2015 - North-Eastern Thailand and Laos - Day 23, 24, 25

North-Eastern (I-San) Thailand and Laos, 16 Nov - 10 Dec 2015 (25days)

This was the sunrise view from our Suksant Hotel looking at Ko Lam island.

Day 23 (8.12.2015) Prachuap Khiri Khan

This morning we walked to the market behind our hotel to have the best hot soybean milk and ‘yu char kueh’ for breakfast. We then rented two bicycles for the day to cycle to the southern side of Prachuap Khiri Khan. Visited Wat Kohlak Royal Monastery and then to the Wing 5 Air Police Company. Came back for lunch in town and to hotel for a rest.

In the afternoon, we cycled to the northern side of town to visit The City Pillar Shrine, Wat Thammikaram Worawihan and to climb up the Chong Krajok Mountain. Up in the mountain we met a Malaysian cycling couple, Joanne Poon Suit Mui and husband Keong Kok Yeoh from SS2, Selangor. They flew in to Chiang Ria on 16th November the same day we flew in to Chiang Mai. They have been cycling all the way south for the past 23 days arriving here in Prachuap Khiri Khan. From here they would cycle another 10 days to reach KL. We were informed that this overland cycling trip of Thailand was to mark their special 35th wedding anniversary celebration on 25th December. In total they would travel 2,544km (1544.3km by bike and 1000km by train or truck) in 33 days. We then wished them Happy Anniversary and an amazing journey back home safely.

Sleeping at Suksant Hotel, Sooseuk Road, Prachuap Khiri Khan


The new Prachuap Khiri Khan fisherman boat pier with a fish market as viewed from our hotel.


A morning walk to Prachuap Khiri Khan market.


A morning walk to Prachuap Khiri Khan market.


A morning walk to Prachuap Khiri Khan market.


The best hot soybean milk and ‘yu char kueh’ for breakfast at Prachuap Khiri Khan market.


Wat Kohlak Royal Monastery, Prachuap Khiri Khan.


Wat Kohlak Royal Monastery, Prachuap Khiri Khan.


Wing 5 the Prachuap Royal Air Force base. We need to sign the book for permission to get into the base.


Prachuap Royal Air Force base museum that retraces the history of the Royal Thai Air Force and especially the battle that took place on the 8th December 1941 in Prachuap Khiri Khan.


Ao Manao Beach, Wing 5 Air Force base, Prachuap Khiri Khan.


Ao Manao Beach, Wing 5 Air Force base, Prachuap Khiri Khan.


Ao Manao was once a battlefield in World War II between the Thai and Japanese armies.


There’s a golf course inside Wing 5 Air Force base, Prachuap Khiri Khan.


Ao Manao Beach offers a lot of facilities: toilets and showers, two food centers, bars, restaurants, souvenir shops and the opportunity to practice different activities: horse riding, archery, quad biking. There’s even a little “farm” which is the home of a flock of goats and a few ostriches.


The northern part of Ao Manao beach is occupied by a lining up of deckchairs and tables.


A bit of history: Around 3am, on the 8.12.1941, the 2nd Battalion, 143rd Infantry Regiment of the Japanese army invaded the town of Prachuap Khiri Khan and then besieged the Air Force Base. The battle that followed caused 38 dead and 27 wounded on the Thai side, while Japanese losses are estimated at 217 dead and more than 300 wounded. The battle is commemorated every year in Wing 5 on the 8th December.


This lovely curved bay, 5km south of town is under the care of the Royal Thai Air force, Base 53.


This lovely curved bay, 5km south of town is under the care of the Royal Thai Air force, Base 53.


This lovely curved bay, 5km south of town is under the care of the Royal Thai Air force, Base 53.


This lovely curved bay, 5km south of town is under the care of the Royal Thai Air force, Base 53.


Noticed the hole on the hill top.


Ao Manao is a clean beach suitable for swimming. Opposite the beach stands Khao Lom Muak.


Ao Manao is a clean beach suitable for swimming. Opposite the beach stands Khao Lom Muak.


The fishing village of Khlong Wan, Prachuap Khiri Khan.


The fishing village of Khlong Wan, Prachuap Khiri Khan.


In conjunction with the King's birthday celebration in the base, we were lucky to witness fighter jets flying above us.


