Day 2 - Saturday 17 October 2015

What! No sink........Overall I had a restless night. The bed has proved less than comfortable for me but I managed to sleep later till 7am. If I must be critical of Pairush Apartment I should add that there is no sink in the bathroom causing me to improvise. The bathroom is quite small but there still is room for a sink. Before I get started today I’ve taken a good look at my site list. With some orientation I achieved yesterday I’m quite happy I can locate these sites easily and avoid any pressure on the day. In reception I get a free 3 in 1 coffee and a warm snack from the fridge. That will do for starters.
Banhan-Chaemsai Tower........Just after 10am I’m on the road, hopefully picking up where I left of yesterday. One site not on my list which really should have been is not far away. The Banhan-Chaemsai Tower is located in Chalerm Patthara Rachini Park in the city on the east bank of the Tha Chin River. The tower is Thailand’s first and highest viewpoint tower. The public park houses a water park, gardens, playground and water fountain. It’s a favorite spot to stroll, exercise or simply hangout. The entrance fee of 40 baht includes the lift to the top of the tower which has an excellent viewing platform offering panoramic views of the city and its attractions. It’s just perfect for adding flesh on the bones of what Suphanburi has to offer. A gift shop and restaurant are also housed in the tower. With over an hour spent at the park its heading towards midday. I decide to take an early lunch of noodles then head west along Highway 321.

Wat Pa Lelai Worawihan……..You may recall I brought this tour forward a day. There is a reason. It’s to accommodate an event which will begin a 6pm this evening. It could just spice up this tour and breathe extra life into it and just maybe future tours as well. I’m off to buy a ticket: Much more later. As I head back along the 321 the important temple Wat Pa Lelai Worawihan appears on the right. Oddly this is another location not marked on Google map despite its status. It is a former Royal temple with links to Hinduism and Theravada Buddhism dating back to at least the 12th century. The main feature is a huge seated Buddha image named “Luang Pho To", 23 meters in height, is enshrined in the main chapel. The temple has attracted many visitors this Saturday and my companion, Katoon decides to receive a blessing here. Once again this site does not appear on my list and neither is the next.

Suphanburi Railway Station ……..I head for Suphanburi Railway Station just a couple of kilometers south of Highway 321. It is a terminal station on a branch line that connects with SRT’s Southern Line. As expected it is totally deserted. It dispatches and receives just one train per day and I wonder what the ticket seller finds to do all day. The morning train leaves the station at 05.00 and arrives in Bangkok at 08.10. The return train leaves Bangkok at 16.40 and arrives in Suphanburi at 19.32. I really wouldn’t fancy it as a commuter train. Well incredibly it’s now near 2pm and not one of the sites on my list has been visited. That will soon be remedied as I head back along the 321.

Three temples and a gate……..The City Gate and Moat lays across the main road just a couple of kilometers west of town. Other City Gates I’ve visited reveal their original brick or stone structure but here in Suphanburi it is rendered and painted white for some reason. Elsewhere there are traces of the old brick wall which enclosed the old town on three sides with the eastern perimetre on the Tha Chin River. I now retrace my steps from yesterday and turn left before the Tha Chin River Bridge passing Wat Phra Srirattana Mahathat and Wat Khae. Three more temples that are certainly on my list appear along this road.
Wat Phra Loi........Wat Phra Loi lies close to the river. Here a more recent viharn (temple building) encloses a much earlier building from the 12th/13th century. This was constructed to house a Buddha Image that was found drifting down the river. The white sandstone Buddha image seated under a Naga hood is contemporary with Lopburi design. Near the river bank are grotesque figures, not for the squeamish, of sinners.
Wat No Phuttangkul........Wat No Phutthangkul is just a little further along the road on the left. Some old mural paintings can be seen here in the old Ubosot. They were painted in 1848 during the reign of King Rama III.
Wat Phra Non........Wat Phra Non also lies near the river. The main feature is the Phra Non (reclining Buddha) in the main building in an unusual supine position. This temple is also famed as a fish sanctuary, mainly for catfish that have grown to an enormous size. The sanctuary extends to the shady park Wang Matcha.

Suphanburi FC v Ratchanavy (Thai Premier League)……..Now I’ve managed to tick of four sites in quick succession I decide to head back to Pairush to prepare myself for an evening of entertainment. That includes an afternoon nap. Oh! By the way I find the sink. It’s out on the balcony. What! By 5am my batteries are fully charged and I can retrace my steps from earlier. I few kilometres west along the 321 is the impressive Suphanburi FC stadium, now a hive of activity. Apart from ample parking around the stadium there is a large refreshment area offering snacks and drinks, the latter provided by sponsors Chang (beer). It’s colorful, it’s bright, it’s festive, and it’s noisy with drum beating out creating an amazing carnival atmosphere. It’s so easy to let yourself go and get caught up in it all. The focus of all of this is the game itself, a Thai Premier League fixture between Suphanburi FC and Ratchanavy. The opposition hails from near Sattahip in Rayong Province. As I settle down to watch the game the music stops but the drums continue beating with the mood of the game. I’m impressed with the stadium both internally and externally which would be a credit to the Premier League in the UK. But sadly there are for all this activity less than 6,000 spectators. Suphanburi is not a large town but as far as the facilities are concerned it punches well above its weight. To give ball by ball commentary is not in my repertoire but I will attempt to summarise the game here later, time permitting. I can tell you that while I was warming to the home team and even bought a headscarf, sadly they lost the game 2 : 4. Seated near the home supporters’ goal I only managed to see one goal at that end but OK this is a real first for me in Thailand and something a lot different from hunting down temples and I learn something new. Chants of ‘ying kow loei’, fill the air at every free kick and corner. I don’t really need to give you a translation. I get back to Pairush about 8.45pm but the day is not done. I immediately tune in to RadioHerefordfc and my twitter page. My beloved team is away at Brocton and by the end of this one the away team also scores 4 but without reply. That keeps them top of the Premier League. OK OK it is the Midland Premier League. Whoever said retirement was boring? Next Page.