Day 1, Saturday 4 March - Ratchaburi
Reservations.......With work on my companion's new kitchen unlikely to be finished this weekend, the best we can hope for is an overnight stay on Saturday night and we book the necessary accommodation. When builders didn't turn up on Friday, we assumed they would not return until Monday. However, on the day of travel they come for the morning to do some finishing off meaning we can't depart until after lunch. At the same time while our destination is only 100 kilometres from Bangkok, it could hardly be more difficult to reach from our location. A further complication causes me to question whether we should cancel the trip completely. A stubborn cough and cold has left me without sufficient sleep with no improvement at the time of travel. Certainly, for all those suffering back in the UK who are envious of my stay in exotic Thailand, I can say it feels nothing like that right now. Today has also been declared the start of the hot season with daytime temperatures rising to 40 degrees Celsius.
Phra Prathon Chedi.......I chose Ratchaburi due to an event taking place there this evening but for now we have plenty of time after untangling ourselves from the Bangkok traffic. We head west to Nakhon Pathom and to a location chosen by my companion. With several site visits paid in and around Nakhon Pathom in 2015, this one is quite a pleasant surprise to me.
Phra Prathon Chedi is one of the oldest stupas in Thailand with the height of 50 metres (164 ft). The stupa is located in Wat Phra Prathon Chedi Woraviharn, a temple in Nakhon Pathom, 3 km east of Phra Nakhon Pathom Pathommachedi. The name Phra Prathon Chedi means the holy stupa of Thona or Thanan. Phra Prathon Chedi is regarded as the principal stupa of Nakhon Pathom, the main settlement of the Dvaravati kingdom, 7th to 11th Century. Sometime after the kingdom was annexed by the Khmer, Nakhon Pathom was plundered by the Kingdom of Bagan. Countless stupas throughout the Dvaravati Kingdom were destroyed at this time. In fact, the base of one the these lies near the Phra Prathon Chedi in the grounds of the technical college. These once majestic structures have laid undisturbed for an incredible length of time only their brick bases remaining. However, such was the status of Phra Prathon Chedi that King Mongkut set about its restoration in the 19th Century making this probably the only complete structure remaining.
My introduction to the Dvaravati Kingdom came some years ago when I visited Khu Bua, and other sites located around the Gulf. This visit to Phra Prathon Chedi has added significantly to my understanding of the Dvaravati period.
Ratchaburi Railway Station.......It's time to head into Ratchaburi and prepare for the evening’s entertainment but before that there’s time to add something more. We head first to our prebooked accommodation at My Home and check in then it's straight off to the train station.
Only recently did I realise there was an excursion special arriving at Ratchaburi railway station today bringing day trippers from Bangkok. What's special about the train set is that it's the Kiha 183 donated by Japan for use on Thai railways. Maintained and rebranded by the State Railway, this unit is ideal for special excursions. Unfortunately, when I arrive at Ratchaburi train station, there's no sign of it and it's quite obvious why. Ratchaburi train station is being upgraded to dual track. There is currently just a single track running through the station at present so where is the Kiha 183? Well, apparently, it's at Khu Bua the next station where there is a siding. It's now, I begin to fear that I will not see it because I only have a limited amount of time here; at around 6:00pm I must leave for the stadium. However, it's a busy time at the station with three trains passing through before then: Two trains heading south hauled by new Qishuan locomotives and one heading to Bangkok from Hua Hin. With the Qishuans, the first I've seen in service, I should be happy with that but then I'm told that the Kiha 183 is about to arrive. I decide to wait for it even though its cutting things very fine. The Kiha rolls into the station collects its passengers and departs around 6:15pm. Now we must get to the stadium.
In Time.......Although it should only take 20 minutes to get to Mitr Phol Stadium, we've never been here before and don't know what to expect. Fortunately finding a parking space doesn't prove difficult as huge crowds are not expected and I soon have two game tickets in my hand. Securing refreshments, we make our way into the stadium missing kick-off by just three minutes. Now with a chance to catch breath I see that this all-seater stadium is one of the better ones in this league with only the south stand behind the goal uncovered. Tickets are from 120 baht.
Ratchaburi Mitr Phol v Sukhothai FC.......The game between Ratchaburi Mitr Phol and Sukhothai FC, not two of the best performing teams is not without incident. Just 16 minutes into the game Pathomchai Sueasakul is red carded leaving the home side with just 10 players but on 24 minutes a lovely run and low cross provides Sittichok Kannoo to net at the far post giving the home team the lead. However, it doesn't last long when on 39 minutes John Baggio, Sukhothai's star player was put through for an easy finish. In the second half both teams upped the pressure, but the game finished all square at 1 : 1.
Making our way back to My Home we find the room rather disappointing but then that was to be expected. It's a long holiday weekend and we struggled to find decent accommodation. Sorry to say it's another difficult night sleep for me after a very hot day but in other respects a number of firsts were achieved today.
Next Page.