Some fighter jets flying low above us at fishing village of Khlong Wan, Prachuap Khiri Khan.


Some fighter jets flying low above us at fishing village of Khlong Wan, Prachuap Khiri Khan.


Some fighter jets flying low above us at fishing village of Khlong Wan, Prachuap Khiri Khan.


The fishing village of Khlong Wan, Prachuap Khiri Khan.


The fishing village of Khlong Wan, Prachuap Khiri Khan.


The fishing village of Khlong Wan, Prachuap Khiri Khan.


Thailand’s primate, the Dusky Langur also known as the dusky leaf monkey.


The City Pillar Shrine of Prachuap Khiri Khan.


The City Pillar Shrine of Prachuap Khiri Khan.


The City Pillar Shrine of Prachuap Khiri Khan.


The City Pillar Shrine of Prachuap Khiri Khan.


The City Pillar Shrine of Prachuap Khiri Khan.


Wat Thammikaram Worawihan, Prachuap Khiri Khan.





We cycled around Ao Prachuap Bay in Prachuap Khiri Khan.


We cycled around Ao Prachuap Bay in Prachuap Khiri Khan.


We cycled around Ao Prachuap Bay in Prachuap Khiri Khan.


We cycled around Ao Prachuap Bay in Prachuap Khiri Khan.


We cycled around Ao Prachuap Bay in Prachuap Khiri Khan.


The long-tailed monkeys of Prachuap Khiri Khan.


The long-tailed monkeys of Prachuap Khiri Khan.


Chan Meng Fye feeding the monkeys in Prachuap Khiri Khan.


The long-tailed monkeys of Prachuap Khiri Khan.


Khao Chong Krachok is a small mountain where a large number of stump-tailed macaques reside. Its entrance is behind the City Hall with 396 steps to the summit at a height of 245 metres above sea level.


The long-tailed monkeys of Prachuap Khiri Khan.


The 396 steps to Khao Chong Krachok summit at a height of 245 metres from sea level.


The 396 steps to Khao Chong Krachok summit at a height of 245 metres from sea level.


Khao Chong Krachok meaning a mirror, comes from a natural aperture near its peak which allows light to pass through.


At the summit is Wat Khao Chong Krachok, where see a replica of the Buddha’s footprint and the relics of the Buddha. The King came to attend its containing ceremony on June 12, 1958, and planted a Bodhi tree.


At Wat Khao Chong Krachok offers a beautiful panorama view of Ao Prachuap Bay.


Up in the mountain we met a Malaysian cycling couple, Joanne Poon Suit Mui and husband Keong Kok Yeoh from SS2, Selangor. They flew in to Chiang Ria on 16th November the same day we flew in to Chiang Mai.

The view of Ao Prachuap Bay from Wat Khao Chong Krachok.


North of Wat Khao Chong Krachok, just over the bridge, the bay stretches gracefully with curving outlined by an oceanfront esplanade. There is a long sandy beach here running parallel with the road that only sees people on weekends, making it a fine place to idle and beach-comb.


The 396 steps down from Wat Khao Chong Krachok.


The view of Prachuap Khiri Khan from Wat Khao Chong Krachok.


The view of Prachuap Khiri Khan from Wat Khao Chong Krachok.

The view of Prachuap Khiri Khan from Wat Khao Chong Krachok.
 
 


The view of Prachuap Khiri Khan from Wat Khao Chong Krachok.


The view of Prachuap Khiri Khan from Wat Khao Chong Krachok.


The sunset view from Wat Khao Chong Krachok.


The sunset view from Wat Khao Chong Krachok.


The sunset view from Wat Khao Chong Krachok.


A big fish each for dinner and some beer at the seaside stall in Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Day 23 Cost Item in Thai Baht Bus/car Food Hotel Fee Total  per pax
08.12.2015 Suksant Hotel

420
420 210
Prachup Khiri Khan Breakfast at market
38

38 19
Suksant Hotel Bicycle rental 100


100 50

Drink
46

46 23

Fish dinner
400

400 200

Drink
30

30 15

 
Day 24 (9.12.2015) Prachuap Khiri Khan to Hatyai by night train (660km)

Today we did not do much except cycling around town and went to the train station to get our Rapid train ticket to Hatyai departing at 6.30pm. After hotel check-out we spent the time at the hotel lobby doing some reading and rewriting on past days of write-up for my blog posting. Sleeping on night train to Hatyai.

