(cont. from Page 2)........The Night Market culture thrives here particularly in the provinces, a most convenient way of sampling local dishes at very little cost. I hardly need a beer to set me up for a good night’s sleep.

Tuesday 4 December

Prachuap Kiri Khan……..I’m awake at daybreak and write up some notes until the desire for some breakfast takes over. I will take the short walk up into the town rather than use the beachfront restaurants. In bright sunlight I begin to appreciate that location has accounted for the premium I seem to have paid for the room. From the 4th floor I am looking out on the picturesque Prachuap seafront and bay. To the left is Thammikaram Worawihan Temple. Looking left out into the bay is the fisherman’s pier and to the right the rocky headland. Above all as I gaze at the practically deserted beach front road it is totally beyond comparison. I number of foreign visitors appreciating this have also made the effort to come this far from Bangkok. Up in the town things are a little different as I near the markets area looking for a breakfast. There are a few businesses offering Western style cooked breakfast but I choose Thai. I order a traditional coffee. This consists of strong black coffee on a bed of condensed milk. Naturally it is rather sweet but comes with a herbal tea which manages to balance the flavors. Total 50 baht. It’s still quite early but I’ve decided to complete my journey today to Ban Krut but first a little history lesson.
While walking into town I noticed a signboard which set me thinking. With all that I’ve digested over the years about WW2 and about Thailand one simple fact at least has eluded me. It relates to an event that took place early on 8 December 1941 at a time when other events late that year dominated the news. The Battle of Prachuap Khiri Khan was an early engagement of the Japanese invasion of Thailand. It was fought at the airfield of the town. The Japanese meant to use Thailand as a base to strike at British possessions in Burma and Malaya and attacked Thailand without warning. At about 03:00 the Japanese 2nd Battalion, 143rd Infantry Regiment began troop landings with the intention of capturing the airport. The only defense force consisted of pilots and ground crew of Fifth Wing reinforced by members of the constabulary and a few others. Aircraft were scrambled but were too late to inflict damage on the enemy. ....... (Cont. on Page 4)