RELAXING ROUND RAMBUTTRI….

If  watching the endless cosmopolitan congo of visitors dancing their way up and down KSR has begun to spin you out a little to often, then its time for you to head on over to the ever evolving but always easy going Soi Rambuttri to rest your mind, body and most importantly……..your wallet!

If KSR is said generally by all to run at full throttle, then just off Chakraphong Road, located across from the police station and surrounding the Chai Chanasongkram temple, Soi Rambuttri (west) not only takes on a much more laid back approach to “bai teeow” (the Thai for “going out”), but is also generally a little easier on the visitors wallet too.

An idyllic reflection of all things good in KSR, the now fashionably pavestoned and tree shaded Soi Rambuttri has its very own unique range of new and old guest houses (250-700 Baht per night depending upon facilities), numerous open air and sidewalk seated restaurants (offering 10-120 Baht dishes of Thai/Asian/Western food), bar upon bar (providing large beer Chang/Heineken 40/60 Baht…..liked very much by all whom visit) and internet cafés (1 baht per minute), but all with the very distinct siesta like, relaxed atmosphere infused, some say, by the neighbouring Chai Chanasongkram temple.

In line with this chill out doctrine, the founding of the new Rambuttri Village complex is another much welcomed and now popular addition to this up and coming funky little soi. The complex, quite large in itself, is comprised of the Rambuttri Village Inn which has approximately 100 rooms (as of Oct.2004 priced from 290 Baht for a single with fan to 700 Baht for a triple with a/c, hot shower and cable TV per night) and is complete with a surprisingly good sized open air roof top swimming pool and terrace (nice one).

In the courtyard area there is the small Rambuttri Plaza (the usual souvenir shops, tailors and always handy, a few tour/travel agencies) together with two very reasonably priced plaza restaurants Royal India (Indian veg & non-veg cuisine) and Rainbow (veg & non-veg Indian/International cuisine) offering diners seating inside and a few tables outside surrounding the Village’s elephant lined central water feature, which will no doubt be fun when “Song-Kran”, April’s water festival, arrives!

All in all, whether its early afternoon and you’re in dire need of a zone in which to try and shake off that second heart beat in your head, whether your looking for a place in which to chill and maybe catch up on your own journal/mail writing or whether you are simply looking for that inexpensive and easy start to a long sobriety free evening ahead of you, then take a few hours out and look no further than Soi Rambuttri. Enjoy.

And Remember…..

Keepitreal

Other Keepitreal articles:

Happy New Year? : Energy Drinks : Lights, Camera, Action : Cash4Trash :
Laos Reloaded : Dive, dive, dive : Movers and Shakers : Mai Pen Rai :
Its official, Phuket is still rocking! : We all live in a yellow submarine... :
Phuket Strikes Back! : Sunset Street : Sleeper Class : Shop 'til you drop :
Chill out in Cha-am : The Beeer Essentials : A Bridge Not Too Far : Up, up and away : Relaxing Round Rambutri :
Royal Barges : More than Muay : Temple trekkin' :
The River of Kings : One Tequilla

"I have lived and worked in Asia for 15 years. I've had the pleasure to view and experience many wonderful sights and meet and work with all manner of race and religions. From Mumbai to Melbourne I've found no other country or people that could persuade me to live anywhere else than here in Thailand."

keepitrealbkk@yahoo.com