One rainy season, in a small house.

In some places, great happiness lies hidden, waiting for us to discover it.

And some happiness does not come from comfort or fun at all.

The serenity of a world that has ceased to spin.

To sit still in a place, cut off from the distractions of the outside world

Some worlds are truly peaceful.

Travel

Traveling to Aunt Glen's house is not easy, but it is not overly difficult either.

The Thong Pha Phum route, with its 399 curves, leads to Pilok and E-tong village.

Passing through Thong Pha Phum National Park, there are beautiful viewpoints along the way.

The entrance to Aunt Glen's house is located before reaching E-tong, just past the entrance to the Jok Kradin Waterfall.

The left-hand path leads down to the Samsak Mine.

At this point, it is crucial to carefully consider whether to descend independently or utilize the mine's transportation services.

If you have a four-wheel drive vehicle and are confident in your driving skills, you can drive up and down the mountain yourself.

You can go down, but...

Perhaps it was a wrong decision.

Which I have missed.

The initial phase of the road construction appears relatively straightforward.

The roadside view is beautiful.

We only use four views? That's easy. No problem.

A moment later, it began. Hmmm...

There's no turning back now, we have to keep going.

What the heck is this?!

Aunt Glen

And we finally arrived.

I've arrived! Whew!

Upon arrival, Aunt Gale was busily arranging something on the table.

An elderly woman with fair skin and a radiant smile warmly embraces her guest.

The translation of the text is:

"Auntie Glen welcomed us with delicious fried rice. A simple lunch."

I didn't take a picture because I was too hungry at that time.

During that time, a few more people came to visit, their heads and ears soaked. Upon inquiry, it was learned that...

They rode their dirt bikes, but couldn't continue, so they abandoned them on the side of the road and walked down in the rain.

To...to eat the legendary cake, Aunt Glen's cake. Oh...what an effort

Accommodation

The rooms here are not particularly beautiful.

A simple, ordinary room, hidden within the shade of the trees.

Some are located by the water, while others are terraced houses. Some rooms can accommodate two or three people.

Some rooms are designed for group activities and are not equipped with any amenities.

The room is sparsely furnished, containing only essential items such as a bed, a dressing table, and a wardrobe.

The old bathroom was clean.

Our room is located opposite the lobby.

The other guesthouses we looked at were similar.

I love this house by the river, but it seems like it would be better suited for a large group of people.

Our room doesn't even have a fan.

The translation of the provided text is:

"But I can't help but wonder why, despite the old bed and blankets, I slept so soundly."

We found the blankets at Aunt Glen's house to be warmer than those at many of the fine hotels we have stayed at.

Happiness, sometimes, does not depend on external factors, does it?

Aunt Glen's house is where we sleep the soundest.

Green area

After putting our belongings in the room, let's explore the surroundings for a bit.

This is a truly green space, lush and vibrant, saturated with rain and water.

A small dog served as our guide, leading us around to see the sights.

A tranquil and secluded space, devoid of external distractions, where neither television nor telephone intrudes.

No communication signals of any kind. No news from the outside world.

I love it here.

Aunt Glen, the heart of the Somsak Mine

Aunt Glen is Australian. Decades ago, she fell in love with Uncle Somsak.

A young Thai man who traveled to Australia to pursue a degree in mining engineering.

After their marriage, the couple returned to Thailand to start a family.

Mr. Somsak returns to continue his family's mining business.

The origin of the name "Som Sak Mine" comes from the opening of a mine in Thong Pha Phum.

Aunt Glen is a professor at Bangkok University.

The memories shared by Aunt Gleon filled us with excitement and emotion.

In the past, traveling to the mine was extremely difficult.

The distance from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi is not significant.

The journey from Kanchanaburi to the mine took several days and nights.

The journey involved a combination of transportation modes, including buses, boats, elephants, carts, and walking.

However, any hardship is no problem for Aunt Glen.

With loved ones by our side, we are willing to overcome any obstacle.

One day, Aunt Glen's world turned upside down.

China's refusal to join the Minerals Council and its global mineral price dumping practices have had significant consequences.

