…Ban Thong Yee.

So, yesterday morning I headed out bright and early (well, early … I’m none too bright in a morning) with the intention of exploring south of the main beach area of Khanom.

Just before the hill at the end of the beach – the one with the lookout I mentioned a few days ago – I turned down a small road in order to take a photo of the end of the beach.

As I turned around I spotted a camper van/RV. They’re somewhat rare in Thailand. In fact the government has recently introduced rules to make it virtually impossible to enter the country with such a vehicle. The logic, if there is any, is to prevent tourists from enjoying the place without paying for hotels and restaurant meals. A bit unfriendly if you ask me, which of course they didn’t.

Then I noticed the van had French license plates, and there was a man sitting outside minding his own business. That is, until I showed up and said “Bonjour. Did you drive all the way from France.” Two hours later, I was still there.

Yes, he, his partner and son, plus their twenty-one year Iveco van had indeed driven all the way from France, and had taken two years to do it. Needless to say there was quite a story to the trip, which is why I was in no hurry to continue my touring. That could wait.

It seemed like a mammoth undertaking, especially getting permission to enter and cross countries such as Iran, but he assured me it was a une tranche de gateau. No, he didn’t really say that. The key is a magical document known, even in the English-speaking world, as a “Carnet de Passage en Douane.” Having run a motorsport team I’m very familiar with these, and can understand how they will smooth the entry into foreign countries. But Iran? Amazing.

Anyways, after a long chat, during which I’d been able to impart some local knowledge – they’d arrived only the previous night, in the dark, and so had no idea what was where – I decided to postpone my southern-Khanom tootlings until today.

Again, out early and still none too bright, I headed south. Arriving at the first bay beyond the main beach, I turned down a tiny road and found this…

And walking back to the car I also found these three young lads, who I assume had been camping on the beach, and who insisted I took their photograph, even thanking me in English. So, here you go guys, your fifteen minutes of fame…

But I also noticed this…

…a completely abandoned resort development. One thing I don’t understand about Thailand, if indeed I understand anything about Thailand, is why these developments continue, when clearly there is no demand.

This construction work, on yet another new resort, is just around the corner…

Good luck with that guys.

Next; right around the bay, there’s the famous Khanom Seafood Restaurant and their equally famous views.

Beyond there, the road rises, and there’s a steep slope down to the sea. The road is also very narrow, but fortunately with a few places to pull over to get views like these…

I also found this place along the way…

…I figure with a couple of new windows and a lick of paint it will make a nice seaview cottage! 🙂

At the end of the road – literally, there is nowhere else to go – there’s the small hamlet of Ban Thong Yee. It’s nothing more than a hotel/guest house, restaurant, camping area, and a few surrounding houses…

At the end of their small beach there are even better views, looking towards Khanom and beyond to Koh Samui…

Back at the restaurant, I had to take some pics of their pet monkey, even though I don’t like monkeys. Maybe you do…

Not a bad morning’s “work.”