Bo Rai district

Wat Bo Phloy dominates the skyline. In the background, the Cambodian Banthat Mountains.

Weekly Market Talat Nat is a meeting place for the locals and visitors.

Bo Rai (Thai บ่อไร่) is a township located in Trat Province, Eastern Thailand, in close vicinity to the Cambodian Mountain Range. The adjacent province is Chanthaburi. Administrative status is amphoe. At present, there are only 1 400 people officially living in the actual town of Bo Rai (thesaban). Amphoe Bo Rai is divided into five tambons, namely Bo Phloy, Chang Thun, Ban Nonsi, Dan Chumphon, Ban Nong Bon, whose total population is estimated at 30 000.

Past and present

The area is renowned for its gemstone mining (rubies and sapphires) and gem trade which made Bo Rai prosper and grow. From the 60´s until the beginning of the 90´s the town experienced an economic boom, which was ended almost overnight with the exhaustion of the mining fields through plundering. The economic depression that followed was further increased by the downfall of the Khmer Rouge and the subsequent end of the border trafficking of goods and gems.

Once the centre of Thailand´s gem trade, Bo Rai is now but a shadow of its former glory, yet some hope is seen in the migrating refugees coming from the troubled South. There have been attempts at economic conversion, such as the cultivation of rubber trees. There are rumours of a new Thai-Cambodian border crossing being opened in the near future, a thing welcomed and hoped for by the local population.

Sightseeing

There is a big Buddhist temple in the city called Wat Bo Phloy and a brand new Fresh-food Market Talat Sot opened just 2005 . On Wednesdays there is a Talat Nat (weekly market), with vendors coming from as far as the neigbouring Cambodia. There is a public park Suan Sukhaphap, a hospital, many schools, a public library as well as an astonishing number of beauty parlours scattered all over town. There is a motel, too.

About nine kilometres from the town, there is a National Park called Namtok Khlong Kaew (Thai น้ำตกคลองแก้ว). Admission free. A paved path leads up to the source of the waterfall, about 800 metres above sea level. There is a stunning view over the landscape with groves and rubber plantations as far as the eye can see.

How to get there

Bo Rai seems to be far and away from everything: 50 kilometres to Trat (route 3157 via Dan Chumphon) and 90 kilometres to Chanthaburi (via Saen Tung), 450 kilometres to Bangkok. The shortest cut to Bo Rai is from Highway 3 through Khao Saming (route 3159). There is a public transport service by songthaew from Trat and Chanthaburi.