. Ready to go!


Koh Rok is part of a national park. If my information is correct, we can only access the island on Saturdays and Sundays. The accommodation, which are buildings, must be booked with the park and there are not many available. However, there are many tents for camping. After diving at the first spot, the tour guide took us for lunch and we enjoyed walking around Koh Rok for a while before diving at two more spots.


Eat your fill, because tonight we must fast.


The sand here is very fine.


I have a lot of underwater photos because I set the camera to take a photo every 3 seconds, alternating with video. Here is a general overview.

After finishing the diving, we traveled back to the accommodation, which took about 40 minutes. But it was a brutal 40 minutes. The speedboat we were on was driven with a rhythm of heavy-nu-death-metal-swing-jazz-EDM. My stomach churned, my liver, kidneys, heart, and lungs must have switched sides. At the speed that ran against the waves and wind, I almost didn't make it. The worst part was my butt, which was bruised and sore. My brothers and sisters who were sitting at the front of the boat shared the same fate as me and groaned just as much.


Traveling alone is a question that people around me always ask. A young man on the boat asked me, "Did your girlfriend dump you, brother?" I was hurt, but I laughed it off. But seriously, I usually travel with friends. If I go with friends, it's a 3-4 day trip. But I like to take long weekends and travel for 5 days or more. None of my friends have the same long vacation schedule, so I have to travel solo.



Day 3 - Keep Sun Block

I bought a tour at the hotel front desk. It was a 4-island tour. Today I was very lucky to be on a big boat (lucky because I didn't ask for any information before buying it lol). The boat was full of foreign tourists. There were only me and two other Thai women, so we got to chat and gossip together.


The two troublemakers on the ship


Come down and play in the water.


Enter the cave slowly.


Upon entering, one can feel the power.


Some people have started to get empty frames.


Whoever comes here, try lying down in the middle of the beach and looking up with your eyes. It's really beautiful.
(It's a pity that the wide-angle photos from the other camera are lost. In fact, all the photos from the other camera in the Emerald Cave are lost.)


I'm leaving now.


I'm not sure if I visited all 4 islands or missed one because the boat dropped me off at Koh Hai first. If I had to guess, I think I missed Koh Ma (maybe?). But that's okay, I'm tired enough as it is. My body is starting to give out on me. It's time to go back to my room and sleep for a long time. I'll get ready to wander around Trang city tomorrow morning.

The most agonizing part of traveling to a secluded beach is seeing foreign couples taking turns rubbing sunscreen on each other's backs, making me incredibly envious. They don't even need the sun to heat things up; my eyes are already burning with jealousy. Complaining won't do any good, so I'll just have to take care of myself. But don't forget the sunscreen, everyone! Unless you're aiming for a tan (instead of a sunburn), be careful not to end up with a two-toned complexion as a souvenir for your friends.


Day 4 - In-town Tour


Waving goodbye to the accommodation early in the morning. For those who love peace and quiet, I recommend staying here. The downside is that some people like the beach, and there is little beach area here. You have to walk south to use other people's beaches. Another thing, if you come alone, I don't recommend it because the price is quite high (I was drunk when I booked it). But if you come with your partner, it should be okay. You can enjoy your time together.


Arriving in Trang in the late morning, my intelligence returned. On the way, I paid 60 baht from Pak Meng Pier. I came with the hotel's van, which cost me 200 baht. The boat stopped at Khlong Son Pier (if I'm not mistaken). Then the van dropped me off at the office. I didn't walk more than a hundred steps because the hotel is close to the office, which is not far from my accommodation. It is close to the hotel I booked, the Sri Trang Hotel (which, which, and which are all included).


Renting a motorbike from the hotel, I requested an automatic one. My previous trips had left me exhausted from riding a manual gear. As soon as I got the bike, I headed straight to my first destination, the Southern Botanical Garden (Khao Chong), located not far from the city center. I was the first one to arrive, and the place was quiet and peaceful. At first, I enjoyed walking around, looking at the trees and ants. After a while, I started to feel overwhelmed by the number of mosquitoes. It seemed like it might have rained the previous night. I switched from a leisurely stroll to a brisk walk. The total distance, based on my guess (again), was probably around 2 kilometers. If you enjoy a forest-like atmosphere, you should come and walk around. Oh, there's a highlight at the Canopy Walkway, almost 40 meters high, which will give you a little thrill.


After swatting mosquitoes for almost 2 hours, it's time to eat. I'm really hungry, like really, really hungry. But before I grab something to eat, I'm going to drive around and take a look at the Christian church. I parked my car at Old Town Cafe (I saw it when the van dropped me off) before walking to take some pictures and then coming back to the #wherewhereiswherewhere (wherever it is) cafe. I parked my car in front of the cafe and ordered a latte to refresh myself.


