Chanthaburi – City of gemstones and fruits

By: Hieu Nguyen

Travellive 11/201 - We arrived at Suvarnabhumi Bangkok airport at 11 a.m. After 4 hours on the bus, along colorful streets, we reached Chanthaburi.

                               

Located in the East of Thailand, bordering Battambang and Pailin of Cambodia at Thailand Gulf, Chanthaburi (“Chantha” means the moonlit, “buri” means province) has an area of 6,338 km² with natural beauty and fascinating destinations. Largely natural reserves with tropical forests and magnificent waterfalls, luxuriant fruit gardens such as rambutans, durians, mangosteens…and famous mineral resources like Sapphire, Ruby are exploited and manipulated.

                                      

The first destination we visited was the over-100-year-old Catholic church that was built by the Vietnamese community settled in Chanthaboon Waterfront. Seated peacefully along the Chanthaboon banks, this 300-year old village is the homeland of most of Vietnamese, Chinese people and Thai people. The church is the blend of Vietnamese – Thai – Chinese – Portuguese exquisite art and the pinnacle of architecture. Boat-shaped roofs, glassy windows, refined flowers and gems are skillfully decorated. The most unique attraction is the statue of the Mother of God Mary which is stuck 20,000 carats of gems.

Another destination is Phlio waterfall at Phlio National Park, a magnificent waterfall that has an area of 134,5km². Stepping on moss-green stairs, we find the way to the murmuring stream hidden under the green ancient tree. This is an ideal living place for an abundance of fish. We gave them a treat of Chinese pea that we bought at the parking area.

 

In the afternoon, we visited the National Naval Commerce Museum. A big ship, which used to carry produces of ancient Thai people, are displayed here. This museum also has many ship models representing different periods of marine vessels. It is there where marine antiquities are kept. Most of them were made from clay or Sangaloke porcelain. Finally, we traveled to the old Nern Wong Fort and saw the cannon that was found in 1834 by King Rama III. This fort was built to protect Chanthaburi from invaders. Behind the fort is a Marine museum with a variety of valuable antiques.

Mangkon Bupparam Temple, a Chinese pagoda in Amphoe Laem Singh, Thailand, is a surprise of the precise mixture and integration but also remains its traditional characteristics. Chanthaburi is actually the homeland of immigrants.

                                     

At night, we explored Chanthaburi night market and Robinson trade center and bought us perfumes, clothes, cookies, jam, dry fruits, colorful arts and crafts and tasted specialties, only found in Thailand with a very cheap price.

                                       

Finishing our exploration in the city of gemstones and fruits, we remembered the look and weaving hands of a Thai girl – our new friend and wished to go back to that peaceful land.

Further information:

- From Bangkok, you can take Ekamai Bus Terminal or Morchit Bus Terminal to Chanthaburi in about 4 hours at a price of 93 – 135 THB/person. Chanthaburi is about 245km from Bangkok. You can also take a taxi or fly there at Suvarnabhumi airport (3 hours/300THB).

 - At Chanthaburi, you can hire a motorbike or a car to explore all fascinating destinations here. Thai people drive on the left.

 - You should change currency into Thai Baht becathe local people do not prefer USD. (USD$1 = 30.5 THB).

 - You can buy gemstones, arts and crafts or other souvenirs at a price of 25 THB/item.