Hello... This review is another solo travel adventure ^^

This time, we will take you on a budget trip, tough and worthwhile as always.
Many people may already know that our capital city is located by the sea.
Those who don't know (one of them used to be us) might think, is it the Sea of Siam Park?
What kind of joke is the author making here!!! Are you going to take us to Siam Park?
No, it's a real sea with a mangrove ecosystem, tides, mudskippers, seafood, etc.
Try looking closely at a map of Thailand. Bangkok really has a coastline, not far, about 5 kilometers.
This time, we will take you to the aforementioned 5 kilometers to experience the way of life of Bangkokians who live by the sea.
We will stay in a homestay surrounded by mangrove trees, a community that uses boats as their main means of transportation.
We will paddle a kayak to dig for cockles, watch the tides, and have a full 3 meals of seafood for only 700 baht!!!
Let's take a day off, escape the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, and relax in Bangkok for 2 days and 1 night...

***This reviewer visited the area on October 30 - November 1, 2015.***

Let's start with how to get there (contact information will be provided at the end).

We will divide the journey into 2 types: by public transport and by private car.

Traveling by bus

Here are the steps:

1. Take a bus to Big C Rama 2 >>>
2. Take a songthaew (shared taxi) to Luk Vua >>>
3. Transfer to a red songthaew and get off in front of Khlong Pithaya Longkorn School >>>
4. Hire a boat near the school to go to Uncle Sorn's house in Saen To community.

1. Take a bus to Big C Rama 2

*** Starting from Rangsit, there will be a van from Rama 2 to Mahachai next to Major Cineplex on the parking lot side. The ticket seller will ask you with a cute accent where you want to get off. Tell him you want to get off at Big C Rama 2. The price, if I remember correctly, is 60 baht per person.

***We've never taken a van from the Victory Monument before. Try searching for vans under the Phahon Yothin Expressway on the Saphan Khai side. There are vans going to Rama 2. But we've taken the bus number 140 from the Phaya Thai Island side. The fare is 23 baht. It goes straight to Big C Rama 2.

2. Take a songthaew on the Luk Vua route

The front of Big C has several songthaews running. Look for the blue ones, but!!! It must be the blue one that says 'Bang Bon - Techno - Look Wua'. Look carefully because other songthaews are also blue. This songthaew does not go to Khlong Pithaya Longkorn School. Before getting on, tell him that you will continue on a songthaew to Khlong Pithaya Longkorn School. When you arrive, please stop for me. The songthaew will drop us off at the pavilion before turning into Soi Thian Thale 25. We just stand and wait for the red-headed songthaew on that side. The songthaew fare is 8 baht.

This is what a Songthaew on the Look Wua route looks like.

3. Take a red songthaew to Khlong Pithaya Longkorn School.

The songthaew driver suggested that we wait at the pavilion on the opposite side of the road. So we asked, 'Hey, where should I get on?'. The driver said, 'Get on the side where I dropped you off, but the bus stop pavilion is deep inside the road. If the red-headed car comes, it won't be visible. Sometimes it runs fast. Unless you want to stand in the sun waiting by the side of the road, the pavilion on the other side is easier to see. You don't have to stand in the sun. When you see the red-headed songthaew coming, just cross back to the side where I dropped you off.' 555 Confused? We were confused at first. To sum it up, get on the side where the Luk Wua songthaew dropped you off. But if you don't want to stand in the sun waiting for the bus, cross over and sit in the pavilion on the other side. When you see the red-headed songthaew coming, cross back and get on. Be careful when crossing the road, the cars in that area run fast. The red-headed songthaew, or red-faced songthaew, is the name given by the locals to the songthaew that runs to Khlong Pithaya Longkorn School, the point where we have to continue by boat. The front roof will be red, visible from afar. It may take a while for one to come.

(But I missed the bus because I crossed the street back and forth -_-) I was able to ride the bus all the way to the end of the line, which is in front of Khlong Pithaya Longkorn School. The fare is 8 baht per person.

Red-headed, red-faced songthaews...

4. Charter a boat from the front of the school to Baan Saen To.

The journey may seem a bit complicated, but I assure you that you will arrive. If you don't understand our explanation, please leave a comment or send us a private message.

Getting there by private car:

1. From Big C Rama 2, take Bang Khun Thian Sai Talay Road.
2. Park your car at Uncle Sorn's pier.
3. Uncle Sorn will pick you up by boat.