It's time to find a restaurant to eat rice. I went to Pantip and found a restaurant. I wanted to eat red pork rice, so I drove my motorcycle there. When I arrived, the restaurant was closed. Why did Uncle Yao's red pork rice close today? I'm hungry! (Traveling with bugs, traveling with failures, trust me, it has already begun) On the way to the restaurant, I passed a temple and a park, so I stopped by to visit. I was so hungry that I forgot about it. Time passed until 2 pm. I drove around the market and the hotel. I turned and found a restaurant near the station intersection. I stopped by to eat a bowl of wonton noodles. After eating, I saw a picture that impressed me. It was a picture of the restaurant wrapping dumplings in a steamer to prepare for steaming. Oh, dim sum, wait a minute...


Still not full, what should I do? I drove around to Ko Libong restaurant and had roti with beef curry and crab dip. The roti was crispy and delicious. The crab dip had a strange taste, but it was still good when eaten with the roti.


After the national anthem ended, the sound of the car starting up again. The next destination was to drive to Wat Tha Chin (I like to visit temples) to watch them play football for a while. The sun began to set on the way. I caught a glimpse of the Wan Chelim Fair, the same one that the hotel owner recommended. The event was like a flea market selling goods, plus a temple fair, and it seemed like there was also a provincial Red Cross fair. There was plenty of food. I walked around looking at clothes and household items, and I ended up eating fried fish eggs and fish roe. As I walked on, I came across various rides. I really wanted to ride the Ferris wheel, but I was too embarrassed to be around children. Haha. I remembered that it was time to test the camera mode on my phone (I used the LG G4 for all the photos except the underwater ones). I sat there aiming the angle, tensing my arms and legs for a long time, doing the best I could with its capabilities. I opened the shutter for 1 second. The result was... Tada...


The photo shoot was done, and the rain started to fall. I ran for cover, and then suddenly I realized that my wallet was gone. My wallet! Where did it go? It's gone! The great bug, the god of failure, has struck again. I thought and thought, I still had money to buy fish eggs earlier. Oh, the latest photo spot doesn't have it. I walked back to the first corner. As the rain drove the market people into the tents, a crazy young man walked through the soaking rain, looking down for something. He picked up his cell phone and turned on the flashlight. The sky was leaking, but people's hearts were even more anxious. That's the end of my trip. My father will scold me, my mother will complain. Above all, where is the money? ATM, Credit, the newly made ID card, my life is over. I walked around for a while, and then I called the owner of the shop who had parked his car nearby (he saw me sitting there doing something at first). Brother, have you seen my wallet? In addition to being a forgetful and mindless person, I am also a person who can never find anything. I walked around with him for a while with a flashlight (I thought I was looking for frogs). Heaven has mercy, good people and ghosts protect me. He pointed to a brown, rotten wallet that was playing in the water on the lawn. Oh, thank you so much! My life is saved!


I wanted to scream out loud in the rain, I had to find something to reward myself. I stumbled upon a water shop. Oh wow, good idea, good selling point (they have a Facebook page too, try searching for it). I ordered a Blue Hawaii in a bag. When I paid, the seller told me to take a picture and post it on Facebook before drinking it. Take a picture? Okay, but I won't post it. I'm taking a break from social media for this trip. While waiting for the rain to stop, I walked around looking for a place to take a picture. How should I take it? People were walking around, the background wasn't good, the light wasn't good, the composition wasn't good. So I stood in the middle of the road, aiming at the front. Oh, I got it, I got a picture of the guy carrying his child. Then I lifted the bag to cover it. Oh, I got it. There was someone standing on the left frame. I pressed the shutter repeatedly and then I will select it later. Turn around. Okay, it's clear. There is a sign in front, but it doesn't matter. I'll just cover it with the bag. And then, and then, and then... At that moment, the shot of Pa-ti-han happened. From the disheartened feeling in the previous paragraph, the next moment life took us to happiness. Awesome. I achieved the ultimate pleasure. Small things, timing, moments, magic shots, they really bring us happiness (it may not be beautiful, but I love the moment I pressed the shutter, it was a split second, and the probability of one in how many I don't know that it would happen if it wasn't a show cue).


The rain began to ease, and I drove back to the hotel carefully. Okay, I reached the intersection and turned right. Hey, why is it so dark? The people of Trang are so good. They turn off the lights as early as 7 pm. Wow, I'm impressed. I drove straight ahead, and it started to feel strange. This isn't right. I stopped the car and asked someone nearby, "Is there a power outage, brother?" There you go. The failure isn't over yet. Power outage. My brain suddenly flashed. Everything was dark, the only light was the car's headlights. Okay, no need for a tripod. I moved myself to the median strip, crouched down, put my arms perpendicular, tensed my wrists slightly, and adjusted my phone to manual mode. I set the shutter at 4 seconds and turned the camera towards the train station. Okay, I've taken 10 pictures, then 20. Some cars turned on their headlights and drove towards me, creating a bright light. Some cars created lines, but I couldn't see the station sign. The pictures didn't tell a story. There were no cars passing by. I was getting tired. 30 pictures later, sigh... my arms started to shake. Hold still, hand. And then, the miracle moment happened again. Finally, my phone did it. I think this is the picture. It's the best. Because at some point, we will be able to tell ourselves... how good is good enough.


