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Day 19, Thursday 16 May
Chiang Kham Grand Villa…….. Chiang Kham Grand Villa, located on highway 1021 just south of town, is a two story accomodation block that looks quite smart on the outside. Thankfully, the price is less than suggested but at 690 baht it is the most we’ve paid for any room so far. However that room on the ground floor is no better than the average for this tour. What is a first however is toast and jam and that will be fine for now.
Chiang Kham Grand Villa…….. Chiang Kham Grand Villa, located on highway 1021 just south of town, is a two story accomodation block that looks quite smart on the outside. Thankfully, the price is less than suggested but at 690 baht it is the most we’ve paid for any room so far. However that room on the ground floor is no better than the average for this tour. What is a first however is toast and jam and that will be fine for now.
Chiang Kham Grand Villa, Chiang Kham, Phayao Province
Now, having accepted that we cannot make it back to Bangkok tonight, once we’re on our way, I’m surprised to find out that continuous driving would allow us to arrive at just after 7pm in the evening but we don’t even attempt it, just taking it leisurely for the moment. As we’re still in Phayao province, we can take the opportunity to visit other attractions should they arise. Passing through Pong district, we’re still near the mountains but forest parks and waterfalls won’t feature.
Wat Tha Fah Thai…….. Considering that we’ve visited every style of temple by now in the north of Thailand this tour, arriving at Wat Tha Fah Thai off the highway 1091 in Chiang Muan district, that clearly isn’t the case. The temple is Thai/Lue, an ethnic group that arrived from Yunnan in China over a century ago. The feature of this temple is the beautiful viharn itself, with an unusual shape and decorated in a style quite different from Lanna/Thai temples, then inside, hanging from the ceiling are long woven banners called ‘tung’, which are unique to Thai/Lue.
This old temple in Chiang Muan district, is believed to be built in the Rattanakosin period, 1856. The main Buddha image is made of ebony situated on an angular masonry base with reducing corners decorated with vine patterns. The pulpit is decorated with mirror tiles in a flower motif with wild animals.
Wat Tha Fah Thai…….. Considering that we’ve visited every style of temple by now in the north of Thailand this tour, arriving at Wat Tha Fah Thai off the highway 1091 in Chiang Muan district, that clearly isn’t the case. The temple is Thai/Lue, an ethnic group that arrived from Yunnan in China over a century ago. The feature of this temple is the beautiful viharn itself, with an unusual shape and decorated in a style quite different from Lanna/Thai temples, then inside, hanging from the ceiling are long woven banners called ‘tung’, which are unique to Thai/Lue.
This old temple in Chiang Muan district, is believed to be built in the Rattanakosin period, 1856. The main Buddha image is made of ebony situated on an angular masonry base with reducing corners decorated with vine patterns. The pulpit is decorated with mirror tiles in a flower motif with wild animals.
Wat Tha Fah Thai, Chiang Muan District, Phayao Province
Chiang Muan Dinosaur……..
Chiang Muan district is the last district in Phayao province heading south before reaching Phrae province. There is one more attraction in this district which covers the eastern part of Doi Phu Nang National Park. This park is not one of the most popular; there are waterfalls in the park but one of it’s attractions is Chiang Muan Dinosaur. Not aware of any dinosaur fossils in the north of Thailand, a site in this district is a surprise to me but Katoon did mention something earlier. A more detailed examination of the fossil sites in Thailand reveals this is the only one located in the north. All the others are in the escarpments around the Korat plateau, northeast Thailand, between the Chao Phraya and Mekong rivers.
Arriving at the site there is a park ranger station for the Doi Phu Nang National Park. The park entrance free is 100 baht. Here a police officer and a park ranger seem so pleased to have someone to talk to rather than talk with each other it's that quiet. It's a first to be offered a glass of cold water at a ranger station. I’m also offered a concession since this is the only location we plan to visit in the park.
The site at Chiang Muan Dinosaur consists of a single pit with part of a dinosaur skeleton in situ. Other pieces have been removed for identification. Within the covered building there are information boards in Thai and English describing the evolution of dinosaurs and the geological time periods involved. The process of recovering dinosaur fossils for research is also covered.
For those wishing to visit Chiang Muan Dinosaur, be aware this is just a dinosaur excavation site, not a museum or anything like it such as at Phu Wieng (Khon Kaen) or Sirindhorn (Kalasin) and it is not easy to reach either. On the hand, it has not been established yet which group of dinosaurs this discovery belongs to. All that is known is that it is a sauropod (plant eating dinosaur). It could yet prove important if it turns out to be a new species. The first fossils were found in 2002 by children collection mushrooms.
For those wishing to visit Chiang Muan Dinosaur, be aware this is just a dinosaur excavation site, not a museum or anything like it such as at Phu Wieng (Khon Kaen) or Sirindhorn (Kalasin) and it is not easy to reach either. On the hand, it has not been established yet which group of dinosaurs this discovery belongs to. All that is known is that it is a sauropod (plant eating dinosaur). It could yet prove important if it turns out to be a new species. The first fossils were found in 2002 by children collection mushrooms.
Chiang Muan Dinosaur, Chiang Muan District, Phayao Province
Doi Phu Nang National Park……..