We are not familiar with this method of travel because we came by bus. Please call Uncle Son to ask about parking and picking us up by boat again. This will give us more accurate information. On the day we went, there were 2 other people who brought their own cars. We asked Uncle Son where we could park if we brought our own car. Uncle Son said that his nephew has a place nearby where we can park our car. Uncle Son will pick us up by boat from there. This is because the pier near the parking lot is closer than the pier in front of Khlong Pithaya Longkorn School. We took a picture from Google to help visualize this (hopefully).

The route from Big C Rama 2, we use the destination to search for the route as Khlong Pithaya Longkorn School. To see that it comes through Bang Khun Thian - Chaitalay.

If you want to go to the pier and Uncle Son's parking lot, when you reach the intersection with the blue circle, turn left for about 2 kilometers. Don't go to the school. Please flip the map. ^^

If you don't understand anything we've explained, feel free to ask us. Talking to people around you doesn't seem to work, will writing a review help? ^^

This time we are back as promised. We are back with the same impression we had the first time.
Oh... the pictures we used in this post are from both of our trips, but we will mainly use pictures from the latest trip ^^
The boat we chartered was driven by a very fast uncle (I've never seen a boat that uses gas before). It was fun, but the price of gas has gone up recently. I can't swim, and there's no hope for a life jacket, but I'm sure everyone around here must be good at driving boats because they were born and raised in this kind of environment (Hmm! Is the uncle from around here?). This time was different from the memory of the last time because it was during high tide. The banks of the canal were lined with houses on stilts, alternating with mangrove trees. There were some fishing tools to be seen.
I can't believe this is Bangkok ^^

The boat slowly slowed down, revealing a pier shaded by the silhouettes of mangrove trees. As we approached, an elderly man emerged. No matter how many times I visit, I am always warmly welcomed. ^^

Uncle asked us to pack our bags and took us to see where we would sleep that night. We slept in a hospital room that didn't seem to be used very often. Actually, Uncle Sorn's house has beds specifically for guests, but on the day we went, a woman and a man had contacted him first. The room can sleep 6-8 people, but they came as a couple. We came alone, so we had to move ourselves to sleep here. We can sleep anywhere, we are easy-going people (but not easy to please). Uncle Sorn prepared a bed for us, put up a mosquito net, found a mat and a sleeping bag to spread out, and provided a fan. As for the bedding, we went to get it from the room of the two people, and they gave us towels.

Done with the bed tonight ^^ I haven't slept in a mosquito net for a long time. Since the world has known iron bars and mosquito nets.

Sit in to add a spooky atmosphere

The sleeping area for those who actually come to stay looks like this, with sweet and colorful colors.

This is what the accommodation looks like, right by the water.

Let's take a look at the bathrooms. There are a total of 3 rooms, and there is a standing toilet for men outside, just like the bathrooms in grandma's and grandpa's houses in the old days, where the bathroom and shower are together.

After we put our bags away, we went upstairs to greet Aunt Aeuan. We went up to say hello to her. Aunt Aeuan greeted us in her Phetchaburi accent. She was smiling all the time and in a very good mood. After a while, Uncle Son walked over and asked, "Have you eaten anything yet?" I quickly said no (what about the extra chicken rice at the gas station near Big C Rama 2 earlier? 555). Since we arrived late, the two people who came before us had already eaten. I didn't mind eating afterwards, because everything looked so delicious! It was all mine too. 555 Aunt said to eat it all. I gave a dry smile and almost threw up the chicken rice. Aunt Aeuan emphasized again, "Eat the whole half fish." I looked at the fish first... I don't like to eat fish, but! I have an agreement with myself that if I go somewhere and they offer me food with good intentions, I must accept it and eat as much as I can. Sometimes there's a fine line between manners and gluttony. 5555 Let's see what's on the menu.

There are 4 menus in total: Steamed fish with lime, Steamed crab, Sweet and salty boiled shrimp, and Fried egg with oyster.

Don't think that just because you're staring at me, I won't dare to eat you!!!

Take a closer look.

We've been eating since around two in the afternoon, and it's almost four now. 😂

Fish are gone!!! No shrimp left!!! Crabs are gone!!! Only oyster omelet left. I can't take it anymore.

I'm so shocked at myself. How did I manage to eat all that? -_- Auntie Auen's dipping sauces are so heavy on the sour side, which is right up my alley, so I devoured everything.

