2012 Backpacking to Northern Thailand day 17, 18 Sangkhlaburi to Ayutthaya

A morning view of the Khao Laem lake from P.Guesthouse Country Resort, Sangkhlaburi.

Day 17 (22.11.2012) Sangkhlaburi

At 7.30am walked to the Mon Bridge - the longest wooden bridge in Thailand at 400 meters. We had Mon porridge for breakfast beside the bridge. We walked to Wat Wang Wiwekaram or Wat Mon Temple and to the gold-topped Putthakaya Chedi.

On our way back we witness a cock fighting at Soi 8. We then walked to Sangkhlaburi town to take the songthaew to visit the 3 Pagoda Pass at the border with Burma. We had lunch at a stall and then took the same songthaew back to town. Lee Kam Boon and Ching Neng Bin went for a swim in the lake. Had dinner in the guesthouse.

Sleeping: P.Guesthouse and Country Resort at B950 a/c room for 2pax (add bed is B300)


Morning view of Mon Village across Khao Laem lake a confluence of three rivers, Songkalia, Bikhli and Ranti.


Morning view of Mon Village across Khao Laem lake a confluence of three rivers, Songkalia, Bikhli and Ranti.


Sleeping: P.Guesthouse and Country Resort at B950 a/c room for 2pax (add bed is B300)


P.Guesthouse and Country Resort Sangkhlaburi - the stone walls do have a bit of a Flintstones feel.


View of the gold-topped chedi, Luang Phaw Utama across Khao Laem lake from P.Guesthouse.


The Sangkhlaburi Mon Bridge - the longest wooden bridge in Thailand at at 400 meters.


The house-boats of Khao Laem lake in Sangkhlaburi.

The floating bamboo bridge joining the boat houses of Khao Laem lake in Sangkhlaburi.

The floating bamboo bridge joining the boat houses of Khao Laem lake in Sangkhlaburi.

The Mon Bridge makes for particularly scenic viewing in the early morning as the Mon tread its length on their way to work with all their belongings on their heads. You are no longer allowed to ride motorcycles over the bridge, but bicycles are permitted.

In the wet season the water level almost reaches the top of the Mon Bridge, and has in the past completely covered it. In the dry season, about two thirds of the bridge's structures are visible, revealing the nerve-wracking web of bamboo poles that hold the bridge up. While it would be pushing it to describe it as a sight in itself, this bridge is certainly more interesting than that one over in Kanchanaburi.

The entrance to Mon footbridge made completely by hand links the Mon village to the main town of Sangkhlaburi.


The Mon bridge or “Saphan Mon” is Thailand’s longest wooden bridge and the second longest in the world measuring over 400 meters long.


The handmade Mon footbridge constructed in the 1980’s spans the Song Kalia river to the Mon village Wang Kha.


The handmade Mon footbridge constructed in the 1980’s spans the Song Kalia river to the Mon village Wang Kha.

The house-boats of Khao Laem lake in Sangkhlaburi.


This floating guesthouses for tourist at Khao Laem lake in Sangkhlaburi.


Spread out across the far bank of Khao Laem lake, the Mon village has been formed by Mon refugees fleeing oppression in Burma. These people have now become a vital part of the Sangkhlaburi community.
 

The Mon girl was dancing at the end of the Mon bridge when we arrived at entrance gate.

Window shopping at the Mon village - on the road to the wat you'll pass a small market selling goods mainly for the local residents -- though keep an eye out for some Burmese products.


Friendly Mon village, known by locals as Fang Mon, is located at the far side of the Mon wooden bridge.


Our Mon breakfast of porridge and tea at the Mon village in Sangkhlaburi.


A Mon grandmother and child at the Mon village in Sangkhlaburi.


The wat is around 2km from the centre of town if you go via the wooden Mon bridge. By the Mon wooden bridge, follow the road after the bridge until you reach a T junction. At the T-junction - turn right is the Wiweakaram Temple, turn left is the gold-topped chedi Puttakaya Pagoda. From the centre of town a motorbike taxi should cost about 20B to 30B.






Other buildings within the compound also part of Wat Wang Wiweakaram also known as Wat Mon in Sangkhlaburi.
 

Other buildings within the compound also part of Wat Wang Wiweakaram or Wat Mon in Sangkhlaburi.


The Wat Wang Wiwekaram or Wat Mon is an attractive temple build by a Mon monk from Burma.


The Wat Wang Wiwekaram or Wat Mon is an attractive temple build by a Mon monk from Burma.


The Wat Wang Wiwekaram or Wat Mon looks almost unreal -- a glittering temple rising out of a jungle canopy.


