Lt Col Narongrit Jantarakul, assistant manager of Bang Pu Recreational Centre, is convinced that this popular destination for day-trippers in Samut Prakan, run by the Royal Thai Army, has great potential for attracting many more
"There's basically a little bit of everything for people to enjoy here," he enthused as he took a breather from his duties to feed seagulls from historic Sukhta Pier.
"The centre was originally set up as a place for convalescing soldiers but over the years it gained a reputation for its delicious seafood, beautiful natural surroundings and as a great spot for ballroom dancing. It's close to Bangkok and offers a seaside ambience which has made it popular among the locals who've promoted the area by word of mouth. And while it's a huge success among Thais, we have of late been getting a sprinkling of expatriates, too; they come to enjoy the fresh air and the various environment-based activities we have on offer.
"The Tourism Authority of Thailand has been actively promoting Bang Pu abroad and we recently welcomed a Japanese media delegation who were very satisfied with what we had to offer in terms of food, accommodation and activities."
Endeavours by Maj Gen Tawee Jamjumrus, head of the Royal Thai Army's Quarter-master Department, to make this a centre for learning have also borne fruit with the setting up of the Bang Pu Nature Education Centre (BNEC), a collaboration between the army and the World Wildlife Fund Thailand. Already into its fourth year, BNEC's activities are geared towards restoring our mangrove and wetland forests while helping raise awareness about the need for environmental conservation, Narongrit explained. The BNEC, which covers some 300 rai of land to the east of Sukhta Pier, is a nesting site for numerous migratory birds.
What, in your opinion, is responsible for BNEC's success?
Well, we organise activities which are both educational and fun which, in turn, makes people enthusiastic about preserving nature. We take students on long nature walks into the mangrove forests, home to various species of birds. The trail goes through areas of shallow water where small crabs and fish live and ends up at a bird-watching station which is about eight metres above the ground.
I've heard that this is an historic area; why so?
Sukhta Pier, which is at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River, is a historic spot because it was there that a small party of Japanese soldiers landed during World War II [part of a much larger force which invaded the Kingdom on December 7, 1941]. It is recorded that a small group of Samut Prakan residents set up a defensive position, just two kilometres northwest of the pier, to fight the invaders. The group consisted of people from all walks of life. But bloodshed was averted just in the nick of time when a last-minute accord was reached between the Thai and Japanese governments.
What sort of facilities do you have for people wishing to stay overnight?
We have different types of lodgings to suit practically all tastes and budgets. There are bungalows and an hotel plus dormitory-style accommodation - all set in beautiful, natural surroundings. Prices range from 400 to 2,400 baht a night. Security is tight around here, so visitors can rest assured ... they'll have nothing to worry about! There's a bird habitat and nature trail not too far from the accommodation area.
What do you think makes your seafood restaurant so popular? And please recommend a few dishes which our readers should sample there.
I'd say its popularity is largely due to the variety of dishes on offer and the delicious taste. Most of our head cooks have been with us for close to two decades, you see, and they've made great efforts over the years to improve on the recipes.
My all-time menu favourites include steamed crab with egg, crab-roe dip with coconut sauce, fried snapper with fish sauce and vegetables in a sour soup.
I hear you were badly affected by storm-surge fears late last year ...
Yes, indeed! The news was that a big storm sweeping northwards up the Gulf of Thailand could push seawater inland up to a depth of one metre. Our restaurant caters to about a thousand people a day but when that news broke, the number of patrons dwindled to less than a hundred. We army types are pretty knowledgeable about coping with natural disasters so surely people should have realised that we wouldn't have kept the recreational centre open if we'd thought for one minute that there was a serious possibility of that happening? We're so careful that we even have the seagulls that migrate here every year tested for the bird-flu virus!
On a more personal note ... what sort of things do you most enjoy doing in your free time?
I'm from the tiny province of Samut Songkhram, which is known for its natural beauty and laid-back atmosphere, and my family's home is close to a canal. So I love outdoor activities - anything which brings me closer to nature.
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