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Day 11 - Monday 26 October 2015
Taking a break........Looking back at yesterday’s achievements, I am quite amazed by the ground covered. It was all quite straightforward leaving me to just a few sites to cover before I return to Bangkok. They all could be covered today if I prepare for a late return to the capital but there is a problem with that. My room is occupied tonight. Katoon has let friends use the room as they prepare for an early morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Curiously I will be making the same journey on Sunday. Should I ask for compensation??? But ok that opens an opportunity for me to take a break today. I had factored in a Tuesday return some days ago and I’m finding it quite comfortable at Chainat Resort. I’ve decided to leave two temples on my list in Hanka District until tomorrow and another in Suphanburi. Today there is just one site on my list and I’ve left it until today for good reason.
Chainat Bird Park........By now I’ve passed the Bird Park a few times and it’s been packed judging by the parked cars. I’m hoping today will be quieter. I guess it would be wishful thinking to make it early and have the rest of the day off but my companion just can’t wake up in the morning! It’s more like 11am before I reach the park and then I add to the delay by forgetting to remove the memory card from my computer and back into my camera. That wastes another 30 minutes while I retrieve it.
Once inside the park I recall the reviews I’ve read about it. Not all are complimentary so I proceed with an open mind. Turning to the left I locate the aviaries and quite honestly they are nothing special. Cages birds are hard to photograph and you will never remember what you’ve seen but that gives me an idea. There are perfectly good signboards on each aviary. I decide to photograph the lot and publish a list later. But nearby is a bird sanctuary, the biggest aviary in Asia (26 rai; 4.2 hectares) allowing various bird species to live in their natural habitat. A quick glance inside reveals nothing so I head back to the park entrance, and off to the right is an aquarium.
Taking a break........Looking back at yesterday’s achievements, I am quite amazed by the ground covered. It was all quite straightforward leaving me to just a few sites to cover before I return to Bangkok. They all could be covered today if I prepare for a late return to the capital but there is a problem with that. My room is occupied tonight. Katoon has let friends use the room as they prepare for an early morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Curiously I will be making the same journey on Sunday. Should I ask for compensation??? But ok that opens an opportunity for me to take a break today. I had factored in a Tuesday return some days ago and I’m finding it quite comfortable at Chainat Resort. I’ve decided to leave two temples on my list in Hanka District until tomorrow and another in Suphanburi. Today there is just one site on my list and I’ve left it until today for good reason.
Chainat Bird Park........By now I’ve passed the Bird Park a few times and it’s been packed judging by the parked cars. I’m hoping today will be quieter. I guess it would be wishful thinking to make it early and have the rest of the day off but my companion just can’t wake up in the morning! It’s more like 11am before I reach the park and then I add to the delay by forgetting to remove the memory card from my computer and back into my camera. That wastes another 30 minutes while I retrieve it.
Once inside the park I recall the reviews I’ve read about it. Not all are complimentary so I proceed with an open mind. Turning to the left I locate the aviaries and quite honestly they are nothing special. Cages birds are hard to photograph and you will never remember what you’ve seen but that gives me an idea. There are perfectly good signboards on each aviary. I decide to photograph the lot and publish a list later. But nearby is a bird sanctuary, the biggest aviary in Asia (26 rai; 4.2 hectares) allowing various bird species to live in their natural habitat. A quick glance inside reveals nothing so I head back to the park entrance, and off to the right is an aquarium.
From what I’ve read there is nothing said about an aquarium and having seen the one at Bueng Chawak I’m sceptical. However this is not Bueng Chawak and after three days of public holiday many Thais are back at work. I’m so relieved to walk around without crashing into a sea of bodies. While I thought the aviaries were overrated, the aquarium is a real bonus. I am amazed by the sheer variety of native freshwater fish there are in Thailand. I decide to photograph the boards as I did with the birds. That should keep me quiet for a while. A number of species only have their scientific names. Given that this is an ancillary attraction, I am most impressed.
The next attraction is the Egg Museum. I’ve never seen one of these before. There are examples of eggs from all over the world; an incredible range of sizes and colours. I’m quite impressed by the dinosaur eggs which are just a little before my time. It’s another plus!
While I consider what else to see I’m scratching my head about the big aviary and decide to double back and take another look. This time I find the entrance. Yes it’s a walk through a piece of natural habitat. In the wild you would not expect the birds to come out and greet you. In this aviary you have to look around. They have tried to make the aviary as natural as possible. The net must be 15 metres high in places. Then I realise that they would not attempt to enclose smaller bird species which could come and go as they please. I then notice storks nesting in the tree tops and around the lake are a number of larger birds including cranes. I hadn’t realised how far I’d walked and my legs are starting to ache a bit. Time to head back.
In all I spend two hours in the park. I have to give it the thumbs up for 100 baht. For Thais it’s only 30 baht and not only cheap by great to bring the family. Hitherto I haven’t mentioned a number of attractions for kids. A water park is really popular as is the boating lake. By the time I’ve had lunch and arrived back at Chainat Resort it’s 2pm. I work on my blog for an hour. I figure after that I can at last enjoy the swimming pool. But then another delay; I’m out like a light for two hours.
A day gone swimmingly........I wake up at 5.30pm wondering where the day just went. Ok the swimming pool doesn’t close till 7pm and most people would prefer to go when the sun is losing some of the heat and the water is warm. Thankfully they are many less people at the pool today. It’s time to take the plunge, the first since my operation. I’ve put on weight and my fitness is not A1 at the moment as I’ve noted on this tour. A manage a few lengths but my legs have stiffened up a bit after walking around the aviary. However it’s a positive sign that I’ve had a work-out today. Then I head out to the steakhouse and undo it all! The pork chop is one of the best I’ve had in Thailand. Today has felt much more like a holiday and perhaps I should do more of it. Next Page.
The next attraction is the Egg Museum. I’ve never seen one of these before. There are examples of eggs from all over the world; an incredible range of sizes and colours. I’m quite impressed by the dinosaur eggs which are just a little before my time. It’s another plus!
While I consider what else to see I’m scratching my head about the big aviary and decide to double back and take another look. This time I find the entrance. Yes it’s a walk through a piece of natural habitat. In the wild you would not expect the birds to come out and greet you. In this aviary you have to look around. They have tried to make the aviary as natural as possible. The net must be 15 metres high in places. Then I realise that they would not attempt to enclose smaller bird species which could come and go as they please. I then notice storks nesting in the tree tops and around the lake are a number of larger birds including cranes. I hadn’t realised how far I’d walked and my legs are starting to ache a bit. Time to head back.
In all I spend two hours in the park. I have to give it the thumbs up for 100 baht. For Thais it’s only 30 baht and not only cheap by great to bring the family. Hitherto I haven’t mentioned a number of attractions for kids. A water park is really popular as is the boating lake. By the time I’ve had lunch and arrived back at Chainat Resort it’s 2pm. I work on my blog for an hour. I figure after that I can at last enjoy the swimming pool. But then another delay; I’m out like a light for two hours.
A day gone swimmingly........I wake up at 5.30pm wondering where the day just went. Ok the swimming pool doesn’t close till 7pm and most people would prefer to go when the sun is losing some of the heat and the water is warm. Thankfully they are many less people at the pool today. It’s time to take the plunge, the first since my operation. I’ve put on weight and my fitness is not A1 at the moment as I’ve noted on this tour. A manage a few lengths but my legs have stiffened up a bit after walking around the aviary. However it’s a positive sign that I’ve had a work-out today. Then I head out to the steakhouse and undo it all! The pork chop is one of the best I’ve had in Thailand. Today has felt much more like a holiday and perhaps I should do more of it. Next Page.