Day 6, Monday 20th March - Chumphon
Endless Opportunities....... After a fourth night in Surat Thani, I'm close to the limit of what my resources allow. My budget has had to be scaled back due to concentration on another project. Ordinarily I would have liked to have gone to Koh Samui but in any case, there's still quite a lot more to take in in Surat Thani province requiring at least one more visit. Several districts remain unexplored. As we make our way north, I will grasp what opportunities I can to add more site visits in this large province.
Departure.......Our night at The Lephant Hotel was straightforward, as expected on our second visit. This three-story hotel is located in the compound of a Caltex petrol station. This causes no inconvenience and there is a minimart on site.
Tha Chang District....... We depart and head into Tha Chang district where I can record my first site visit.
Tha Chang Grand Canyon....... Whichever way you look at it the Tha Chang Grand Canyon is not natural as is its namesake in Arizona. Mineral excavation has caused interesting patterns in the landscape with rock stacks standing proud amidst the forested land all around. It could be that when extractions have ceased, they could landscape this site as they have done with the Grand Canyon in Chiang Mai.
Saline Hot Springs.......Just a little further north is the Saline Hot Springs which curiously is an open site free to use but rather neglected and unappealing. The site boasts a nature trail and curious charcoal rock formations which they describe as a 'moonscape'. Next, we visit a shrimp farm. These are abundant in this area.
Wat Suan Mokkhaphalaram....... Back on the highway we locate Wat Suan Mokkhaphalaram in Chaiya district. This is a Theravada Buddhist monastery in a tranquil forest setting offering meditation retreats. Suan Mokkhaphalaram literally means 'garden of liberation'. It was founded in 1933 by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu. It was originally situated at Ban Phum Rieng but was relocated to a 47.5-hectare area at the foot of Golden Buddha Hill. Unlike most, this temple does not have an ordination hall. The administration adheres strictly to the Buddhist code of rules.
Laem Pho....... Chaiya district is quite familiar to us; we were here in October last year. The only reason we choose to head here is for lunch at Leam Pho. Yet we don't repeat the experience of that amazing seafood meal we had back then. After drinks at The Foresta Cafe we pay a brief visit to Laem Pho Resort but meals here are out of our budget range. To be fair, we cannot say we've not indulged on this tour but with one eye on the purse we settle for a takeaway from one of the street stalls.
Unnecessary....... Now well into afternoon we're still in Chaiya District and my companion is still searching for ancient sites. We locate Wat Llong an ancient Svirijaya temple, but I soon realize I've been here before and cannot add more information.
Wat Wiang.......Wai Wiang, located in the ancient city of Chaiya predates the Ayutthaya period and is regarded as being the location of the Svirijaya king's palace. Little remains on site today except for the base of the viharn and of the Phra Moh Shrine used to place a sacred Buddha image known locally as 'Lak Mueang'. Stone inscriptions and a Buddha image of Khmer art style found at this site date back to the 13th Century. These finds are currently preserved at Chaiya National Museum. Wat Wiang was registered as an important historical monument by the Fine Arts Department in September 1936.
More Possibilities....... As I follow the route through the northern districts of Surat Thani province, I find yet more possible sites to visit but I'm already committed to leaving this province. It just goes to prove what an incredible country Thailand is that so much is still to be revealed to the larger world despite what's already on the internet.
Infamous Hop Inn....... Leaving it quite late we head back to HWY 41 and north to Chumphon. Here in the city despite drawing a couple of blanks including the now infamous Hop Inn, we check in at Nanaburi Hotel. At least in the city there are plenty of dining options including street food. However, for the first and likely only time this tour we will have breakfast included tomorrow.
Next Page.
Endless Opportunities....... After a fourth night in Surat Thani, I'm close to the limit of what my resources allow. My budget has had to be scaled back due to concentration on another project. Ordinarily I would have liked to have gone to Koh Samui but in any case, there's still quite a lot more to take in in Surat Thani province requiring at least one more visit. Several districts remain unexplored. As we make our way north, I will grasp what opportunities I can to add more site visits in this large province.
