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Bangkok Travelbug July 13 Rayong Fruit Fair 2013 June 28, 2013 |
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Rayong - general information Rayong is a province on the eastern seaboard that’s about 180 km south-east of Bangkok and about two hours’ drive. This coastal province is famous for her beaches, seafood, national parks, the island of Ko Samet and of course her fruits. 
Rayong Fruit Fair 2013 Around May every year, when most of the fruits are in season and ripe for harvest, a fruit fair is held in the province to promote the local economy and to help the local farmers sell their fruits. Rayong isn’t the only province to do this. Neighbouring Chanthaburi and Trad have similar fruit fairs around this time. Table of contents Rayong Fruit Fair 2013 This year the Rayong Fruit Fair was held from 23 – 29 May 2013 at Talat Taphong (Taphong Market) in the sub-district (tambon) of Taphong which is about 9 km east of Rayong city centre. At this market the visitor will have a chance to view some of the more popular Thai fruits available as well as some that you rarely see. Let’s take a tour of this market. Table of contents Tour of Taphong market The song taeow ride from the city to Talat Taphong was pleasant. The lady on board was very helpful and told where to get off at the market as she was going to her stall at the fruit fair. She told me that the following week she’ll be in Chanthaburi for the fruit fair there. So these fairs are not limited to the farmers in the province but are open to others from neighbouring provinces as well. When I walked into the open air market, I realised why the durian is the King of Fruits. It was everywhere! 
Durians There are three varieties of durian in Thailand.
Karn Yao – note the long stems There’s a board at one end of the market that gives the daily price quotes, every much like in a commodity market. Next the rambutans, a sweet, translucent and juicy fruit round a little seed were going for 30 – 35 baht per kg that day. 
Rambutans Mangosteens were one of my favourites. This white and juicy fruit cost 35 – 50 baht per kg. 
Mangosteens I didn’t like this fruit with its sharp prickly skin. It’s called sa la in Thai. I don’t know the English equivalent. I tried it once, got pricked all over my fingers just to peel the fruit only to taste something sour. I never tried it again. It’s not cheap, 90- 100 baht per kg. 
Prickly fruit This fruit is interesting. It’s called long kong in Thai. I had difficulty remembering the Malay word for this as this fruit is also available in Singapore and Malaysia. 
Long Kong It has three varieties.
Surprisingly all three varieties have the same scientific name, Lansium Domesticum. I prefer the Thai version, simply long kongfor all three. Most of the vendors sold only one type of fruit. There were a few who sold an assortment like bananas, jackfruits, mangos and pineapples. 
Table of contents Other attractions in Rayong While you are in Rayong city, take a trip to Leam Thong beach which is about 3 km south of the city centre. There’s fishing community there and the fishing fleet is anchored in the tributary of the Rayong River. 
Fishing fleet in Rayong Laem Thong is also famous for seafood. Here are some of the other attractions there. 
Laem Thong beach St Paul’s Church As I was browsing through the map of Rayong, I chanced upon st Paul’s Church near the Laem Thong beach. Unfortunately the gates were locked on a weekday and this is the best shot I could get through the grills of the gate. 
St Paul’s Church Jao Mae Rumphueng Shrine What I didn’t see on the map was this shrine dedicated to Mae Rumphueng. That name sounded familiar. The beach just to the east of Laem Thong is called Hat Mae Rumphueng (Mae Rumphueng beach). 
Jao Mae Rumphueng Shrine A Thai friend related the tale of this shrine. Years ago there were several drowning cases at Hat Mae Rumphueng and most of the victims were women. As a result, this shrine was built to preserve the safety of the visitors to the beach. Putting legend aside, the beach at Mae Rumphueng has a very sharp drop and this can cause swimmers to panic when they suddenly get into deep waters. There are also strong undercurrents. Rayong lighthouse You would expect lighthouses to be on crops of land off-shore. But this one’s right on the mainland. 
Rayong lighthouse Here’s an account of my previous visit to Rayong three years ago. Rayong – the poet’s inspiration Table of contents Map of Rayong View Rayong Fruit Fair and other attractions in a larger map How to get to there By mini-bus There are mini-buses from the Victory Monument passing Rayong city on route to Ban Phe pier and Ko Samet. Tell the driver you are getting off at Sukhumvit Nakhon Rayong Soi 39 where the city bus terminal is. These buses don’t terminate in the city. Fare is 150 baht Mini-buses from Ekamai the eastern bus terminal, which leave every 40 minutes, however terminate at the Rayong Bus Terminal I in Soi 39. Fare is 160 baht By tour bus There are tour buses from Ekamai going to Rayong and they terminate at the Rayong Bus Terminal 1 in Soi 39. Getting around Rayong At Soi 39 there are several song taeow services going to various parts of Rayong; Ban Chang, Klaeng, Map Ta Put, Mae Rumphueng, Pak Nam (Rayong River estuary) etc. Ask around to get the right one. The song taeow passing Talat Taphong where the fruit fair is held are white and parked in the next soi, Soi 43 where the market is. These song taeow terminate at Klaeng. Note: Like Bangkok, the soi in Rayong have two names, for example, Soi Sukhumvit Nakhon Rayong 46 or Soi Rajvimon 2. Both names are shown on the road signs. Where to stay Here are some relatively inexpensive hotels in Rayong city that are within walking distance of Rayong Bus Terminal 1in Soi 39. Caza V1 Serviced Apartment Central Place Hotel Rayong President Hotel Star Hotel Table of contents Next month Yomchinda Road – old town in Rayong 
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