After I washed the dishes, Uncle Son told me, "Thank you for helping me wash the dishes. Even though you paid for the food, we see this place as more like home."

Just finished cleaning the table, Aunt Aeun came down to cook again. Hmmmmm, I have to find something to help digest food.

Last time I came kayaking to collect cockles with friends. This time I came alone and couldn't drag the boat into the water.

Here are some pictures from the last time.

Clams, shrimp, and crabs. Uncle teaches how to raise them naturally, without the need for food. Therefore, there is no need for an air pump.

(What is it called? The thing in the shrimp pond that spins like a water turbine?)

Thanks to Ms. Anne for taking this picture ^^

The edges of the cockle farm are a bit deeper because boats with engines need to be able to run there.

The method of digging for cockles is to stick a paddle vertically into the mud to serve as a foundation for oneself. Hold the paddle in one hand and use the other hand to search for the clams. The depth of the water depends on the length of your arm. You need to hold the paddle because sometimes when you are digging, you may reach too far and the boat may tilt or even capsize.

If you have long arms, you can rest assured.

Let's take a walk around the house.

At the pier, there is a pavilion for relaxation. Next to it, there is a swing.

There is a reception area (is this the guest reception area?) The black one is called Nong Tun, the other one is called Nong Nuan.

During the low water season, those who want to plant mangrove trees can collect pods under the trees and find a place to plant them.

This picture is of the backyard.

The homestay also sells small snacks and drinks. You can support them by purchasing these items.

The people in the neighborhood would often stop by Uncle Sorn's house to buy things. A smile is the best greeting for people who are meeting for the first time.

Whenever we meet a customer, we always greet them with a smile, followed by a few short questions. ^^

We waited for the sun to set and walked along the cockle embankment to watch the sunset. Here are some pictures to share.

I left a picture for P'Ne and P'Mook (I'm not sure if I remember the names correctly?). In case you guys come across this review, I secretly took a picture of you two ^^

The two older brothers dragged the boat out to fish amidst the romantic sunset. We sat dejectedly on the ridge of the rice field. TT

Uncle Sorn's house has fishing rods. Anyone who wants to go fishing can row a boat to the pond.

They say that women who like to watch the sunrise and sunset are romantic. (We're the ones who said it, hehe)

The sun has set and the silence is broken only by the buzzing of mosquitoes. Thankfully, I brought some insect repellent with me, otherwise I would be in trouble. I've been bitten so many times I could almost fly.

While waiting for dinner, we sat down and talked with Uncle Son about the mangrove forests in Bangkok. Uncle Son told us that there used to be 2,700 rai of mangrove forests, but now there are only 200 rai left. This is a shocking decrease that has occurred within the past 10-20 years. The main problem causing the loss of mangroves is coastal erosion. Currently, villagers are planting bamboo poles to create wave barriers in the hope of restoring the mangrove forests. Nearby, there is a mangrove forest study path, a wooden bridge that leads to the Bangkok Sea. Uncle Son said that before we arrived, students had asked him to take them on the wooden bridge, but he doesn't recommend going there right now because it's still raining and there are a lot of mosquitoes. If anyone wants to go, they should wait until the rainy season is over. I visited the bridge in 2012 and I will share some old photos to show the wave barriers that the villagers have built and the problem of coastal erosion more clearly.

Please note that this is a photo from 2012.

Although Uncle's teaching style may seem stern, he doesn't talk much. However, if we have any questions about the environment or the history of this place, Uncle can answer them all.

Another thing we're interested in is 'the tides'. We want to know how it relates to the moon? How do you count the lunar calendar? Last time we were here in July, the water was so low in the morning that we could barely park the boat. Uncle Son told us that in two months the water will rise in the morning and fall in the late morning, alternating. And it really happened. This time we came, my aunt said that if we had come earlier, she would have let us row a boat in front of the house stairs. So we were very curious about how they knew about these things. So we asked a lot of questions. Uncle Son answered briefly, 'I can't explain it. You have to stay here for a long time.' That's right. It's like the answer to many things we want to know, but we never really observe or consider the whys and wherefores of those things. Some things really take time. #Love is the same

The two brothers rowed back with a small catfish.

It's time to eat again, even though the old food hasn't digested yet. -_-

Dinner was as full as ever. This time we had the opportunity to sit as กขค. at the same table with 2 other people.

