Readme before you journey
Hello friends, around the beginning of May, I had the opportunity to visit the southern region of our country, specifically Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. This was one of the southern provinces that I had never been to before. However, due to business reasons, I had to make this trip. While I was there, I decided to look for some tourist attractions to visit. I wondered if there were any beautiful places that I might come across.
...Of course, since I've never been there, I haven't heard much about the tourist attractions there. The only place I know is Thung Song District, because I have a sister who lives there. .. So I gradually searched for places that might be interesting to visit in just a few days, both online and by asking people. .. In the end, I came up with a few places like this ... Beach party at Hin Ngam Beach, Sichon District / Khlong Thom Waterfall (Khao Luang National Park) and Kiriwong Village, Lansaka District.
...The images of the small journey, where I encountered new things, and especially being surrounded by the warm nature, made this another memorable trip for me. And I think that if I have the chance, I will definitely find the right time, find a good opportunity to travel back there again, even just once. .. If you are ready, let's start the sequence of images before the excitement of the mini-concert party by the beach, and then turn to the lush nature of the Khlong Rom Waterfall and the perfect harmony of the mountains and streams at Kiriwong Village...
...P.S. There are quite a lot of pictures in this album, around 140 or so. If you have time, you can open the thread and leave it open for a while, go for a walk, and then come back to see the rest of the pictures...
...The party started at dusk on the beach of Hin Ngam in Sichon District... Tourists who came to play in the water and ride banana boats were still having fun. Those who wanted to party and have fun could do so, while those who wanted to relax and enjoy themselves could still do so...
...The entrance fee is 500 baht. The event lasts for 2 days, so you can enter for 2 days... Inside the beach area, there are various activities, as well as shops selling food and drinks. The shops are divided into booths, each with its own shop, lined up along the beach... The full name of this party event is "Retro Beach Party 2015", which was held on May 2-3, 2015...
...As you walk along, you'll see various activities taking place on the beach. Most of them are music-related, as it's a concert party with a large stage on the left side of the beach. As you move further to the right, you'll find different activity areas set up according to different interests...
...With a beach area that is not too small, it allows for the placement of stalls and activities without being too crowded. People can walk comfortably, but what can be tiring is walking on the sand...
...There were long guns shooting like at a temple fair, but now they've moved to the beach instead...
...As in the bottom picture, there will be something like a mobile cinema set up as a small screen, as you can see in the picture. This is when I tried walking back late at night, and there was actually a movie being shown. Let's just say it's another kind of vibe...
...The overall atmosphere with the area being quite far from the stage. It is understandable that if the music is playing, people sitting in this area can still hear it, and it is not too loud for those who want to come and sit, eat, and drink with friends in a beachside atmosphere with lively music and the sound of the waves and sea breeze blending together.
...The sky is getting darker by the minute. Today, the beach is packed with people, and the vibrant colors of the festival are sure to please everyone who has come. If you're a teenager or a local resident of Nakhon Si Thammarat, you're sure to be here in large numbers.
...As the evening progresses, bands take turns playing on stage, with renowned artists reserved as the highlight of the late-night hours... The area in front of the stage gradually fills with people enjoying the music, and in true seaside fashion, some sit on the sand, while others bring mats to sit on... Of course, there are no chairs to sit on, as the name of the event suggests, a beach party... The seating area with chairs is located further back.
...The lights, colors, and sounds gradually became more and more fun, along with the number of people attending the event, which increased as the night went on...
...Judging from the crowd, it's mostly young people who rarely get to experience small beach concerts like this. So it's no surprise that they've come out in droves...
...The activities continue to take place... with shops and restaurants offering services next to the dining area...
...I can't take it anymore, so I'm going to grab a bite to eat before waiting to watch the concert party for a bit...
...And then the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived after a brief opening ceremony on stage by the event organizer, Mr. Palm Sicholman... After that, it was time for the fun for all the spectators... The Musketeers band kicked off the excitement with some fun, fast-paced songs that got everyone dancing and grooving... It was a fun and worthwhile event for both the audience and the artists...
...According to the card, the event starts at 3:00 PM and ends at midnight. .. But judging from the lineup, I think it will definitely be extended for more fun. Because in addition to the Musketeers band, there are also Boom Boom Cash and the legendary Thai reggae ska band T-Bone to close out the night.
...and finally, the atmosphere of the night was filled with fun lights, sounds, and music at the Retro Beach Party 2015 on Sichon Beach. This concert has been held for 2-3 years now. If anyone is interested in traveling, try to find information. I believe it will definitely be held again. Because from what I observed, it was well-received by both tourists and those who came to relax with cool music mixed with the atmosphere by the sea, as well as the vendors who sold food, goods, and products at the event...
