Pran Buri (Hua Hin)

We decided we wanted a nice, calm vacation so we headed south of Bangkok to Pran Buri. This time, it wasn't just you and me, Spike.

That's true. Kellie Bear joined us, too. But, I thought we went to Hua Hin.

No, Pran Buri.

But we planned a trip to Hua Hin, Captain.

Pran Buri is NEXT to Hua Hin! Just a bit farther down the road. Instead of  busy streets and lots of people, we stayed near the small town of Khao Tao.

Hua Hin is on the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Thailand, a few hours from Bangkok. This town was a fishing village until the royal family began vacationing at the beach there. Now it is a very popular resort town for tourists and Thai people.

But don't confuse Khao Tao with Koh Tao! 

If you're expecting an island, Spike, you would be disappointed at Khao Tao...but if you're looking for a quiet coastal village, it has two nice beaches, and a forest park with a great raised pathway through the mangrove forest.

We started our vacation by checking into the Thai House Resort. It's really small, and has reclaimed teak cottages surrounding a beautiful garden and pool.

This resort has bikes for use by the guests, so we got a ride to Sai Noi Beach. The beach is small and has rocky cliffs on one side of it. 

Don't forget, Captain, we also rode to the lake in Khao Tao and walked around it.

 There was a beach there, too.

At the lake? I don't remember that.

At the village. And on that beach we could watch the fishermen and even see Hua Hin!

That's right. And we could look at the Big Buddha of Wat Tham Khao Tao.

 We should have stayed on the beach looking at that statue.

Or maybe climbed it just after sunrise. Never again in the middle of the day! It was extremely hot and there were a lot of levels. And the last part is a trek on a path through the trees! But the views are stunning.

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But the Pran Buri Forest Park was okay in the middle of the day, wasn't it?

Yes, but that's because it's almost all in the shade!

True.

My favorite part of the forest park was walking through the mangroves.

 

 

Mine was the boat ride. Halfway through the mangrove forest, we had the chance to hire a longtail boat to take us around the Pran Buri river. We passed through fishing villages and saw the lighthouse.

  

 

And we had a moment to walk on Pran Buri Beach too! It's connected to the forest park.

That's what happens when you vacation on the coast!

 When in Pran Buri, we also visited Wat Khao Din.

 

  

  

  

This was a bit too far to ride the bicycles to, though. We needed to ride on the back of a motorbike!

We did visit Hua Hin on a different day. We decided to head to the Hua Hin Artists Village.

That was a lot of fun.

Although you did look a bit scared of the panther!

Was not.

I think you were. But my favorite part was the watercolor that is the largest watercolor painting in all of Thailand. 

I agree.

  

  

  

  

  

 We can't talk about this vacation without mentioning the food!

Ohhhhh! The FOOD!!!!!!!!!! As a bear, you know I am all about the food!

This was one of the best fed trips we've taken in awhile.

Which was your favorite place?

I can't choose! It was all so good.

Hmmm...so true.

So we ate four different cuisines while in Pran Buri: German, Italian, Mexican, and Thai, of course.

Here are some pictures of the meals we stuffed ourselves with. And the names of the restaurants. All but the Mexican restaurant were in walking or bicycling distance from our hotel.

Juergen's: Stroganoff and Schnitzel 

     

La Mexicana: burritos

 

diGiovanni's: risotto and pasta

Mr. Jok's: Thai