HTMS Prasae Memorial

The HTMS Prasae was an old Tacoma class Patrol Frigate from the latter part of WWII. She served in the Pacific and later in the Korean War before being transfered to the Royal Thai Navy until she was decomissioned and moved to the mouth of the Prasae River near the eastern edge of Rayong Province.

Being a patrol frigate it’s a smaller ship, and could do with some preservation work, but it’s fun to walk around. You can’t wander around the insides, but you can walk around the exterior decks and visit the bridge. Some of the machine guns still have a bit of movement and a few of the main guns can be moved up and down using the controls, so a bit of fun there.

Having said that it could do with a bit of preservation work, it’s great that the Royal Thai Navy kept the ship as a memorial for people to visit, especially since it has had a history dating back to the second world war. Plus they deserve credit for not charging an entrance fee.

Other than the ship, there is not much else to see. There are plenty of food stalls, but it is on the coast so expect a lot of seafood, and there is plenty of parking on the site. Something a little different to see.

Wat Taphong Nok

Wat Taphong Nok is a small temple to the east of Rayong (on the way to the boats for Kho Samet) with a big sitting Buddha. The Wat is one of the quieter temples in Rayong and apart from the big Buddha, there isn’t much there to see. The Viharn was closed, which is why it was probably so quiet when we visited.

It was actually nice to be able to visit without battling the crowds you get at some of the more popular Wats. There is something about the stillness and quiet of places like this that adds something to the experience and lets you focus on your thoughts. All in all, rather a nice visit.