...leaving a lasting impression on this evening... before continuing from the lively atmosphere of the music with images of the natural beauty of Nakhon Si Thammarat, another place we visited... "Krom Waterfall".
...from Sichon district to Lansaka district with the last place I traveled to but will be brought up before ending at Kiriwong village for viewing pleasure...
... "Khlong Thom Waterfall" is located in Lan Saka District, on Highway 4015. The route is the same as the one leading to "Khao Luang National Park", which is also where the waterfall is situated. ...
...Krom Waterfall has a total of 19 levels, but only 7 levels are accessible to tourists for sightseeing and relaxation. ... They are Nam durian, Nam mango, Nam bamboo, Nam water channel, Nam bee, Nam pandan, and Nam roof, which is said to be the most beautiful level...
...However, due to the lack of equipment, especially the tripod, I was only able to capture a few shots of the waterfall. Therefore, I decided to share some photos of the natural scenery along the trail up to the 6th level, showcasing the area's rich biodiversity.
...It's been a long time since I've been to a waterfall. The last time was at Man Daeng Waterfall in Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park, Phitsanulok Province. Today, I heard the sound of the waterfall again in my ears and I couldn't help but feel a pang of regret for not bringing my tripod...
...The amount of water in the waterfall during this trip is still flowing, not completely dry. But if we imagine from the perspective of someone who has never been here, we would definitely think that the rainy season would be even more beautiful than the day we traveled here...
...The happiness I received during the short period of time, a little over an hour, that I spent visiting here seems to be too little...
...The tight travel schedule often makes us miss out on many things... But if we just use the time we have to truly feel and absorb, we can be sure that the happiness of being surrounded by nature is enough to bring back something good...
...Even though I didn't get many pictures of the waterfall today, I still feel good about coming because at least it allowed me to meet my sister, whom I haven't seen in a long time. She went out of her way to bring us to the waterfall today...
...Before I had to part ways and continue alone to Kiriwong Village, the main destination of this trip... Leaving behind the image of Khlong Thom Waterfall with only a few photos, and I intend to come back to this waterfall someday because from what I've seen, if I come at the right time, the natural beauty I'll see will be much more than this....
...Another day of travel, which we will end the album with a picture of Kiri Wong Village, Lan Saka District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province...The journey to Kiri Wong Village, I started from Nakhon Si Thammarat city center at Talat Yao, taking a "Nakhon Si - Kiri Wong" songthaew, which departs every hour from morning to evening...Starting from the first stop to the last stop in front of Kiri Wong Temple, you can sit for a long time. Currently, the price is 25 baht.
... If you're not in a hurry, you can wait a while for the songthaew to leave. But if you want to rent it, you can do that too, because the songthaew driver asked me if I wanted to rent it all the way to my destination for 200 or 300 baht. I'm not sure because I don't understand the southern dialect very well, but I declined... because I came alone and renting it would be a waste of money. Not long after that, the songthaew left... Importantly, at that time, around 9:40 am, no one else got on the songthaew with me... So it was like I rented the songthaew and sat in the back of the car alone, looking cool....
...The starting distance from the motorcycle taxi stand to the destination at Wat Kiriwong should be around 30 kilometers... That day, I sat alone all the way and it took about 40 minutes to reach the temple...
...And because of the low roof of the songthaew, this is almost the only view you see throughout the journey: a view looking back... Because if you take a picture from the side window, you will have to kneel on the floor... But overall, it is considered airy and comfortable because you are sitting alone, even though the weather is very hot...
...If you're taking a songthaew, you can sit back and relax. In my case, I didn't tell the driver anything, and he took me straight to the temple at the end of the road. However, as far as I could see, there were songthaew stands at the bridge's neck (you'll see pictures in the next sequence). After the car crossed the Ban Kiriwong Bridge, Khlong Tha Dee, and headed a little further, we reached the end of the road in front of Wat Kiriwong... Then it was a matter of walking with my backpack, looking for a shop or restaurant to escape the sun and refuel before going to my accommodation. All in all, I got on the bus around 9.40 am and arrived at the temple at 10.15 am, so it was pretty quick...
...A short walk from the temple, you will find a variety of shops, bicycle rentals, and dessert shops lining the banks of the stream... After enjoying the stir-fried catfish with rice at a restaurant in this area, cool down with some ice cream at this shop... "Baan Nai Thang Na Kiriwong"...