I had the opportunity to have a serious conversation with them for the first time. They are both very lovely. ^^

Let's see what's on the menu today.

Another feast! There's deep-fried fish with a tangy mango sauce that's incredibly flavorful. The cockles, boiled from Uncle Sorn's rice paddy, are huge. The curry crab is rich and fragrant with spices. Our favorite dish was the crispy fried shrimp, which we drizzled with the fish sauce. It was heavenly!

Auntie Euan said she didn't make tom yum because she was afraid it wouldn't be finished.

Hmm, that's not all.

We talked about asking Auntie not to make breakfast tomorrow, and to just reheat the leftovers from dinner for breakfast instead.

After chatting for a while, we went our separate ways to take a shower and go to bed. I told Uncle Son that I would go out to take pictures of the stars later at night.

It's too dark to see clearly. I want to see the stars in Bangkok ^^

He lay down and looked at the door. Oh, it's so wide.

The width is not a problem, but when I sleep, it is right in my line of sight. I try not to look at it.

I was just about to fall asleep when the rain started pouring down heavily. The roof doesn't have a ceiling, so the sound was deafening. It's only when you're sleeping alone that it's scary. More importantly, the gap under the door... I'm not afraid of ghosts anymore, but I'm afraid of reptiles running in to躲雨. So I got up and arranged the mattress to cover the mosquito net tightly. Stargazing for today has to be put on hold.

It's not over yet... tonight is still long. Suddenly, the fan went out. Hey! Who turned it off? TT I didn't dare to look back. I forced myself to sleep until morning. When I woke up, my uncle asked me if I was hot last night because the power went out? Power outage!!! Why didn't I think of that at that time? It's a good thing I didn't tell my uncle what I was thinking. Hehe.

The morning after the rain is a very refreshing morning. The air is cool and everything looks lush and green. It's just past six o'clock, and last night was the earliest I've gone to bed all year. I haven't felt this well-rested in a long time. I didn't wake up because of my alarm clock, but because of the sound of the local birds taking a bath by the window next to my bedroom. I had to go take a peek.

The weather is good like this, let's go out and collect some moisture.

The lovely Siamese rhododendron makes this morning a rosy one.

Lungsorn and Pa Auen were sitting outside, sorting through the debris of leaves and aquatic animals that had been washed into the rice paddy when the water was let in the previous night.

Let's see what we got.

This type of fish is called 'Pla Khuea'. It looks like a cross between a snakehead fish and an eel. Auntie Aeuan said that it sells for 70 baht per kilogram.

It is clear that the aquatic life here is very abundant. It is easy to find them like this.

Out of boredom, I decided to explore the area around my house to see if there were any other living creatures around.

Walking around the house this morning was a bit difficult because most of it is dirt. It also rained last night.

Walking around, the dirt stuck to my sandals, turning them into high heels. We saw the uncle teaching how to take off shoes and walk, so we tried it too.

It's still messy, but it's more comfortable than wearing shoes.

I met the first one and exclaimed, "Wow! We met face to face!" We stood staring at each other for a moment, unsure of which way to go so we could get out of each other's way.

In the end, she chose to jump into the water and disappeared.

Next up...if you come to visit the mangrove forest, you must meet 'walking fish' with chubby cheeks.

As the water level rose, this mangrove crab emerged from its burrow under the house.

The sun is getting strong, so I think I'll call it a day on surveying the life around the house.

We went to wash our feet, but the water wasn't running because the power was out, so we washed our feet like this instead.

It's a footbath next to the stairs leading up to the house, just like my grandmother's house in the old days.

We chose our favorite corner at the pier, letting the shade of the trees block the increasingly intense sunlight, accompanied by a book that we never seem to finish.

For the past two days, we've been disconnected from social media, immersing ourselves in the tranquility of the verdant world.

We can read more books. When we come across a sentence that touches our hearts, we have time to savor those words.

Alternating between watching the boats sail back and forth, watching the birds eat the blue fish, and the two crows flying and teasing each other, making noise everywhere.

Just the sight of the water level gradually rising brings me joy.

Sometimes, happiness doesn't require a lot of effort. Just a change in perspective, a shift in viewpoint, can be enough.

Around noon, the water started to rise. The situation felt very familiar, just like the year of the big flood. But here, around 10 am, the water will gradually recede.

When everyone was ready for breakfast, we helped carry the rice salad to the table.