Doi Phu Nang National Park is a national park in Dok Khamtai, Pong and Chiang Muan Districts, Phayao Province. It is located in two mountain chains of the Phi Pan Nam Range, Mae Yom and Nampi, with a unprotected area in between. There are both mixed evergreen forests, dipterocarp forest and dry deciduous forests in the park area.
Doi Phu Nang, the mountain that gives its name to the park, with an altitude of 1,202 m, is the highest peak in the area. The sources of two tributaries of the Yom River are in this mountain.The park also has scenic rock formations and two impressive waterfalls, Namtok Than Sawan and Namtok Huai Ton Phueng.
Heading south…….. With these final reviews there is unlikely to be much more to add to this epic tour. We take lunch across the provincial border in Phrae province in the area of the Mae Yom National Park but then begins a more determined effort to close the gap to Bangkok. Covering Phrae and Uttaradit provinces we reach Phitsanulok at a comfortable 5.30pm. Katoon feels she could carry on driving for another hour but when a hotel appears at one of the major intersections, I suggest we call it a day. Nothing else can be gained since we are now less than 5 hours from Bangkok.
Checking in at Baansanpoom, the room seems comfortable enough and good value, ideal for a stopover if not planning to stay in the area. There’s just one suitable restaurant within walking distance and it suits Katoon down to the ground. With not much to write about today, the pressure is off and little gets done writing up my blog.
Day 20, Friday 17 May
Unconcerned…….. Even as we prepare to depart this morning, my blog from yesterday is still unfinished, as little as it was. I know I can roll it in with today’s notes which will be hardly worth writing. We even skip breakfast as such, consuming just coffee and a pack of crackers. By 10.30pm we’re on our way, stopping at the nearest PTT service station where we take an early lunch. Nearly all of these service stations have a 7-eleven or similar offering warmed up food convenient and cheap. This one has a good selection and a counter to sit at.
Heading south, we pass through Phichit province then on to Nakhon Sawan, so familiar on this tour, then through the provinces of Chainat, Singburi, An Thong and Ayutthaya. Quite how much I see of these provinces I’m not quite sure since I am constantly dozing off with Katoon now employed as a full-time driver. Picking up the outer ring road, Kanchanapisek tollway (9), I know it’s not far now and we arrive in the village at about 3.30pm. We can now pick up supplies and go down the road of self catering but not before we take an early dinner. We arrive at the residence at 5pm and Katoon is immediately active with her chores while I work on my blog but before the day’s done we’re working on preparations for our next tour. This tour definitely needs a conclusion and space to write it. I hadn’t quite realised because it wasn’t planned, that this is the equal longest tour to date following my Tour 18C to Isaan last year. I finish the tour with mixed feelings as I acknowledge what an incredible amount has been achieved but it’s taken a huge effort too but finally that head cold is on its way out. I’m expecting to sleep a lot better tonight. Conclusion.
Doi Phu Nang, the mountain that gives its name to the park, with an altitude of 1,202 m, is the highest peak in the area. The sources of two tributaries of the Yom River are in this mountain.The park also has scenic rock formations and two impressive waterfalls, Namtok Than Sawan and Namtok Huai Ton Phueng.
Heading south…….. With these final reviews there is unlikely to be much more to add to this epic tour. We take lunch across the provincial border in Phrae province in the area of the Mae Yom National Park but then begins a more determined effort to close the gap to Bangkok. Covering Phrae and Uttaradit provinces we reach Phitsanulok at a comfortable 5.30pm. Katoon feels she could carry on driving for another hour but when a hotel appears at one of the major intersections, I suggest we call it a day. Nothing else can be gained since we are now less than 5 hours from Bangkok.
Checking in at Baansanpoom, the room seems comfortable enough and good value, ideal for a stopover if not planning to stay in the area. There’s just one suitable restaurant within walking distance and it suits Katoon down to the ground. With not much to write about today, the pressure is off and little gets done writing up my blog.
Day 20, Friday 17 May
Unconcerned…….. Even as we prepare to depart this morning, my blog from yesterday is still unfinished, as little as it was. I know I can roll it in with today’s notes which will be hardly worth writing. We even skip breakfast as such, consuming just coffee and a pack of crackers. By 10.30pm we’re on our way, stopping at the nearest PTT service station where we take an early lunch. Nearly all of these service stations have a 7-eleven or similar offering warmed up food convenient and cheap. This one has a good selection and a counter to sit at.
Heading south, we pass through Phichit province then on to Nakhon Sawan, so familiar on this tour, then through the provinces of Chainat, Singburi, An Thong and Ayutthaya. Quite how much I see of these provinces I’m not quite sure since I am constantly dozing off with Katoon now employed as a full-time driver. Picking up the outer ring road, Kanchanapisek tollway (9), I know it’s not far now and we arrive in the village at about 3.30pm. We can now pick up supplies and go down the road of self catering but not before we take an early dinner. We arrive at the residence at 5pm and Katoon is immediately active with her chores while I work on my blog but before the day’s done we’re working on preparations for our next tour. This tour definitely needs a conclusion and space to write it. I hadn’t quite realised because it wasn’t planned, that this is the equal longest tour to date following my Tour 18C to Isaan last year. I finish the tour with mixed feelings as I acknowledge what an incredible amount has been achieved but it’s taken a huge effort too but finally that head cold is on its way out. I’m expecting to sleep a lot better tonight. Conclusion.