The power was out for almost 40 minutes, so we just had to wait, wait, wait, and wait...


Day 5 - The Unexpected (Thai Accent)

It all started at 7:30 am when I started the car and revved the engine. My first destination for the morning was the Ruen Thai Dim Sum restaurant. When I arrived at the restaurant, the parade of appetizer menus came out for me to choose from. Feeling hungry, I happily picked a few. I then went to order a few more dim sum baskets. While waiting, I walked over to the menu on the wall and ordered a dry fish noodle soup. A light breakfast, I didn't think it would be this expensive. It cost me 3xx baht, almost 400. My wallet is feeling light, but my stomach is full.


Okay, today I'm heading to Huai Yot District. Along the way, I came across another impressive sight that I had to pull over and take a picture of as a souvenir. Imagine if you were the driver at that moment, how would you feel? Suddenly, the car tilted. Where would you grab to get yourself out? Thinking about it, it doesn't matter as long as the driver is safe.



Thrilling


Driving with the wind in my hair, the scenery on both sides of the road is nothing but roads and rubber plantations. The air is cool and refreshing, letting go of my worries and enjoying the open and airy atmosphere. Why is my life so good? Riding a motorcycle is such an overflowing joy. As I speak, tears are welling up in my eyes. No wonder everyone loves to drive and ride. In addition to letting go of my worries with the wind gently blowing on my face, my hands slowly release the throttle, letting the car run at a speed of 60 km/hr. When it starts to run out of power, I will twist it up, twist it up, twist it up, slowly twist it up, twist, twist, and... it won't twist up. Come on, it's getting smooth, don't play tricks on me. Park the car, turn off the engine, press the restart button (no, right?). #here Giant Y, a million of them #wtf The car can be twisted, the engine is on, but the wheels don't turn. What's going on with my life?

Looking left and right, there was nothing but roads and rubber trees. Thep Yada, the angel who protects the baby elephant, what kind of joke are you playing on my life? Damn it! I can't think of any other words. Are you afraid that this trip isn't exciting enough? What else do you want from me? What can I do? I have to push it. As I pushed the car, the rain started to fall. I pushed it for about 200 meters, thinking that the sky would only give me rain. But it also gave me a kind person to help. An uncle rode a motorcycle past and tried to help by pushing the car forward with his feet. But the uncle's power was so small (I know because I had switched to ride the uncle's car before). It was just a mess. Well, I don't know how many hundred meters I passed, the uncle said there was a repair shop. Finally, I arrived. Yay! But... the shop was closed. End of story.


Hope shattered before my eyes.


The uncle told me to keep pushing the bike forward. At the next intersection, I managed to push it myself for about 50 meters. Then the uncle came back to help me. This time, he took me to a shop near the city center. We arrived at the intersection of Andaman. There was a repair shop on the left. I could only thank the kind uncle who helped me through the crisis.


I barely made it.


Around 9 am, I arrived at the first location, the Khao Kob Cave. I was the first visitor of the day, so I had to pay the full entrance fee myself. Inside the cave, there were stalactites and stalagmites in various shapes and sizes, depending on how you look at them. This route was discovered by villagers a long time ago because it was used as a fishing route. A few days ago, the water level was very high, so tourists could not visit. Luckily, I was able to enter the cave today. Along the way, there were two oarsmen. One of them acted as a guide, explaining the different points of interest along the way. He said that he was a volunteer who was hired to row. Before reaching this point, they had to train for a long time because the route requires a lot of skill to navigate the boat. And then the highlight of the place happened, called the "Dragon's Belly." Since I was the only one, the weight that would sink the boat was less. Therefore, the two oarsmen had to control the distance between the boat and the cave wall above. The three of us changed from sitting to lying down parallel to the boat. The distance between my face and the cave wall was only a few inches. Sometimes we had to go fast, sometimes we had to go slow. The 600-meter dragon's belly ride was amazing, I must say. It was more fun than any amusement park ride, haha!


After leaving the cave, I gave the untouched dim sum to the two brothers as a small token of appreciation for their help. The rain was getting heavier, so I went to sit at a coffee shop and chat with the auntie and the coffee shop owner. I asked them about the way to continue my journey and waited for the rain to stop for an hour before setting off again.


Walk and enjoy the rubber (shy) to the face - Request a seed style like Sak Bhap Na Grae



After passing under the belly of the dragon, I will take you to visit the Dragon Palace...


