Day 4, Saturday 23 September - Sukhothai
Finishing Up....... Today I plan to finish up in Phichit Province ending a remarkable tour here. As we venture out there is no sign of the traffic chaos we experienced last night. Everything is peaceful as we make an appointment with the rice soup bowls again. Of course, I was expecting the same as yesterday and brought something I can eat with toast. Well, that hasn't worked! There is no toast only pastries.
With what was achieved yesterday there shouldn't be much more we can do here. There is however one attraction that cannot be missed just 15 minutes out of the city to the northeast.
Ban Dong Ho Chi Minh Museum....... Noting the presence of a museum relating to Ho Chi Minh in Phichit leaves me a little puzzled. Why is it here in northern central Thailand? I arrive at a modern building in a delightfully landscaped area leaving one in no doubt that it relates to Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam as we approach. The two-story building opened in 2019, is compact and contains all one needs to know about Ho Chi Minh and his connection with Phichit.
In the 19th century during the reign of King Rama V many people from Vietnam and Laos through religious persecution or famine were allowed to settle in Thailand, then Siam. One of the areas they choose to settle in was the fertile lands around Phichit. By the turn of the century a substantial population of Vietnamese had settled in Thailand. Most of these people were opposed to French occupation of their country. In 1926 Ho Chi Minh arrived in Phichit eager to drum up support for his revolutionary movement. It is said that it was here that the movement was born, and it quickly spread throughout the country.
The museum is also a memorial to the struggles which culminated in the defeat of the French at Dien Bien Fu in 1954.
For those at all interested in modern history the museum is a must and like most of the attractions in Phichit province, it's a free to enter. As we head north, there are a couple of other possibilities before we leave the province.
Wat Tha Lo....... Wat Tha Lo is an unremarkable temple except for its beautifully decorated and unique viharn. Sadly, an original on site has been abandoned and is in poor condition. The next temple is expected to be more promising.
Wat Si Sattharam....... Wat Si Sattharam or Wat Bot Jirokae beside the Yom River is a beautifully ornate temple embellished all in white. The main feature is the viharn decorated with stuccos representing crocodiles. Two huge crocodile images feature alongside.
More Trains....... It's time to leave Phichit and head north. We're soon in Phitsanulok Province and head for the city itself. Here I am reunited with the railway. At 2:00pm I'm in luck. As well as being a station on the Northern Line, Phitsanulok station also has marshalling yards. At Bung Phra 5 kms to the south there is oil storage facility. Several locomotives are either working or parked in the depot. Two passenger services also pass through in the hour I am here. This is a huge opportunity to take some photos and videos to add to my collection.
Sukhothai....... Not long after I arrived in Thailand and had the opportunity to add Phichit to my visit list there was something I could add to round off a tour. We now head off west to yet another province an hour away.
By 4pm we're approaching the city of Sukhothai and waste no time in checking in at Blue House in the city. This two-story building ticks all the boxes except that there is no breakfast, just coffee in reception.
Postponed....... With little delay we're off out again heading towards the Talay Luang Stadium 15 minutes away. As we approach the stadium. I joke how quiet it is but on reaching it I'm in for a shock. What I understood to be a football fixture just isn't happening. I'm sure I read that there was a fixture between Sukhothai and Chonburi tonight. As well as been disappointed I'm embarrassed too. What could have gone wrong? As it stands there is no fixture for Sukhothai this weekend which suggests that there may have been, but it has been cancelled. I will have to check but right now my plans are in tatters, and I need to collect my thoughts. The game is the only reason I find myself in Sukhothai so now I must improvise. Well, fortunately the stadium is close to a water feature known as Talay Luang within which is a heart-shaped island known as the Holy Heartland Talay Luang. This is an outstanding recreational area which is presently gearing up for cycling event which takes place here annually. For us it's an opportunity to witness a glorious sunset. This oversight could well have an impact on tomorrow's events but right now all we can do his head back into town for dinner in the night market.
Next Page.
Finishing Up....... Today I plan to finish up in Phichit Province ending a remarkable tour here. As we venture out there is no sign of the traffic chaos we experienced last night. Everything is peaceful as we make an appointment with the rice soup bowls again. Of course, I was expecting the same as yesterday and brought something I can eat with toast. Well, that hasn't worked! There is no toast only pastries.
