Day 2 - Thursday 7 July 2016

Pleasurable stay........With the shops and market nearby it’s easy to grab something for breakfast with coffee we already have. Surprisingly it’s reasonably busy compared to last night. I guess that means if you’re looking for night-life don’t bother to come here! It’s quite relaxed though sitting on the veranda in the morning sunshine. It’s been a pleasure to stay at Louis Resort and the owner has been really accommodating but there is nothing to keep us in the area as it is a dead end into the national park but by now I’ve identified half a dozen locations that need exploring as we work our way back to National Highway 33.

Wat Tham Sarika........The first stop of the day is near the junction of the road heading for the Sarika Waterfall (Highway 3050). Wat Tham Sarika or Sarika Cave used to be a sanctuary where Luangphu Man Bundatto practiced Dhama preachings between 1917 and 1920. Today there are the usual monks’ quarters, ubosot and viharn as well as a shrine to Luangphu Man.

Buddhist Memorial Park........The Makha Bucha (Magha Puja) Buddhist Memorial Park is located on the right hand side before the entrance of Sarika Waterfall in 53 rai on the edge of Khao Yai National Park.. This site is certainly impressive but is also confusing for a non-Buddhist. The promanent feature is a large seated Buddha image surrounded by deciples in huge numbers. Inside the prayer hall are warrior like Chinese figures and an impressive alter while in another building there is a huge sand sculpture of religious art.

Like all religious sites I always look beyond religion and concentrate primarily on historic significance and the effects of local culture on architecture and design. The rule of thumb is that the older it is, the more interesting it is. In the case of this memorial park is was constructed just four years ago and the only thing that connects it to the past is that it celebrates the occasion of the 2600th year of "Enlightenment" of Lord Buddha . Makha Bucha day is an important religious day in Thailand but never before has there been a lasting memorial to mark the occasion. For the sake of my companion I have spent almost an hour at this site but as regards enlightenment I’m not so sure about that.
Sarika Waterfall ........With the last site leaving me a little confused it’s on to something I’m more likely to understand. The Sarika Waterfall is just a little further up the road but when I see there is a gate house I know that means a charge and a penalty for foreigners and I was quite right I’m not confused. I turn the car around and head back to the main road. Not wishing to give up so easily I head back towards the dam where there are more waterfalls signposted.
Wang Takhrai Waterfall........The Wang Takhrai Waterfall is signposted on the left along Highway 3049 heading back to where I started the day. Again there is a gatehouse and an entrance fee. It’s another dot ball.
Nang Rong Waterfall........The entrance to the Nang Rong Waterfall is located just beyond the turning to the dam. There is yet another gatehouse. Now I am getting annoyed. During the course of my travels I have visited many waterfalls either free or with a small charge. Given that I’m only curious and have no other intention other than to take a few photographs I’m just not prepared to pay the fee to see water running off a mountain. It’s time to head back.

Ganesha Park........The Ganesha Park is similar to the one I featured on my Buriram tour in March 2013. It’s located along a right turn back along Highway 3049 heading for Nakhon Nayok. According to the information board it is dedicated to Pra Pikanetr a prominent Hindu God. As I’m not really into deformed pink fat elephants I’m not inclined to give it much space here but Katoon takes a different view of course.

Welcome addition to this website?........I recall that on numerous occasions I’ve completed a tour or just a day by adding ‘this is a welcome addition to this website’. As things presently stand I can’t say that. Three temple visits and three waterfalls have left me with little to show for my efforts and I have had as my only consolation, my companion being happy with her merit making. Finally we get back onto the main highway where we stop for lunch.
Wang Bon Reservoir........Further along Highway 33, not far from the border with Prachinburi Province we see a sign to Wang Bon Reservoir. Some 15 minutes along rural road 3288 brings us to the reservoir. Compared to the Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam this is a really peaceful spot looking directly over Khao Yai National Park. By now the cloud cover has returned and there’s some obvious respite from the heat here. It seems deserted as I stroll along the banks of the open water. The rains have brought out a burst of colour from the shrubs and meadow flowers which in turn attract butterflies of amazing colours. Such are the quantity that one cannot help but stare in every direction at their ritual dance. Suddenly the day has a different feel.

Prachinburi........Google Map. Prachinburi is the provincial town of the province with the same name. It is not necessary to return the way we came; connecting with rural road 3077 leads us straight into Prachinburi. It’s now clear that Katoon has her own agenda for this trip and it’s looking like we’ll be staying in the town tonight. As I haven’t had chance to research the town it’s now over to her. She has somewhere in mind but I fail to indentify it on Google Map. I don’t really know what I’m looking for as we enter the town, cross the railway line and head for the river. Then when she makes some enquiries I finally identify it although quite why it registers so strongly with her I’m not sure. It’s now mid afternoon and I would rather look for accommodation but soon we arrive at the last site of the day.
Chao Phya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital........It’s curious given the visits I’ve made to a hospital this time in Thailand to be visiting a hospital yet again. But I’m in for a surprise. It’s not what I think. As we park up opposite, it starts to rain quite heavily but there across the road near the main hospital building is an old baroque style building that has to be investigated.
Chao Phya Abhaibhubejhr, an important figure in the Royal Court during the reign of Kings Rama V and VI, had this building constructed as a residence for the King in 1909. In 1912 it was used as reception house for King Rama VI. Later, in 1941, the Public Health Ministry used the building as a hospital, naming it Prachinburi Hospital but it was renamed in 1966 the Chao Phya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital. Four years later it ended its use as a ward. It was registered as a heritage site in 1999 and is now a museum dedicated to traditional herbal medicine.
As a location of historic interest this has really helped with what was becoming a lost day. There is enough English in the exhibition halls to keep you interested. One hall relates the life and times of Chao Phya Abhaibhubejhr who had been governor in Battembang, now Cambodia, before the French took control. A similar building to the one built here in Prachinburi still exists in Battembang. Most of the other halls are devoted to research into alternative medicine based on the use of herbs, how they were extracted, processed and blended. One hall has a traditional counter for dispensing these medicines. Entry to the museum is free.

Onavie Resort........photo../..Google Map. With rain still falling we really must find accommodation and we don’t travel far. For once there is an acceptance at the first location. Onavie Resort is basic compared with last night’s superior room but that’s to be expected at only 500 baht per night. I get started immediately in writing up my notes but there are already problems with the internet connection. The other concern is that although we are near the river there are no convenience shops nearby. It also means we have to take the car to go out for dinner. We start looking around and head back past the hospital but soon fortunately we stumble across a Korean BBQ restaurant and that will do very nicely thank you, the first this visit to Thailand. Back at Onavie Resort I now have to work hard to write up my blog, not helped by the poor internet connection. Finally it shuts down completely and I can’t even get a result from the Tour de France. There have been a couple of bright spots today which have just about prevented it being a complete disaster but there are growing concerns for this tour and I’m less than enthusiastic as I call it a day. Next Page.