Not far from Tham Lek Khao Kob, I drove to Wang Thep Tharo. What is Thep Tharo? Thep Tharo, or Chuang Hom, is the name of a tree. It is a tree that has been in Thailand for a long time. Thep Tharo is a new name that was given to it during the Ayutthaya period. Luckily, I had the opportunity to sit and talk with Ajarn Charoon, the owner of this Wang Thep. Ajarn said that many years ago, he found these trees. At first, he was going to use them to make incense, but he found out that they were rare and endangered because people were turning to planting palm trees and rubber trees. So he started to preserve this local auspicious tree because he saw that it was a tree that was part of the country's heritage. Later, research began on Thep Tharo, and it was found that it had many properties. Most notably, it is a tree that has four distinct scents: root beer, lemongrass, white wood, and a mixture of floral and spice scents. Each tree also has its own unique scent. The first dragon was born when Ajarn got this wood and noticed that it looked like a dragon. Since then, he has started to do handicrafts by himself, creating dragons with the wood and roots of Thep Tharo. The latest one he created is the 88th, which is considered a lucky number and also celebrates the 88th birthday of our King.



Take a closer look. I took the picture from an angle where the number 8 might not be clear.


In addition, the teacher also took us to see the oldest dragon, which is a dragon that came from the root of the god Tharo, and is 300 years old. Many adults in the country have come to buy it, but he said he couldn't sell it because it is the property of the land. He himself is just a caretaker. (If there is any error in the information, I apologize for my memory here.)


This is 1 of 2, the teacher said. Later, people started to make wishes (I jokingly thought to myself that the teacher was like Mr. Popo in Dragon Ball).


The body was moved to the Silver and Gold Lotus Pagoda on Mount Phra Yod. If you want to divide the stages here, you can divide it into 4 stages. The first stage is not difficult, which is the Luang Pho Yod and the Silver and Gold Lotus Pagoda. Along the way, there are Buddha statues in all directions, a total of 52 statues. They are the Buddha statues for the year of birth, day of birth, and month of birth. Stage 2 is the replica of the Buddha's footprint, which requires a little effort. Stage 3 is very difficult and tiring. (The dim sum I had this morning is completely burned out.) When you go up, you will find a Buddha statue in the attitude of giving blessings. From there, you can enjoy the view of Huai Yot city. As for stage 4, it is the top of the Thai national flag. I'm not sure if there is a Buddha statue there or not, because I didn't know when I went up. I thought it was the end of the road, so I didn't go any further. I realized when I came down. I didn't want to go up again, not because I was tired, but because of the mosquitoes. There were so many mosquitoes.

Stage 1


On the way up


Stage 3


As the saying goes, the sky after the rain is always bright. The sky after the rain in Trang is very good now. Riding a motorcycle without the sun licking my skin is a great feeling. The next destination in the plan is Wat Khao Thong, but if it goes according to the plan, it wouldn't be me. On the way, I saw a sign that said Arts for Life Center. I didn't think much of it until I came to a three-way intersection. The arrow pointed to the right, but the way to go was straight. I drove about 10 meters past it, then hit the brakes and turned the car around. I followed the sign and came to the place.


Parking the car, I stepped out with the usual feeling of confusion and bewilderment. A woman approached me and began to explain about the place. It's important to note that this center is not yet officially open to the public, but there has already been a grand opening ceremony with important figures in attendance. She told me that the center was the brainchild of her brother, who I'm guessing is an art teacher or artist, or something along those lines. He wanted to create a learning center that would combine the traditional way of life of the community with artistic concepts. That is to say, ...

Combining the two together, when the center is completed, there will be workshops and art exhibitions. It will probably be another tourist attraction in Trang Province. My brother took me around and explained everything. In addition to hearing good stories and free entry, coincidentally, today they were making fresh rice noodles, so I had the opportunity to eat a free afternoon meal. It was delicious, even though it was a little spicy. (If there are any errors, I apologize for my memory.)


Delicious but spicy


Finally, we reached our destination, the Golden Mount Temple.


Reclining Buddha in Nora attire


The way back and forth, I guess I could call it getting lost. I came across the Kapang Surin Public Park (Trang has a lot of public parks). There is also a replica of the Phra Buddha Sihing statue enshrined here. So I stopped by to sit and live a slow life like a hipster. After a day of fast life on a motorcycle. Sometimes life leads us to encounter something or other every day. Traveling and taking pictures made me realize that the best camera for humans is our own eyes. The lens we use to see is the attitude of each person. It depends on which angle we look at it. Bad is good, there is a lot. Life is not extinguished, we still have to serve the results of karma. But what happened throughout the day taught me that no matter what happens, life will always have a way. We don't know what will happen, but just thinking about how to deal with it is fun.