The truth is that this meal should have been rice porridge, but since we asked the aunt not to make any more and to just reheat the old one,

Look at what we've got...

"Just warming it up isn't enough, Aunty Uaen. Take the leftover boiled cockles from yesterday and make a cockle salad."

Along with a large plate of stir-fried squid and shrimp -_- Did the aunt and uncle make any profit???

And that's not all... there's also coffee, Ovaltine, and bread!

This type of kettle was used when I was a child. When smoke came out, it meant that the water was boiling and ready to use.

After finishing breakfast and washing the dishes, we packed our things and prepared to go home.

Before leaving, Uncle Sorn asked everyone to write in the guest book. Everyone wrote diligently, some even drew pictures.

Then I paid for the accommodation, which was 700 baht in total. It wasn't expensive at all and was definitely worth it.

Uncle Sorn and Aunt Aeuan drove us to the pier by the parking lot. We asked for a ride with them to the school.

Thank you very much for your generosity to this little black child. You even invited me to visit the Phra Khan Thao Nosing Shrine.

But we didn't go because we felt satisfied with this trip. Thank you very much. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

We told Uncle Son that if we have the chance, we will definitely come back again ^^

We took a ride with two brothers and got off at Khlong Pithaya Longkorn School. But if we didn't get a ride with them, we would have asked Uncle to call a boat to pick us up.

Last time, we hired a boat back for 5 people, they charged 120 baht. When we arrived at the school, we stood waiting for the same red double-decker truck that we had taken to get there (you can also wait in the court). It might take a while, as this route doesn't have many buses. Tell the driver that you want to get off at Rama 2, and they will stop for you under the overpass.
Then, cross the street to the Rama 2 Night Plaza (not sure about the name of the place), but next to it is the Sang Chan Bar. We took the bus number 140 back to Victory Monument, which cost 23 baht. I saw that there were also vans going to Victory Monument, waiting at the same place, but I don't know how much they cost.

If you are interested in staying at Uncle Sorn's homestay, you can call for more information or to book your stay.

You can reach him at this number: 0870717242. This is Uncle Sorn's direct number. Sometimes the signal may not be very good, as there is limited phone reception in the area.

*** Accommodation for 1 night with 3 meals (lunch, dinner, breakfast) at 700 baht per person (price as of October 30, 2015)

It's better if we go in a group, that way it's worth it for both the people going and the people making it.

***If you don't want to stay overnight, you can just come in for a meal. We can accommodate up to 80 people. The price depends on the number of people coming.

For example

Less than 10 people, 2000 baht per table, 5 dishes included.

14 people will be divided into 2 tables, priced at 3000 baht for 5 dishes.

50 people, each paying 200 baht, for a total of 10,000 baht. The food will consist of 5 dishes, the same as before.

Please call in advance for confirmation.

Also, the only way to get here is by boat. If you come with a large group, Uncle Song will call and arrange a large boat for you.

This trip may seem a bit far-fetched, but it's something we actually experienced. ^^

**** Please note that this is a homestay, so please be aware that it is not a luxurious place. It is a simple place where you can experience the local way of life. Uncle Sorn and Aunt Aeuan will take care of you like their own children. Therefore, the behavior of visitors should be adjusted to the place and the way of life of the owner. Please consider this. ^^

Thank you for reading until the end ^^

Expenses for this trip
Accommodation + 3 meals 700 baht
Transportation to Big C Rama 2 (from Future Park) 60-80 baht (can't remember exactly, but around this amount)
Bought chicken rice 40 baht
Songthaew fare to Luk Vua 8 baht
Roundtrip songthaew fare to Khlong Pithaya Longkorn School 16 baht
Bought personal items 45 baht
Boat fare to Uncle Sorn's house 100 baht
Bought snacks at Uncle Sorn's house 27 baht
Donated to the Kathin ceremony with Aunt Euan 100 baht
Bought coconut pancakes and water while waiting for the songthaew 40 baht
Bus fare to Victory Monument 23 baht
Bus and motorcycle taxi fare home 55 baht

Total expenses 1,234 baht Wow, a nice number too. I wonder if I added it wrong. I only calculated it once. Hehe.

Thank you to everyone who is interested and has come to read our review.

It might take a while to contact or book an appointment because we only saw an uncle and an aunt managing the place.

If anyone goes, please share some photos with us ^^