Hello, everyone! Long time no see on this blog. Today I decided to write this entry in English and tell my special past moment of my childhood since 1999. So hope you enjoy reading and getting back in time!
 |
River Side at Ayutthaya
|
 |
| Ayutthaya Historical City |
 |
Buddha Footprint at Saraburi
|
 |
| Windows of Muang Tum Temple Complex |
 |
| Phanom Rung Temple Entrance Gate |
The most enjoyable experience is when I was a young boy. My family went on a journey back home to my parents' origin, from Hat Yai in the Far South of Thailand to Lampang in Northern Thailand. The usual route which we had driven every year is through the AH2 highway straight from South to North only. In 1999, my family decided to expand this holiday route to the South of Northeast Thailand and some of the central-North provinces. We split from the regular road to the east at the broadway of Central Thailand near Suphanburi province, where we visited the old capital of Ayutthaya. The town has three main rivers that meet together: Chao Phraya River from the West and South, Phasak from the North, and Lopburi River from the east. The capital was established for the Siam in Ayutthaya kingdom from A.D. 1350 to 1767 before it succeeded by the Burmese invasion. The Siamese capital was moved to Thonburi and Bangkok later. The historical park has received the declaration of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
Next, we went to the east to Saraburi, visited Buddha's footprint temple. We threw the money coins into the footprint shrine to make a wish and pray for our merits. We had to go in a rush that day to Nakonnayok, traveled to Wangtakrai, the waterfall national park near the UNESCO natural heritage Khao Yai, because it was in summer. Hence, the water was a little dry. No picture was found here back in this time. We stayed that night at the newly open resort where nowadays becomes a popular one. At that time, it was less comfortable than today because the region near Khao Yai just started opening for the mass tourist. We slept in the picnic camp by hearing the water steaming sound all night long. It was completely dark at night. I was scared since I have listened to the legend of Donglakorn, the archaeological site near the waterfall. There always has a tale of a traditional music theater sound mystically plays by no people. So I woke up the rest of that night because of my curiosity about that sound. But by the way, nothing happens.
Waked up in the early morning, we drove our little car through the dark highway across Khao Yai. Luckily we didn't find a fierce tiger or a wild elephant. We also found mammals that hard to find, like Chamois and wild monkeys. The road was narrow. The travel was hard by the dense morning fog. We arrived at the exit at highway number 2 in Pakchong district in the late morning. It was that time we drove straight to the Northeast visited the archaeological site area calls Angkor road. The ancient sites employ the culture and influence of the Khmer Rouge in the time of King Jayavarman VII.
Begin at Buriram Province, visited the archaeological site of Phanom Rung, Muang Tam, and Ta Muan group. The sites compose a Hindu temple complex set on the rim of the extinct volcano with the structure form of Hindu belief. We are fortunate to see the real Phra Naral Lintel, the decorative lintel above the eastern entrance of the site's central palace that Thai receive back to its place from the art Institute of Chicago. Picture here from Wiki (https://bit.ly/3g55Hs1)
 |
| Ancient Buddha sculptures at Pha Mo E Deang |
 |
Kaeng Sa Peau
|
 |
Prehistoric Painting on the Cliff at Phataem
|
 |
| Phi Mai Temple Complex |
Then we went to Srisaket, visited the Khao Phravihear temple at the Thailand border. Now the archaeological site is up to Cambodia. It structs into the Hindu temple complex, stepping up on the high hill to the cliff's peak over Cambodian land. We had enjoyed the stunning view of our neighbors from there. On the way back, we visited Pha Mo I Deang to see very ancient Buddha sculptures on the cliff. Finally, after a hot and humid day of travel, we enjoyed playing the water at Kaeng Sa Phue, the water rapids on Moon River in Ubonrachatani.
 |
| Phra Vihear temple complex |
 |
| From East to Northwest Thailand |
Until it meets with the Mekong river in Thailand Easternmost, we drove along the river, making the moon river delta divide into two colors. The steam from Moon is the Cyan, and the water from the Mekong is in Plaster color. Here we got our car on the transition boat. Across the river to the North part of Ubonratchatani before landing, stopped by the prehistoric archeological site of Phataem. Including the clues of human living from the ancient era beside the Mekong and the prehistoric color painting groups on the cliff beside the river, which made us very stunning. Not far from these parks, there are many formation rocks made by natural erosion, resulting in many strange shapes of rocks and landscapes around this place.
The day after is the driving day. We didn't visit anywhere else but traveled by our little car on the national highway back to the Northwest. We drove passed many provinces from Amnat Charoen, Yasothon, Maha Sarakham, and Roi Et. Back again, to the end of Angkor road in the North of Nakhonrachasrima. We traveled to Phimai, another ancient Hindu temple complex, and then went to the biggest banyan garden in Thailand, which is big and amazing.
 |
Natural Rock Formation at Phu Hin Rong Kla
|
 |
Phra Buddha Chinnarach
|
 |
Sukhothai Historic Town, 1999
|
 |
| Sukhothai Historic Town, 1999 |
Later, we drove to the North. Cross to the highway section of Chaiyaphum to shop for a little gift for my family. Rested for a while to enjoy the big breakfast in the large city of Khon Kaen. Then we entered the journey to Northern Thailand. By starting to the A.H. 12 Highway, heading to Lom Sak. We visited Khao Kho when it was the first year beginning to pave the road to tourism. But unfortunately, we couldn't reach that place because the way hadn't finished at that time. So we made a stop that evening at Phu Hin Rong Kla to view the formation of many strange rocks and landscapes with rich biodiversity. The place has a political history for becoming an area of the political fighting group at once time. So this national park aims to be historical, cultural, and natural. We had a night in Phitsanulok to pray with the most beautiful Buddha sculpture that the people say, "Phra Buddha Chinnarat." It is one of the most famous Buddha sculptures in Thailand with the art of the old Sukhothai kingdom style. After enjoying our breakfast beside the Nan river, one of the main rivers in Northern Thailand, we went ahead to Sukhothai and visited Sukhothai's historic town and its associated towns. They were the main towns of the old Sukhothai Kingdom from 13th to 14th Century C.E. It was the first kingdom to be the origin of Siam, that Thailand is the present. The last place we visited before arrived in Lampang is in Den Chai district of Phrae province at Wat Phra That Suthon Mongkol Khiri Samakkhi Tham. It locates on the Phrae-Lampang highway. Building in Lanna style, the temple art is distinctive, with the temple wall painting telling the stories from Jataka and Buddha history and most of the 30 pagodas inside the temple.
We arrived in Lampang at 7.00 PM. This unique summer trip spanned ten days in total by our little cars from 1st April 1999 to 10th April 1999. We had all our lunch and some breakfast in our car by preparing the prepared dry food with some fresh in the early days from Hat Yai. The cassette tape music album we have played the most in our car player on this trip was Nat Myria Benedetti's 3rd studio album in 1999," Freshy Meria," Of course, everyone can sing all the songs in this album till today. It was an extraordinary time I have missed. It was only my family time with only my family members who spent the time travel in our private vehicle that I would happen again soon somewhere again in Thailand!
Thailand in that past time, it was very charming. But, of course, we, Thais, always miss those precious times. But, though it is changing a little now, you can always surely find the best smiles in every corner of the country in many situations. And of course, though there are some political conflicts at this present time, Thai people always enjoy communicating, talking, and party with others jointly with no problem. How great we are!
ความคิดเห็น
แสดงความคิดเห็น