Day 6 - Please Love me(ow)


I woke up late today, so I left the house a bit later than usual. But my mind was still set on eating. I went to Pong Ocha 2, but all the tables inside were full. The only available tables were outside in the sun. Can you imagine how strong the sun is at eight in the morning? I sat down for a while, but then I was asked to move because of the sun. Haha. The staff asked me to move to a table in front of the restaurant. I sat there for a while, but then I was asked to move again, again because of the sun. So I had to set up a special table to eat. Overall, compared to the restaurant I went to yesterday, this restaurant wasn't very well managed. But I liked the grilled pork at this restaurant more. But it was...

I can't tell you anything about that. Because eating grilled pork or crispy pork, if you want to judge it, you have to eat it for several days. What I like more is probably because the skin is crispy and even throughout the plate. Not a single piece is tough (lucky). My favorite menu is fish porridge, but the quail egg dumplings are really delicious. Plus a hot cup of ginger tea, perfect.


Today, I have a plan to head to Kantang District. It's a day when the sun is not as cool as the previous days. It has been following me all the way from the restaurant and all the way to the end. I stopped by some popular tourist attractions along the way. Actually, I was going to eat at Ko Kia Restaurant, but as usual, what I wanted was closed. I didn't know what to do, so I drove around the city, going through that alley and out of this one. It was so much fun.


Phra Phuttha Chai Mongkol at Wat Trang Khum Phutthawat, the sandstone used to build the Buddha statue is over 35,000 years old. Inside the temple, there are many other interesting things. Try walking in and see for yourself.


The Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahisorn Phakdi Museum is dedicated to the former governor of Trang, who introduced rubber trees to Thailand.


Kantang Pier


In the past, Kantang Railway Station was used as a trade route for goods from Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.


I originally planned to drive from Kantang to visit the Tham Chao Mai Chao Khun cave, but I didn't have enough money to take the boat. I visited the cave yesterday. The name of the district is a reminder to save money. Take it easy. I changed my plans a little because on the way back I will use another route to return to the city. I will ride my motorbike, enjoy the breeze, and admire the beaches. I will gradually make my way through the beaches, starting from Hat Yao, Hat Yong Ling, Hat San, Hat Chao Mai, and Hat Pak Meng. When I arrived at Pak Meng, my mouth started to tremble and I felt hungry. I could smell the seafood. I stopped by a restaurant to eat. I ate at Kru Kit's restaurant. I saw the word "teacher" and it felt trustworthy (just my own thoughts). But I ate alone and ended up paying a small price for my craving for fish. I was charged 415 baht, which is a good price if I had someone to share it with. Hehe.



The food is fresh and good.


I drove out to the main road to head back. On the way, I saw a sign for the Aquarium, so I stopped by for a visit. Luckily, I arrived just in time for the sea lion show (there are two shows a day, 10:30 and 14:30). The entrance fee for adults is 50 baht and for children is 30 baht. This price includes the show. I walked around and looked at the fish, then watched the cute, adorable, and exciting sea lion show. Oh, I also found another beach there, Rajamangala Beach.


What are you looking at?


I want to be pale too, but the pose doesn't allow it 55


Today, it seemed like everything was going my way. Everything was smooth sailing, but not for long. On my way back, the rain that I had been thinking about and longing for started to fall. At first, it was manageable to drive through, but as I got closer to the city, just a few tens of kilometers away, it started to rain like crazy. I couldn't see the road, and there was nothing on the side of the road to shelter from the rain. After driving for about a kilometer in the rain, I came across the municipal office, so I turned in to shelter from the rain for half an hour. And when the rain stopped, it was time to go home.


It's been raining all day.


The highlight of the day happened on the way back. I caught a glimpse of a shrine (Kiu Oang Eia) and decided to turn in to pay my respects for good luck in life. As I stepped out, my eyes caught sight of a cat. It was beautiful in color, with a cute face and looked well-bred. As a cat lover, what else could I do but go over to scratch its chin and stroke its fur, letting it rub against my legs. A moment later, my eyes caught sight of two more cats. I went over to get to know the three of them a little. These three siblings are named Thongkam, Spider, and Panda. Their mother is a Persian. Actually, there was another cat in this litter, but the owner gave it to his sister to raise. Lucky me, a cat slave like me.


Day 7 - You'll Never Ride Alone


Good morning, bright and refreshing new day. Today's program doesn't have much. I've almost finished my trip. I guess the only thing left is the waterfall, which I haven't been to yet. Actually, there are many waterfalls in Trang. It's just that I think waterfalls are not a place to go alone. It might be because of my childhood memories. Unlike the sea, I think I can go there alone without feeling awkward. Hmm... I'm missing an activity. Haha.


