17 December 2022
Steve and I woke up early on our second day in Chumphon, excited to explore more of the province. We had a delicious breakfast at the South Gate Residence Hotel, and then set off on our adventure.
Our first stop was a small village on the outskirts of town. We were hoping to see some traditional Thai fishing boats, and we were not disappointed. The village was full of colorful boats, and the fishermen were hard at work. We spent some time watching the fishermen and taking photos.
After we left the village, we drove along the coast. We stopped several times to take photos of the beautiful scenery. We saw lush green hills, sparkling blue water, and white sandy beaches.
Just after 10am, we came across a Thai wedding in full swing. We pulled over to the side of the road and watched the festivities. There were dancing troupes of local ladies, loud bands playing on the back of a truck, and a large crowd of people gathered to celebrate. We had a great time watching the wedding, and we even got to join in on the dancing!
After the wedding, we continued on our way. We stopped at a prawn farm to learn more about how prawns are raised. We were amazed at the size of the operation.
Our next stop was Wat Bo Samrong, a beautiful Thai temple. The temple was built in the Ayutthaya style, and it was decorated with intricate carvings and statues. We spent some time exploring the temple grounds, and we even climbed to the top of the temple to get a panoramic view of the surrounding area.
After Wat Bo Samrong, we drove to Mae Ramphueng, a small town known for its beautiful beaches. We spent some time relaxing on the beach, swimming in the ocean, and exploring the town.
Our last stop for the day was Phra Mahathat, a large temple complex located on a hill overlooking the town of Prachuap Khiri Khan. The temple complex was built in the Khmer style, and it was decorated with intricate carvings and statues. We spent some time exploring the temple complex, and we even climbed to the top of the temple to get a panoramic view of the surrounding area.
We arrived at our hotel in Prachuap Khiri Khan just before sunset. We were exhausted from our day of exploring, but we were also very happy. We had had a wonderful day, and we had made some great memories.
After we checked into our hotel, we went out to experience the local markets. We wandered through the stalls, admiring the colorful fruits and vegetables, the fresh seafood, and the handmade souvenirs. We bought some delicious food to take back to our hotel, and we even got some new clothes.
We ended our day by walking along the esplanade watching the sunset over the ocean. It was a perfect way to end a perfect day.
18 December 2022
Steve and I woke up early this morning to an amazing sunrise. We opened the curtains on the room’s wraparound windows and experienced the sun rising and the clouds rushing across the sky. Alison headed downstairs to the hairdresser for a shampoo, condition, and blow-dry. It was great value at 160 baht, or about $8.
After Alison was done, we headed down to the beach towards the temple up on the hill. However, we decided against it, as it was an extremely windy day, with nearly 400 steps to climb and pesky monkeys everywhere. Instead, we drove down to the waterfront and watched the waves crashing over the sea wall. We continued down the point to the entrance of the Khao Ta Mong La Forest Park, where quite a number of smaller boats were moored. There were quite a few that were partially submerged.
After spending some time at the park, we decided to head out to the Dan Singkorn Border Market, which is next to the Thai/Myanmar Border Crossing Station. It is only 13 kilometers from here to the coast, which is almost the narrowest section of Thailand. This was an interesting market, with lots of trade happening between Thailand and Myanmar. Some of the timber furniture was amazing. Solid tables and outdoor settings were made from single pieces of timber. And the weight of each piece was incredible. We could not lift a bench seat, let alone the table. There were also lots of wooden ornaments, as well as beautiful orchids and other flowers.
As the coast was being bombarded by strong winds and buffeting seas, we decided to drive up the main highway to our hotel in Cha Am. On the way, we had a number of Wats (Buddhist temples) tagged to visit.
- Nong Kham’s Priests site – a new Wat being built, with an older section where the Priests site is. Still a lot of work to be done on this site.
We stopped at PTT (a Thai convenience store) and had lunch at one of the eateries, as well as grabbing some drinks from 7-Eleven.
