Day 9, Saturday 15 October

Je t'aime Departure.......Last night I had to make a decision whether or not to stay in Trang another night. There seems still so much to do so Katoon books in at Hop Inn not far away. We take breakfast in the room and make arrangements to pack and vacate Je t'aime Hotel. We're ready at 10am and the plan is to take a look around the city in the first instance but there is a problem: Heavy rain!
Trang Railway Station.......We first head for the railway station passing the clock tower on the way. Trang railway station in Thap Thiang Subdistrict, Trang City is a class 1 railway station and is located some 829 kilometres from Bangkok. The station opened in April 1913 on the Southern Line section Kantang to Huai Yot. Trang Station is the alighting point for easier access to islands in the Andaman Sea.
From this station there are just a couple of trains per day heading for Bangkok. When I arrive, there is a train waiting to depart at 12.55 but I cannot hang around that long waiting for it to leave. Not far from the station there are some old colonial style buildings as well as street art that is found in various locations around the city. As mentioned before, I have to be selective and the next destination has some historic significance.
Wat Kapang Surin.......Wat Kapang Surin is a temple also located in Thap Thiang Subdistrict. It was built in 1847 and was originally called Wat Kapang. In 1940 the name of the temple was changed adding 'Surin' to its title to reflect the work of Phraya Surin Racha who had begun to develop the area in 1937 earning it temple status. The most significant monument is an ancient ubosot (ordination hall) which was built at this time using traditional southern architecture. It is surrounded by semas (boundary markers). Roof structures were made of wood and had 3-tiered cement roof tiles. The walls of the building were cast with cement in local style. Inside there were seated and standing Buddha images. The Fine Arts Department registered this temple as a national ancient Monument in 1999.
Dugongs and Rubber Trees.......Still in the city we locate a couple more landmarks. Just east of the city on highway 4 is the ornate Payoon Roundabout. Payoon is Thai for the endangered Dugong found in this region. Phraya Ratsadanu Pradit Mahisara Phakdi Monument lies 1.3 kms further east on the same highway. Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahison Phakdi is a former ruler of Trang Province who introduced rubber trees to Trang province.
Further Afield.......Despite a few other locations that seem worthy of attention in the city we must explore further afield. The districts to the east of Trang haven't been covered yet. Highway 4 is a national highway and following it east is not a new experience. We used this route just before Covid struck. This highway heads into the mountains and crosses the provincial border into Phattalung province. A number of attractions can be found accessed from this road and at the furthest point we need to go, there is an attraction on my list but first some lunch at a cheap roadside restaurant.
Naturally.......Trang Andaman Gateway is a themed park suitable for families. It lies close to the border with Phattalung. The themes found in the park are; Miniature Monument, Sakai Garden, Herbal Garden, Helicopter Yard and 3D Learning Centre. The models are intended to educate and inform.
Apart from the description above I cannot add more as I didn't enter. Although I would be paying just 100 baht, as mentioned before I need to leave some things out. Besides there is something back down the valley that would definitely by more natural.
Southern Botany and Forestry Development and Study Centre.......On the left is the Southern Botany and Forestry Development and Study Centre which does exactly as the name suggests. It lies near the entrance to the Khao Chong Waterfall. The Centre lies in a shady forested area and concentrates on growing rare tree species. There are many such examples in the arboretum in this area. A nursery for young plant species can also be found. An idea of the work that's done here can be found at the visitor centre. I must also mention that the service given by staff here is excellent.
Khao Chong Waterfall.......As far as the Khao Chong waterfall is concerned this lies within the national park. The entrance fee for me is 200 baht. However, there is nobody at the park entrance. I could have drove straight in. Clearly the dual pricing is irrelevant here since visitors are not expected. In any case there is a tricky walk up to the waterfall. As we head back to Trang there are a couple of attractions that I would like to add today. The first is a cave.
Khao Chang Hai Cave.......Khao Chang Hai Cave is a natural attraction in Na Muan Si sub-district with wondrous stalactites and stalagmites. It is 500 metres long and consists of 6 cave sections of beautiful natural variety. Due to the footprints of elephants inside, the cave is known for the legend of the 'lost elephant' that disappeared inside. The cave is cool all year round despite high temperatures outside during summer. Moreover, it houses a statue of the Tuad Chaiyahan monk over 75 years old, a holy artifact of the community believed to give good luck when you tap it with a stone.
Entry to the cave is by arrangement with staff in an office nearby. You need to book a guided tour with departures scheduled throughout the day. However we arrive just after the last scheduled tour so in terms of a personal review, there isn't one today.
Public Amusement.......From Khao Chang Hai Cave we are directed to another attraction. However, unless we've found the wrong place, what's here is a rather nice restaurant in a glorious setting surrounded by a lake. It's not what we need right now but opposite is a pen with a couple of baby elephants trained for public amusement. The public are generous though and these creatures are handed plenty of food purchased for them. Normally I don't support this but make an exception in this case in order to take photographs. At a little more reasonable hour we return to Hop Inn where we've booked accommodation but not yet checked in.
Room at the Inn (this time).......It turns out that Hop Inn in Trang is arguably the most convenient accommodation I've stayed in. A sushi restaurant is a stones throw away while also in view is a Robinson's shopping centre and that means shopping and international dining facilities of every possible kind. It's not long before we make it there for a look around and dinner of course. Arriving at Hop Inn we were greeted to throbbing music from that direction. We soon find out that it's an audition for Trang's Music Awards 2022, a qualification for Thailand has talent perhaps. Well, although it's effectively held outside the complex in the car park, this is professionally done and full marks for bands for putting on a good show. This will have to be our last night in Trang. Tomorrow is transitional but should still allow for visits to more attraction as we head further south.
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