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Thursday 15 October 2015
Preparations……..As preparations go this has to be the most organised I’ve been on any tour. Yes, I do accept some of the tours have been pretty chaotic due to lack of preparation. For this tour I’ve bought a printer and produced pages of suggested sites and maps. Each of the two provinces I intend to visit has been broken down into districts and each site catalogued within each. I have now identified over 50 sites so this tour will last around 10 days. After lunch the Toyota Hilux I used on my last trip was woken up and brought over to the residence. I offer to pay substantially more than last time as the car can stay with me for around seven weeks. However the owner doesn't expect more; I know the Toyota is old but it did the job perfectly well last time and there's no reason it will fail me this. I'm more than happy!
Day 1 - Friday 16 October 2015
Departure……..The Suphanburi/Chainat tour gets under way just after 11am a bit later than I hoped but I’ve had a good breakfast so I’ll factor in a late lunch. The journey to Suphanburi should take 2 hours by my reckoning but by midday I’ve hardly reached the outer ring road at Bang Bua Thong. Perhaps I should invest in a satnav as inevitably there is a difference of opinion with my navigator but on the plus side I don’t need to familiarise myself with the vehicle. It has a mind of its own: And how many foreigners would dare drive in Bangkok anyway? The most interesting feature to me in this tedious hour is the newly built elevated MRT Purple Line Heavy Rail from Tao Pun near Bang Sue to Khlong Bang Phai near the outer ring road. Its construction is complete but the line is not yet commissioned. As soon as I pick up National Highway 340 then the hard work is over. It’s a straight run up to Suphanburi now. By 1.30pm I’m already looking for Pairush Apartments. I told you I was more organised, remember? Actually a friend put in the recommendation and I had little trouble in finding it on the frontage road along the 340 north.
Pairush Apartments……..Pairush Apartments are modern, functional and typical of the type. There are no dining facilities but neither are they needed: I shall be out travelling most of the time. Having checked out the room for all I need I don’t even bother to send my belongings to the room but head out to lunch. It’s also about getting my bearings. Initially I don’t find anywhere suitable to stop but when all else fails, head for BIG ‘C’. These shopping centres are often the size of small town squares in the UK and if there’s one thing you can rely on it’s the food hall. Always clean and offering a good selection, this one is relatively quiet. Grilled chicken and chips is not exactly what I had in mind but absolutely fine on the budget. By mid afternoon I can begin visiting my tour sites.
I’m quite sorry if I’ve built the reader up with the promise of an exciting tour. While the next couple of days will be for me I’m sure if I mention temples, most will switch off immediately. Put it this way. If you fill in your tax return some sections will not apply and you can skip them. However don’t forget to return later or you’ll get fined! Suphanburi has at least ten temples worthy of a visit so let’s get started.
Giant Dragon Village and Dragon Descendents Museum……..This Chinese Village is new, built within the last couple of years and does not yet appear on Google Map. However it is close to the city wall and gate along Highway 321. You could hardly miss the giant dragon. It’s well worth a wander round. Most of the structures have been built with the help of public donation but there is a fee of 300 baht for the museum. This seems to apply to everybody but I doubt if a western foreigner like me would be at all interested.
Preparations……..As preparations go this has to be the most organised I’ve been on any tour. Yes, I do accept some of the tours have been pretty chaotic due to lack of preparation. For this tour I’ve bought a printer and produced pages of suggested sites and maps. Each of the two provinces I intend to visit has been broken down into districts and each site catalogued within each. I have now identified over 50 sites so this tour will last around 10 days. After lunch the Toyota Hilux I used on my last trip was woken up and brought over to the residence. I offer to pay substantially more than last time as the car can stay with me for around seven weeks. However the owner doesn't expect more; I know the Toyota is old but it did the job perfectly well last time and there's no reason it will fail me this. I'm more than happy!
Day 1 - Friday 16 October 2015
Departure……..The Suphanburi/Chainat tour gets under way just after 11am a bit later than I hoped but I’ve had a good breakfast so I’ll factor in a late lunch. The journey to Suphanburi should take 2 hours by my reckoning but by midday I’ve hardly reached the outer ring road at Bang Bua Thong. Perhaps I should invest in a satnav as inevitably there is a difference of opinion with my navigator but on the plus side I don’t need to familiarise myself with the vehicle. It has a mind of its own: And how many foreigners would dare drive in Bangkok anyway? The most interesting feature to me in this tedious hour is the newly built elevated MRT Purple Line Heavy Rail from Tao Pun near Bang Sue to Khlong Bang Phai near the outer ring road. Its construction is complete but the line is not yet commissioned. As soon as I pick up National Highway 340 then the hard work is over. It’s a straight run up to Suphanburi now. By 1.30pm I’m already looking for Pairush Apartments. I told you I was more organised, remember? Actually a friend put in the recommendation and I had little trouble in finding it on the frontage road along the 340 north.
