In the 90's, when I started to learn about this place Trang as a Province Trang, the people there very proud of their twin heritage - The imported Jacaranda trees that were planted in their parks and the presence of Dugongs in their warm tropical seas. As I understand more, they are also famous for their Ko-pii shops and stalls by the roadsides. At that time the city has a population of only 50,000 people. Town area almost twice the size of our Ipoh town.

 Slowly over the years, these key features drifted into oblivion Today, I no longer know what Trang famous for? Maybe the over tramping by the tourist traffic in neighbouring Krabi has over spilled into Lanta and Kraden. I heard more about the few beaches coming into focus
Now that I have finished the first page - Krabi  I could see that most pictures showed outdated historical scenes. Could be interesting but when there is an overflow - could turn boring. For this page, I am so happy I am still keeping photographic records of how the scene were 25 years ago. So I continue. To curb the monotony, at the end of each story, I would try inserting modern days scene for comparison and updates, i.e. if I have them

Trang was claiming itself as the cleanest City in Thailand rivaling the nearby Yala.

  Part 1 - Crossing the state border 

1 Picture Going over mountain Pass #

To reach the Trang Province there are 2 ways, from the south the coastal Highway 404 after crossing the border with Satun. I would normally follow the easier Trunk Road Highway 4 coming from the east Phattalung to cross the Khao  Banthat Mountain Range. At the highest point - the pass is 796 feet in elevation Asl. Where the border lies. The uphill stretch is pleasant with the road well designed fairly straight with large bends and after the pass enters a valley, very scenic. Picture taken at a point just after the pass. Thanks for the most willing modelling.

 #2 Picture Going over Pass #

Trang is a province famous for dance & music. These iconic figurines were put up along the highway. There goes the unwilling model back into the car.

 #3 Picture at the boudary #

Fast forward - that's how the Highway looks like today. I was looking for the board to mark the boundary but none. So, this picture was taken a short distance just before the boundary. At least, there were road markers showing the distances

 #4 Picture Boundary Marker #

From my archive - found the board I was looking for!

Part 2 - Entering Trang City 

# 5 Picture moving from rural Na Yong - Urban Trang #

First stop - Just outside town to pay respect and say "hello" to cousin

# 6 Picture moving from rural Na Yong - Urban Trang #

Someone watching you from upstairs

#7  Picture paying respect to cousin #

A group photo for remembrance

# 8 Picture  - Urban Trang #

This iconic "Ship" hotel - just outside town

# 9 Picture old "city gate" #

Very important the relics of past era. This signage for the Trang City had since been dismantled

# 10 Picture old "city gate" #

Another trip, another group of companions - More photos

# 11 Picture old "city gate" #

This is how that same junction with its present day looks like. Dual carriage ways.

# 12 Picture old "city gate" #

Reached the Clock Tower in the heart of town

# 13 Picture old "city gate" #

Same view by night

# 14 Picture old "city gate" #

It was the roosting spot for many birds living in town - Real birds

# 15 Picture old "city gate" #

At that time, we who were not Thai, having not seen the contraption before were raving about this "tuk tuk" taxis. We seen one, seen all!

# 16 Picture old "city gate" #

Nothing like trying your hands on one

Part 3 - Hotel in Trang City 

# 17 Picture of Hotels in Trang  #

Oh! Very good hotel - A 3 star set up in this old fashioned city - Prices ranging B980-4,700.

# 18 Picture of Hotels in Trang  #

Dawn - recollect a scene from the hotel room

# 19 Picture of Hotels in Trang  #

Watched local hobbyist out in the early morning strolling along the river bank, on for catches. Seen from my room.

# 20 Picture of Hotels in Trang  #

Sorry, I was there to see Trang Plaza Hotel slow demise. Now, for many years the hotel was closed for good. Building still intact.

Shops on its drive way still operating

# 21 Picture of Hotels in Trang  #

Couldn't get close to the Hotel for a souvenir shot. So I had to make this picture from afar.

# 22 Picture of Garden Inn Hotel in Trang  #

Well, for our subsequent trips, we switched to Garden Inn in the heart of town.

# 23 Picture of Trang Hotel in Town center  #

Now renamed as 2 stars - Trang Hotel Prices ranged B360-2,000. Quite a drop compared with Trang Plaza

  Part 4 - Ko-pii Shops & Stalls 

Trang was more famous for its coffee and raan kafae or ko-ii. These place were identified by charcoal fired aluminium boilers with stubby smoke stacks.. Seen in many street corners, back of open sided coffee shops. They were usually run by Hokkien chinese. These places serves real filtered coffee along with a variety of snacks. Typical would would paa-thong ko, salabao, khanom Jiip [pows] Thai-style sweets and muu-yaang [bak kuaan] Thai did not know how to enjoy - we had steamed bread with kaya.

# 24 Picture About Coffee drinking in Trang  #

We were in Trang at the tail end of that tradition. By the time we were in Tran, the trend of having "Milo" had caught on.

# 25 Picture  Coffee stalls in Trang  #

Could see that Milo was heavily promoted. In my travels to rural area, beverage were never heard of. it was either plain water or Singha Beer.

# 26 Picture Making Ice Kachang in Trang  #

Other Foods in Trang

The most popular food then was the roast Pork. This is eaten together with a cup of coffee. So it was very common to find roast pork in the same restaurant that offered coffee.

  Part 5 - The famous Roast Pork Breakfast  

# 27 Picture Breakfast time in Trang  #

A must-try then, was Roast Pork with rice.

# 28 Picture About Coffee  shop and breakfast in Trang  #

Some scenes  from a shop handling roast pork meat for breakfast

# 29 Picture About Coffee  shop and breakfast in Trang  #

Typical look of a coffee shop in Tarang

# 30 Picture About Coffee  shop and breakfast in Trang  #

Roast Pork meat was prominently displayed

# 31 Picture About Coffee  shop and breakfast in Trang  #

Your personal choice of your preferred cut.

# 32 Picture About Coffee  shop and breakfast in Trang  #

Lady doing the serving

  Part 6 - Night Market in Trang 

There were 3 Night Markets in Trang. The traditional and largest was the Central mall, then a newer one Cinta Garden

and one at the Railway station that opened on weekends - Chan Chala. All of them served foods that we cannot resist.

# 33  Picture about dining in Night market in Trang  #

OK! Not so much of pictures as these days more trendy to watch You Tube or Tik Tok.

# 34  Picture about dining in Night market in Trang  #

# 35  Picture about dining in Night market in Trang  #

# 36  Picture about dining in Night market in Trang  #

A picture showing that we had open air dinner in Trang Of course my favourite - fried oysters omelette.

# 37  Picture about dining in Night market in Trang  #

Unbelievable so much of prawns and the dangerous stuff that people eats

# 38  Picture about dining in Night market in Trang  #

Actually they were very organised with seating faculties and ample space for the crowd.

This page covers topic that involve the subject Trang. So I have included or picked those themes that involved urban Trang. the focus of our trips was holiday and adventure. Could say this is adventure inside a Thai City.