6th July I hopped on our motorbike and drove with Nong Thuen towards Sikao and ended up to Khlong Son beach and port. The beach was actally called Hua Hin. It was all deserted and had some evidence of the sand eroding as it had been preserved by metal netting and sand bags. The bay must be an enormous habitat for screw shells as I saw thousands of empty shells lying in droves on the beach. After wandering around for awhile we hopped on the motorbike and drove along the beach until we reached the port.
It was a concrete affair about 70 meters in length with 2 fishing boats alongside. The pier was at the shore of a khlong or river heading inland and being flanked on both sides by mangroves. The port had a large parking lot that I can only relate to the founding fathers some grandiose ideas not being realized. Apart from the fishing boats there were 2 women having a makeshift shop selling cooked food and then there were a handful of men fishing. We asked if the fishing boat would have any fresh fish to sell but apparently they were only into squid fishing and was all out. Just behind the pier a bit upriver there were some fish farms and one man on the quay knew his number and called the Owner to sell some fish to us.
Entrance to Ton Son port
After ahile 2 guys arrived and we hopped into a longtail boat and pottered to the floating fish farm. It was complete with lodgings (bedroom, kitchenette and toilet) although there was no lodger there at that time. We heaved on the nets and one guy cought Pla Kapong that we wanted. We got one white and one red Pla Kapong (maybe snapper in English, but considered the best sea water fish in the south). Once we had our catch we paddled back to the quay and then the fishes were measured and price was set. Of course the price was high as I was a farang but I’ve gotten used to it. Then we drove back home and bragged to the womenfolk that we had caught fish unawares. It took them awhile to realize we’ve fished with my wallet.
The petrified horse at Thungtong beach
In the afternoon Jira’s stepfather took me to se Thungtong and Bo Tuat beaches. The first beach was a long flat sand beach with muddy water and some large rocks going under to sea. I walked along the beach and as it was low water I could see the exposed rocky bottom and there were a couple of Thai kids looking for crabs. I also ventured on the rock bottom and could hear clams spitting water and saw occasionally a crab scuttling for shelter. Eventually I managed to catch one on my camera.
Meanwhile Jira’s father had struck conversation with local Farmer’s and I went to see what he was going on about. They also framed rubber treees and had one huge old timer tree left standing in the middle of the plot amid 2-3 yr old saplings. We walked back and headed for Bo Tuat Beach.
The old timer rubber tree
At Bo Tuat one had to climb down a steep dirt path and in fact if one would not know there was a beach I think no-one would notice it. The Beach was rockier than Thungtong, much more so. It had caves grated out by the sea in time and huge “plates” of stone lining the beach. I guess this what they call the “Geopark” in Langkawi, because of the layers of stone that can be examined and spans through thousands of year. It was totally undisturbed like some beaches I had seen in the Maldives although civilization was here too in the form of discarded slippers, empty bottles and whatnot. This beach would be ideal to spend a day at doing a BBQ. I climbed back up and we heade back home. At the local village we stopped to buy some fresh squid for dinner.
Bo Tuat beach
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