Day 4, Saturday 18th March - Surat Thani
Rim Nam Lomyen Exit....... It's been an interesting stay at Rim Nam Lomyen but despite its exotic location we've hardly taken advantage of it. On a practical level the rooms are really too small and I have also experienced internet dropouts. With these restrictions it's quite difficult to draw up plans for the day and we're not ready to depart until 11am.
Surat Thani is a large province and I've still only visited a fraction of it. We have started to make headway in covering a few districts and today we intend to expand on that.
Wat Khao Si Wichai....... We first head back to Phunphin District where I'm in for quite a surprise. My companion has identified a Buddhist temple which seems to have some significant history. At Wat Khao Si Wichai there is an interesting 19th Century wooden hall. We are invited to have a look around and I get my first impressions of how old this site really is from a few relics that are stored in the temple. Wat Khao Si Wichai is located in front of a small hill, the only elevated natural feature for some distance around. I soon realize that the history of this site is not in the temple itself but actually on the hill behind.
Khao Srivijaya Historical Monument....... In 2015 following the discovery of the Khao Srivijaya ancient site in Surat Thani's Phunphin district, the Fine Arts Department began to study the site and then restore it as a tourist attraction. 1,300-year-old artefacts found at the site would be moved to the Nakhon Si Thammarat National Museum. A budget was set to excavate and restore the 1,500-square metre Khao Srivijaya ancient site. The discoveries including a Lord Vishnu statue and Hindu phallic symbol, dating from the 7th to the 9th century, showed links with other ancient sites of the Srivijaya culture in Southern Thailand.
At The time of my visit, some restoration work was still ongoing with a total of 22 mounds excavated and recorded. What impresses me the most about this site is the amount of care and attention to detail the Fine Arts Department have gone to. The onsite information is excellent with a translation into English, that can be found nowhere else.
Exploring this ancient site has taken quite some time and its well past lunchtime. We head for another location shown on the map described as a fish market but expecting to find a restaurant or two, we draw a blank and head towards another location that surely won't disappoint us.
Paknam Tapi....... Paknam Tapi literally translates as the mouth of the Tapi (River), the main river that runs through Surat Thani. It's here we take an exotic seafood lunch on the bank of the river. Another attraction here is one of the numerous memorials to H.R.H. Admiral Krom Luang Chumphon Khet Udomsak, a son of King Rama V and founder of the modern Thai Navy. Now, before we head into the city there's one more attraction on our list located to the south.
Phra That Si Surat....... Phra That Si Surat or Phra That Khao Thaphet is located on a hill within a managed urban forest built in 1957. Although the architectural style is predominantly that of the Bangkok Period, the stupa is in the style of Srivijaya. Their majesties the King and Queen paid their respects at the stupa in March 1959. Later in 1984 H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn enshrined relics of the Lord Buddha and his disciples in this stupa.
Hop Inn Hop Out.......At 4 pm it's time to head back to the city and check in at Hop Inn but there is an unwelcome problem. The booking is unconfirmed and yet again there is no room at the Inn. in a valiant effort to rectify the situation, my companion is soon on the phone arranging alternative accommodation.
R2-D2 or Something Like That....... Much closer to the city, CBD2 Hotel, although a little dated has all the facilities you should expect from a hotel as opposed to the serviced apartment type as at Hop Inn including a restaurant. Overall, this should prove much more comfortable than the previous two nights. Also, for a little extra, breakfast is included. At the close we have some ideas which will extend our say in the province further.
Next Page.
Rim Nam Lomyen Exit....... It's been an interesting stay at Rim Nam Lomyen but despite its exotic location we've hardly taken advantage of it. On a practical level the rooms are really too small and I have also experienced internet dropouts. With these restrictions it's quite difficult to draw up plans for the day and we're not ready to depart until 11am.
Surat Thani is a large province and I've still only visited a fraction of it. We have started to make headway in covering a few districts and today we intend to expand on that.
Wat Khao Si Wichai....... We first head back to Phunphin District where I'm in for quite a surprise. My companion has identified a Buddhist temple which seems to have some significant history. At Wat Khao Si Wichai there is an interesting 19th Century wooden hall. We are invited to have a look around and I get my first impressions of how old this site really is from a few relics that are stored in the temple. Wat Khao Si Wichai is located in front of a small hill, the only elevated natural feature for some distance around. I soon realize that the history of this site is not in the temple itself but actually on the hill behind.
Khao Srivijaya Historical Monument....... In 2015 following the discovery of the Khao Srivijaya ancient site in Surat Thani's Phunphin district, the Fine Arts Department began to study the site and then restore it as a tourist attraction. 1,300-year-old artefacts found at the site would be moved to the Nakhon Si Thammarat National Museum. A budget was set to excavate and restore the 1,500-square metre Khao Srivijaya ancient site. The discoveries including a Lord Vishnu statue and Hindu phallic symbol, dating from the 7th to the 9th century, showed links with other ancient sites of the Srivijaya culture in Southern Thailand.
At The time of my visit, some restoration work was still ongoing with a total of 22 mounds excavated and recorded. What impresses me the most about this site is the amount of care and attention to detail the Fine Arts Department have gone to. The onsite information is excellent with a translation into English, that can be found nowhere else.
Exploring this ancient site has taken quite some time and its well past lunchtime. We head for another location shown on the map described as a fish market but expecting to find a restaurant or two, we draw a blank and head towards another location that surely won't disappoint us.
Paknam Tapi....... Paknam Tapi literally translates as the mouth of the Tapi (River), the main river that runs through Surat Thani. It's here we take an exotic seafood lunch on the bank of the river. Another attraction here is one of the numerous memorials to H.R.H. Admiral Krom Luang Chumphon Khet Udomsak, a son of King Rama V and founder of the modern Thai Navy. Now, before we head into the city there's one more attraction on our list located to the south.
Phra That Si Surat....... Phra That Si Surat or Phra That Khao Thaphet is located on a hill within a managed urban forest built in 1957. Although the architectural style is predominantly that of the Bangkok Period, the stupa is in the style of Srivijaya. Their majesties the King and Queen paid their respects at the stupa in March 1959. Later in 1984 H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn enshrined relics of the Lord Buddha and his disciples in this stupa.
Hop Inn Hop Out.......At 4 pm it's time to head back to the city and check in at Hop Inn but there is an unwelcome problem. The booking is unconfirmed and yet again there is no room at the Inn. in a valiant effort to rectify the situation, my companion is soon on the phone arranging alternative accommodation.
R2-D2 or Something Like That....... Much closer to the city, CBD2 Hotel, although a little dated has all the facilities you should expect from a hotel as opposed to the serviced apartment type as at Hop Inn including a restaurant. Overall, this should prove much more comfortable than the previous two nights. Also, for a little extra, breakfast is included. At the close we have some ideas which will extend our say in the province further.
Next Page.
Surat Thani Province
Wat Khao Si Wichai, Phunphin District
Khao Srivijaya Historical Monument, Phunphin District
Fish Market, Mueang Surat Thani District
Lamphu 3 Restaurant,
Mueang Surat Thani District
Paknam Ta Pi, Mueang Surat Thani District
Shrine/Memorial to H.R.H. Admiral Krom Luang Chumphon Khet Udomsak, Bang Kung, Mueang Surat Thani District
Phra That Si Surat, Makham Tia,
Mueang Surat Thani District