At home in Ratchaburi

Making up for its lack of recreational activities, a sleepy resort offers peace and tranquillity

Fleeing Bangkok is a tossup these days between high gas prices and the need for a relaxing weekend. The latter consideration usually wins, thanks in large part to terrific destinations like Ratchaburi’s Suan Phung district.

It’s two hours away, but hey, that’s only going to cost you 50 litres of petrol.

The hilly area proffers several resorts, starting with the mammoth Phupha Phueng at the mouth of the small road leading to Khao Chone Waterfall.

Next comes Scenery Resort and Farm, which fascinates visitors with its white bungalows nestled amid lush forest and lawns kept trimmed by grazing goats.

Our destination is three kilometres from Scenery: For budgetconscious travellers seeking a tranquil, green environment, Baan Suan Hong Hern is the perfect choice.

The resort, opened a few years ago by a family that had recently bought the land, has a pair of bungalows big enough for two, another for up to six, and a twostorey building housing 10 studiosized rooms.

All accommodations are airconditioned, which is a good thing in this notoriously hot region.

Once settled in, grab a mat and pillow and head out back to the clear, clean stream. A stroll along its smoothgravel bed – or just paddling your feet from the bank – is wonderfully reinvigorating.

But go ahead and get soaked – there’s no one around. The other side of the stream belongs to the resort too.

I spent another half a day at Kao Chone Waterfall eight kilometres away. You can spend a few hours trekking and climbing to the top layer.

The most enjoyable part was on the way back: There were several shops selling somtam, roasted chicken and local delectables, all of which we could take back to the resort for a riverside picnic.

The district is small, so there’s only a few restaurants. Aside from Vichien Kaiyang which does not live up to its reputation, there’s Scenery, a better choice among the few fancy restaurants here.

Baan Suan Hong Hern’s own restaurant is also recommended. The menu is nothing special, but all the dishes are palatable. And you can have a few drinks in the small dining area and walk to your room without fear of an accident.

One warning, though: They turn up the karaokeequipped TV to an unbearable level. But if you’re there earlier than others, you have the right to turn it down.

It’s just the right place to visit, if peace and simplicity are what you’re looking for.

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At a glance

High point: Serene, natural environment, complete with its own stream

Low point: Not much to do

Pay for it: Rooms for two start at Bt1,000. The larger bungalows cost up to Bt4,000.

Find it: Suan Phung district, Ratchaburi

Book it: (086) 688 5359, (081) 705 9508 or (089) 836 0278

Browse it: www.BaanSuanHongHern.com

Credit: Achara Deboonme
The Nation
Published on August 30, 2008

Lifting the lid on Lanna

The charm of old Northern Thai culture shines from the artefacts piled high at a Chiang Mai museum

Anyone keen to dig into Lanna’s heritage should seek out Ket Karam museum, where a treasure trove of culture lies waiting to be discovered. Located in Chiang Mai’s 580yearold Wat Ket Khaew Chulamanee, the museum houses artefacts and other collectibles dating back to the 1800s.

With the idea of conserving the beauty of old Lanna culture, a group of Chiang Mai residents led by 87-year-old Jakarin Ben – better known as Uncle Jack – renovated and transformed the 100-year-old teakwood monks’ living quarters into a small museum eight years ago. It now houses hundreds of antique pieces discovered in the temple as well as valuable artefacts given by locals.

“Initially, we had no money – everything you see is thanks to donations by people in the Wat Ket neighbourhood,” says Uncle Jack. “We just wanted to show young people the roots of their own culture.”

A browse around the museum reveals beautiful old Buddha images, vintage bank notes, handicrafts, glassware and Dharma teachings on palm leaves. Elsewhere, elaborately embroidered Burmese textiles are mixed in with weapons and utensils left behind by Japan’s retreating army during World War II.

One corner displays the old national flag dating to the reign of King Rama VI as well as Sankaloke ceramic ware, an antique gable apex and 108yearold embroidered tablecloths traditionally used during the Yee Peng festival.

In the room next door, a gallery displays more than 200 photographs depicting the charm of yesteryear’s Chiang Mai. There are also free classes on traditional Lanna dancing for children conducted every Saturday and Sunday.

Diverse sightliness in Thailand

Where do you focus the place for your happyness ?

The place to visit is PP Island in Phuket District of northern of Thailand.

Beautiful environment, showing in the picture, will make you freshed.

I’m confident that you be delighted when you enjoy the sightseeing around the Island in which natural white sand, rocky mountains and ever green sea are the uniques.