Today, I had breakfast at the same place as usual. I went to experience the atmosphere and taste of Letrang 2. The interior and exterior of the restaurant are beautifully decorated. For those who love chic vibes and taking cool photos, I recommend coming to this restaurant. Plus, the music playing soothes the soul. It's really great. I sat there admiring the atmosphere. It was time to eat. To put it simply, if you're looking for a good atmosphere and like the decor, come to this restaurant. But if you're looking for taste, I personally don't think it's that good. The total damage was 3xx baht, probably not more than 20-30 baht. The roasted pork was very expensive at 150 baht and there wasn't much of it. As I said, the pork depends on your luck. You can't judge it in one day. The dim sum was so-so, the stir-fried noodles were just okay (oops, I'm starting to ramble). I secretly wondered if I had eaten so much that I couldn't taste the deliciousness anymore. There were two things I liked: the cream-filled buns (any dessert is delicious) and the tea. I poured and drank it until it was almost gone. I don't know if the tea was free or not. The third restaurant ended without much impression. After finishing my meal, I started to think, should I go to a new restaurant tomorrow?


With no specific plans, I decided to take a drive. I traveled from the city center to Yanta Khao District, passing through Na Yong District. Along the way, I came across another sign: Khao Chang Hai Cave. The name alone was intriguing, so I turned off the main road to visit it. On the way, I came across a reclining Buddha statue. I stopped to pay my respects and wish myself good luck for the day.


Upon arriving at Khao Chang Hai Cave, I was greeted by the cave keeper (I don't know why, but whenever I enter a cave, I feel like catching Pokemon). The old man told me to wait a moment for someone to turn on the lights (I was the first one here again). While waiting, I read the legends and fed the fish. Another old man came to turn on the lights, and the first old man handed me a flashlight, which cost another 20 baht (I only found out that I had to pay after leaving the cave). It was time to walk into the cave. I'll tell you one thing about this cave: I don't wonder why the elephants are still missing. It was the scariest travel experience of my life. As you go deeper, you start to hear the sound of dripping water and bats flying. It's not very dark, but it's eerie. You may not hear the sound of your own breath, but you will hear your heart beating. I swear on my head that you should not enter this cave alone. The flashlight I got was more valuable than anything else in the world. I kept thinking the whole time, throughout the 15 minutes I was inside, praying that the lights on the side wouldn't go out. Otherwise, I would definitely scream. But it was worth it to come and see it with my own eyes. When you reach the middle of the cave, you will see a magnificent sight that will amaze you. I'm not exaggerating, I really felt that way. Nature is truly capable of creating the most amazing things.


I don't know how to take a picture that captures half of what my eyes see.


After leaving the cave, I returned to the original route and reached Yanta Khao District. I found another temple and stopped by to pay my respects and take some photos of the Buddha (a personal preference). It was time to open Google Maps to see what was nearby. I stumbled upon a place called the Central Mosque, which was also on the way back. So I turned in. What I saw was confusing. It wasn't finished yet. I looked at the news about this place and it seems there were some minor problems. I just think that when it's finished, it will be another beautiful place for the people of Trang and our Muslim brothers and sisters.


On the way back to the city, I came across another sign, 1 of 20 historical sites in Trang (name something like this). I took a picture first and then came back to read the history. This place is called the Kirirat Family House. If you want to know more, go search it yourself, haha.



I rode my bike back to the city. I remembered that I wanted to join the Bike for Dad event. I asked the staff at the hotel and they told me that I could borrow a bike at the city hall. So I went to the registration area of the event. I asked the staff if they had any bikes to borrow. I got two answers: "I don't know" and "No". So I had to ride my bike back to the hotel because it started to rain again. The event starts at 3 pm, so I should have some time. On the way, I crossed the intersection at the station.


(Just a few meters from the hotel) My right hand gripped the brake. The car that was coming skidded its rear wheels stubbornly. The motorcycle fell in slow motion, gradually tilting at a 30-degree angle. My head hit the ground (thank goodness I always wear a helmet). My right side followed, from top to bottom. It snapped. My leg broke right before my eyes. The leg of the glasses I had just bought from the train market for 250 baht broke off from the frame. The car continued to slide beautifully along the ground. As for me, I slid on the slippery, wet road surface like a hockey puck. At that moment, I couldn't think of anything. I got up, picked up my glasses, lifted the bike, and pushed it to the hotel first.


Upon arrival, I informed the hotel owner and rushed to the bathroom to clean the wound and assess the damage. Fortunately, I only suffered minor injuries, including abrasions, an open wound, a sprained waist, and a bruised hip. The hotel had a basic first-aid kit ready, and I began cleaning the wound with alcohol. After a while, I realized the situation was more serious and told the staff I needed to go to the hospital. They called a motorcycle taxi to take me to Watthana Hospital. However, the driver took a long and winding route, and I eventually decided to walk as the police had started closing roads to clear traffic. While waiting for treatment, I wondered if I would survive the flight back home. It seemed like every day brought new challenges and excitement. On the bright side, this incident meant I would finally use the office's group insurance. I usually avoid going to the doctor and have never used it, no matter how many times I've changed jobs. I'm glad I finally have a reason to use it.


