Our time in Vietnam was excellent... so much fun! But for the past two months we've been in the big city - Saigon or Bangkok. Pinky and I were very happy to be invited to Jomtien, a beach just south of Pattaya, by her family for a short trip outside of the city.
The day started very early at Bangkok's brand-new minibus terminal at Mo Chit.
Just a few hours later, we arrived in Pattaya, and took a songtaew 5km down the beach to Jomtien. Jomtien is quieter and much less developed than Pattaya City. While Pattaya has developed kind of a bad reputation (although nowadays it is becoming much more family-friendly), Jomtien is far more relaxed.
Even though we were just staying for the day, it felt so good to get away from the city. Even in Pattaya, the fresh air was noticeable. Years ago, when I first arrived in Thailand, my friends and I actually stayed in Jomtien when we visited Koh Larn on my first trip outside of the city.
It's the monsoon season here in Thailand - a season especially pronounced along the kingdom's coasts. It's the "off season", or "low season", meaning that now is the time of year when most tourists - foreign and domestic - avoid the beaches. Sure, it rains a lot, but it's also quieter and cheaper. To be honest, I've always loved the monsoon season in Thailand.
We were lucky that it didn't rain much that day, though! We had a very nice afternoon of walking along the beach and swimming in the pool at the condo where Pinky's family is staying for a little while. We had to get back to Bangkok, though.
It was a short visit - just a few hours, but so nice! I really feel so refreshed after a day trip away from the city. Don't get me wrong - I love Bangkok and wouldn't want to live anywhere else in Thailand. But every once in a while I need to get away to the provinces to relax, even for a day.
After a seafood dinner, we were on our way to the bus terminal, and just a few hours later, we were back in the Big Mango. It was a great day!
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