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Day 5 - Thursday 12 March 2015
Ban Homlamoon Resort……..photo.
BanHomlamoon Resort, just a 100 metres off to the north of Highway 3208 running through the town of Suan Pheung is compact and fun loving in style, as are many resorts in the area. Some extremely interesting designs are thrown up in this area to attract tourists with apparently no restriction. Ban Homlamoon is homely and comfortable, ticking all the boxes. It’s out of high season now but my accommodation would cost 1,000 baht per night then. I paid only 600 baht. Sensing an easy day I wake very late at 9.30pm. I get right onto my notes yet for all the comfort there is discomfort in my heart this morning as I check the news to find Chelsea are out of the Champions League for this season. I try not to let that spoil my day as I recover to continue my notes. By 11am I’ve remembered that coffee is free in reception and toast if I want it. I will make an effort to go out for a while before lunch. I’m in no mood for another hot day in the field. An easy site from Suan Pheung is Pong Yub, a little further back along the 3208 on the right. I manage to miss the sign and have to back-track. When I do locate it I find the access gate locked. I later find out it only opens at weekends. In case I don’t get the visit the site, I can report that Pong Yub is a subsidence of the ground creating a steep cliff similar to the one in Pae Muang Phi in Phrae Province (see my last tour – Natural Thailand).
Timberland……..It seems little consolation that almost opposite Pong Yub is one of those fun-loving resorts I mentioned which is unlike anything I’ve seen before, even in Thailand. In fact I’m at a loss to describe it and until I upload some photographs I cannot possibly introduce it here. The resort sits within a fruit-growing farm which seems to provide the main source of income. The resort is a by-product. I don’t normally feature resorts in my pages but the staff were so friendly that I will make an exception and try to promote it through photographs and their website: www.Timberlandandfruitresort.com. They are also on facebook: Timberland & fruitresort. From Timberland I pick up signs to a museum. When I do locate it I find it part of another resort. Some private collection of what I ask? But it is also closed. That sets the scene perhaps for my stay in Suan Peung. As it is not high season a number of attraction close down or at least restrict opening to weekends only. I head back into town for a good lunch; a luxury I’ve passed by in recent days. Then in the mood of the town in general, I head back to Ban Homlamoon for a siesta. It’s the winding down process I promised myself after the last few days.
Ban Homlamoon Resort……..photo.
BanHomlamoon Resort, just a 100 metres off to the north of Highway 3208 running through the town of Suan Pheung is compact and fun loving in style, as are many resorts in the area. Some extremely interesting designs are thrown up in this area to attract tourists with apparently no restriction. Ban Homlamoon is homely and comfortable, ticking all the boxes. It’s out of high season now but my accommodation would cost 1,000 baht per night then. I paid only 600 baht. Sensing an easy day I wake very late at 9.30pm. I get right onto my notes yet for all the comfort there is discomfort in my heart this morning as I check the news to find Chelsea are out of the Champions League for this season. I try not to let that spoil my day as I recover to continue my notes. By 11am I’ve remembered that coffee is free in reception and toast if I want it. I will make an effort to go out for a while before lunch. I’m in no mood for another hot day in the field. An easy site from Suan Pheung is Pong Yub, a little further back along the 3208 on the right. I manage to miss the sign and have to back-track. When I do locate it I find the access gate locked. I later find out it only opens at weekends. In case I don’t get the visit the site, I can report that Pong Yub is a subsidence of the ground creating a steep cliff similar to the one in Pae Muang Phi in Phrae Province (see my last tour – Natural Thailand).
Timberland……..It seems little consolation that almost opposite Pong Yub is one of those fun-loving resorts I mentioned which is unlike anything I’ve seen before, even in Thailand. In fact I’m at a loss to describe it and until I upload some photographs I cannot possibly introduce it here. The resort sits within a fruit-growing farm which seems to provide the main source of income. The resort is a by-product. I don’t normally feature resorts in my pages but the staff were so friendly that I will make an exception and try to promote it through photographs and their website: www.Timberlandandfruitresort.com. They are also on facebook: Timberland & fruitresort. From Timberland I pick up signs to a museum. When I do locate it I find it part of another resort. Some private collection of what I ask? But it is also closed. That sets the scene perhaps for my stay in Suan Peung. As it is not high season a number of attraction close down or at least restrict opening to weekends only. I head back into town for a good lunch; a luxury I’ve passed by in recent days. Then in the mood of the town in general, I head back to Ban Homlamoon for a siesta. It’s the winding down process I promised myself after the last few days.
Toytown……..It’s after 4pm before I wake up, then around 5pm I decide to go out now the heat of the day is receding. I’ve no particular destination and just continue along the 3208 which seems to overpower one with the quantity of resorts and other man-made facilities. It never ceases to amaze me the sheer imagination and even audacity to create such sites which would look totally out of place in the West. After a while you get used to it but to describe the area as Toytown would not be an exaggeration. Fortunately Ratchaburi does not have extensive natural areas as do other border provinces with Myanmar to spoil. What all these resorts do offer is perhaps exactly what I’ve been missing in recent days. A chance to do absolutely nothing! However, as I travel around 20 kms further into the hills, there are a number of natural places including waterfalls and parks to visit. As I do not intend to make a habit of reviewing resorts on this trip, the number of sites will be limited. There is certainly a shortage of temples and historical sites here. I resign to look around the area over the next couple of days at a leisurely pace but I’m sure my desire to stay in the province will not last beyond that. Not surprisingly my daily budget is not stretched as a result of this break and I’m dining well. Hope I don’t overdo that. However more physical activity is available around Suan Peung if I feel up to it. Next Page.