I’m a very huge fan of Carabao, one of the old timers in Thai entertainment industry. I quite love this song, รักทรหด (Rak Torahod) which means Tolerate Love. I’m not good in translating Thai into English but that’s what this song is all about. 555!!
Wat Huay Mongkol is situated in Tambon Huay Mongkol, Hua Hin, Prachuab Khiri Khan Province. The temple is located about 15 km from Hua Hin town. All 10 of us (Ta Toy, Yai Noi, Yai Suan, Yai Nuch, P’Ning, P’Nat, Niw, Nik, Pee and me) went in Ta Toy’s truck. Noon didn’t join us as she needs to look after the small kids swimming at the beach.
The weather was very hot and I felt so exhausted. But luckily Ta Toy’s truck aircond was working pretty well. Wat Huay Mongkol is famous for Luang Por Thuad’s statue. Some says that the statue is the biggest statue of Luang Por Thuad in the world.
Luang Phor Thuad was the legendary Southern Thai monk, immensely popular with the Southern Thais and increasingly so elsewhere in the Kingdom for the miracles associated with him. The big statue was commissioned by Queen Sirikit of Thailand at Wat Huay Mongkol.
The huge Luang Phor Thuad statue is seated on a pedestal with four other smaller images in niches where the faithful can paste gold leaf on Luang Phor Thuad. There is a canteen where visitors can have their lunch for free. There is also a big donation box at the entrance for visitors to donate. However, it is up to them whether to donate or not.
After eating, we went over to wash the plates and spoons that we used. There’s a tip for saving. Just go to a temple with canteen. Donate 20 Baht and you can eat the buffet as much as you want. There is one temple in Ayuthaya which has a canteen like this as well. The food in Wat Huay Mongkol wasn’t bad at all.
There are two elephant statues with 3 heads located in front of Luang Por’s statue. Many visitors tried to place coins into the elephant’s mouth. I did after five or six times trying. It was quite difficult. For me, morning is the best time to visit as the weather might be cool and not as hot as in the afternoon. Other than that, there were too many tourists arriving by coaches from other provinces. The place was a little bit crowded the time we went.
Noon is going to US today. I guess I’m going to sing this song to her before she leaves. 555!!!
ไม่ให้เธอไปสหรัฐอเมริกาอ่ะ
Most people dream to live in a bungalow or a high class condominium. But I prefer tolive in a traditional Thai house which is not so big and not so small.
I posted the photo of traditional Thai house which I saw in Amphoe.com. There’s no information on location or whether it is a museum or a show house etc. However there are two female government officers in the photo so I guess this must be something to do with the government project. It looks simple and the decor totally shows that it is a Thai house. Maybe can built one in Udon for my retirement. ^_^
Batu Caves is one of the famous Hindu Temples in Malaysia. Situated just 20-30 km from the Kuala Lumpur city center, Batu Caves attracts hundred thousand of tourists every year. The temple is famous with the Thaipusam Festival where the Hindus devotees commemorates birthday of Lord Murugan.
There are few Hindu shrines inside the Batu Caves a limestone hill. To get onto of the hill, all visitors need to climb a steep flight of 272 steps. Noon and I first went to pay a respect to one of the Hindu god at a temple before climbing the stairs. A monk then gave us blessing. We then climbed up the 272 steps. For the first 30 steps, we were strong enough. After that, our legs began to shake. Noon seems to be tired and I pulled her all the way up.
Visitors need to be aware of the monkeys all along the stairs. Do not bring any junk food up or you will be attacked by the monkeys. Once we reached the top, there are few shrines inside the cave which require us to walk down few steps and climb up again. Noon was very tired so she just wanted to snap some photos. From the cave, we saw view of the suburb area of Kuala Lumpur.
Visitors can also take photo with a python and iguana by paying some amount of money to the owner. On the way down, it was quite easy but scary. There are stalls selling fresh milk and coconut water. It is much more convinient for visitor to take a cab straight to Batu Caves. To save budget, they can use the Light Rail Transit (LRT) to the last terminal (Gombak). From there, they can catch a cab to Batu Caves.
