Chonburi
Chonburi, the capital of Chonburi Province (population 840,000), was founded by an Ayutthaya king in the 14th c. and is currently a large and lively township of fishermen, merchants and traders on the approach to Bangkok. The harbor is too shallow for
large-scale commerce but this is probably also why it has remained a busy little fishing port, where the fishermen still put out to sea in their boats at dusk. Thailand's largest oyster beds are situated south of the town. The main local crops are sugar cane and manioc. This is chopped up and laid out to dry, giving off a pungent aroma, to make tapioca for baking and thickening. Thailand's tapioca is one of its most important agricultural products and is exported to a great many countries.
By car: Highway 3 from Bangkok (96 km (60 mi.)).
By bus: from Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal.