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Day 3, Tuesday 20 November
The day after……..Whether it was the Champagne last night or not, I’m awake at 5am and proceed to complete my blog. It seems that I have some decisions to make as to how to progress with this tour bearing in mind there is another party due in the next couple of weeks. However, it seems pointless my mulling things over in my mind at this stage when things can change in an instant. I might as well go back to sleep as it’s still only 6.30am. Well that works well causing a panic at 9am. I’m still not sure though why Katoon uses me as an alarm clock. After another solid breakfast, there’s no urgency as we wait until lunchtime to meet up again with family members but despite no clear plan for today, we check out at 11am. Lunchbreak……..At midday the doctor returns from duty and we take lunch at a noodle shop. With still another hour left to kill the doctor fancies a drive around and it seems I’ve influenced the direction of travel. We head back down the Mittraphap Highway almost as far as the provincial border with Saraburi. Turning off the highway at Klang Dong we head to the train station. If you're still awake at this stage please don’t take this as an opportunity to put the kettle on: This is certainly no ordinary train station.
Birth of HSR……..In October 2010, the Thai parliament approved initial proposals for a high-speed rail (HSR) network. Five lines capable of handling 250 km/h speeds would radiate from Bangkok. In 2017 work began on stage 1 which included the line as far as Nakhon Ratchasima. The intention is that the line will run next to the present railway line and to prove that this is the case we’re at Klang Dong station. It's my understanding that the stretch in Pak Chong district has started first as it is the easiest since the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) already own the adjacent land thus avoiding the need for compulsory land purchase and possible disputes. At Klang Dong station there is not too much evidence of construction but as we follow an unclassified road running beside the railway, evidence of heavy engineering and earth moving becomes more apparent. As we cover a distance of about 10 km to Pang Asoke station and beyond it become apparent how much effort is required to reduce differences in elevation essential for high speed rail operation. Just at the moment only the track bed is being prepared. As we move closer to Pak Chong the terrain becomes more difficult; it will take a great effort breaking eastwards from here.
The day after……..Whether it was the Champagne last night or not, I’m awake at 5am and proceed to complete my blog. It seems that I have some decisions to make as to how to progress with this tour bearing in mind there is another party due in the next couple of weeks. However, it seems pointless my mulling things over in my mind at this stage when things can change in an instant. I might as well go back to sleep as it’s still only 6.30am. Well that works well causing a panic at 9am. I’m still not sure though why Katoon uses me as an alarm clock. After another solid breakfast, there’s no urgency as we wait until lunchtime to meet up again with family members but despite no clear plan for today, we check out at 11am. Lunchbreak……..At midday the doctor returns from duty and we take lunch at a noodle shop. With still another hour left to kill the doctor fancies a drive around and it seems I’ve influenced the direction of travel. We head back down the Mittraphap Highway almost as far as the provincial border with Saraburi. Turning off the highway at Klang Dong we head to the train station. If you're still awake at this stage please don’t take this as an opportunity to put the kettle on: This is certainly no ordinary train station.
Birth of HSR……..In October 2010, the Thai parliament approved initial proposals for a high-speed rail (HSR) network. Five lines capable of handling 250 km/h speeds would radiate from Bangkok. In 2017 work began on stage 1 which included the line as far as Nakhon Ratchasima. The intention is that the line will run next to the present railway line and to prove that this is the case we’re at Klang Dong station. It's my understanding that the stretch in Pak Chong district has started first as it is the easiest since the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) already own the adjacent land thus avoiding the need for compulsory land purchase and possible disputes. At Klang Dong station there is not too much evidence of construction but as we follow an unclassified road running beside the railway, evidence of heavy engineering and earth moving becomes more apparent. As we cover a distance of about 10 km to Pang Asoke station and beyond it become apparent how much effort is required to reduce differences in elevation essential for high speed rail operation. Just at the moment only the track bed is being prepared. As we move closer to Pak Chong the terrain becomes more difficult; it will take a great effort breaking eastwards from here.
Klong Dong Railway Station, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province
HSR Construction Work at Pang Asok Railway Station, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province
Mor Lak Hin……..As we rejoin the Mittraphap Road, there is another opportunity to return to the railway line but here there is no evidence yet of construction. What is here is a site similar to the one at Pha Sadet, I visited on an earlier tour. Mor Lak Hin is a stone pillar commemorating a visit by King Rama V when the railway was first being constructed here. Today there is a cutting at this site, in spite of which there is still an elevation difference i.e. the track is at the top of a slight rise. I’m left to wonder how much work it will take to even out the track here in the not too distant future. While I stare at the track and back at the shrine, I feel really happy to get the opportunity today to witness the birth of Thailand’s High Speed Railway (HSR). Now the doctor must head back to the hospital to continue his duties but then there is icing on the cake. Right on queue a Bangkok bound passenger train appears and rumbles through the cutting. Now we really must head back.
Mor Lak Hin Memorial Site, near Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima Province
Hosting……..With the doctor back in the hospital, his wife takes over the hosting duties and the next couple of hours are spent driving around the district but there are no more site visits. During this period, discussion takes place seemingly completing arrangements for dinner in the evening. Well, clearly that means we’ll be staying in Pak Chong a third night. However, rather than returning to Baanchonkhao we head for Rose Villa Hotel, accommodation which I favoured from the start. At around 4.30pm we check in but Katoon has to drop her sister off to collect her son and I’m able to crack on with my blog.
Over indulgence…….. Due to family commitments here, dinner is not taken until after 8pm as I’ve noted. On this occasion Katoon heads for a restaurant some distance out of town towards Khao Yai National Park. I just fear that the extra effort involved means what to me seems over indulgence. It may be normal for these generally wealthy inhabitants or more likely they are just good hosts. Either way I would not have complained if we ate street food in the night market. Inevitably the dishes selected are out of the top drawer, delicacies that are unheard of back home including freshwater clams. I conclude that the clams have the consistency of threads of old tyre but I do fancy the giant prawns and the chicken wings though. Then all too soon it’s over; in less time it takes to order a takaway. That’s the way it is here; no time to really relax. By 9.30pm we’re back at Rose Villa. This will definitely be the last night in Pak Chong. Next Page.
Over indulgence…….. Due to family commitments here, dinner is not taken until after 8pm as I’ve noted. On this occasion Katoon heads for a restaurant some distance out of town towards Khao Yai National Park. I just fear that the extra effort involved means what to me seems over indulgence. It may be normal for these generally wealthy inhabitants or more likely they are just good hosts. Either way I would not have complained if we ate street food in the night market. Inevitably the dishes selected are out of the top drawer, delicacies that are unheard of back home including freshwater clams. I conclude that the clams have the consistency of threads of old tyre but I do fancy the giant prawns and the chicken wings though. Then all too soon it’s over; in less time it takes to order a takaway. That’s the way it is here; no time to really relax. By 9.30pm we’re back at Rose Villa. This will definitely be the last night in Pak Chong. Next Page.