- Wat Noen Sawan Mongkhon Tham – a beautiful Wat with a large reclining Buddha.
- Wat Huaykaew Mongkol – we had been here in 2019 with Neil and Connie. The big golden Buddha out the back of this Wat had progressed much construction wise since 2019.
- Wat Chang Thangool Krachat – a Wat with a reclining Buddha and 3 large golden buddhas perched up on the mountain ridge.
We booked into our hotel (Tontan Resort, Cha Am). It was not on the coast, but further inland among rice fields. It was a lovely hotel, the only downside being an extremely hard bed.
We had a short rest then went out to dinner. We tried a few markets, but eventually settled on a small roadside cafe called Noi’s Restaurant. It was a lovely family restaurant, with good food and reasonable prices.
19 December 2022
Steve and I woke up early this morning, eager to start our day in Ratchaburi. We had a delicious breakfast at the hotel, and then set off on our journey.
Our first stop was to see some of the famous bling trucks that Thailand is known for. These trucks are decorated with all sorts of chrome, mirrors, and Michelin men, and they are truly a sight to behold.
After admiring the trucks, we headed to the river to see some of the beautifully colored fishing boats. These boats are used by the locals to catch fish, and they are a reminder of the rich history and culture of Ratchaburi.
From the river, we went to Wat Samut Khodom, a temple where the locals farm salt. It was fascinating to watch the locals squeeze the moisture from the salt in their “Flintstone mobiles,” as Steve called them.
Our next stop was Wat Nok Pak Thale, a temple in the shape of a sailing junk. This temple is a popular tourist destination, and it is easy to see why. The temple is beautifully decorated, and it offers stunning views of the surrounding area.
After lunch, we visited Wat Phet Suwan, a beautiful temple complex. This temple is believed to have been built in the 19th century, and it is a great example of Thai architecture.
At 2pm, we decided to visit Holyland, an unusual tourist attraction made from all sorts of recycled material. This place was a lot of fun, and it was great to see how people had used recycled materials to create something so unique.
By early evening, we reached the Baan Lamoon Hotel. We checked in and then went for a walk to find something to eat. We were fortunate to find a little local cafe not far from our hotel. The owners were great and very helpful, and the food was delicious.
20 December 2022
Steve and I woke up early this morning, excited for our day of exploring Ratchaburi onto Kanchanaburi. We packed our bags and headed out to our car, which we had rented for the trip.
We drove out of Ratchaburi and headed west, towards Kanchanaburi. The first stop on our agenda was Wat Khao Khiao Sadet. This temple is known for its beautiful gardens and flowers. We arrived at the temple around 11am and were immediately greeted by the sight of lush green lawns and colorful flowers. We spent some time walking around the gardens and admiring the flowers.
After we left Wat Khao Khiao Sadet, we drove a little further down the road and found a coffee shop. We stopped for a quick coffee break and enjoyed the view of the surrounding countryside.
By lunchtime, we were ready to eat. We drove to Wat Khao Sung Chaem Fa, which is known for its rainbow road. The road is made up of 5 colourful stripes that create a beautiful rainbow effect. We had lunch at a restaurant near the temple and then spent some time walking around and admiring the rainbow road.
After lunch, we drove to Wat Khao Chong Pattanaram. This temple is known for its row of Buddhas in rainbow colours. The Buddhas are all the same size but their colours and are arranged in a row along the side of the temple. We spent some time walking around the temple and admiring the Buddhas.
As we made our way to Wat Tham Khao Noi, we took some very isolated less traveled roads. To our surprise, we found farmers using thousands of ducks to rid their crops of insects. It was amazing to see this army of ducks quacking away.
By 2pm, we arrived at Wat Tham Khao Noi. This temple complex is located on a mountain and has a very steep grand staircase leading up to it. Steve and I happily stretched our legs and headed up the stairs. At the top of the stairs, there are at least three temples set high on the mountain. We spent some time exploring the temples and enjoying the views of the surrounding countryside.