...As we sat and chatted, the owner's sister mentioned that the shop had only recently opened. They sell ice cream, chocolate bread, and various toast with condensed milk... But I opted for my favorite, ice cream. What caught my eye was that the ice cream was served on a bed of some kind of leaf (I asked the name but can't remember now).
...This ice cream shop is owned by the same people as the bike shop next door. I spent quite a while sitting here resting, chatting with the owner's sister, and another reason is that this shop has free Wi-Fi. If you want to know more, search for "Baan Nai Nang Na Kiriwong" on the internet and it will come up. ...
...After resting until I thought I had enough energy to fight the midday sun, I started the bicycle rental operation. The rental fee is 50.- / day... I slept for 1 night. I will return it tomorrow, so it will be 100.- in reality...
...The first place the villagers recommend is to go to the temple to pray first. So that you can drive safely and conveniently and encounter good things throughout the short time you are here... (This is a very good suggestion for me because I haven't been to the temple for quite some time)... From the first picture, the temple will be on the right lane, while the left lane will be a path along the edge of the river, which I will ride along later.
...The ancient Kiriwong village, over 300 years old, is located on the plains between the "Hup Khao Luang". This area is called "Moo 5 Ban Khun Nam" because it is located in the headwaters area. It is also a source of various plant species, including the planting of various types of fruit trees in the same garden. This type of garden is called "Somrom Garden". ...
...And as time passed, the name "Moo 5 Ban Khun Nam" was changed to "Ban Kiriwong", which literally means "Kiri = mountain". When combined, "Kiriwong" means a village surrounded by mountains...
...After stopping by the temple to take some pictures, I continued cycling to the accommodation I had found earlier, called "Suwan Homestay"... which is located on the opposite side of the ice cream shop from earlier. So I cycled back across... This accommodation might seem a bit mysterious because it's not located on the roadside. But if you look closely, starting from the bridge pier, follow the stream for about 200 meters, you will see a large curved sign "Welcome to Kiri Thong" (if I remember correctly). Turn left and you will definitely see this house (turn right and you will find a stream instead).
...After parking the car, it was time to take our luggage to the room. I slept in this small room (from the first picture, the room with the window in front of the house is this room). The reason I chose to stay here is simple: it has Wi-Fi. Even though there is no air conditioning, with the super cheap price of 150 baht per night, I had to stay here to save money...
...P.S. I'm leaving the information of "Suwan Homestay" for my friends. If anyone is interested, please feel free to contact them.
...Without a backpack full of clothes, I only took out one camera and a lens bag for agility and convenience while cycling and taking pictures. .. So I felt the word "light and comfortable" and was ready to fight the afternoon sun to the fullest.
...As you cycle out of Suan Wan, after a short distance, there will be a path on the left leading down to the stream below. The water level is quite low at the moment due to the season, but this allows you to see the clear water and the rocks beneath it much more clearly...
...I chose a bicycle with a basket in front to put my lens bag in, and I slung the camera over my shoulder. Whenever I saw an angle I wanted to capture, I could stop and park easily...
...It's time to cross the bridge again, and we have to stop by the classic corner where everyone who comes and goes has to take a picture. Otherwise, it's like you never really came here...
...Given the sky conditions and the sunshine today, I'm starting to brace myself for the heat I'll have to endure all afternoon if I choose to go out cycling to take pictures... But I have to give in because if I only use the evening, I probably won't get many pictures back...
...As mentioned, there will be a two-row taxi stand at the neck of the Khlong Tha Dee Bridge. Once you cross the bridge, you will find a fork in the road. Turn left and follow the stream, heading straight to Wat Kiriwong. Alternatively, you can turn right to find another two-row taxi stand. Further ahead, you will find another bridge before reaching the viewpoint that the village has built to welcome tourists...
...As seen in the picture on the left, there is a viewpoint built to welcome tourists, along with a relaxing area to sit under the shade of the trees...
...During the day, there were a few tourists, mostly in cars and pickup trucks... or villagers riding motorbikes. On that day, there was definitely no one cycling like me... because in such hot weather it would be pure torture. If I had to estimate, the temperature that day must have been at least 34-35 degrees Celsius.
...If it's a bit hot, taking shelter under the shade of a tree can help a lot. Wherever there are trees, there is shade and coolness...
...Looking around, we are now surrounded by large mountains that embrace this village. This stream is like another life that has brought happiness and benefits to the villagers for a long time...
...Originally, this river did not exist. The area where the riverbed is now was once the home of the people of Kiriwong. Looking back to 1988, a major flood from the upstream forest caused the existing river, which normally flowed to the right, to change its course and flow through the middle of the village, causing significant damage to the villagers...
