Taste of Thailand Part Two: Enchanting Chanthaburi

 

Enchanting 🔮💫 Chanthaburi 🇹🇭 is the best word to describe this picturesque historic riverside town on the eastern coast of Thailand, bordering Cambodia. Of the Thai regions we've been to so far, it is here for me, that resonates profoundly and the reason to return 💓 #preservingthepast #oldworldcharm 

So absolutely picturesque 😍

Located 2-1/2 hours southeast Bangkok, we just extended our stay in Baan Luang Rajamaitri, the 150-year old Historic Inn perched on the Bank of Chantabun river amongst the waterfront community. The inn boasts an ancient architectural structure with British colonial styled guestrooms charmed with the original lifestyle of the locals in this historic neighborhood with well-preserved traditional Thai houses, cafes and restaurants.  

Amazing congee plus extras breakfast every morning

Extraordinary daily desserts and kumquat juice

Chanthaburi is called "Orchard of Thailand" renowned for its diverse tropical fruits, particularly durian 😍 and gemstone industry- it is the centre for gemstone mining and trading, especially rubies and sapphires. 

Golden pomegranates

It is also home to the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception- the largest church in Thailand for Christians beaming through over 40,000 Buddhist temples. 

Oh how we love thee 💓... All of us, loves all of you, all your curves and all your edges, all your perfect imperfections--  Yes, durian is such a star, it should have its own love song 🎵🎶! 

The durian is Southeast Asia's most highly prized fruit-- the King, and the most controversial because of its overpowering odour. In Thailand, Chanthaburi is the main production, and it is said there are about 100 types. We had a splendid experience in a nearby shop across our stay learning about and trying the different types of durian sold in baskets, which their men had recently cut and discovering salak- an Indonesian palm fruit (aka snake fruit)- juicy, flavour reminiscent of jackfruit.

Have you tried Indonesian palm fruit salak?

Monthong is Thailand's most popular export and the one we enjoy in Toronto (bought whole frozen, eaten thawed). I got to try their Musang King and Kan Yao- which is $ but preferred by Thais for its creaminess and balanced sweetness. Both the flesh and seed (after boiling) can be consumed. Those who love it, are lifelong aficionados... those who don't, loathe it with a ten-foot pole. No food out there have I heard such extreme polarizing reactions-- some merely can't get pass the smell let alone attempt to eat it. I've heard people describe the odour as sweet floral fragrance 👋 and luscious fine wine and cheese to the complete opposite such as sewage socks, horse manure, rotten onions etc., 

From small to jumbo... I wanted them all 😍

This last weekend in Bangkok, Siam Paragon Tropical Fruit Parade is back, with the star of the show-  the legendary Durian Buffet. For $35 Cdn, and 60 minutes, you can enjoy an all-you-can-eat experience featuring Monthong, Puangmanee, and Chanee Kai, as well as rare finds like Musang King and Black Thorn. Outside the buffet tent, 40+ rare durian varieties from orchards across the country are ripe for the tasting 🤤.

There are also creative durian dishes like durian lasagna, pizza and French fries. On my trip, I've had warmed durian sticky rice with coconut milk, durian chips and toffee candy. But the best is fresh 😋

Durian chips taste like sweet potato after fried

We relish in these durian moments, because they bring us together, transports us to heaven and lets us stay in bliss with each other for a while... Yes my twins are durian lovers!

Chanthaburi... "Where you can check-in back into the past... that travels to present" 

We were in bustling Bangkok the last leg of our Thai trip... Stay Tuned next post.