The Wat Wang Wiwekaram or Wat Mon looks almost unreal -- a glittering temple rising out of a jungle canopy.


The main feature of Wat Wang Wiwekaram or Wat Mon is the brilliant sparkling stainless steel columns, with teak doors on each side featuring detailed relief sculptures of Buddha's life.


The main feature of Wat Wang Wiwekaram or Wat Mon is the brilliant sparkling stainless steel columns, with teak doors on each side featuring detailed relief sculptures of Buddha's life.


Wat Wang Wiwekaram or Wat Mon in Sangkhlaburi.


Other buildings within the compound also have sculptured doors and window shutters, but with simpler designs.


Wat Wang Wiwekaram known as Wat Mon due to it being home to predominantly Mon monks.


Thais travel the country in their pilgrimage to meet with the head monk at Wat Wang Wiwekaram or Wat Mon.


Wat Wang Wiwekaram known as Wat Mon due to it being home to predominantly Mon monks.


Sala fruits at Wat Wang Wiwekaram or Wat Mon in Sangkhlaburi.


Sala flowers at Wat Wang Wiwekaram or Wat Mon in Sangkhlaburi.


Wat Wang Wiwekaram or Wat Mon in Sangkhlaburi.


Wat Wang Wiwekaram or Wat Mon in Sangkhlaburi.


Wat Wang Wiwekaram or Wat Mon in Sangkhlaburi.


Wat Wang Wiwekaram or Wat Mon in Sangkhlaburi.


Wat Wang Wiwekaram or Wat Mon in Sangkhlaburi.


Wat Wang Wiwekaram or Wat Mon in Sangkhlaburi.


Wat Wang Wiwekaram or Wat Mon in Sangkhlaburi.


Walking 400m down the road from Wat Mon to the gold-topped Putthakaya Chedi at Mon Village.


You will find the name Chedi Buddhakaya to designate this golden chedi covered with several kilos of gold built in the style of Bodhgaya Mahabodhi in India which marks the place of the Buddha's enlightenment.

You will also find the name Chedi Buddhakaya to designate this golden chedi covered with several kilos of gold built in the style of Bodhgaya Mahabodhi in India which marks the place of the Buddha's e

See more at : https://www.thailandee.com/en/visit-thailand/phutthakhaya-chedi-sangkhlaburi-205
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At the Putthakaya Chedi entrance, there are two large Singha statues surrounding a staircase going up on the platform where the chedi stands. Putthakaya Chedi was built in 1982, much of the construction is cement and the golden hue is made ​​from a gold painting. This temple is linked to the monk Luang Phaw Uttama who lived there and is highly respected by the Mon community.


Putthakaya Chedi shrines guarded by two giant sculpted lions in Sangkhlaburi.


Consisting of a gold-painted beehive carved with geometric patterns, each one filled with statues of the Buddha at Putthakaya Chedi in Sangkhlaburi.


Upon closer inspection, you will notice more than 100 freestanding metal Buddha images of varying sizes and positions placed around the outside of the spire at Putthakaya Chedi in Sangkhlaburi.


Freestanding metal Buddha images placed around the outside of the spire at Putthakaya Chedi in Sangkhlaburi.


Freestanding metal Buddha images placed around the outside of the spire at Putthakaya Chedi in Sangkhlaburi.


Mon monks from Putthakaya Chedi in Sangkhlaburi.


On our way back we witness cock fighting at Soi 8, Mon vllage in Sangkhlaburi.


We then walked to Sangkhlaburi town to take the songthaew to visit the 3 Pagoda Pass at the border with Burma.


We then walked to Sangkhlaburi town to take the songthaew to visit the 3 Pagoda Pass at the border with Burma.


The Three Pagodas pass lies at an altitude of 1,400m (4,480ft) and owes its name to the three little white chedis erected here in the 18th century. Three Pagodas Pass has been the main route by land between Thailand and Myanmar (Burma) since ancient times, which is located 22 kilometers from Sangkhlaburi town in a border area of the two countries.

It is believed that Buddhist teachings, Theravada Buddhism, came from India through this pass in the 3rd century. During the Ayutthaya period of Thailand, from the 14th to 18th centuries, the pass was the main route for the Burmese and Siam to attack each other. During World War II, Japan built the Death Railway (Thai-Burma Railway) through the pass to invade Burma at the sacrifices of lives of great number of people.


Thai Border Peace Temple Thai - Japan at Three Pagodas Pass of Sangkhlaburi Thailand.


A Burmese flag at the border of Three Pagodas Pass of Sangkhlaburi.