Minor injuries, apologies to those who do not want to see blood.

The wait for the wound dressing was not long. The atmosphere was not chaotic, and there were a fair number of people using the services. The nurses and doctors provided excellent service. (Have I reached the point where I need to review the hospital?) But one thing I always look for and expect from every hospital is beautiful things. I sat waiting to clear the bill for a good half hour, and then what I expected came true. The medical staff here are not all good-looking. When I reached the medicine counter, she must have been a pharmacist. The wound almost healed immediately. Hehehehehe. She wasn't very pretty, but she was easy on the eyes. She had a minimalist look. Her face (I'll call her younger sister because she looks young) was clean and beautiful, with light makeup or almost no makeup at all. (Am I at the point of reviewing people too?) Okay, that's enough. I'll stop here. I'll go back for another wound dressing tomorrow. I hope I get to see her again. (Just kidding.)


On the way back, I walked, taking shortcuts and passing through the familiar Chinta Market until I came across a shop. The name sounded familiar from when I rode back from Yanta Khao District. The shop was called Richy, and it served both savory and sweet dishes. The interior was beautifully decorated for Christmas. I ordered the steamed fish with spinach and wasabi sauce (apologies if the name is incorrect) and a green tea smoothie with red beans. While waiting, I ordered a slice of orange cake for dessert.



This orange cake is just as good as the pandan cake I love.


While waiting for the fish, it was time to explore the shop. This shop is another old one, it has been open for almost 20 years (if I remember correctly). Currently, there are 5 branches. Then my chatty nature kicked in. I started a conversation with the lady, calling her "พี่" (older sister) because her aura suggested she was the owner. The conversation ended with her asking if I was going to ride a bike in the sun. I said yes, and she said she would find a bike for me. And that's how it started. While waiting for the food, the lady, whose name I later learned was เอ๋ง, tried to contact several people (judging from the way she was talking to different people on the phone). Finally, she said she would call her employee to pick me up at the shop and take me to get a bike at her house (probably a relative's house) near the market. Time was running out. The fish wasn't ready yet. The staff told me to wait a moment because the fish wasn't cooked yet. It wasn't until 2:20 pm that I finally got to eat.



A huge amount, two sea bass fillets, with spinach stuffed inside the fish.


As soon as I finished eating, my subordinate drove me to the shop, as I mentioned earlier. The road was closed to traffic, and cars were not allowed to run. My brother tried to take me there. In the end, it seemed like there was no hope. He drove back to the shop. Suddenly, Brother Aeng called. It was like he was reminding him to take me there. He received the message and took me on a detour. The result was that we didn't make it. We were stuck on every road and every way. I tried to hail a motorcycle taxi, but it didn't go. So I told my brother to take me to the nearest place, and I'll walk there myself.


At that time, it was 2:50 PM and we were still stuck on the road. My brother said that the nearest place would be Richy's. And it really was the closest. I ran at the same speed I usually do in Lumphini Park. Believe it or not, I arrived in less than 10 minutes. Oh, oh, oh, if I had known, I would have just walked from the beginning. Haha. But anyway, I still have to thank my brother for trying to find a way to get me there. He tried many routes, but the roads were all closed. Okay, at 3:05 PM (I think), I arrived at the restaurant. Delish (Is that how you spell it?). Hello, brother. I'm here to borrow the bicycle that Ae told me about. I got the bicycle and helmet, and then the next thing was the shirt. Today I was wearing a black shirt, which didn't seem to fit the occasion. I rode around looking for a shirt in the shops nearby. Two shops passed, three shops passed, there were only children's and women's sizes. The fourth shop had men's sizes, but they were all slim-fit. It wasn't until the fifth shop that I finally found a shirt that fit me. I changed it right there in front of the shop, and then rode to the clock tower to prepare for the procession.


After the ceremony in Bangkok was completed, the procession began to move out in stages. The total distance is 29 kilometers, the same for all provinces. In Trang, there were about six thousand people registered, but according to the emcee, there were probably around eight thousand people. While pushing the cart to the starting point, I saw this sign.


It's like everything has been revealed. I don't blame anyone. Not knowing is not a crime, but the one who is wrong is us who don't know. I looked away from the sign and saw a very impressive sight. What I saw was an old lady with an old bicycle. It didn't look like it would work, but when I looked closely, I saw the name of the bicycle. It really touched my heart, so I went up to tease her a little. "Can you handle it?" (Southern accent) She replied with a smile. At that moment, I looked at the people around me who came to ride this time. Children, young men, young women, adults, old people, foreigners, disabled people. At that moment, I couldn't tell these people apart. Because it was a gathering, a gathering of all of us. Everyone had a bicycle, everyone had the same yellow shirt. Tears started to flow from my eyes without any warning. The people who participated in this event must understand the feeling of pride and contentment that I am feeling right now.