With what was achieved yesterday there shouldn't be much more we can do here. There is however one attraction that cannot be missed just 15 minutes out of the city to the northeast.
Ban Dong Ho Chi Minh Museum....... Noting the presence of a museum relating to Ho Chi Minh in Phichit leaves me a little puzzled. Why is it here in northern central Thailand? I arrive at a modern building in a delightfully landscaped area leaving one in no doubt that it relates to Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam as we approach. The two-story building opened in 2019, is compact and contains all one needs to know about Ho Chi Minh and his connection with Phichit.
In the 19th century during the reign of King Rama V many people from Vietnam and Laos through religious persecution or famine were allowed to settle in Thailand, then Siam. One of the areas they choose to settle in was the fertile lands around Phichit. By the turn of the century a substantial population of Vietnamese had settled in Thailand. Most of these people were opposed to French occupation of their country. In 1926 Ho Chi Minh arrived in Phichit eager to drum up support for his revolutionary movement. It is said that it was here that the movement was born, and it quickly spread throughout the country.
The museum is also a memorial to the struggles which culminated in the defeat of the French at Dien Bien Fu in 1954.
For those at all interested in modern history the museum is a must and like most of the attractions in Phichit province, it's a free to enter. As we head north, there are a couple of other possibilities before we leave the province.
Wat Tha Lo....... Wat Tha Lo is an unremarkable temple except for its beautifully decorated and unique viharn. Sadly, an original on site has been abandoned and is in poor condition. The next temple is expected to be more promising.
Wat Si Sattharam....... Wat Si Sattharam or Wat Bot Jirokae beside the Yom River is a beautifully ornate temple embellished all in white. The main feature is the viharn decorated with stuccos representing crocodiles. Two huge crocodile images feature alongside.
More Trains....... It's time to leave Phichit and head north. We're soon in Phitsanulok Province and head for the city itself. Here I am reunited with the railway. At 2:00pm I'm in luck. As well as being a station on the Northern Line, Phitsanulok station also has marshalling yards. At Bung Phra 5 kms to the south there is oil storage facility. Several locomotives are either working or parked in the depot. Two passenger services also pass through in the hour I am here. This is a huge opportunity to take some photos and videos to add to my collection.
Sukhothai....... Not long after I arrived in Thailand and had the opportunity to add Phichit to my visit list there was something I could add to round off a tour. We now head off west to yet another province an hour away.
By 4pm we're approaching the city of Sukhothai and waste no time in checking in at Blue House in the city. This two-story building ticks all the boxes except that there is no breakfast, just coffee in reception.
Postponed....... With little delay we're off out again heading towards the Talay Luang Stadium 15 minutes away. As we approach the stadium. I joke how quiet it is but on reaching it I'm in for a shock. What I understood to be a football fixture just isn't happening. I'm sure I read that there was a fixture between Sukhothai and Chonburi tonight. As well as been disappointed I'm embarrassed too. What could have gone wrong? As it stands there is no fixture for Sukhothai this weekend which suggests that there may have been, but it has been cancelled. I will have to check but right now my plans are in tatters, and I need to collect my thoughts. The game is the only reason I find myself in Sukhothai so now I must improvise. Well, fortunately the stadium is close to a water feature known as Talay Luang within which is a heart-shaped island known as the Holy Heartland Talay Luang. This is an outstanding recreational area which is presently gearing up for cycling event which takes place here annually. For us it's an opportunity to witness a glorious sunset. This oversight could well have an impact on tomorrow's events but right now all we can do his head back into town for dinner in the night market.
Next Page.
Phichit Province
Ban Dong Ho Chi Minh Museum, Pa Makhap, Mueang Phichit District
Railway Bridge over the Wang Thong River, Tha Lo, Mueang Phichit District
Wat Tha Lo, Tha Lo, Mueang Phichit District
Wat Si Sattharam, Kamphaeng Din,
Sam Ngam District
Yom River, Kamphaeng Din,
Sam Ngam District
Phitsanulok Province
Phitsanulok Railway Station,
Nai Muean Phitsanulok
Sukhothai Province
Talay Luang Stadium, Ban Kluai,
Mueang Sukhothai District
Holy Heartland Talay Luang, Ban Kluai, Mueang Sukhothai District