Day 24 Cost Item in Thai Baht Bus/car Food Hotel Fee Total  per pax
09.12.2015 Breakfast at market
52

52 26
Overnight train Rapid Train 698


698 349

Lunch
140

140 70

Ice cream
50

50 25

Dinner
120

120 60

Day 25 (10.12.2015) Hatyai to Butterworth by train and to KL by bus (555km)

The train arrived Hatyai at 7.45am and we continued our return journey by taking the 8am special express train to Butterworth (195km) arriving at about 1.30pm. After taking a quick lunch at the bus station we took the City Express bus to Shah Alam (360km) at 2.30pm and arriving at 9pm as we were caught in a massive traffic jam getting into the city. In Shah Alam, my son came to pick us up at the bus station. It was a 27 hours of continuous traveling from Prachuap Khiri Khan to Kuala Lumpur.

Nevertheless, we have traveled a total of 6,307km in twenty-five days to be well remembered and a challenge for the up and coming young backpackers in Malaysia. And the total amount spent is RM2,642.00 per person for this 25 day travel. 

Day 25 Cost Item in Thai Baht Bus/car Food Hotel Fee Total  per pax
10.12.2015 Special express train 664


664 332

Lunch in Butterworth
120

120 60

Bus to KL 560


560 280









Cost Item Bus/car Food Hotel Fee Total  per pax

Total in Thai Baht 34,824 15,443 21,000 4,017 75,283 21,482

Total in RM @ 12.30   4,283 1,899 2,583 494 9,260 2,642

Click below to view:
North-Eastern Thailand and Laos - Introduction
Day 01 (16.11.15) AirAsia AK 856 KUL. 12.45pm to Chiang Mai, (1738km)
Day 02 (17 Nov) Chiang Mai to Loei to Phu Kradueng to Khon Kaen (691km)

Day 03 (18 Nov) Khon Kaen City walk around
Day 04 (19 Nov) Khon Kaen City to Kalasin (80km)
Day 05 (20 Nov) Kalasin to Sakon Nakhon (129km)

Day 06 (21 Nov) Sakon Nakhon to Nakhon Phanom (92km)
Day 07 (22 Nov) Nakhon Phanom - day trip to Thakhek, Laos (62km)
Day 08 (23 Nov) Nakhon Phanom to Mukdahan (125km)
Day 09 (24 Nov) Mukdahan - trip to Phu Pha Thoet National Park (108km)
Day 10 (25 Nov) Mukdahan to Ubon Ratchathani by bus (194km)

Day 11 (26 Nov) Ubon Ratchathani to Pakse to Si Phan Don, Laos (291km)
Day 12 (27 Nov) Si Phan Don - a long walk to Somphamit Waterfall
Day 13 (28 Nov) Si Phan Don to Ubon Ratchathani by bus (291km)
Day 14 (29 Nov) Ubon Ratchathani to Si Sa Ket by van (67km)
Day 15 (30 Nov) Si Sa Ket to Buri Ram by train (148km)

Day 16 (01 Dec) Buri Ram - day visit to 3 places (219km)
Day 17 (02 Dec) Buri Ram to Nakhon Ratchasima by train (129km)
Day 18 (03 Dec) Nakhon Ratchasima - day trip to Phimai (120km)
Day 19 (04 Dec) Nakhon Ratchasima to Bangkok by train (264km)
Day 20 (05 Dec) Bangkok - Chao Phraya River boat ride to Khaosan Road

Day 21 (06 Dec) Bangkok - rest day and dinner at Royal Bangkok Sports Club
Day 22 (07 Dec) Bangkok to Prachuap Khiri Khan by train (320km)
Day 23 (08 Dec) Prachuap Khiri Khan
Day 24 (09 Dec) Prachuap Khiri Khan to Hatyai by night train (660km)
Day 25 (10 Dec) Hatyai to Butterworth by train and to KL by bus (555km)
 

L-R: Chan Meng Fye, Chew Leng Soon and Ching Neng Bin on the road in Thailand. 
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