Tuesday 5 July 2016

The battle lost........By the evening of the 21st day in Thailand this summer I’ve managed just 6 meaningful days on tour. With just 9 days left before I return to the UK I’m not going to achieve my target of at least 50% availability this visit. This is because of cellulites I developed at the end of the first week. While only a few days were actually lost through illness, the hospital appointments restrict my movements. A final appointment this morning gives me freedom at last. The ultrasound scan revealed nothing sinister. Tomorrow I will depart on another 6 day tour designed completely from scratch.
With the medical problems now out of the way I should be in better spirits but I’m not. On Saturday I lost an important battle on the very day of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. I had pinned my hopes on getting a visa for Katoon to visit the UK this autumn but not only have I failed to win this battle but I seem to have lost the bloody war and I’m still bitter. I fail to see why such an honest request should cause so many headaches for UK Immigration. The biggest wound is that they believe we are liars. It is as it is but I’m certain it is the product of the current political turmoil, not for any practical reasons as it means more money will flow out of the UK economy now. Of that I can guarantee. While emotions are still running high, it’s business as usual with regard to this website and recent events have to be set aside. I’m sure as I depart tomorrow, the healing process will begin to accelerate.

Day 1 - Wednesday 6 July 2016

Khao Yai National Park........Khao Yai National Park is in the western part of the Sankamphaeng Mountain Range, at the south-western boundary of the Khorat Plateau. The highest mountain in the area of the park is 1,351 m high Khao Rom. This park lies largely in Nakhon Ratchasima Province (Khorat), but also includes parts of Saraburi, Prachinburi, and Nakhon Nayok Provinces. Within easy reach of Bangkok, this park is extremely popular with visitors especially during the hot dry season.With just a limited amount of time left it is not possible to explore all of this vast forested area so it’s likely only the region within Prachinburi, and Nakhon Nayok Provinces will be visited.
It’s been a feature of recent tours with a vehicle on the doorstep to take a much more relaxed view of travel; no bus, train or airline schedules to worry about accepting last years’ tour to Ho Chi Minh City. Accordingly it's near to 11am before we get on the road. However Nakhon Nayok is easy to reach and many would cover this as a day trip. I ask Katoon to drive since she seems determined to use local roads instead of main highways. I’ve given her the name ’Satnav Sally’. It seems to have worked since we are in Nakhon Nayok Province by midday but it has helped a lot that we are on the right side of Bangkok for this tour. Lunch is taken quite early off the main highway.
Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam........Signs in Thailand are usually easy enough to follow and the regions' attractions soon appear on blue boards, even Khao Yai National Park is among them but we’re not heading there just yet. We follow rural road 3239 in the direction of the Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam.

For those who follow Google Map the dam is listed as Khlong Tha Dan Dam but the Thai authorities changed the name to that of the stream that flows from Heaw Narok Waterfall. Khun Dan is a local folk hero. He is remembered for his exploits in a war with Cambodia during the Ayutthaya Period. A shrine to him has been constructed near the dam. Given the size of this concrete dam it provides an ideal opportunity to stretch some legs but for the disinclined there are electric cars available for 350 baht.

More natural........Nakhon Nayok can be regarded as the south-western gateway to Khao Yai National Park and from the highway passing through the area you begin to see the hills in the distance and arriving in the area of the dam there is all around the natural feel of adventure with popular pastimes this time of year for rafting, canoeing and tubing as well as boat trips and ATV hire. But this is not really for me as we scout around for accommodation.
Louis Resort........The curious thing about the village near the dam is that it’s supported by a modern 4-lane highway out of keeping with this natural setting indicating that the intention is to regenerate tourism in the area. It has succeeded with a good selection of accommodation now available. Nevertheless it takes time to find something suitable. Those resorts near the river charge at least 1,000 baht when my budget is 600-800 baht. At the top of the list is a good wifi connection and a number of bungalows offered seem to be too far from the router. The general rate seems to be 800 baht so the accommodation has to be A1 for that.
Louis Resort is at the rear of a coffee shop almost opposite Tesco Lotus Mini and with 7Eleven also nearby this is a great plus. There are just 4 bungalows seemingly crammed into a small space but there is nothing cramped about the rooms. Amazingly spacious they even have a kitchenette. There is a sink within a counter with a kettle and coffee and some plates. Basically if we had a rice cooker and an electric hot pot/grill it would be self catering. I can’t remember anything like this before. The next plus is the bed; so soft that I’m soon fast asleep.
Streaming not tubing........ Waking at 6pm it’s time for dinner but oddly the one thing the area is missing is a good restaurant. Not wishing to adventure too far as rain threatens we eat in a local restaurant that will do for tonight. Back in the room my blog doesn’t take much writing up and I try to get streaming of the Tour du France which I’ve been following all week. It’s not so good but then again it would be incredible if I could get a perfect live broadcast and a definite plus. Next Page.