From Thongsala to the beaches:

All beaches have access by the taxis, for some you need a boat to. Every resort is served by the drivers. You can leave the taxi at any point you choose. They may pick up some ordered food before they leave Thongsala. Sometimes they are making a round trip through the village, to get some more "Falangs" as they call us.

A drive for "newbie's" to Tong Nai Pan or Thansadet can be adventures, even the concrete street to Hadrin is sometimes frightening due to the steeps and downhill, just drive slowly. There are now many concrete streets (or what's left over from it ;-). Many are still "dirt" streets, through small villages, smiling school kids.
The sea is empty-swept by large fishing boats, and local fishermen to have to watch this "rubbery" helplessly. If you sit at night at the peaceful beach, often you get the feeling the lights of a coastal region at the horizon, but there are only the lights of the larger fishing boats which populate the horizon.