...But as time passed, the past faded away, leaving only the stories of those who were there. .. It made us realize that the villagers never thought of leaving their hometown. Instead, they learned to live more in harmony with nature... which has led to the scene we see today...
... The destination of my afternoon bike ride was "Nang Hin Tha Ha", which is about 2.5 kilometers from Khlong Tha Dee Bridge. I must admit that I am not a cyclist. Normally, the sport I play regularly is football. But today, I had to ride a bike in the scorching heat, and I must say that I felt a little dizzy.
... there will be a break when you find the shade of a tree by the side of the road... which is not always the case, some sections will be open without trees. In addition, the way to go is a steep uphill climb, making the ride even more strenuous...
...but still decided to keep cycling until I found a roadside rest stop with shops selling water, food, and souvenirs. I wasted no time in parking my bike and recharging with some sweet water... I rested until I was no longer tired.
...In this area, villagers bring their children to play in the stream. Parents sit and chat under the shade of the trees, while the children have fun playing in the water. From what I gathered talking to the locals, it seems you can swim anywhere you like. There are no restrictions on where you can go. However, the most popular spot is "Nan Hin Tha Ha", which I have chosen as the destination for our bike ride to see what it looks like...
…In the end, mental strength overcame physical strength. I persevered through the scorching sun and finally reached my destination, a mere 2.5 kilometers away. I started cycling from Suwan Homestay at 12:30 PM, including time spent taking photos, resting, and standing around. It took me until 1:40 PM to get here… It was a 70-minute journey of pure, agonizing joy.
...Upon arrival, the first thing I did was sit down and rehydrate. It was another day in my life where I sweated a lot. As for the picture of Hin Ta Hin Yai, I thought it would be quiet as it was a weekday and there wouldn't be many people. But it turned out to be the opposite, because this spot is also popular with people who come to Kiriwong Village...
...When you see the rope bridge, it means you have definitely arrived at Hin Nam Tok. In my opinion, the main reason why this area is so popular with tourists is because there are many resorts and accommodations in the vicinity. There are also clear signs indicating that this is a suitable spot for swimming. Therefore, if you are bringing your children and want to go swimming, I would suggest that you put up with the crowds and come to this area as it is safer....
...This area of Nan Hin is characterized by the shade of large trees, shops, restaurants, and resorts. This can easily lead to traffic jams on weekends, especially due to the small and narrow roads. Therefore, if you are traveling here, you should prepare yourself a little to avoid getting frustrated on your vacation.
...you can see that there are children playing in the water everywhere. But during this time, the water level is low, so you can rest assured that it is lower than the water level... Children are therefore free to walk and swim as much as they like....
... I spent almost an hour at Hin Nam Tok, not taking many pictures. I spent more time sitting and resting. .. And while I was sitting there, I saw something that surprised me. Some of the local people and tourists who came to play in the water were using shampoo and soap to bathe in this area. .. I think this should not be done at all because the chemicals in these cleaning products will definitely have an impact on nature. ...
...But as we all know, our country often neglects these things, thinking that there might be nothing. But for me, I think our country should develop and improve in this area a lot... If the Tambon Administrative Organization here sees this album, please help take care of it. Because this place is already very beautiful. We should help each other to keep nature with us for a long time.
...It's time to cycle back. This time, the target is the same ice cream shop... Because after cycling out of Nan Hin Tha Ha for a while, sweat was pouring down my body again...
...But this time around, I can tell you that it was much easier on the legs... Because on the way up, it was a steep climb, some sections so steep that I didn't even realize it, but I just thought to myself why am I so tired... But on the way back, I realized it because I could let the wheels freewheel for a long distance, almost a hundred meters...
...But no matter how much my body wanted to rest, with my eyes looking at the nature and the scenery along the way, there were many points where I stopped my bicycle and walked down to the stream below to take pictures when the water level was low like this....
...If it were a season with more water, these rocks would be completely hidden... It can be said that each season has its own beauty...
...The little things in nature that we often overlook ... and sometimes being alone allows us to see and appreciate more ...
...The weather is still hot as usual, but I am very happy. .. I am happy to be standing in the midst of nature's embrace, even though the wind today is a hot wind, but the sound of the water flowing softly but continuously is loud enough to stand quietly alone and hear the water flowing by ... It is a happiness that I really want to save the beautiful sound of nature like this and take it home.
... Small blades of grass that sprout sporadically between the crevices of rocks, or various plants that emerge at this time ... It is uncertain how long they will survive before the rainy season arrives once again...
...But today, it is these small things that help create a balance, making the vastness of nature even more complete...
