Day 4 - Saturday 9 July 2016

Interesting Sites........The travelling around is having some effect as I wake quite late, still with a lot of work to do on my blog. It’s 9.30 before it’s complete. There still remain some interesting sites to cover today in and around Prachinburi but nevertheless after breakfast we decide to leave Paradise Resort. That may give us more options later on. It’s a late start now at 11.30am.
Prachinburi National Museum........The Prachinburi National Museum is on the south side of the Bang Prakong River over the bridge at the end of Rat Damri Road. Passing the monument to King Rama V photo, the museum is a little further along a road to the left. I’m hoping it will offer a greater insight into the historical sites I’ve visited so far. On arrival there is an information board which outlines the purpose and function of the museum. Basically this museum collects, catalogues and researches historic finds from Thailand’s Eastern Provinces including, Prachinburi, Sa Kaeo, Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat.
When we arrive there is the usual additional fee for foreigners. In this case it’s 150 baht, more usually 100 baht for national museums, I find. The museum is small for the area it serves but there are some really interesting objects on display. The museum is on two floors. On the ground floor is an exhibition of Archaeology & Art of the Eastern Region then on the second floor is Prehistory in the Eastern Region, Underwater Archaeology, Ceramics in Thailand and Archaeology and Arts in Thailand. The halls therefore cover history from ancient times right up until the Rattanakosin Era and the present day.
The museum doesn’t seem to be well supported. It’s a Saturday and they even keep the lights turned off while there are no visitors. As I begin my circuit of the building Katoon is engaged with the receptionist but I already have some questions. Then another lady arrives who clearly has some English. When she talks about her museum I realise she is the curator. It’s a mark perhaps of a quiet period that she is happy to answer my questions that are mounting fast but it’s clearly the case that she is doing her duty to provide for visitors that take priory over everything. She’s quite content to follow me around the whole building. Naturally what I see and what I learn supports the site visits in this province but with so many exhibits from other regions it is easily possible to link into to the history of large parts of Southeast Asia as well. The assistance I receive from the curator is really appreciated and I actually feel I get excellent value. The effort to produce descriptions in English must put a stain on staff of the Fine Arts Department and I also receive a guide book in English and that’s not cheap to produce. With this guided tour the time has flown by with nearly 2 hours consumed. It time to move on.

Wat Bot........Wat Bot is reached by following the southern bank of the Bang Prakong River westwards. Katoon has made her inquiries while I consult Google Map. Local information wins hands down as Google doesn’t even show the bridge that crosses the river leading straight to the temple. At Wat Bot there are 3 Buddha images along the river bank named Phra Siri Mongkhon Nimit, the walking Buddha; Phra Sapphasit Nawa, the sitting Buddha; and Phra Maha Chin Saiyat, the reclining Buddha. The atmosphere in the temple is quiet and very shady. There is additional interest in the site when you realise some important artefacts were found here, now exhibited in Prachinburi National Museum.

City Pillar Shrine........The City Pillar Shrine is located on the riverbank along Tanon Nahmurng, off Rat Damri Road near the bridge. Pillar shrines normally relate to the founding of a city and every city should have one. King Rama V had this one constructed in 1872.

Prachinburi Railway Station........Prachinburi Railway Station is a class 1 railway station, located 121.781 km (75.7 mi) from Bangkok Railway Station. The station opened in January 1925, as part of the Eastern Line Chachoengsao Junction-Kabin Buri section. Train services handled by this station are:
• Ordinary Train No. 275/276 Bangkok - Aranyaprathet - Bangkok
• Ordinary Train No. 277/278 Bangkok - Kabin Buri - Bangkok
• Ordinary Train No. 279/280 Bangkok - Aranyaprathet - Bangkok
• Ordinary Train No. 281/282 Bangkok - Kabin Buri - Bangkok
• Ordinary Train No. 371/372 Bangkok - Prachin Buri - Bangkok
On arrival at this station, as expected, there is nothing to see except a good selection of hopper wagons. There is an up-train due but it appears to be late and I don’t really have enough time to wait. As with a number of provincial stations I have to be content just to record my visit.

