THE TWO-DAY GETAWAY
A LODGE, WHOLESOME FOOD AND NATURAL SURROUNDINGS ARE WHAT YOU NEED
Confession: nowadays, I get anxious when it comes to taking holidays. They’ve become so hi-so, and if they’re not luxury-laden then they’re not worth taking, apparently. You end up spending more time appearing to enjoy yourself in your photos than actually enjoying yourself. And usually you end up experiencing the exact opposite of what you intended: rest and relaxation. Hah — more like mess and frustration!
The journey alone, by plane or car, tires you; you get claustrophobic or drained because the attractions you see are filled with crowds of people wanting to see the exact same thing. You’re worried about how your “summer body” looks and the amount of money you spend makes you’re cortisol levels shoot through the roof.
Well, what if I told you there’s a solution to all this madness? Just recently, I had an unforgettable, short, peaceful, reasonably priced and rewarding getaway. Now, it was in the most unlikely of places: a lodge in Prachin Buri. Sounds a little less luxurious, huh?
The Arthit Tara (which in Thai means “sun and stream”) nestles itself on the river bank of the Bang Pakong and is a short and easy one-hour drive from hectic Bangkok. Prachin Buri traditionally hasn’t been a place where tourism has flourished and is more or less untouched. The way of life is simple there and the people are just themselves, unaffected by the need to make a quick baht off a tourist or out-of-towners (you’ll all stick out like sore thumbs, might I add).
My two mornings there had me doing things I would never do, namely waking up at 5am (willingly) just to watch the sun rise. I sat on one of the beautifully crafted white wooden chairs of the Arthit Tara’s sun deck and watched the sun rise, gasping at the view of the river. It took me back to the time I was staying in a hotel on the River Somme in France, I thought that was stunning enough but the Arthit Tara’s view is a million miles better.
We ate simply; wholesome, locally produced Thai food and home-made western food. I will never forget the Arthit Tara’s baked spinach and cheese spring rolls; the chef’s creation here is pure genius, one of the tastiest variations of a spring roll I’ve had.
The lodge has a similar feeling to that of a château in the South of France, but with tantalising Thai twist. I swam in the small salt pool, lay in the hammock reading my book, gazed at the five-star view and of course, I napped profusely. My mobile phone stowed away, my laptop shut, my music off and my virtual self on social media silent. Other things to do — that I didn’t get around to doing because I was already in heaven — include: water-skiing, kayaking, cycling along the river, visiting local temples and historical sites, golf and local markets. The Arthit Tara staff were super laid-back and their simple answer to everything was tam sabai (at your leisure), which went down a real treat.
The real highlight was the 30-minute boat ride organised by Arthit Tara along the Bang Pakong River, just as the sun was setting. The wind against my hair, the sun running along next to us as we sped along the water, the smell of the mangroves, the sounds of the birds singing — the perfect blend of nature at its finest to cleanse and rejuvenate our senses.
We are all hazy on our definition of “Thainess”. If I had to attempt to define it myself, words would be hard to find so I would perhaps refer to the feeling I got during my Arthit Tara experience. The lodge is surrounded by and implements a sustainable economy, something that Thais do well. It promotes a sharing environment to the extent that visitors feel like they are part of one big family and, it is immersed in completely unspoilt and natural surroundings and exudes real and local charm. If you want to experience some semblance of Thainess, or if you want to reclaim your sanity by having a real but quick break from this city, head to Arthit Tara.
Arthit Tara is located in Bang Yang, Baan Sang, Prachin Buri. Visit www.arthit-tara.com or call 089-949-1956.