After a peaceful night, I have a chance to comment on the accommodation here. The room is spacious with an unusual layout. I like the separate toilet and shower room with the sink in between, although the toilet is just a bit too small. On the flip side there is a marble-effect counter and matching stool. These don't have beveled edges, and my partner manages to cut herself on a corner, so there's a safety issue to note.
After the exertions of yesterday, neither of us is willing to do anything this morning. It's New Year, so why not take it easy? It's been a chance to catch up with rest and sleep, which is sorely needed after an epic tour so far. As we stocked up with food last night, we can enjoy the first breakfast of the New Year. Then a rare event happens; we laze around until midday, then head out for a simple lunch.
I chose our accommodation precisely to avoid the stress of being involved with New Year celebrations, and it's working, but should we choose, there are plenty of other ways to escape. To the west there are the mountains of Thung Salaeng Luang National Park. This park is a must-see, as it has amazing scenery and attractions and has historic significance due to security issues at the time of the Vietnam War. A movement started in universities in Bangkok led to affiliation with the Communists and a struggle with the Thai government. Relics of those times still exist in Thung Salaeng Luang. Much of my understanding of the events here came from a previous visit to this area. Today I don't intend to retrace my footsteps, but instead I get a chance to visit an attraction I missed before. We set course for a particular viewpoint in the park.
From our accommodation it's about 50 minutes to the viewpoint, starting off with a gradual approach into the mountains for some distance along well-made roads, but on entering the park at the checkpoint, the road is reduced to a single track. Perhaps surprisingly, there is no entrance fee. From the entrance, the road continues for 8 or 9 kilometres, rising gradually but not steeply through the forest. The viewpoint at Pha Nang Khoi Thoe (lady waiting for someone) is in a clearing offering tremendous views across the valley to the mountains beyond. The view is simply stunning. What's more surprising is that few other people have seen this as a getaway moment. The viewpoint offers a remarkable photo opportunity, but we notice that the road from here continues unpaved. With dry ground it's still passable until after a couple more kilometres there is a campsite. We check it out and find it sparsely occupied, and what an opportunity to be so close to nature and the stunning views. There is a toilet block here and a small fee to pitch a tent. There's no need for air-conditioning, as it can be quite cool at night. I only regret that in my younger days I didn't have this opportunity.
We head back down the mountain, stopping at Janrin Coffee Farm, ingeniously set up by a police officer. Associated with the shop are projects that take advantage of the natural surroundings. For example, coffee beans can be seen growing here and there, and there is equipment used to set up beehives to make honey. Then there is a small plant nursery. It's still relatively early, but we decide to head for Suan Phetmukda Restaurant for a pork steak where we can spend the remaining active hours of the day, and that's amazing too. We return to the resort in darkness, but far less of it than was needed yesterday. We're really satisfied with our New Year's Day. Our restfulness continues, and we have to enjoy it. Tomorrow we return to Bangkok and the organised chaos that usually involves.

Source: Visit