Rayong Beach

Had myself a quick ride along Rayong Beach last evening. When I got there it was just before sunset and very few people around. Found one spot with some day fishing boats already dragged up the beach and a deserted empty beach. I knew I had visited at the time between people going home and coming out for dinner. All very quiet. Restaurants were just beginning to set out tables and chairs etc. Next trip down this way I'll arrive a bit later, soak up the evening atmosphere, have dinner and get in a few photos of "night life on the beach".

Rayong Christmas Eve

Enjoyed a lovely evening with Wanna and friends. My favourite food roast pork. All good food with veggies, potato salad and finished off with ice cake.
Then on to Karaoke.
Fun evening thanks to everyone. Happy Christmas to you all and best wishes for 2015....

Rayong Big M Coffee Shop

Would you believe Rayong hosts a coffee shop that is 1950's/1960's retro. Not sure which as that was before my time!! But its decked out in Coca Cola and Pepsi memorabilia. Even a collection of old Vespa scooters parked outside next toa London Phone Booth..... Loads for odds and ends.
Does good coffee and excellent cakes. Has WiFi of course and several sort of airconned lounge areas to sit around and relax. Very cool.
In fact coffee shops in Thailand are becoming more and more common. I remember when I first came over here in the late 1970's the only coffee available was the local sold on the street or in a hotel. Not much of a choice. Now spoilt for choice.

Oh yes. Forgot to mention. Coffee is about GBP 1.00.

Rayong Quick Lunch...........................Meal for 2.

Popped out for a quick Lunch. Small restaurant on our street. Clean, simple and friendly.

Had some Nam Tok Moo, Cucumber Salad and rice. Followed up with an ice cream.  Excellent. 

Nam Tok Moo is thin slices of cooked pork which is then reheated very quickly with several herbs and spices. Main ingredients are mint and coriander.  (At least I think that's what is in it.... :)

The cucumber salad is a take on the famous Thai "Som Tam" (Papaya salad, famous for being very hot). Cucumber salads also the same coming in various stages of hot to unbelievably hot. This one was just right. Saying that I cannot tell you where that fits on the scale hot to very hot !

MEAL, 

Pork

Cucumber Salad,

Side dish of salad (cabbage and greens)

Boiled rice

Sticky rice

2 ice creams

Water and ice 

Total GBP 4.00. 

Map Ta Phut Local Super Market 7/11

I've posted quite a few times with pictures of restaurants and though this time I would add in a somewhat "mundane" type of shop. Thailand has hundreds, no thousands of 7/11's convenience stores. They are everywhere. They compete with Family Marts and several other brands including the famous Tescos.  Yes even Tesco have hundreds of small "convenience" stores as well.

So here is one photographed in a bit of detail. What do they sell you may ask? Well everything you need and a lot of stuff you don't..... The shops have all the necessary consumables. In fact only thing missing is fresh fruit and veg. They even have some of these fruits and I did notice corn of the cob in plastic wrappers.....

Always outside these places are people running their small businesses. Ranges from selling food stuffs to key cutting to what every you can think of that sells or makes a living. Nearly always there are people selling raffle tickets.... Here if you look closely you can see in the photo above in the bottom right hand corner some bottles. Well that's petrol for motorbikes. You can buy it by the half litre. These bottles are situated about 5 meters from a  deep fry chicken stall. Safety is not a major consideration in this context.... After all petrol sells.... :)