Departure.......Our night at The Lephant Hotel was straightforward, as expected on our second visit. This three-story hotel is located in the compound of a Caltex petrol station. This causes no inconvenience and there is a minimart on site.
Tha Chang District....... We depart and head into Tha Chang district where I can record my first site visit.
Tha Chang Grand Canyon....... Whichever way you look at it the Tha Chang Grand Canyon is not natural as is its namesake in Arizona. Mineral excavation has caused interesting patterns in the landscape with rock stacks standing proud amidst the forested land all around. It could be that when extractions have ceased, they could landscape this site as they have done with the Grand Canyon in Chiang Mai.
Saline Hot Springs.......Just a little further north is the Saline Hot Springs which curiously is an open site free to use but rather neglected and unappealing. The site boasts a nature trail and curious charcoal rock formations which they describe as a 'moonscape'. Next, we visit a shrimp farm. These are abundant in this area.
Wat Suan Mokkhaphalaram....... Back on the highway we locate Wat Suan Mokkhaphalaram in Chaiya district. This is a Theravada Buddhist monastery in a tranquil forest setting offering meditation retreats. Suan Mokkhaphalaram literally means 'garden of liberation'. It was founded in 1933 by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu. It was originally situated at Ban Phum Rieng but was relocated to a 47.5-hectare area at the foot of Golden Buddha Hill. Unlike most, this temple does not have an ordination hall. The administration adheres strictly to the Buddhist code of rules.
Laem Pho....... Chaiya district is quite familiar to us; we were here in October last year. The only reason we choose to head here is for lunch at Leam Pho. Yet we don't repeat the experience of that amazing seafood meal we had back then. After drinks at The Foresta Cafe we pay a brief visit to Laem Pho Resort but meals here are out of our budget range. To be fair, we cannot say we've not indulged on this tour but with one eye on the purse we settle for a takeaway from one of the street stalls.
Unnecessary....... Now well into afternoon we're still in Chaiya District and my companion is still searching for ancient sites. We locate Wat Llong an ancient Svirijaya temple, but I soon realize I've been here before and cannot add more information.
Wat Wiang.......Wai Wiang, located in the ancient city of Chaiya predates the Ayutthaya period and is regarded as being the location of the Svirijaya king's palace. Little remains on site today except for the base of the viharn and of the Phra Moh Shrine used to place a sacred Buddha image known locally as 'Lak Mueang'. Stone inscriptions and a Buddha image of Khmer art style found at this site date back to the 13th Century. These finds are currently preserved at Chaiya National Museum. Wat Wiang was registered as an important historical monument by the Fine Arts Department in September 1936.
More Possibilities....... As I follow the route through the northern districts of Surat Thani province, I find yet more possible sites to visit but I'm already committed to leaving this province. It just goes to prove what an incredible country Thailand is that so much is still to be revealed to the larger world despite what's already on the internet.
Infamous Hop Inn....... Leaving it quite late we head back to HWY 41 and north to Chumphon. Here in the city despite drawing a couple of blanks including the now infamous Hop Inn, we check in at Nanaburi Hotel. At least in the city there are plenty of dining options including street food. However, for the first and likely only time this tour we will have breakfast included tomorrow.
Next Page.
Surat Thani Province
The Lephant Hotel, Tha Rong Chang, Phunphin District
Tha Chang Grand Canyon, Khao Than,
Tha Chang District
Saline Hot Spring, Khao Than,
Tha Chang District
Shrimp Farm, Lamet, Chaiya District
Khlong Tha Phun, Lamet, Chaiya District
Wat Suan Mokkhaphalaram, Lamet,
Chaiya District
The Foresta Cafe, Phum Riang, Chaiya District
Laem Pho Beach Resort, Phum Riang,
Chaiya District
Phum Riang Artillery Monument,
Phum Riang, Chaiya District
Sriyapai Anusorn, Phum Riang,
Chaiya District
Wat Llong, Chaiya, Chaiya District
Wat Wiang (site of), Chaiya, Chaiya District