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Day 6 - Friday 13 March 2015
Natural Feeling……..With my blog up to date I can afford a lie in and so it proves but I don’t intend to sit around all day. Feeling that coffee and toast needs a bit of sexing up, I pop out to 7Eleven which is just out of range to walk at the moment. Nevertheless I head out of Suan Pheung at 10.30am, retracing my steps from yesterday evening. I’m sure today will have a more natural feeling as I head for the mountains. Well it does start sort of naturally.
The Scenery Vintage Farm……..I made it to Scenery Vintage Farm yesterday evening but it was too late to go inside; they close at 6pm. Basically this is what the name suggests and great overplay is made of the name. Yes there are mountain views as a backdrop and it is a farm only by the fact that sheep graze around the site. But sheep in a field as I know them in the UK is not what’s here. The sheep, a strain with long tails, I don’t recognise, possibly from Spain, are so domesticated that visitors can move around the compound among them and even feed them. Although the sheep, a great novelty in Thailand, are the main attraction here, certainly ‘vintage’ is also what this site is about. Every attempt is made to cram the site with vintage items. Anything which is not plastic will do. What this site does in common with most others in the area, is to create photo opportunities for visitors who simply fall for it every time. Yes, the sheep are natural but everything else is dreamt up. Did they ever hear of Enid Blyton? Talking about falling for it; I fell for it which is why I’m reviewing this site. I need to make some use of my time right?
Natural Feeling……..With my blog up to date I can afford a lie in and so it proves but I don’t intend to sit around all day. Feeling that coffee and toast needs a bit of sexing up, I pop out to 7Eleven which is just out of range to walk at the moment. Nevertheless I head out of Suan Pheung at 10.30am, retracing my steps from yesterday evening. I’m sure today will have a more natural feeling as I head for the mountains. Well it does start sort of naturally.
The Scenery Vintage Farm……..I made it to Scenery Vintage Farm yesterday evening but it was too late to go inside; they close at 6pm. Basically this is what the name suggests and great overplay is made of the name. Yes there are mountain views as a backdrop and it is a farm only by the fact that sheep graze around the site. But sheep in a field as I know them in the UK is not what’s here. The sheep, a strain with long tails, I don’t recognise, possibly from Spain, are so domesticated that visitors can move around the compound among them and even feed them. Although the sheep, a great novelty in Thailand, are the main attraction here, certainly ‘vintage’ is also what this site is about. Every attempt is made to cram the site with vintage items. Anything which is not plastic will do. What this site does in common with most others in the area, is to create photo opportunities for visitors who simply fall for it every time. Yes, the sheep are natural but everything else is dreamt up. Did they ever hear of Enid Blyton? Talking about falling for it; I fell for it which is why I’m reviewing this site. I need to make some use of my time right?
J. W. Bo Khlueng Hot Stream……..If the last site was not exactly natural then I can’t argue with J. W. Bo Khlueng Hot Stream. The hot spring water emerges from underground, much as it does in many other locations where natural actions force heated mineral water to the surface at 57 degrees Celsius. The site is ‘naturally’ exploited by the landowner but whether you just dip your feet in the hot mineral water or take a full bath, you’ll be happy you visited this site. It’s no more than 15 kms west of Suan Pheung.
Kao Chan Waterfall……..I’ve copied the name of this waterfall from a brochure but from my little knowledge of Thai, I’m sure it should be ‘Gow Chan’ because gow is the number nine and chan means floors or stories, in this case tiers. The falls have nine levels, none of which are particularly high. In the monsoon season water cascades spectacularly down these falls but now in the dry season the water fills shallow rock pools which is ideal for bathing and cooling off. It is quite popular during holidays and weekends. At the time of my arrival at the falls it is school holidays and quite busy. I need to make it to the third level before I find a pool to myself then “Heaven”. I can’t resist simply stripping off and lying in the pool, the water rushing around is so cool and refreshing. At 1pm in the heat of the day I really don’t want to get out and simply let the river fish nibble at my feet. I figure they’re too small to bite my toes off! I read somewhere recently that the here and now is more precious that anything in the past. Well that seems most appropriate. But what forces leads one to leave precious things behind, I wonder? After a good half hour I’m already thinking of something else.
Nothing Else!……..That something else includes other natural sites in the area but as I enquire as to the way to these other sites I’m told that in the hot season there is no advantage in heading further into the mountains. There is a viewpoint, Khao Krajome but I would have to abandon my vehicle and hire a 4 X 4 instead. Perhaps I should have stayed longer at the falls but as yet I’ve had no lunch so head back to Suan Pheung. However it does not means the day’s site visits are over.
Ban Hawmtiun……..On the way into town, on the left, there is another man-made attraction. It’s attractive to Katoon and since I’m obliged to check it out I may as well finish as I started the day. Ban Hawmtiun means literally ‘home of candles’. There is an entrance fee but you will receive a free candle. The site leads up into the hills through a covered arcade. Apart from the candle shop there are a number of souvenir shops, coffee shops and boutiques. The intension here is yet again to create an ‘old world’ atmosphere through a liberal addition of vintage items. While some items are clearly original, I haven’t thought to ask how much of it is reproduction. Surely the sheer quantity of items from far and wide are not all original and I would much rather view items in regional and national museums and temples. I decide to have another easy day and head back to siesta in Ban Homlamoon. While there has been a natural flavour to todays events I would be struggling to include Suan Pheung in a tour described as natural. A playground would be more appropriate. After my siesta I walk up to the main road and take an early dinner then head back to work on my blog. That too is all done and dusted early. Tomorrow is the weekend and I figure that I will hang around to check out some sites that close on weekdays but by the end of the day I plan to be out of the province. Next Page.
Ban Hawmtiun……..On the way into town, on the left, there is another man-made attraction. It’s attractive to Katoon and since I’m obliged to check it out I may as well finish as I started the day. Ban Hawmtiun means literally ‘home of candles’. There is an entrance fee but you will receive a free candle. The site leads up into the hills through a covered arcade. Apart from the candle shop there are a number of souvenir shops, coffee shops and boutiques. The intension here is yet again to create an ‘old world’ atmosphere through a liberal addition of vintage items. While some items are clearly original, I haven’t thought to ask how much of it is reproduction. Surely the sheer quantity of items from far and wide are not all original and I would much rather view items in regional and national museums and temples. I decide to have another easy day and head back to siesta in Ban Homlamoon. While there has been a natural flavour to todays events I would be struggling to include Suan Pheung in a tour described as natural. A playground would be more appropriate. After my siesta I walk up to the main road and take an early dinner then head back to work on my blog. That too is all done and dusted early. Tomorrow is the weekend and I figure that I will hang around to check out some sites that close on weekdays but by the end of the day I plan to be out of the province. Next Page.