Wat Cheang........photo../..Google Map. Wat Cheang is best reached from Rim Thang Rotfai Alley which connects to Rat Damri Road near the railway crossing. It is a temple selected by Katoon. The temple has an unusual tower with spire set within an ornamental pond. Unfortunately there is little general information for this site so it requires further research.
King Naresuan the Great Shrine........King Naresuan the Great (1590-1605) photo, one of the most revered monarchs in Thailand’s history famed for his campaigns to free Siam from foreign rule, is commemorated at this local shrine. The shrine houses a statue of King Naresuan in a standing position. The shrine commemorates the King’s route through Prachin Buri on the way to Cambodia from Ayutthaya. Prachinburi locals as well as residents from nearby provinces regularly pay respect to the shrine. The shrine is located at Noen Hom Intersection, Tambon Ban Phra. It is 9 kilometers north of Prachinburi at the intersection of Highway No. 320 and Highway No 33 at km 158. King Naresuan the Great Shrine is on the right hand side after the roundabout heading east.

At this point it's now past 4pm and the few remaining sites would be closing. That includes the nearby Phra Khru Uthai Dham Ma Thari Museum photo../..Google Map which I manage to photograph. There’s still time to move out of the district and I make a bold decision to head east.
Na Di District........Google Map. We follow Highway 33 to Kabinburi then take Highway 304 north. This route borders the National Park areas of Khao Yai and Thap Lan. The plan is to find accommodation in Na Di district which is the sparsely populated district of Prachinburi province to the northeast with its border with Nakhon Ratchacima Province. We make a detour to Na Di town but there is nothing here and rejoin Highway 304 further north. There's less than 1 hour left now before dark and there seems to be only one option left.
The Verona at Tub Lan........The Verona at Tub Lan is an enigma. It’s designed as a replica of the Italian city of Verona. With shops, boutiques, restaurants and accommodation, everything look pristine and fresh but to my mind totally out of character in this ‘wilderness’ location. How much the planners and architects received for this project, goodness knows. It’s not what I’m looking for and that leaves me with a problem. There is nothing now in this province and I have a decision to make. The next location where there’s likely to be suitable accommodation is not in Prachinburi Province but across the provincial border in Nakhon Ratchacima Province. I really have little choice but to carry on but with road construction and heavy goods traffic it becomes a nightmare with painfully slow progress over the pass. At this point I lose the thread for this tour as it was never the intention to travel outside the two provinces of Nakhon Nayok and Prachinburi. From this point I decide to close the tour and open a new tour. As I’m heading for Wang Nam Khiao, that will be the name of the new tour.

Wang Nam Khiao........The location of Wang Nam Khiao in the south of Nakhon Rachacima Province is idyllic with stunning mountain scenery and enough facilities including restaurants and resorts for tourists in complete contrast to Na Di District on Prachinburi Province. Despite the fading light, I am hopeful as resort signs come into view. Nevertheless it takes some enquiry to pinpoint the most popular areas. We locate a turning on the right hand side of the road which requires a U-turn as we head north past a PTT service station. The road leads into the mountains and the viewpoint of Pha Kep Ta Wan. The first resort is just a kilometres along this road and it’s the best we’re likely to do under the circumstances.
Phu Phrai Ngam Resort........photo../..Google Map. Phu Phrai Ngam Resort is the name, and relates to the scenic nature of the area. Fortunately even though it’s nearly 7pm we are among the first visitors and get a choice of rooms. The rooms are a bit rustic, not superior for 750 baht, but what is superior is the location. The bungalow has a veranda overlooking a lotus pond and in the distance are mountain views. Without further ado we settle and head back to the main road for dinner. Inevitably I’m restricted tonight due to the late arrival and make no attempt to work on my blog. What is quite amazing, given this remote location, is the internet connection. For the first time this visit I get continuous live streaming and manage to see the last hour of the final stage 8 of the Tour de France. The timing is perfect as Chris Froome races down the mountain in the Pyrenees to claim the yellow jersey. Earlier Lewis Hamilton claimed pole at the British Grand Prix. Next Page.