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| Rayong is located in the east coast of Thailand on the northern shoreline of the Gulf of Thailand, some 185 kilometres from Bangkok. |
| Rayong has an extensive coastline stretching for approximately 100 kilometres, is some 3,552 square kilometres in area, and is divided into 6 administrative districts. To the north and west it is bordered by the province of Chonburi, east by Chanthaburi Province and south by the Gulf of Thailand. The total population of the province is about 430,000 persons. |
| In general the geography of Rayong is marked by a series of mountains interspersed by flat plains and large tracts of land under forest, rubber and fruit plantations. Offshore there are nsany islands which are well-known by the tourists, such as Ko Samct and Ko Man. |
| Rayong was mentioned in Thai history during the late Ayutthaya period, when the fortner capital was razed to the ground by invading Burmese. At this tinge Phraya Tak, later to become King Taksin of Thonburi, lcd a band of patriots and broke out through the cordon of besieging troops who had surrounded the capital. He then tnadc his way towards the cast, stopping in Rayong to build up his navy before proceeding on to Chantaburi. Because of his courage and bravery, the soldiers and local population anointed him as “King” in Rayong. Once he had built up sufficient troop strength, Phaya Taksin returned to Ayutthaya and routed the Burmese and set up a new capital in Thonburi. |
| Rayong now is blessed with an abundance of natural beauty. It has a well deserved peputation for producing seafood products such as shrimp paste, fish sauce and dried seafoods , and tropical fruits of which Rambutan, Mangosteen and Durian are the most famous. |
| The climate is tropical , generally warm and humid with abundant rainfall. Average temperature is around 28 C. The best months are November through February. |
| Some photos from Koh Samed-Rayong… |
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| History of Koh Samed It is believed that once upon a time, Ko Samed was the home of pirates and that until this very day there is still lost treasure buried somewhere on the island. The classical Thai Poet, Sunthorn Phu (1786-1855), set part of his epic work, Phra Aphai Mani (sometimes transliterated as Pra Apaimanee), on the shores of the island. [3] Statues of the title character, Prince Aphai Mani and the siren/mermaid which guided him to Koh Samed can be found on the Hat Sai Gaew beach. Even though Bangkokians had known about the beauty of Koh Samed for decades before, the Thai government put this island off limits and restricted overnight stay there; that was until 1981. In that year, on 1 October, the Forestry Department of Thailand declared Koh Samed and its surrounding to be a national park. |
| As Koh Samed is so near Bangkok, the island is ideal for those in the capital wanting to chill-out with their families for a couple of days, without having to go through all that rigmarole of having to travel down south. Koh Samed has developed steadily over the past decade or so, but it hasn’t been the victim of over zealous construction which has hit the likes of Koh Samui or even Koh Chang. The island is typified for its splendid beaches and white silky sand, surrounded by tropical coral reefs and crystal clear sea. Tourists can also enjoy a plethora of delicious cuisine and fine nightlife. |
Samed-Rayong