Notice the brand name.


As I cycled, local residents came out to cheer me on, waving flags and wearing yellow shirts. Some even handed out water to the cyclists, demonstrating the kindness and participation of the Thai people. However, one thing that bothered me was the water bottles. Some cyclists, who are definitely Thai, would drink from the bottles and then throw them on the side of the road. I don't know if this is normal behavior for them, but for me, it's not. I can tell you that there were trash cans all along the way. Can't you be a little more mindful? This event is called "Cycling for the King," not "Cycling for Yourself." It would be much better if we all had a little more awareness. I'd like to ask those who have read this far, which provinces you cycled in that didn't have this kind of behavior?


The finish line is the starting point. When all the cyclists have crossed the finish line, they sing the Royal Anthem together, led by the Governor. After the ceremony, a young boy came to the Governor to recite a poem. The Governor then asked the boy to recite the poem to our King.



I'm glad to be a part of it.

Every help, every atmosphere today, I just hope that all Thai people will be united and walk together. It's not just about cycling today. Because everything today has made me realize that you will never travel alone. (But I'm a Red Devil fan, haha)

Day 8 - Wich Mee Luck


I woke up with a start at six in the morning and went for a walk to the market. I made merit by offering food to the monks for good luck in life (again). I walked around the market and found dozens of grilled pork shops, fresh produce, and plenty of seafood. I stopped to buy grilled pork at Ko Chai's shop. I ordered 100 baht and got more than I did yesterday for 150 baht. So, I would recommend that if you want to eat grilled pork, come and shop at the market. I think it's made fresh every day, so it's crispier and fresher. As for which shop to choose, it's up to you. (Normally it should be like this, right? Haha)

Walking back to the station intersection, I stopped by a nameless noodle shop for a quick bite. Then, I crossed the street to Sin Jiu, the same place where I had noodles a few days ago. I ordered a traditional iced coffee with milk (it had a name, but I can't remember it) and a single youtiao for a total of 19 baht. This was a great deal, and I think it would please any bread lover. I savored my meal and sipped my tea with contentment.


Today I intend to live a quiet life, just waiting for the time to return.


I packed my things into my bag. One thing about travel bags is that they always seem bigger on the way back than on the way there. I guess it's because we always bring back so much more than just our belongings – memories, feelings, stories, and new experiences. After checking out of the hotel, I took a motorbike taxi to buy some "ขนมเปี๊ยะ" (a kind of Chinese pastry) at ซ.9. Judging by the number of people there, I figured it must be as delicious as everyone says. When I got there, the place was packed. Not wanting to cut in line, I decided to pass the time by trying some of the pastries. They had all sorts of fillings, and I just kept eating them one after another. They were fresh and hot, like they had just come out of the oven, and they tasted as good as everyone on Pantip said they would. I sipped on some tea while I ate, and when I walked out, I told the motorbike taxi driver that there were too many people and that he should wait for me (or maybe not). Then I went back in and ate some more. By the time I was full, I almost changed my mind about buying any. But I figured I should support the business, so I bought some to take back as souvenirs. I got two boxes of the taro filling, which is highly recommended (the green tea is also pretty good, by the way). I paid and left the shop quickly, because I didn't want to keep the driver waiting. I headed to the hospital to get my wound dressed. It's a shame I didn't see the nurse today. Oh well...



I'm back at the 1952 Cafe, which is actually owned by the same people as the hotel and is directly connected to it. 1952 is the year the hotel was founded, and it has been passed down through three generations. It's another impressive place to stay, conveniently located and with excellent service. What sets it apart is the large refrigerator in the room. I was curious and asked the owner if it wasn't too energy-consuming.


One of the goals of my trip to Trang this time is to try to finish reading a book. I've already read half of it, so I'll try to finish it before my flight. I still have some time before my flight, so I'll try to reach my goal.


There are still many temples and places that I haven't had the chance to visit, many restaurants and dishes that I haven't tried. If I want to see everything, I'll have to throw away my plane ticket and stay another night. I'll return to Bangkok on Monday morning and go to the office (great). I'm impressed by the people here, the smiles I send out are returned by everyone. The people here smile easily, it's heartwarming to see. I wave goodbye to Trang slowly, I don't promise if I'll be back in this life, but I promise that this forgetful person will remember it until the day I die. Thank you to everyone who traveled with me, if you, the reader, see this message, it means that I have survived safely. Farewell Trang.


P.S. If you're visiting Trang, keep an eye out for this sign: "Cha Phayom." When I get back to Bangkok, I'll look into franchising this business. You'll see these tea shops everywhere; there are a lot of them. It's probably the shop with the most branches in the province.

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