I watched from the roof balcony of Baan Luang Rajamaitri Historic Inn as rain softly pelted the murky waters of the Chanthaburi River below. I was planning on a quick nap before exploring the narrow streets of this riverside town but sleep has abandoned me after having a quick glimpse of the area. It excited me. In my mind’s eye, I was seeing a quainter version of Penang’s Georgetown or perhaps Melaka’s Jonker Walk in Malaysia, sans the throngs of tourists and shops.

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TYPICAL ARCHITECTURE AT CHANTHABOON’S OLD TOWN

Dusk was almost upon Chanthaboon, a century-old riverside town in the district of Chanthaburi, when I finally decided to go out. It was still slightly drizzling but I wanted to see it before evening fully descends. I leisurely walked from our hotel, tracing the kilometer-long, twelve-foot wide Sukhaphiban Road, dodging incoming motorbikes and cars that take up almost the whole width of the street.

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I was jolted wide awake as our van suddenly stopped on a narrow street beset by old two-story wooden houses. It was already late in the afternoon and we were told to alight. Right here? I asked, still trying to make sense of this less-than-ten-foot wide road with local vendors hawking thick noodles right by its crumbling colonial-style covered porch. Are we gonna sleep at the home of this old lady by the frying pan?

WHAT TO SEE IN CHANTHABURI WHAT’S INSIDE? • KUNG KRABAEN BAY ROYAL DEVELOPMENT STUDY CENTRE • NANG PHAYA HILL SCENIC POINT • J PEN YENTAFO RESTAURANT • BAN SAMET NGAM CHANTHABOON MAT HANDICRAFT CENTER • BAAN LUANG RAJAMAITRI HISTORIC INN

KUNG KRABAEN BAY ROYAL DEVELOPMENT STUDY CENTRE

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ADDRESS: KHLONG KHUT, THA MAI DISTRICT, CHANTHABURI | CONTACT NO: +66-3936-9216-8 | GPS MAP: 12.582604, 101.890578

A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO BE OUT AT SEA IN CHANTHABURI

We started out for Chanthaburi—a province 245 kilometers away from Bangkok (about 4 hours by bus)—from Rayong quite early. I didn’t even know we already crossed the border until we alighted at the Kung Krabaen Bay Royal Development Study Centre. And I wouldn’t even know we were already in Chanthaburi until I set the location for my Instagram (follow please, lol), it was that close to where we were staying at Rayong.