14th November

Opportunity Knocks....... It's my penultimate full day in Thailand for this year. I've still some shopping to do but I can leave that until tomorrow. Dare I go out for the day so soon before my departure? There is one place that would work for a day trip provided we leave no later than 9.00am and I decide to go for it. The only complication is that we are on the wrong side of the city and traffic could be an issue. However, we are across the city in an hour heading for Samut Sakhon.
Although there is just one primary attraction I wish to visit today, I can of course add more. A full list would go well beyond a day trip. A dozen attractions would not be overdoing it for this province bearing in mind that I visited a few attractions here in the past. I think half a dozen is the best I can do, as we head directly towards Mahachai in the province from the Rama II Road first stopping at a temple.
Wat Khok Kham....... Wat Khok Kham is an ancient temple located by Khlong Khok Kham. The interesting part of this temple is the old ubosot decorated with Sema boundary markers. At the front of the temple lies a renovated chedi in Ayutthaya art style of. The wooden engraving design at the gables is beautiful. Besides, there is a Phanthai Norasing Shrine which was a temporary shrine and a store of antique objects. From here we head straight into the Samut Sakhon City and to an attraction near the river.
Wat Krok Krak....... Wat Krok Krak is an ancient temple located in the municipality. Wat Krok Krak presumably derives its name from an old Chinese community called Kok Kak. However, it is unclear when the temple was constructed. Wat Krok Krak houses 'Luang Pho Pu', a much-revered laterite principal Buddha image in the attitude of subduing Mara (late Sukhothai style) wearing sunglasses. According to local legend, the Buddha image had been floated down the river and finally placed in the ubosot or ordination hall.
While the ubosot is small built of wood in traditional style, towering above it on massive concrete pillars enclosing it, is the modern temple on a platform some three stories above ground. This has Chinese architectural influence.
Tha Chin River....... The Tha Chin River winds its way through Samut Sakhon City and where there is access to the ocean there is plenty of evidence of past trade. In common with many of Thailand's waterways. Chinese traders occupied the riverbank and their influence is everywhere. The Tha Chin is still an important port for smaller vessels. It's now onto another more recent form of transport and the main reason I'm here.
Mahachai Railway Station....... Mahachai Railway Station opened on 29 December 1904 during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), as part of the Pak Khlong San–Mahachai railway operated by Tachin Railway Ltd. The station is a terminal station, and no bridge was ever built over the Tha Chin River. Instead, passengers can cross the river by ferry and use Ban Laem Station for the onward journey. The station is located next to the Mahachai Market but is less popular than the train market at Mae Klong reached from Ban Laem. However, it is a busy station with 34 trains operating each day.
Arriving at Mahachai Station I'm quicky into action recording videos for my YouTube channel after a simple lunch.
Mahachai Market....... Though renowned as one of Thailand's most expansive fresh seafood exchanges, there is more to Mahachai Market. Visitors can also find handicrafts such as wicker furniture, pottery, and colourful sarongs made locally. Crossing the river from Mahachai to the west bank, visitors will arrive at Tha Chalom, a large fishing village and industrial zone for marine products.
Samut Sakhon City Pillar Shrine....... Samut Sakhon City Pillar Shrine is situated near Pom Wichian Chodok and is a sacred place, as well as a centre of the heart of the fishermen in the province. Every time before sailing off, they must pay respect and light a firework in front of the city pillar shrine for good luck. In front of the shrine are some ancient cannon, evidence that there once was a fort here. We now head some distance west of the city.
Wat Lak Si Rat Samoson....... Wat Lak Si Rat Samoson in Tambon Yokkrabat is home to the much-revered red sandstone Buddha image in the attitude of subduing Mara, 'Luangpho To', assumed to be from the U Thong period. The image has a round face, curved and connecting eyebrows, protruding eyes, and slight smile.
This excursion has taken us well beyond the city and time is not on my side. I get further delayed as my dear lady goes off searching for another attraction, important for granting success.
Jay Tai Chinese Shrine....... The Jay Tai Chinese Shrine is located along the Charoen Ying Canal which connects to the Damnoen Saduak Canal in Ratchaburi Province. It is about 100 years old. This area has Teochew Chinese settlers and important for cultivated fruits and vegetables.
We now start our return journey identifying another temple complex on the way. I choose a route along rural roads avoiding congestion on the Rama II Road which is undergoing major upgrades but further delays are inevitable.
Wat Pa Chai Rangsi....... Wat Pa Chai Rangsi is located on the bank of Tha Chin River in Ban Koh Subdistrict, Mueang District. The temple was built on a vast area of 200 Rai in 1982. Phra Thepsitthi Yanna Rangsi or Chan Gavesago is the architect who combined a variety of architectural styles to create a unique construction. For instance, some parts of the temple resemble stone sanctuaries in the Northeast of the country, while others are decorated in Lanna style. One of the major structures within the temple ground is the ordination hall called Phra Buddhaphum Rangsi, which enshrines Phra Buddha Tosapol Yana Maha Karuna Sakhon. It is circled by a massive fence of Naga.
Well, my site visit count now is up to nine so much for my predictions. Yet there's one more attraction that I would dearly love to visit. It's a bit out of the way but we should be there by 5.00pm but at this point I'm really time restricted. I would like to get back to the residence to make sure I'm checked in on my flight tomorrow.
The Red Bridge (Dolphin Watching Area)....... The Red Bridge is an amazing viewpoint looking out to the Gulf of Thailand and I should be excited to be here. However, my feelings are tempered when I realize how long it will take to get back to the residence. Distance is not the issue but the build up a traffic around Bangkok in the evening can be horrendous. Ordinarily an hour at the Red Bridge just to relax would be ideal particularly to view the sunset but 15 minutes is all I have. Leaving here at 5:30pm leaves two hours to get back to base and we still haven't had dinner yet. The traffic indeed proves to be slow around Bangkok and near the residence it's a bit of a scramble to get something to take back for dinner.
Today a lot has been crammed in to just six hours but with a little more thought it could have been easier. Visiting the Red Bridge first would have been a much better option leaving a more straightforward route back through the city.
At the residence I check-in for my flight so this will be my last night in Thailand this year.
Conclusion....... Samut Sakhon yet again proves how much more time I could spend in provinces I've visited before. Even in the last week I've added more in Trat, Chanthaburi, Rayong, Lopburi and Saraburi. Opportunities to explore Thailand are never ending. Samut Sakhon lies in the delta with the Tha Chin River as its main water source. The city itself around the estuary is the only place for urban development, the rest consists of klongs (canals) which were once the only way to get around this massive swamp. Today the area is given over to crops that can exists in the brackish waters while at the same time providing a rich habitat for wetland birds and other wildlife. Some more attractions I could have visited today are in these areas and I'd have no hesitation in coming back to explore further.