As a result, the parliament was dissolved, and various mining operations in Thailand were forced to shut down, leaving them financially ruined.

The Samsak mine, with around 600 workers, was one of them.

Everyone is scattered and fragmented.

Despite his best efforts, Uncle Somsak struggled to maintain the situation for several more years.

Out of concern for the workers, but to no avail.

In the end, Uncle Somsak fell ill.

Due to stress, grief, and ultimately death.

Aunt Glen's house was filled with an abundance of love.

When Uncle passed away, Aunt Glen was in a very difficult situation, having to deal with many outstanding issues.

With strength, all obstacles can be overcome.

In fact, Aunt Glen could have left the mine and returned to the city. A small woman and a stranger.

Why endure such hardship in this remote wilderness?

However, Aunt Glen chose to stay because this is where her love, dreams, and hopes reside.

This is the life of Uncle Somsak, and of course, it is also the entire life of Aunt Glen.

Subsequently, Aunt Glen transformed the mine into a home.

A house brimming with cherished memories, a house that warmly welcomes visitors.

Come relax and listen to stories from the past.

We hesitate to call this place a resort. It feels more like a home.

A small house in the vast forest, filled with the gentle warmth of long-lasting memories.

Aunt Glen welcomed visitors in the hall.

Adapted from a warehouse, everything remains in its original form.

Aunt Glen was a gentle soul, and her home reflected this with a pervasive sense of tranquility.

Dinner

As dusk settled, we and the other visitors sat down to eat, the sound of raindrops pattering on the corrugated iron roof providing a rhythmic backdrop.

Aunt Glen's food is served in sets, with the quantity adjusted to the number of people at each table.

A delicious meal.

Despite the lack of ice or chilled water, we found the meal to be remarkably delicious.

During that time, Aunt Glen would walk around taking care of them, asking questions, and telling them stories.

What a heartwarming meal.

Get ready for bed when you're full.

Before going to bed, Aunt Glen said that if she heard any strange noises, creaking

Do not be alarmed by the presence of figures on the roof, walls, and doors.

The sound of small animals playing.

It could be a squirrel, a plantain squirrel, a tree shrew, or a larger animal, but nothing dangerous.

This place is comfortable and cozy to sleep in, as Aunt Glen said.

We long to hear that sound, but simply lie down and enjoy the sound of the rain and the flowing water.

He fell into a deep sleep without realizing it, a slumber deeper than he had ever experienced before.

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The person next to me told me the next day that there really was a sound that Aunt Glen told me about.

The sound of footsteps chasing each other on the roof, the sound of scraping against the wall.

The sound of scratching at the door and windows resembled an animal sharpening its claws.

A faint sound, barely audible. A pity I couldn't make it out.

Good morning.

We had the opportunity to offer alms.

Aunt Glen informed us that there is a monastery here with only one monk and one disciple.

The monks come to receive alms at Aunt Glen's house every day.

Aunt Glen's housekeeper prepares food for alms every day.

For our breakfast, Aunt Glen had already prepared it for us when we woke up.

Simple yet delicious food that rivals any other.

Pork congee, fried egg, sausage, bacon, bread

Aunt Glen has impeccable taste. Everything, though simple, is meticulously crafted.

Sausages can be purchased from a variety of locations.

However, Aunt Gren's house must only have German sausages from Ratchaburi.

Enjoying a traditional breakfast while listening to historical tales is a delightful experience.

The food selection here may not be extensive, but the feelings are endless.

Aunt Glen's Cake

If Aunt Glen is the epitome of the Pilok household,

This is akin to the identity of Aunt Glen, the legendary cake, Aunt Glen's cake.

What makes an ordinary, unassuming cake so special?

Why do people go out of their way to eat it? If you ask us how delicious it is, we can't answer.

No matter where we eat cake, it always tastes delicious.

Even the cake at the convenience store at the end of the street.

However, if you ask about the differences, we can tell you that:

Aunt Glen's cake is different from ordinary cakes.

Where is that?

