Trip to Trat

                                                                           

The first time to visit Trat province for taking part the religious youth service camp from 26-30, October, 2552 seems to be fortunate chance for me. The camp which included the believers in various religions – Buddhist, Christianity, Islam and no religion- and also divers nationality, Thai, Malaysian, Japanese, Philippines and Taiwanese is the prominent point of the camp. 

Anyhow, my first depict the province as under developed province --where there are a lot of trees, green gardens, paddy fields and high mountains. It is also imaged as Trat is a poor and infamous province in term of travelling place --where no foreigners have gone and visited.

But when we reach there, it surprises me. It never be as what I imagine especially after a guide explains us that  Trat is  a small province at the eastern-most frontier bordering on Cambodia with the Khao Banthat mountain range forming a natural demarcation, Trat is a resort town with over fifty large and small off-shore islands, long white sandy beaches and unspoiled coral ranges. It is also a major fruit-growing and fishing area. About 315km from Bangkok and covering an area of 2,819 square kilometres, the province is administratively divided into the districts of Mueang Trat, Khao Saming, Laem Ngop, Khlong Yai and Bo Rai, and the sub-districts of  Ko Chang (Chang Island) and Ko Kut (Kut Island) .

Because of the first travelling to Trat, hence I can not correctly depict the reality of this province is and I never think concerning the sea and beaches before. Actually this province is really interesting. We are divided into ten groups when we are at Bangkok-­­- each group is contained 10 people that different institution, gander, religion and nationality. Soon after we take ten buss to Trat together in groups that  have been divided. The dialogs during the way is seemed to be the first for us to greet, introduce and learn to each others, and our relationship is beginning. As soon as we reach Trad, I notice people in the province live in simple way which is friendly, nice and helpful. Trat has many beautiful and interesting islands and beaches that it can see when we are on the ferry to cross to Chang Island where our camp be made. The big ferry containing a lot of peoples and vehicles on the first floor is slowly heading into the middle of the wide sea while we enjoin talking and looking around the beautiful of natural creation. After one hour, the ferry reaches the harbor of the island.

The warmly welcoming of the villagers and staff s that carrying garlands or flowery tassel makes us happy and proud for this trip. Because of the very nice and helpful of staffs and people there, we can run the program properly and successfully. The place where we make the camp is quite peace and tranquil --where the resort or bungalow is located near the beach, breezy wind is cool, the crying of the weaves reach the shore and stone  has been playing-- being nice and romantic. It is fortunately for people living on the island because of the completeness and repleteness of the beaches, mangrove and forests.  The most interesting of this camp is to be brought visiting around the island by fishing boats. Swimming, skiing, fishing and diving to see aquatic animals are the final activity and it becomes the new experience for some of us that have never experienced it since that day.

However, we mostly stay on the island thus many things on the main land we can not learn more -- just visiting mosque, temple and church within one day but what we have seen is people are very nice, friendly and strictly regarding religious believing especially Muslim. Unluckily that the camp is held only six days otherwise many things can be seen and learned by us.   writen by Keem (13/1/2011)