Monday 11 July 2016

Glorious setting........No worse for wear after yesterday’s excitement I’m a wake a bit earlier and manage to get my blog written from yesterday. It doesn’t need much writing. After a little more substantial breakfast we’re ready to move by 10am but not before I promised myself just to take a stroll and relax a while in the the glorious setting of this resort with its beautiful lotus pond.

Highway No. 3052........We’re not much more than 3 hours from Bangkok so there’s plenty of time to make some detours if necessary. From Highway 304 we pick up Highway 3052 heading west. This road is very similar to the one I just left with resorts, restaurants, coffee and farm shops all competing with imaginative landscaping to attract customers. At this time of year there are not many of those. One typical establishment is ‘a Cup of Love’ photo../..Google Map on the left hand side of the road but nothing along this route encourages me to part with my money but something does attract my interest.
Khao Phaeng Ma........Khao Phaeng Ma is a hill or small mountain south of the 3052. It’s a viewpoint and I decide to go for it but while it’s only 4 kilometres from the main road the tarmac soon disappears. It’s time to go off-road. There’s been no rain for a while so that won’t hamper progress but the track does prove difficult in places yet not as bad as my off-road excursions in Phu Toei National Park in Suphanburi Province. At the end of the track there’s a clearing with a number of buildings but they’re totally deserted. The information board refers to a nature trail, 1.8 kilometres long but the viewpoint is off to the right some 200 kilometres into the forest. Again it’s peaceful with a light breeze keeping it pleasant but the viewpoint is popular for a particular reason. Although hard to spot there are Eurasian Gaur in the park and the viewpoint overlooks one of their grazing areas. Without protection these bovines are in decline. We are joined by three lads who say they come here regularly to watch the gaur; what a pleasure to know in this mad mad world! As we return to the car the sounds of the forest are all around with plenty of evidence the inhabitants are active. It’s absolutely essential that these wild areas are protected.

Lam Phra Phloeng 1........Continuing along the 3052 we tick of a few tourist sites we pass that appear on Google Map, occasionally stopping to take photos. Flora Park is there on the right then next up is Lam Phra Phloeng 1, the smaller of two reservoirs with this name, evidently connected by the same river system. We take a breather here to admire this peaceful location.

Toscana Valley Resort ........Feeling tired I let Katoon drive and soon fall asleep. I awake when she pulls over and have to rub my eyes several times. I mentioned The Verona at Tub Lan on the way to Wang Nam Khiao. Well Toscana Valley Resort beats that hands down. The entire hillside is covered in Italian style buildings that must cost a fortune. By any measure of luxury I can’t remember anything to beat this. There have been many classy resorts appearing on this route but this one tops the lot. Needless to say I won’t be making enquiries here but it’s a good photo opportunity nevertheless.

Khao Yai National Park........Finally, the 3052 ends at the junction with Highway 2090. To the left is Khao Yai National Park while the road to the right leads to National Highway No. 2. Due to the size of Khao Yai National Park there are many entrances. Having skirted around the southern edge in Nakhon Nayok and Prachinburi, this route in Nakhon Ratchacima Province skirts around the northern edge. The park entrance on the 2090 is a major one and well used by Thais particularly at weekends. I’m not so sure about foreigners though, but not this one, who would have to pay a whopping 400 baht when the regular fee is 40 baht. On top of that the car is extra. My advice to foreigners is simple – don’t pay as there are many other ways to enter the forest. Let the Thais pay for their conservation with their small change.

Bangkok arrival........I take over the driving again and turn west for Meuk Lek. This section of the road is the most picturesque as the valley sides close in. More and more up-market resorts can be found here. Soon we reach Meuk Lek and Highway 2 which runs right up to the northern border with Laos at Nong Khai. It’s still relatively early: I’d expected to be in Bangkok by 6pm. I would like to call at the important rail junction at Keang Khoi but it’s an awkward place to get to from the highway and I miss the turn. While I’m a bit annoyed it’s seems a lot of trouble to turn back. Now passing Saraburi it’s a straight run now along National Highway No. 1 and around the ring road, Kanchanapisek (9). It’s just a matter of collecting some shopping now and I can declare this tour over.