Aunt Glen's cake was not as smooth, fine, or soft as the cakes we have eaten before.

The texture is rather coarse, but it is dense and full-bodied.

Aunt Glen's cake is not overly sweet, and no single ingredient stands out in terms of flavor.

As you chew, the flavors and aromas gradually become more delicate.

The aroma wafted up to my nose, a unique fragrance unlike anything I had ever experienced before.

In fact, Aunt Glen's cake has toppings. There are various things sprinkled on the cake.

The photo does not show the toppings, which were not yet arranged at the time.

Everyone, including us, happily dug in and enjoyed the meal.

Carrot cake, orange cake, banana cake, and chocolate cake, all with a focus on rich, dense textures.

Warm coffee and tea, accompanied by the sound of falling rain.

Perhaps these are the joys

What sets the cakes here apart from all others

Farewell

We hardly want to leave here.

So peaceful that I don't want to go back to the outside world.

Aunt Glen's warm embrace filled us with immense joy.

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The return trip is where we made a mistake by bringing the car down ourselves.

We managed to reach the top, but on the way back down, we got stuck in the mud.

Along with another pickup truck that shared the same fate.

We have been stuck here for a full 7 hours.

To find a phone signal, we had to climb a small hill.

Call for assistance from mine manager Somkid, name Charlie.

Charlie contacted a tow truck, but it took a while for the tow truck to arrive.

We would also need to tow the several other vehicles that were stuck in front of us.

It took a full 7 hours to get here, but it was a lot of fun.

The towing fee of 1,000 baht is considered reasonable, given the difficulty of the task.

Therefore, it is recommended to park your car at the Pilok Police Station.

The miners were transported up and down the mine by shuttle.

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If traveling to Pilok by bus,

The meeting with the mine was arranged, including the location and time.

Take the shuttle to the mine.

Hungry and tired.

The following is a translation of the provided text from Thai to English:

It was already late evening when we left that place. We hadn't eaten anything since breakfast.

Driven by hunger pangs, I steered towards E-tong in search of sustenance.

No worries, we'll come back and collect it next time.

Oh, this is clearly a city in a dream.

We are looking for Krua Sud Dan, which we read about in a review that said it was delicious.

There it is! I found it! Oh, I'm so hungry.

Delicious, really delicious, or maybe I'm just hungry.

After eating, I sat and watched the shop's fat dog for a while. It was quite the chonk.

Before returning

Take a short walk around the village, with the intention of returning later.

What a romantic village this is.

In conclusion,

The cost of Aunt Glen's house

For visitors who are staying at this small house.

The mine charges a package price.

The price is 1,600 per person/night. This price includes three meals:

Coffee and cake are available all day long, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Including transportation costs to and from the mine.

The cost is 1,400 per person/night.

Visitors or those who stop by for coffee and cake

Or have lunch without staying overnight.

It is advisable to book in advance, as otherwise,

The cake may be gone by the time you get there.

But I would like to suggest that you stay overnight.

The abundance of joy in this place is too great to simply visit and leave.

**Aunt Glen's cake is currently made by the wife of the mine manager.**

As Aunt Glen's oven is broken and likely beyond repair,

Moreover, the aunt is elderly.

However, that recipe is Aunt Glen's recipe, an old English recipe.

The cake will be made daily at the mine manager's house in Pilok.

And delivered to Aunt Glen's house every day.

*** Aunt Glen personally attended to the visitors at all times.

The kind and gentle old lady may have some memory lapses due to her advanced age.

Aunt may repeat herself and ask the same questions repeatedly. Please understand that this is a common occurrence in her age group.

We, or anyone else in the future, will likely forget no differently.

This location utilizes a generator for electricity.

Electricity is available from around 6 pm to 9 pm.

Subsequently, there is hydroelectric power, which is intermittent, mostly experiencing outages.

We will visit Aunt Glen again in the future.

We fell in love with the peaceful tranquility of that place.

Where the suffering of the outside world cannot reach.

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This concludes the review.

Thank you all for visiting.

P.S. Another pickled trip as usual. This trip was from last year, and I just got the chance to review it.