By 5pm, we reached our hotel for the night. We were exhausted from our day of exploring, but we were also very happy. We had had an amazing day and had seen some incredible things. We couldn’t wait to do it all again tomorrow.
21 December 2022
Steve and I left Makan Resort after a comfortable night at 8:30am. By 10am we reached our first stop for the day in U Thong. Bhutsaya Khiri Suvarnabhumi (Rock Buddha) is a brand new park / complex. It has the feel of an oasis in an abandoned quarry. It is truly amazing and beautiful. The buzz of construction was great to experience, and it was fun meeting some of the workers. We also had a lovely chat with the resident monk.
By 11am we visited a local Chinese cemetery. It was a truly humbling experience. From here we moved onto to see Wat Khao Phra Is Sanphet. Another cute little complex with a great view.
On our way to Wat Muang, we had to stop and watch the rice harvesters at work. These machines were so small compared to the machines Alison was working with just a few weeks ago in the wheat fields of Western Australia.
The main attraction we wanted to visit today was Wat Muang, a Buddhist temple in Ang Thong Province, Thailand. It is home to the largest Buddha statue in Thailand, the Phra Buddha Maha Nawamin. The statue is 92 meters (300 feet) tall and 63 meters (207 feet) wide, and is made of concrete and gold. It was completed in 2008.
By 3pm it was time to find a Cafe Amazon for a coffee.
By 5pm we had arrived at our riverside hotel in Ayutthaya. We managed to squeeze our car into the car park with millimeters to spare height-wise. We sat back in our room to enjoy the sunset and watch the barges cruise past us. And yes, we drank Leo Beer!
It had been a long day, but it had been a very rewarding one. We had seen some amazing things and met some wonderful people. We sat back and enjoyed a lovely Cafe meal on the river.
22 December 2022
Steve and I woke up early on our last full day in Thailand. We were staying in a small hotel in Ayutthaya, and the loud hum of the barges on the Chaophraya River had kept us up most of the night. But we were excited to start our day, and the sunrise over the river was simply stunning.
We had previously spent some time in Ayutthaya, so we decided to explore some of the smaller temples and attractions that we had missed. Our first stop was Prasat Nakhon Luang, a 14th-century Khmer temple complex that is in a state of ruins. It was fascinating to see how the temple had been built and then abandoned over the centuries.
From Prasat Nakhon Luang, we walked to Wat Phra Phutthabat, another beautiful Thai temple. This temple is famous for its large reclining Buddha statue, which is over 100 feet long. We spent some time meditating in front of the Buddha, and then we explored the rest of the temple complex.
By lunchtime, we were ready for a break. We found a small restaurant near Wat Phra Phutthabat and had a delicious meal of Thai food. After lunch, we drove to a sunflower field, where we enjoyed the huge splash of yellow colors. We also found a Jeep that we could pose in for some photos.
We arrived at our hotel, The White House Hotel, in Tak at 6pm. The hotel was located in a quiet neighborhood, and it had a beautiful garden. After we checked in we walked a few hundred metres down the road to a street side cafe.
23 December 2022
Steve and I woke up early to make the most of our last day in Tak. We found a couple of very cool 4WD parked near us.
We packed the car and headed out to our first stop, the King Taksin Shrine. The shrine is a beautiful complex of temples and statues dedicated to King Taksin, the founder of the Thonburi Kingdom. We were particularly impressed by the lines of statues, which were incredibly well-carved.
After visiting the shrine, we drove the back roads to Chiang Mai. The drive was long, but it was worth it to see the countryside. We passed through small villages, rice fields, and forests.
We arrived in Chiang Mai in the afternoon and were greeted by the happy smiles of our hosts. We were exhausted, but we had had a wonderful time o travelling from the Surat Thani to Chiang Mai. This was the end of our part 1 of trip.
