Khao Laem Ya and its panoramic sweep of Samet Island is a fitting prelude to an aquarium tour and a fishing village offering exemplary homestay facility
YVONNE BOHWONGPRASERT
Arriving at the grassy hilltop of Khao Laem Ya - headquarters of Khao Laem Ya-Moo Ko Samet National Park off mainland Rayong - one lovely sunny morning, we're tense with excitment at the prospect of trekking a nature trail dotted with viewing points, presenting a panoramic sweep of the western side of Ko Samet island.
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| Sunset is beautiful at the grassy hilltop of Khao Laem Ya— a great place for a view of Ko Sumet. |
A stone's throw from Hat Mae Ramphueng, it is a snug spot to appreciate beautiful natural surroundings highlighted by clumps of tall golden-hued grass growing on the hill overlooking a vast expanse of water.
Park ranger Pramote Chantasorn, our guide this day, said: "If the waves get rough and conditions on Ko Samet are not conducive for camping, I would suggest that tourists come to Khao Laem Ya. It's a nice place to unwind from the pressures of city life."
As we rode the asphalt road leading to the 1.4-km-long trail, our guide told us the beachside forest was home to some fascinating plants and animals, and for visitor convenience the tress lining the route have nametags for identification. During the first 25 minutes of the trek we enjoyed a view of flora along the dirt road made slightly slippery by early morning rain.
Four hundred metres down the trail we came across trees and shrubs of all size, shape and colour. Some that stood out included the velvet tamarind (Dialium cochinchinense) which grows to a height of 15-25 metres, its fruit sweet and edible while the dark red or brown timber is used for decorative paneling and other such purposes; crape-myrtles (Lagerstroemia floribunda), a deciduous species with pinkish-purple flowers and whitish-grey dimple scabs on its bark, about 15-35 metres tall and used in furniture and ornamental pieces; and the Atalantia monophylla, two to six metres tall with yellowish-green seeds that's in bloom March to April. Again, it has great ornamental value.
The trail, reminded our guide, is at its most colourful from June to July when newly hatched butterflies appear on the scene, complementing crab-eating macaques and other animals, presenting visitors with ample of photo opportunity.
We hit the scenic view point at Khao Laem Ya close to noon. To our left, the cliff offered a bird's-eye view of a large stretch of Ko Samet, and if the weather was favourable, we're told, we could spot seagulls around the cliff.
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| Trekking the forest trail that holds some of nature’s best kept secrets. |
The last 800 metres of the trail was devoid of shade from trees. By the end we were completely drenched in sweat, thanks to the scorching sun. Soil in this part of the island is mostly sandy and saline, which perhaps explains why the vegetation mainly comprised shrubs, twigs with thick leaves and clumps of tall golden-hued grass. One exception was a screw pine. It seemed to have adapted itself well to the conditions for it grew to a height five to six metres on rocky ground by the sea.
The final stretch of the trek was most challenging physically. We had to manoeuvre past a rocky terrain to reach a view point on other side of the park. It was more like mountain climbing as sharp, uneven rocks made us tread cautiously to avoid falling and hurting ourselves.
Our next destination was Rayong Aquarium, located 2.5 kilometres from the park. It is part of the Research and Development Center for Marine Fishery on the Eastern Coast of Thailand, and only opened to the public in 2003.
The aquarium has a vast collection of exotic marine life forms native to the seas of Thailand. The exhibits are divided and neatly organised to make the tour easy and enjoyable for visitors.
There are 40 glass tanks containing colourful creatures of various forms and sizes. The most brilliant - in my opinion at least - was a 400-ton water tank under which ran a walking passage displaying, among others, sharks and stingrays.
Every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday morning spectators can watch divers feed these fish. There is also a 40-ton tank showcasing rare species found in our seas, in addition to a display of marine ecology complete with sea urchins, starfish and sea cucumbers.
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| A walk along this rock-strewn shoreline may be pleasing to the eye but physically it is quite challenging. |
Visitors enjoy scenic view from the comfort of their beach camping site. |
A quiet section of Ko Samet, as pictured during the trek along nature trail. |
In one part of the aquarium is a museum showcasing various types of sea shells placed in nine glass cabinets categorised as per their biological characteristics. The last section traces progress of fishing vessels and related equipment over the years, in addition to models of endangered fish species and sea turtles.
Next we hit Klaeng, a district comprising fishing villages, one of which is Paknam Prasae. It is home to Baan Rim Naam, cited by the Tourism Authority of Thailand as a model homestay facility. Been open only a year, its owner, Suthee Ua-Fua, is also president of the village fishery group.
"I converted my family home (next to the Prasae River) into a homestay facility to promote our village and our way of life," noted Suthee. "It's a typical fisherman's house from the past. Our village is one of the oldest in the area, and there are six families offering homestay service."
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| Owner of Baan Rim Naam homestay facility Suthee Ua-Fua next to a picture of his boat. |
His guests hail from Bangkok and nearby provinces. Leisure activities on offer are not just meant to be fun but also to educate his guests, backed by delicious seafood cooked from fish sourced fresh from the river. The homestay experience includes a tour of a decommissioned naval vessel, a boat ride to watch fireflies at night and an excursion to nearby islands like Ko Mun Nai that boasts a sea turtle conservation station. It is followed by lunch after which guests can engage in snorkelling around its sister island, Ko Mun Nok, that is blessed with extensive coral reef.
Baan Rim Naam comprises of four air-conditioned bedrooms on the top floor and three on the ground floor. Guests are advised to go for a package deal priced at 1,500 baht, which includes a night's accommodation inclusive of three meals and leisure activities.
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