|
Hollowed by caves and hugging the shoreline, Trang remains one of Thailand’s
last vestiges of tranquility.
 Trang is where the Tourist Authority of
Thailand (TAT)’s catch phrase “Unseen Thailand” really exists. Just a couple
of hours drive away from big tourist destinations like
Krabi,
Phuket and
Hat
Yai,
Trang has had trouble attracting its share of visitors.
The town is mostly made up of shophouses and small eateries –
uncommercial and authentically Thai. The destination is not for everyone;
many who end up gazing Trang’s Andaman coastline or frolicking in its
underground caves are travellers who have already done the typical Thailand
routine.
Trang is trying to up its appeal to wider audiences by offering
distinctive attractions. The annual Underwater Wedding is their grandest
and, through its widespread media coverage, Trang becomes part of
travellers’ lexicon for a short while. But the place, coined a romantic
getaway by publicists, is soon forgotten, replaced by the better-known
Samui,
Phi Phi or
Chiang Mai. Nok Air believes in the rising potential of
this sleepy city; the airline is now offering daily flights from Bangkok to
Trang’s airport, which is only a 10-minute drive from the city center.
Driving along the countryside, trees with long skinny trunks huddle
together. Small cups attached to the trunks collect the sap that is used to
make rubber. These plantations are remnants of the past when the first
rubber trees were brought from Malaysia in the late 19th century. Pine trees
and shrubbery cover rocky seaside ledges and the ocean gently laps onto the
grainy shores. Waterfalls laced throughout the virgin rainforests are
perfect to visit from November to May. Trang’s scenery is not quite as
dramatic as Phang Nga’s limestone cliffs that sprout from the water, but it
stays in the competition by offering something that Krabi, Phuket and
Phang
Nga don’t have much of: cave systems.
The cave trips are not for the claustrophobic. A stream runs through Tham
Khao Kop Cave. Rowboats shuttle passengers through narrow passages and open
caverns for almost an hour. The stalactite formations fall from the
fluorescent-lit ceilings, and the guides point out distinctive shapes: a
roast duck, meatballs on a stick, an elephant’s bottom and udders. The
shapes are memorable, but not as much as the 10 minutes of being ferried,
laying on the bottom of the boat, through a tight passage (even having to
take shoes off so you can point your toes) where stalactites pass
centimeters from your face. The guides move the boat through by pushing on
the roof of the cave while lying on their backs, telling the guests not to
pee their pants. “This is unseen Thailand!” they yell.
Another cave of note is the Emerald Cave, which is on Ko Muk – one of the
46 islands surrounding the province. It is 80-meters long and opens up into
a turquoise sea with white shores and jagged crags. If caves are a little
too underground, there is plenty more to discover. At Had Chao Mai National
Park, guided canoe trips snake through mangrove forests. Water recreation is
also popular. Scuba certification classes are offered – you might even get
the chance to see one of the Dugong Dugon, who still make the Andaman their
home, but are quickly moving toward extinction.
After a full day of activities (or lazing by the shore), there is not a
lot to do in the city. There is a disco called Say Yes!, but the most
popular local diversion is going to small street-side cafes, chatting and
munching on local delicacies. It’s a tradition. These cafés offer sweet tea,
Ovaltine and coffee with an array of dim sum treats. Bite-sized pot
stickers, buns, meatballs, hotdogs, fish-shaped corn concoctions and more
arrive in small dishes. Conversations rage late into the evening and spill
out onto the still sidewalks.
Other Trang specialties include the cakes, which can be found in any OTOP
shop or small bakery. These cakes are moist and spongy, perfect to quell any
nagging sweet-tooth. Another dish not to miss is the roast pork. It is
crispy on the outside and succulent in the middle. It is marinated in spices
and honey for five hours before being roasted in a large barbecue oven. The
pork is perfect to nibble on with a beer; Trang natives like it alongside a
cup of coffee in the morning.
The beaches in the evening are dazzling. At sunset, people can walk far
into the sea and still only be ankle-deep – it looks as though they are
walking on water.
By night, the tide recedes for meters, and the puddles left in the
ripple-patterned sand shine brilliantly from the reflection of the moon.
Finding a place to stay is not difficult, but luxury accommodation is not
yet widely available. There is one five-star resort, the
Amari Trang Beach
Resort, on Changlong Beach. The city center is home to a handful of
three-star hotels, like the Thumrin Thana and Trang Plaza and a range of
lower-priced rooms are also available. The islands also have places to stay,
mostly small bungalows and guest houses at good backpacker rates.
Overall, Trang is a good place to visit if you know what you are getting
into. It is undiscovered and very local, which means there is not an
abundance of taxis, western-style bars touting European fare or shopping
centers to get the latest fashions.
If you are looking for tranquility and nature, you would be well-served
by giving Trang your attentions.
 Amari
Trang Beach Resort
Amari Trang Resort is located on Chang
Lang beach, approximately 42 kilometres from Trang and 45 kilometres
from the airport. Framed by lush trees and a backdrop of beckoning
tropical islands, it is a sunny paradise. The resort features 138 sea
facing rooms and suites, all with spacious private balconies. All rooms
are air-conditioned and well equipped with modern amenities.
The resort has a choice of dining options serving both international and
Thai cuisine. With a view of the sea, guests can relax at the bar and
enjoy refreshing drinks, cocktails and snacks. Featuring a swimming
pool, spa and fitness centre, the hotel also provides conference and
banquet facilities.
>> click here for last minute offers
>> click here for year round hotel reservation |
How to get there:
• Nok Air Daily flights to Trang. Call 1318
• Thai Airways Daily flights to Trang. Call 02-628-2000
|
