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Day 9 - Saturday 24 October 2015
Chao Phraya Tara Riverside Hotel........Whatever will happen today I’m checking out of Chao Phraya Tara Riverside Hotel. The reason it’s expensive is its star rating and its location right on the Chao Phraya River. I’ve managed all night with warm water but at least there is a perfectly good breakfast buffet included in the price. In order to complete the cooling off period and avoid a premature end to this tour a number of things need to be in place. Accommodation is high priority but at 10am I don’t need to think about that for a couple of hours so I head into town. I need to get my bearings quickly in this provincial town to keep the tour alive. Chainat is located on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River. Along the riverbank I park up. At least I locate the City Pillar Shrine but there’s nothing right in the city on my tour list. If I head for Highway 1 on the outskirts of the city then tourists site will be sign boarded.
Chao Phraya Tara Riverside Hotel........Whatever will happen today I’m checking out of Chao Phraya Tara Riverside Hotel. The reason it’s expensive is its star rating and its location right on the Chao Phraya River. I’ve managed all night with warm water but at least there is a perfectly good breakfast buffet included in the price. In order to complete the cooling off period and avoid a premature end to this tour a number of things need to be in place. Accommodation is high priority but at 10am I don’t need to think about that for a couple of hours so I head into town. I need to get my bearings quickly in this provincial town to keep the tour alive. Chainat is located on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River. Along the riverbank I park up. At least I locate the City Pillar Shrine but there’s nothing right in the city on my tour list. If I head for Highway 1 on the outskirts of the city then tourists site will be sign boarded.
Wat Thammamun Worawihan........ Wat Thammamun Worawihan is located about 9km north of the city on Thammamun Hill. It is signposted on the left of the Phahonyothin Road (Highway 1). The temple enshrines Luangpho Thammachak, a standing Buddha image in a posture of persuading relatives not to quarrel, on a lotus-shaped base. Another attraction is the boundary marker, which is made from red sandstone in the Ayutthaya-style, around the ordination hall or phra ubosot. In a mondrop to the rear is the Buddha’s footprint while behind that is the ruin on an ancient chedi. This temple is well known and is very busy this particular day. From the hillside there are splendid view of a bend in the Chao Phraya River below.
Wat Pak Khlong Makham Thao........ Wat Pak Khlong Makham Thao or Wat Luangpu Suk is located in Wat Sing District yet is only a few kilometres west of Wat Thammamun Worawihan over the Chao Phraya River Bridge. This shady temple offers pleasant scenery and is famous for Buddha amulets. Other attractions are Luangpu Suk's traditional Thai style residence, as well as, the mural paintings depicting the story of the Lord Buddha made by the Prince of Chumphon and his entourage. Statues of the Prince (1880- 1923) appear in this temple. He is well respected as the father of the Royal Thai Navy.
Auk Phan Sa........I really need to slot in here the reason why a number of sites are so busy this weekend. Auk Phan Sa signals the end of Buddhist Lent, a period of 3 months during the rainy season when monks don’t travel but stay in their resident temples. Auk Phan Sa is a time of celebration and this is a long weekend of national holiday lasting four days (Saturday to Tuesday). Friday was also a national holiday when I was at Chawak Lake but for a different reason. It commemorates the death of King Rama V (23 October 1910). Thais do like their national holidays but this holiday period is also causing me a headache. Shout Ooooooh! The recommendation is that I head back to Chainat and follow the signs to the bird park. Near the park I stop for lunch. There is accommodation along the Phahonyothin Road but for reasons I just explained it takes an hour before I can locate a suitable room. Strangely it’s only 100 metres from the main intersection. It’s a bungalow type and I’m quite happy with it. It even has a swimming pool. Things are looking up. All the built up emotion of the last few days is now released. I take a beer from reception to make sure I’m out like a light.
Chao Phraya Dam........By the time I wake up there’s still a couple of hours daylight. I don’t want to venture far but the Chao Phraya Dam is just fifteen minutes away. The dam is Thailand’s first large dam. Water is released from the northern region to the central lower basin and the Gulf of Thailand for the purposes of irrigation, agriculture, conservation of marine animals, and generation of hydroelectric power for the province. There is a good photo opportunity here and as I cross the dam I’m out into Sapphaya District. Can I manage anything else today? Well yes!
Chao Phraya Dam........By the time I wake up there’s still a couple of hours daylight. I don’t want to venture far but the Chao Phraya Dam is just fifteen minutes away. The dam is Thailand’s first large dam. Water is released from the northern region to the central lower basin and the Gulf of Thailand for the purposes of irrigation, agriculture, conservation of marine animals, and generation of hydroelectric power for the province. There is a good photo opportunity here and as I cross the dam I’m out into Sapphaya District. Can I manage anything else today? Well yes!
Wat Intharam........ Wat Intharam is located near the Chao Phraya River in tambon Ta Look about 12 km from town. It is a century-old temple featuring twin belfries, a century-old Chinese pavilion, and an 8 x 9-metre Thai-architectural scripture hall built in the middle of a pond. Here is another location where a resident monk is happy to show us around. That’s going to take time but it means I can confirm and add something to my initial notes. An antique covered wooden boat which could navigate the Chao Phraya River as far as Bangkok lies outside the main hall. What a trip that would be! The strange thing is that this temple is virtually deserted compared to the ones I visited in the morning. Even the new viharn is closed for fear the dogs will sleep inside. I can only assume it’s because of age. This temple is no more than 100 years old and I bet the monks are relieved to see the end of Lent.
At around 5.15pm I need to head back to Chainat to Chainat Resort. I’m really lucky this time it’s so convenient to get out to dinner. I simply need to park up at the resort and walk across the road. Here there is a steak bar but I’m off the steak; in the mood for fish & chips again. Next Page.
At around 5.15pm I need to head back to Chainat to Chainat Resort. I’m really lucky this time it’s so convenient to get out to dinner. I simply need to park up at the resort and walk across the road. Here there is a steak bar but I’m off the steak; in the mood for fish & chips again. Next Page.