Reservations.......With work on my companion's new kitchen unlikely to be finished this weekend, the best we can hope for is an overnight stay on Saturday night and we book the necessary accommodation. When builders didn't turn up on Friday, we assumed they would not return until Monday. However, on the day of travel they come for the morning to do some finishing off meaning we can't depart until after lunch. At the same time while our destination is only 100 kilometres from Bangkok, it could hardly be more difficult to reach from our location. A further complication causes me to question whether we should cancel the trip completely. A stubborn cough and cold has left me without sufficient sleep with no improvement at the time of travel. Certainly, for all those suffering back in the UK who are envious of my stay in exotic Thailand, I can say it feels nothing like that right now. Today has also been declared the start of the hot season with daytime temperatures rising to 40 degrees Celsius.
Phra Prathon Chedi.......I chose Ratchaburi due to an event taking place there this evening but for now we have plenty of time after untangling ourselves from the Bangkok traffic. We head west to Nakhon Pathom and to a location chosen by my companion. With several site visits paid in and around Nakhon Pathom in 2015, this one is quite a pleasant surprise to me.
Phra Prathon Chedi is one of the oldest stupas in Thailand with the height of 50 metres (164 ft). The stupa is located in Wat Phra Prathon Chedi Woraviharn, a temple in Nakhon Pathom, 3 km east of Phra Nakhon Pathom Pathommachedi. The name Phra Prathon Chedi means the holy stupa of Thona or Thanan. Phra Prathon Chedi is regarded as the principal stupa of Nakhon Pathom, the main settlement of the Dvaravati kingdom, 7th to 11th Century. Sometime after the kingdom was annexed by the Khmer, Nakhon Pathom was plundered by the Kingdom of Bagan. Countless stupas throughout the Dvaravati Kingdom were destroyed at this time. In fact, the base of one the these lies near the Phra Prathon Chedi in the grounds of the technical college. These once majestic structures have laid undisturbed for an incredible length of time only their brick bases remaining. However, such was the status of Phra Prathon Chedi that King Mongkut set about its restoration in the 19th Century making this probably the only complete structure remaining.
My introduction to the Dvaravati Kingdom came some years ago when I visited Khu Bua, and other sites located around the Gulf. This visit to Phra Prathon Chedi has added significantly to my understanding of the Dvaravati period.
Ratchaburi Railway Station.......It's time to head into Ratchaburi and prepare for the evening’s entertainment but before that there’s time to add something more. We head first to our prebooked accommodation at My Home and check in then it's straight off to the train station.
Only recently did I realise there was an excursion special arriving at Ratchaburi railway station today bringing day trippers from Bangkok. What's special about the train set is that it's the Kiha 183 donated by Japan for use on Thai railways. Maintained and rebranded by the State Railway, this unit is ideal for special excursions. Unfortunately, when I arrive at Ratchaburi train station, there's no sign of it and it's quite obvious why. Ratchaburi train station is being upgraded to dual track. There is currently just a single track running through the station at present so where is the Kiha 183? Well, apparently, it's at Khu Bua the next station where there is a siding. It's now, I begin to fear that I will not see it because I only have a limited amount of time here; at around 6:00pm I must leave for the stadium. However, it's a busy time at the station with three trains passing through before then: Two trains heading south hauled by new Qishuan locomotives and one heading to Bangkok from Hua Hin. With the Qishuans, the first I've seen in service, I should be happy with that but then I'm told that the Kiha 183 is about to arrive. I decide to wait for it even though its cutting things very fine. The Kiha rolls into the station collects its passengers and departs around 6:15pm. Now we must get to the stadium.
In Time.......Although it should only take 20 minutes to get to Mitr Phol Stadium, we've never been here before and don't know what to expect. Fortunately finding a parking space doesn't prove difficult as huge crowds are not expected and I soon have two game tickets in my hand. Securing refreshments, we make our way into the stadium missing kick-off by just three minutes. Now with a chance to catch breath I see that this all-seater stadium is one of the better ones in this league with only the south stand behind the goal uncovered. Tickets are from 120 baht.
Ratchaburi Mitr Phol v Sukhothai FC.......The game between Ratchaburi Mitr Phol and Sukhothai FC, not two of the best performing teams is not without incident. Just 16 minutes into the game Pathomchai Sueasakul is red carded leaving the home side with just 10 players but on 24 minutes a lovely run and low cross provides Sittichok Kannoo to net at the far post giving the home team the lead. However, it doesn't last long when on 39 minutes John Baggio, Sukhothai's star player was put through for an easy finish. In the second half both teams upped the pressure, but the game finished all square at 1 : 1.
Making our way back to My Home we find the room rather disappointing but then that was to be expected. It's a long holiday weekend and we struggled to find decent accommodation. Sorry to say it's another difficult night sleep for me after a very hot day but in other respects a number of firsts were achieved today.
Next Page.
Nakhon Pathom Province
Phra Prathon Chedi,
Mueang (city) Nakhon Pathom
Ratchaburi Province
Ratchaburi Railway Station,
Mueang Ratchaburi
Mitr Phol Stadium, Mueang Ratchaburi District, Ratchaburi Province
Phra Prathon Chedi,
Mueang (city) Nakhon Pathom
Ratchaburi Province
Ratchaburi Railway Station,
Mueang Ratchaburi
Mitr Phol Stadium, Mueang Ratchaburi District, Ratchaburi Province