Prachuap kiri khan, A Diamond in the rough.

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Prachuap kiri khan

Formally known as Muang Bang Nong Rom, the sea side town of Prachuap kiri khan, which is also the provincial capital, is located roughly 100km’s south of Hua Hin and about 180 km’s north of Chumphon. Muang Bang Nong Rom was abandoned during the fall of Ayutthaya towards the end of the 18th century only to be rebuilt in 1845 and renamed Prachuap kiri khan.

I really loved the feel of this slow moving laid back little town, which doesn’t seem to rely heavily on tourism for its main income. I wonder how long ago Hua Hin and Pattaya were once like this before the lure of the tourist dollar changed them forever?
Prachuap kiri khan has such a lovely coast line, how much longer will this town last before it goes the same way? A long time I hope.

A bit more info on Prachuap kiri khan:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Prachuap_Kh...%28province%29

An interesting fact about Prachuap kiri khan is that on the 8th of December 1941, Japanese troops landed in Ao Manao, just south of the capital, during their invasion of Thailand.

More information on the invasion can be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_...huab_Khirikhan

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Nice views from my guest house's balcony...


The mountain on the far left is Chongkrachok Mountian (Khao Chongkrachok).

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The tourist map of Prachuapkirikhan.

Khao Chongkrachok.
(underlined in red on the map)

Is a small mountain (hill?), 245m in height and about 2 Km’s from the guest house I was staying at, this guest house is marked on the map in green and underlined in Red.

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At the top of Khao Chongkrachok, is Wat Thammikaram, Buddha’s bones are said to be enshrined in the golden pagoda.
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The views from the top are stunning but the climb is hard, there are 396 steps to navigate and once you complete the task you can go along to the Prachuapkirikhan Municipality Department of Tourism and receive your certificate for conquering these steps, I will have to go back to get my certificate…..

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The 396 step challenge (if you dare).



On the inland side of Khao Chongkrachok is a market, and not a bad one at that, heaps of great food and everything you have come to expect from a very good Thai market, you won’t be disappointed exploring this one.
Enter the market at the intersection of Prachuapkirikhan road and Salacheap road and walk into it about 196m, the entrance to Wat Thammikaram is on your right, it is hard to see as there are canvas and plastic covers over the stalls and these can obstruct your view of the entrance, as it did to me the first time, if you come to the dart games on your left, you have gone too far.




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This is the entrance, the beginning of the 396 step challenge, the beginning of leg pain as you have never know it before….be warned!

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The only way is up!

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After about 30 to 40 steps, I took the opportunity to take a photo of where I had just come from, the truth is, I had to stop, my legs were burning, my head spinning and i was starting to build up a huge sweat and still with 350 odd steps to go!!!!

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Looking up from that last photo....is the first rest stop….I was wondering if I would make it…..did I mention it was quite warm?

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At the first rest stop I met this little guy munching on some corn, he was a bit camera shy.

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Not far out from the first stop....i had to stop....

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Coming out of the second rest stop, by this stage I was just too tired to take any photos....

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It just keeps going up....but nearly there......hows your legs Fred?

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Just before the top, I came across ‘the thinker’ looking out to sea, contemplating life…….

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On the top looking back, you can see the second rest stop and the big building with the blue roof is City Hall.

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Looking South, nice view.

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Looking inland, you can see dark clouds approaching, it bucketed down (rained heavily) that night.

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I didn’t much like these monkeys, given the chance they will snatch your camera or anything else that they take a fancy to, they seemed to sense fear in people, I saw them crowd around a young farang girl, she was screaming as they approached her, she was rescued by her family and they all ran away…..not very nice monkeys at all.
Most of the Thai’s knew better and had sticks to scare them off, which is a good idea if you decide take the challenge of the steps.

I went up a second time with an English guy and one monkey scratched his leg as we walked past, he was very worried about it but the scratch didn’t break the skin, just to be safe we went to a pharmacy and got some antiseptic cream, he was OK the next day and lived to tell the tale.


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If you see this sign that means you are still alive….you have made it…well done, don’t forget to go to the Prachuapkirikhan Municipality Department of Tourism and receive your certificate, I must do that next time and I will hang it on the wall…with pride…

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The view is fantastic……

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Is the King Rama IV ?

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If possible, can somebody interpret this?

[simonebkk]

fileeep,

Thank you for a beautiful picture.

He was a child of King Rama IV, Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartivongse, Prince of Chumphon.

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Lommuak Mountain(Khao Lommuak)



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I met a young Australian couple at the guest house I was staying at and over breakfast they told me about the ‘lovely monkeys’ on Khao Lommuak and also if you are feeling up to it, there is a small temple at the top of the mountain with breathtaking views.

They also told me over their vegemite and toast, that the climb to the top of Khao Lommuak makes my previous climb of Khao Chong Krajok a walk in the park, they both were half my age but Sheila said that she nearly gave up once the torturous steps had ended and then you have to pull yourself up by a rope they also advised me to take my heart pills....…….Cheeky sods.....

To visit Khao Lommuak you have to enter the Wings 5 Air Force base and this requires you to go through security; the entrance is at the southern end of Salacheap road (See map).



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If you click on this photo you can just make out the temple on top.

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You can clearly see it now.

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The blue X on the tourist map represents this entrance.

Getting there, you can take a tuk tuk at around 60 baht, a metered taxi, you can go by bicycle or even walk there if you are an athlete training for the London Olympics.

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This is the starting point, it is a good idea to start early…..

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Doesn’t look too bad….how hard can it be?

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...............This leads to ....................this...i cant see the end!

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Looking back, I had to stop. I think by this stage I couldn't feel my legs….

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This is that same rest stop, looking up. Around this bend you get the first look at the views.


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Looking South, Ao Manao, where the Japanese came ashore, 3am, December 8, 1941

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At this point the steps end and the goat track and rope starts…..


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I had to stop again, looking back from where I had just came from.


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O good…..a ladder....