Day 14 - Wednesday 28 December 2016

Jessada Hotel........photo. There's no breakfast at Jessada Hotel (right) but we're free to help ourselves to coffee. What's also free is nasal congestion and that confirms the problems I had in Chiang Saen were due to the air-conditioning. For the price, the rooms at the hotel are surprisingly spacious, comfortable and have all the facilities we need for a stopover. The fact that we reached Uttaradit yesterday should make for a straightforward day today. Yet while I would appreciate an early start, there is little sign of movement from Katoon. Clearly she’s not bothered what time we arrive back in Bangkok. A late start doesn’t suit me well as I’m an early riser and during the afternoon I’m noted for my cat naps. Well it is as it is and we’ll just have to wait and see after we finally depart around 11am.
Sila-At Railway Station........With the return to Bangkok diverted via Uttaradit, I would like to visit the Sila-At railway station, a more modern facility serving Uttaradit. It is larger than most provincial railway stations and a junction for the branch line to Sawankhalok already covered in the Sukhothai part of this tour. If there is no activity at the station then a visit would not take up much time. However on arrival I see three locomotives that are not currently on duty. I then learn that a train is due from Chiang Mai, due to arrive at 11.47. As Katoon is unconcerned, I decide to wait for it. The Rapid service comes in on time but the engine needs to take on fuel. The process is hardly different to a filling station with a pump at the end of the platform. The refuelling takes about 10 minutes and the train departs just after midday. It’s heading south to Bangkok and won’t arrive until 9pm in the evening. I just hope we arrive before it does. With curiosity getting the better of me, I ask the attendant how much fuel was taken onboard. The answer is a staggering 1,100 litres. I rough piece of maths suggests that there needs to be at least 100 people onboard just to pay for the fuel. With this distraction I fail to spot something sinister.

While waiting for the train I noticed a team of officials in uniform arriving at the platform. One official was clearly a police officer; others would have been railway police while the team leader was in plain clothes. This is an inspection team, I thought, and paid no further attention. However Katoon had witnessed something different. Each official was allocated a coach, boarded the train and began a search. Apparently they then apprehended a woman suspected of carrying drugs. The excitement over, we head off to get some mileage done.
Phitsanulok........Google Map. The next provincial town is Phitsanulok which having stopped for lunch, we don’t reach till around 2pm.That leaves 373 kms. to go. OK I’ve visited the station here before. No need for a stop here or is there. Well yes there is!
Wat Phra Si Mahathat Worawihan........Wat Phra Si Mahathat Worawihan, often referred to as Wat Yai (big temple), is located in the city of Phitsanulok on the east bank of the Nan River. Katoon, still unconcerned about reaching Bangkok is anxious to pay a visit. I can’t say we haven’t had the opportunity to visit this temple before but it seems it will fall into the trap this time. On arrival the temple is attracting a lot of attention and it doesn’t take me long to realise its historic significance. The full name of the temple is Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Maha Worawihan and is a first class royal temple, an honour granted by the king. It is well known for its remarkable Buddha image known as Phra Phuttha Chinnarat, considered one of the most beautiful Buddha images in Thailand. The temple was built in 1482 after the war between the Sukhothai and Lanna kingdoms. Evidence of later conflict is found in the ornate viharn where there are beautiful paintings relating to King Naresuan who was born in Phitsanulok but is best known for his defeat of a Burmese army in 1592. Another great feature is the magnificent Ayutthaya style prang rising above the temple complex.

Inevitably, having committed to this temple, it consumes a lot of time, not eased by the fact that the temple has had more sections open to the public as a result of the recent death of the king. By the time we’re ready to depart, its 3.30pm.
Bangkok arrival........Katoon takes on the driving to Nakhon Sawan then, trying to keep focussed, I do shorter stints of driving as we head into the minor provinces north of Bangkok. Still 150 kms. away, darkness arrives and traffic builds but progress is still good on the multi lane Highway 32. With around 100 kms. left, Katoon takes over taking the outer ring, Kanchanapisek 9 which will bring us nicely into Ramintra Road. That just leaves a bit of shopping to do and a late dinner. So ends the last tour of 2016 which has been arduous at times but also quite rewarding. Conclusion.