...Finally, the rental bike returned to the front of the same ice cream shop. Before I went back to Siwan Homestay again to take a shower to refresh my body again.
... It's been a long time since I've taken a bath from a clay pot. Today, I feel so good. The moment the water hit my head, I can say it was the most refreshing feeling ever. Many times when I travel to different places, I get to sleep in different types of accommodations, and the happiness is different each time. But today, it made me think back to my childhood when I used to take a bath from a clay pot, splashing the water all over myself. I thought to myself that sometimes, simple, old-fashioned things that don't require much can make us just as happy.
...After taking a shower, I sat down in the room to cool off with a fan, looking at the photos I had taken earlier in the afternoon until I realized that the time we were waiting for was approaching, which was the evening light. The evening atmosphere around the bridge... which I could only pray that the good weather would be a gift in return for our visit...
...The rental bike, my trusty companion, was ridden by me again today. But this time, I wasn't afraid of the heat, as the sunlight had significantly reduced its intensity. However, if you ask me if the weather was cool, I would say no. It was just not as hot as it was in the afternoon...
...Around 5:00 p.m., I found myself standing by the stream again, on the same side as the accommodation where there weren't as many cars as the opposite side leading to Nan Hin. This made for a fairly quiet corner. ...The evening sunlight began to appear little by little, just like me gradually absorbing the good evening atmosphere little by little...
...The bridge, which serves as a passageway across the river, has also become a popular spot for travelers to take記念 photos.
...One person standing there that day was me... The only difference is that we were traveling alone, no one to take pictures for us, plus I'm not the type who likes to take selfies, so I just chose to keep the memories of what passed by there...
...As the sun's rays begin to lose their intensity, the beauty of nature seems to come alive once more...
...The village of Kiriwong may not have much to offer, there's no 7-Eleven, but there are shops that sell better than 7-Elevens in the capital. There are also many interesting handicraft, weaving, and herbal medicine sources that I didn't take any pictures of at all... Many times I want to leave something behind and not take it back, so that I have an excuse to come back again someday...
... watching the sun about to set ... the horizon about to change color ...
...I kept walking, kept pedaling, and the sky gradually began to scatter beams of light from the clouds ahead... creating a scene I never thought I would see...
...I don't know if it was because of the advice from the bike rental shop owner who told me to pray before riding my bike so that I would encounter something good... because I didn't even light a single incense stick or candle... I just went in to pray that the temple where I was raising my hands to pray would stay with the people here for a long time... that's all... Or maybe it was just because of the simple fact that I was lucky...
...Sometimes, the answers don't always bring us peace... Often, when we can't figure things out or connect the dots, we just have to let go and let the wind carry it all away, just like the song says, "Just like this, there is happiness"...
... "Khiriwong" is what? I've never heard of it before... But the reason I came here is because I consulted with a brother who said I should travel to Nakhon Si Thammarat... And the word "Khiriwong" is the destination from the mouth of that brother who recommended me to come... Before coming, I did a little research on how to get there and found some accommodation...
...And finally, today I stand here... in the village that is said to have the best weather in Thailand... Even though today is the hot season, the weather during the day is still intense. Or even in the middle of the night when I slept here for just one night, it wasn't particularly cold... So I can't really say whether it has the best weather in Thailand or not.
...But what I can say is that the kindness of the people I met here, along with the overall atmosphere and the scenery of the village with a stream flowing through it, is something you don't often see in our southernmost region. Or maybe it's just me who doesn't know...
...The atmosphere of Hin Ngam Beach on the day it turned the beach into a party, a small mini-concert, brought happiness to the local people and tourists who came to travel... Khlong Rom Waterfall, a waterfall that I think is beautiful, which I may have come at the wrong time, which I will come back to again someday... Kiriwong Village, where the afternoon weather burns so much that I almost run out of sweat, but in the evening, I look at the big gift that is the beautiful light...
...The happiness of that day is still remembered to this day... The golden light that gradually spread over the mountains in front before creating a golden reflection back from the surface of the stream... The wind that didn't blow too hard, but the fatigue disappeared quickly when it was surrounded by nature... The sky today has this picture back in my memory. If I come back here again in the future, I don't know what it will be like... But I pray that I can come back again someday...
...And lastly, these three photos... I removed the power lines that were running through the middle of the top two photos because it would be more pleasing to the eye without them... But I left the bottom photo as it is...
...Thank you to all my friends who stopped by to check out this album... See you again in the next album...
...Story/Image: Forzanu
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Forzanu
Friday, September 27, 2024 9:52 AM