Thai soldier guarding the border area of Sangkhlaburi.


Thai Burmese Border at Three Pagodas Pass of Sangkhlaburi Thailand.


Thai Burmese Border at Three Pagodas Pass of Sangkhlaburi Thailand.


Thai Burmese Border at Three Pagodas Pass of Sangkhlaburi Thailand.


The face of a Mon grandfather's love for his granddaughter at Sangkhlaburi.


The face of a Mon little girl at Sangkhlaburi.


The face of a Mon little girl at Sangkhlaburi.


The face of a Mon grandfather at Sangkhlaburi.


Dinner at P.Guesthouse and Country Resort Sangkhlaburi.

Day 18 (23.11.2012) Sangkhlaburi to Ayutthaya (367km)

Today’s travel is getting to Ayutthaya.
1st: 8.30am by tuktuk from guesthouse to Sangkhlaburi van station.
2nd: 9.00am by van from Sangkhlaburi to Kangchanaburi bus station arrived at 12.30pm.
3rd: 1.00pm by very old local 60 seater bus from Kangchanaburi to Suphanburi arrived at 3pm and had lunch at bus station.
4th: 3.30pm by van from Suphanburi to Ayutthaya arrived at 4.30pm.

We then walked to PU Guesthouse. At 6.00pm we walked to MK Restaurant nearby to have steamboat for dinner and later walked to explore the market and to the boat jetty which is near to the railway station across the river.

 

Sleeping: PU Guesthouse, Ayutthaya.

A morning view of the Khao Laem lake from P.Guesthouse Country Resort, Sangkhlaburi.


Eating pineapple for breakfast in our P.Guesthouse room in Sangkhlaburi.


Last view of P.Guesthouse before departing for Ayutthaya.


The P.Guesthouse restaurant has a great ambience and views to die for.


The P.Guesthouse restaurant has a great ambience and views to die for.


The P.Guesthouse restaurant has a great ambience and views to die for.


A morning view of the Khao Laem lake from P.Guesthouse Country Resort, Sangkhlaburi.


Ching Neng Bin ready to continue the journey to Ayutthaya which is 367km away.


Took this old local 60 seater bus from Kanchanaburi to Suphanburi.

Ching Neng Bin sat with the traveling monks in the bus and taught them some English words.


Notice that the old local 60 seater bus floor is made of wood which we do not see in Malaysia.


At 6.00pm we walked to MK Restaurant nearby to have steamboat for dinner and later walked to explore the market and to the boat jetty which is near to the railway station across the river.


Ayutthaya being an island, this is the boat to cross to the mainland.


Ayutthaya city by night.


Ayutthaya night market area near to our PU Guesthouse.


Ayutthaya night market area near to our PU Guesthouse.

Day 1, 2 - KL to Chiangmai
Day 3 - Chiangmai to Thaton
Day 4 - Thaton by River Boat to Chiangrai
Day 5 - White Temple of Chiangrai

Day 6 - Chiangrai day trip to Mae Salong and Mae Fah Luang
Day 7 - Chiangrai to Phu Chi Fa
Day 8 - Phu Chi Fa to Phayao
Day 9,10 Phayao to Chiangmai to Mae Sariang

Day 11,12 - Mae Sariang to Mae Sot
Day 13,14 - Mae Sot to Bangkok
Day 15,16 - Bangkok – Kanchanaburi - Sangkhlaburi
Day 17,18 - Sangkhlaburi – Ayutthaya
Day 19-22 - Ayutthaya - Bangkok – Butterworth

Day

Expenses

THB total

per pax

17	Mon porridge @  Mon's wooden bridge	210	42
	Water	7	1
	Sawngtheaw to 3 Pagodas Pass	150	30
	Lunch at 3 Pagodas Pass	280	56
	Sawngtheaw back to sangkhlaburi	150	30
	Water	30	6
	fruits	260	52
	Dinner at P Guesthouse	930	186

18	tuktuk from P guesthouse to van station	100	20
	van Sangkhlaburi to Kanchanaburi B175 X 5	875	175
	breakfast	130	26
	bus Kanchanaburi to Suphanburi B50 X 5	250	50
	Noodle lunch at Suphanburi bus station	145	29
	van Suphanburi to Ayutthaya B80 X 5	400	80
	PU Inn for 2 nights [(700 X 1)+(800 X 1)] X 2	3,000	600
	Steamboat dinner at MK restaurant	1,000	200
	Ochien - hawker stall	75	15
	water	120	24

/// Northern Thailand Adventure, Mountains, Rivers and Temples 6th to 27th November 2012