Pairush Apartments……..Pairush Apartments are modern, functional and typical of the type. There are no dining facilities but neither are they needed: I shall be out travelling most of the time. Having checked out the room for all I need I don’t even bother to send my belongings to the room but head out to lunch. It’s also about getting my bearings. Initially I don’t find anywhere suitable to stop but when all else fails, head for BIG ‘C’. These shopping centres are often the size of small town squares in the UK and if there’s one thing you can rely on it’s the food hall. Always clean and offering a good selection, this one is relatively quiet. Grilled chicken and chips is not exactly what I had in mind but absolutely fine on the budget. By mid afternoon I can begin visiting my tour sites.
I’m quite sorry if I’ve built the reader up with the promise of an exciting tour. While the next couple of days will be for me I’m sure if I mention temples, most will switch off immediately. Put it this way. If you fill in your tax return some sections will not apply and you can skip them. However don’t forget to return later or you’ll get fined! Suphanburi has at least ten temples worthy of a visit so let’s get started.
Giant Dragon Village and Dragon Descendents Museum……..This Chinese Village is new, built within the last couple of years and does not yet appear on Google Map. However it is close to the city wall and gate along Highway 321. You could hardly miss the giant dragon. It’s well worth a wander round. Most of the structures have been built with the help of public donation but there is a fee of 300 baht for the museum. This seems to apply to everybody but I doubt if a western foreigner like me would be at all interested.
Wat Phra Srirattana Mahathat……..This working temple houses ancient temple remains from the 14th century. The main prang is in good condition and once stood at the heart of the old town of Suphannapum. It was reported to contain relics of the Lord Buddha but was raided for its treasure and left as a ruin. This temple is located on the west bank of the Tha Chin River within easy reach of Highway 321.
Wat Khae........Wat Khae is located close to the Tha Chin River about 1.5 kilometres north along Somphan Kong Road from its junction with Highway 321 (carry on past Wat Phra Srirattana Mahathat). It is one of the most ancient and well-known temples, appearing in the Thai literary classic – Khun Chang Khun Phaen based in Suphanburi. It is also home to four brass footprints of Lord Buddha. The temple contains some unusual features including a 1000 year old tamarind tree.
Wat Kuti Song……..Wat Kuti Song is a brick chedi, all that remains of a temple right on the Tha Chin River where Highway 321 crosses over it. It can be seen near the roadside.
Wat Khae........Wat Khae is located close to the Tha Chin River about 1.5 kilometres north along Somphan Kong Road from its junction with Highway 321 (carry on past Wat Phra Srirattana Mahathat). It is one of the most ancient and well-known temples, appearing in the Thai literary classic – Khun Chang Khun Phaen based in Suphanburi. It is also home to four brass footprints of Lord Buddha. The temple contains some unusual features including a 1000 year old tamarind tree.
Wat Kuti Song……..Wat Kuti Song is a brick chedi, all that remains of a temple right on the Tha Chin River where Highway 321 crosses over it. It can be seen near the roadside.
Meuang Suphanburi District, Suphanburi Province (above)
First day ending……..I was never expecting this tour to light up the imagination the way a number of my tours have. I have arrived in Suphanburi to better understand the heritage and culture here so an important source for this is ancient remains. From what I have seen already this was an important town contemporary with Ayutthaya. It would have been fought over during the fierce battles with the Burmese. Today I managed to visit four sites, two of which weren’t on my list. Tomorrow I will stay in the city no doubt visiting more temples but before you collapse with boredom I have a treat in store tomorrow evening so I hope you will pay attention. The evening passes quite easily at a restaurant on the main road. The Korean style hotpot known locally as Jim Jum goes down well with a couple of beers. There’s plenty of time to write up my notes before I turn in. However the first issue of the tour then emerges. I’ve managed to forget one item on my prescription list. It is the statin I use to control cholesterol. I have to decide whether to return to Bangkok prematurely or go on a strict diet which wouldn’t be a bad thing. Next Page.