Noon’s mother, stepfather and one of the brothers are staying in Mahasarakham province. Not as big or as fun as Udonthani or Khon Kaen well it is a good place to relax. 5 minutes rides from the Muang Mahasarakham, we arrive at the ‘mansion’. The area is very quiet and peaceful. With compound, we can make BBQ when we gather together during Songkran or other gathering.
I still remembered that I spent almost a month there in Mahasarakham during Songkran last year. It might be boring but Tawan Daeng is just 5 minutes away.
After a long (short actually) holiday, I finally need to leave the place where I call home. It was very heavy to leave Thailand to come over to Malaysia for work. Not only the last time but everytime. Life must go on. So see you guys in the next entry. ^^
Last minute packing. I always do this as it is more fun than packing earlier. Well, I got only 1 luggage. So see you guys from Bangkok. Merry X’mas and Happy New Year in advance.
Just after the Bridge, Immigration couter is in the building on the right. You can just walk straight without entering the building.
Sungai Kolok ( สุไหงโก-ลก) used to be famous with tourists from neighbouring country, Malaysia. However since the rise of the seperatist groups in Southern Thailand where there were shootings, bombings etc few years ago, the town slowly turns to be a very quiet town.
On the way into the town from the border.
Normally on weekends, it might be very difficult to find a hotel room in this border town. However now, it is very easy and you might be given discount for weekends. The border security in Sungai Kolok is not that tight. The Sungai Kolok – Rantau Panjang Bridge connects Thailand and Malaysia.
Entering the town.
Vendors from both countries use the bridge a lot. However, the checkpoint in Malaysia is very strict. You need to pass the immigration counter so that your passport or border pass will be stamped. However, after walking across the bridge, you can just walk straight without ignoring the Thai Immigration counter which is situated on the right hand side.
Quite empty.
There are plenty of motorcycle taxis around that area. They charge around 20 Baht from the border into the town which is about 1km. Holding 2 nationalities is very comfortable for me to walk in and out between these two countries.
Very quiet even on the day time.
Sungai Kolok is like other Thai border towns. There are Thai, Thai Chinese and Thai Muslim all over. There are also army in almost every parts of the town. For me, without those bombings or shootings, Sungai Kolok is a very perfect town. Not so big or small. Just nice. In Sungai Kolok, the locals speak Yawi, one of the dialect in Malay Language. Thai is being use in the town as well. Some of the Chinese families in the town speak perfect Chinese language.
Downtown
Main street in Sungai Kolok
On the Malaysian side. The immigration counter is in the building which everyone has to go through. It is a little strict than the Thai.
Five crew members of a North Korean plane impounded in Bangkok on Saturday will be charged, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Sunday.
The plane which was found loading with about 35 tonnes of war weapons including missiles and rocket propelled grenade was impounded as it landed for refuelling at Don Muang Airport.
The five crew members consisted one from Belarus and the rest from Kazakhstan were detained for further questioning.
Abhisit told reporters on Sunday, “We will strictly follow our own laws and UN resolutions. The investigation is progressing. Charges will soon be set.”
The prime minister said the authorities did not know where the were bound.
“We are not yet clear why they were transporting these weapons, we only know they were due to refuel in Colombo of Sri Lanka.”
“Security and intelligence services are continuing to investigate. It is not yet clear if this is terrorist activity,” he said.Abhisit said the plane start from North Korean capital of Pyongyang and the cache came from a North Korean company and the plane was registered in Georgia.
The crew requested permission to land for refuelling in Bangkok and then lied to inspectors about its cargo, saying it carried only oil drilling equipment.
“They committed two crimes, firstly they gave false information about their cargo, and secondly that cargo was found to be weapons,” Abhisit said.
“The plane landed on Friday. We received the tip off from intelligence reports that said this plane was suspicious. When the plane refuelled, we searched it and found the weapons,” he explained.
The Nation
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