This morning, we need to be awake at 6.00 am, but the necessary peaceful sleep doesn't materialise. The room at Easy Hotel is fine, all we expect, but a couple of minor issues are accentuated by restlessness on my part which could limit what we achieve from the day. However, right now I'm heading off on a mission.
We head into the Doi Khun Tan mountains and the National Park of that name. The 45-minute journey leads to the highest elevation of any railway track in Thailand at Khun Tan Station. The reason for the early arrival is to catch one of the overnight trains from Bangkok heading for Chiang Mai.
The journey by road into the mountains is an experience in itself as the road is reduced to a single track in places deep inside the national park. One can understand what an amazing feat of engineering it was to drive a railway track through here.
The Special Express No. 13 arrives on time, and I capture it's passing. For a trainspotter in Thailand, this is the holy grail: It's such a great experience to see a train exiting the iconic Khun Tan Tunnel, pausing at the station to collect passengers.
In the past things were more complicated here before new locomotives were introduced in 2022. Before that, no locomotive was powerful enough to make the Khun Tan assent unaided. Banker engines at Chiang Mai and Lampang were used to help on the incline and then decouple before returning light to depot. It's time to head back to Easy Hotel 1, but there's just enough time for a couple of site visits before the window closes for breakfast.
We first visit Wat Tha Chompoo, but this 100-year-old temple while having an ornate prayer hall is otherwise undistinguished. We quickly move on to an attraction nearby which is picture postcard style. The White Bridge at Tha Chompoo crosses the Tha River, a tributary of the River Ping. The bridge is a box girder bridge painted all in white as opposed to the usual black. The picturesque scene created has been developed into an excellent attraction and viewpoint. Although we've been to the attraction before, it's great to see the bridge again and perhaps on a third visit, I can see a train crossing. It's time for breakfast.
As mentioned before, Easy Hotel was used before on our last visit to Lamphun. If I remember, on the previous occasion I was feeling unwell, so breakfast didn't matter, but today I realise that there is only coffee and toast and kow tom (rice soup) available. I skip the soup for now.
With the topsy-turvy morning so far, it's not surprising that we retire to the room as it's booked for 2 nights, emerging around lunchtime to look for some lunch. We head into the city where I'm looking for a restaurant serving Khao Soi, a local dish often served with chicken leg in a curry noodle soup with fried noodles on top. That succeeds and with the afternoon now free, we head for Chiang Mai, singling out a few attractions to visit. The first is on the way up to Doi Suthep hidden from me over decades of visits.
Wat Pha Lat, or the 'Monk's Trail Temple,' is an enchanting, hidden gem nestled amidst the verdant forest of Chiang Mai. This secluded temple complex, tucked away in the dense foliage on the slopes of Doi Suthep, comprises a series of ornate shrines, cascading waterfalls, and intricate carvings, perfect for travelers seeking a peaceful retreat from the bustling city life. Wat Pha Lat is a popular destination that offers a unique spiritual experience. Built several centuries ago, the buildings are influenced by classical European design that are unique to the area. Being so close to Chiang Mai City, it is not surprising that this temple is popular with foreigners.
Even though Chiang Mai is within easy reach of Lamphun, the travelling and time needed to explore this old temple has already made a hole in the afternoon and there are two more attractions still on the list. We now head into Mae Rim District and arrive at the Huay Tueng Thao Reservoir.
The Huay Tueng Thao Reservoir, nestled amidst majestic mountains, is a man-made lake, primarily created as a water resource to cater for local needs. It has since been adopted as a recreation centre with an abundance of outdoor activity catered for. Here, there are water sports, zip wire, ATVs and much more but for the less energetic there are raft huts to relax in and take lunch. There is a 50 baht fee for foreigners here (20 baht for Thai) but it's not clear whether this includes the activities offered as we don't intend to use them, restricting ourselves to taking a cool drink at a lakeside coffee shop. It's time to leave as we complete the circuit around the lake which takes up to 10 minutes.
Timewise it's now impossible to add another attraction as we are still an hour from Lamphun. We make good time, but we prefer to stop for food instead of buying it in the stadium which is restricted to mainly junk food. However, we each have different requirements as I dive into 7-Eleven for a burger. This turns out to be chaotic as football supporters queue for beer which is cheaper here. The delay is unfortunate, and my partner hasn't eaten yet requiring another stop. What seemed to be an easy trip to the stadium now becomes a race against time. We do have tickets fortunately and make it into the West Stand just in time for kick-off which is just as well given the way the game starts.
Lamphun Warrior Stadium is a new stadium in Pa Sang District about 15 minutes from Lamphun and is the last of the current TPL stadiums I will have visited, the reason I made a special effort to be here. Lamphun Warrior, the home team are sitting mid-table while their visitors today are Port FC from Bangkok. Port are lying 5th in the table, 8 points ahead of the hosts and are fancied to at least to get a point from this game but after just 3 minutes they are behind but manage to draw level by half-time in an action-packed game. Into the second half the hosts regain their lead, but Port come back a second time. A fifth goal goes the way of Lamphun who seem to have a point to prove and hold out to secure all three points. As a neutral I would say they deserve it but with the season almost over, the positions of both teams hardly matters.
Back at Easy Hotel, I reflect on a day that had almost everything. Tomorrow, we head back to Bangkok but how that's achieved, I will wait to decide tomorrow.

Source: Visit