Tourists around the world who had ever visited here received warm welcome from Thai.

Foods are delicious and rate of hotel and guesthouse is cheap.

This is for a sample of attractive Thailand’s sightliness.

There are many beautiful islands around Thailand.

So that you can choose the place when you make a decision.

You contact Tourist Organization for your convenience.

Pretty in pink

An unusual teahouse in Chiang Mai is a great place to chill

You can’t really miss Vieng Joom On Tea House. Just head for the East bank of the Ping River in Chiang Mai’s Watgate neighbourhood and you’ll spot the shockingpink building that’s home to Juree Chuaratanaphong’s corner of paradise. In it’s short life, it’s become a favourite watering hole for locals.

Opened last year, Juree chose to paint the house pink in a nod to Jaipur in India, which is famous for its rosetinted buildings. The name comes from kam muang – the Lanna language, with vieng meaning city, and joom referring to a pink shade.

“My boss was born in Chiang Mai and she sticks to the Chinese lifestyle. She loves drinking tea. After retiring, she decided to open a teahouse,” explains executive manager Orawan Hanthong.

The decor is a mix of Morocco and India set off by Lannastyle wooden furniture, with a shady garden for those who prefer to relax by the river.

Juree offers no fewer than 57 tea varieties, all imported from Hamburg, Germany. To avoid confuฌsion, these are divided into four basic flavours: Chinese original, blended, fruit and flower teas.

The scents include orange, bloomberry, grapefruit, jasmine, cinฌnamon, camomile, lavender and lemongrass, as well as green, black and white tea. Prices start at Bt180, with Chinese tea going for Bt525.

The pink teahouse also serves a variety of organic snacks. Highly recฌommended is the high tea set with pumpkin tart, Bloomberry Latin and cashew nut tart and a small pot of “love” tea for Bt260. Equally delicious are the mushroom sandwich (Bt90), filo pastries with apple and prune fillฌing served with vanilla ice cream (Bt120) and the blueberry cheesecake (also Bt120).

If you want to enjoy teatime at home, the store provides boxes of tea in various flavours as well as a line of ceramic ware and tea filters.

Credit: The Sunday Nation

Bridge to the past

The history of WWII’s ‘Death Railway’ will come alive for strollers on one Kanchanaburi street next month.

Kanchanaburi villagers have created a marketplace and living museum on a 260metre section of road built 177 years ago in Tambon Ban Nuea, Muang district. The old wooden homes that line the road are fronted by tables offering local wares. Inside, many of the houses are personal museums, displaying World War II relics and old spoons, pots and jars.

Developed with the help of Kanchanaburi’s Tourist Authority, the road will be open free of charge in September, from 4 to 10pm, Friday to Sunday. No vehicles will be allowed.

About a twohour bus ride from Bangkok, the historic road leads visitors back to WWII and the first hotel in Kanchanaburi province, where Japanese soldiers once laid their heads. The Sumitrakan Hotel, as it was known before it closed in 1979, is now Kawragot Siriluangthong’s twostorey house.

Not far away is Anusorn Siriwejchapan’s threestorey house, the tallest on the row and once home to the Boonpong brothers’ family business. The Boonpongs sold equipment to the Japanese for the construction of the ThailandBurma railway but also tried to help the workerprisoners by hiding medicine, clothes and other items in the orders.

Today the home’s owners sell local products such as plaid cloth, rattan baskets and handmade soap. A stroll down the road brings the sounds of musicians and sights of artisans crafting baskets and chairs. Artists also create paintings of the Thai royal family and youngsters perform masked khon dances. Sweet local desserts for sale include boiled bananas with coconut milk, colourful jellies and a corn drink served in a small pot with an orchid.

At the top of the road is the Kanchanaburi City Gate and a flower and incensestrewn statue of King Rama III, who established this passage into the town in 1831. The ancient City Pillar that stands close by is one of four; behind them is a chilling local legend. “To protect the foundations of the City Pillars, it’s said that four people were sacrificed then put into the holes,” says Jambo Chapuporn, 41, a Kanchanaburi resident.

These days, the pillar is a popular shrine for those about to enter the monkhood or get married, especially during holidays. “Whatever vow people want to make, they do it at the shrine,” says Jambo. If things work out they bring boiled eggs – as many as 100 – as an offering to the guardian spirit, Jao Phaw Lak Muang. Lottery ticket sellers also hang around, hoping that some of the luck rubs off.

Credit: Daily Xpress