A few weeks back I wrote about our move from the big buzzing Bangkok to the peace of Pattaya. [@stbangkok/from-the-buzz-of-bangkok] Now as promised, a few words and a lot of pictures of our move to Jomtien (well, Dongtan Beach to be totally accurate) where we are now just 60 meters walk from the beach with a balcony big enough to live on!
New Condo Location: https://goo.gl/maps/SVZCNfmADJLEwiND7
We spent a few weeks viewing both houses with good sized gardens and condos with decent balconies. In the end we found this delightful home, which is in fact on Dongtan beach, about 250 meters from the police box at the start of Jomtien beach. We just could not turn this place down as not only was the view so amazing, but it was so close to the beach that you can hear the waves crashing in on the shore.
As you can see, the balcony is a whopper, I estimate around 15 sq.m. running the full width of the 1 bedroom unit, which offers us a total of 96 sq.m. It was a bit bleak and bland decoratively, so we went and bought a stack of plastic plants and real plants, being that we were unsure how well real plants would survive on a south east facing balcony.
Jomtien was the first place I ever rented long term during my years overseas, way back in 1998. The absolute perfection of the location means we can go for daily walks along the beach road, either to the south along the main Jomtien road, or to the north where eventually we end up at the Sands Cafe at the bottom of Pratumnak soi 5. This latter route is often our most favoured, as we can then select some evening meals items from one of the many street vendors parked up around this intersection.
Sands Cafe is found here: https://goo.gl/maps/gJsbgSiTzmc5FMuE6
We also discovered a really very good value for money ‘Moo Kata’ barbecue restaurant, the Rompho Buffet, named after the street it is in, close to all the bars of the same name. Great price here at just 229 Baht per person all you can eat with a good selection of grub also, not just the usual meats and seafood's, but also fried rice, pork steak shack, Somtam, eggs as you like them and some western style burgers, fries, garlic pork toast and much much more. This really is a place to try, but note the drinks prices are very high, with a bottle of Soda 40 Baht (9 in 7 eleven). Still, you’ve got to drink!
Rompho Buffet found here: https://goo.gl/maps/jFbbaimoEu2JfLCk7
We moved in during the early part of July, right in the rainy season and thus were treated to some awesome storms, winds and rains. It is hard to get decent lightning pictures as you know so I can really only showcase some beach palms in the wind and some decent Grey skies as above. Some other pictures below of a really cool barber shop i found, a walk down a now deserted and derilict looking walking street, and some kids getting ready for the off on their bike, and ofr course a few more beautiful beach shots.
