Kids love the pools below Namtok Sai Yok Noi!
Some of our group brave the wet.
Luckily, David is not elderly!
We get tasty fries at this stand near the waterfall.
8 November Thong Suan Rim Khwai Resort (Thong Pha Phum)
Today was a travel and
sightseeing day with about four hours of driving northwest to Thong Pha Phum. A
truck transported the four kayaks while a plush van carried us kayakers. Most of
the group had already gotten to know each other in the previous days at Hidden
Holiday House. On the way we stopped at Namtok Sai Yok Noi to see the waterfall
and travertine pools. A World War II-vintage steam locomotive here reminded us
of the Death Railway built for the Japanese. A major part of the railway roughly
parallels the Khwai Noi River that we will be paddling. Farther along we stopped
at a roadside restaurant for a tasty lunch, where I enjoyed a dish of fried soft
tofu, mushrooms, and veggies.
Kids love the pools
below Namtok Sai Yok Noi!
Some of our group
brave the wet.
Luckily, David is not elderly!
We get tasty fries
at this stand near the waterfall.
In Thong Pha Phum we continued north to
Vajiralongkorn Dam, which holds back a vast 388 square-meter reservoir when
full. We strolled the top of the 92-meter-high dam for views of mountains and
water all around. Nearby in a park we walked a modest sky bridge.
View up the
reservoir from Vajiralongkorn Dam
We drive to the top
of the dam at this end.
The power station
just below the dam
Chow goes for a
spin atop the dam.
The skywalk has a
pretty setting.
We enjoy the views.
Next
we headed into Thong Pha Phum to our riverside home for the night, Suan Rim
Khwai Resort. Chris quickly pumped up his inflatable kayak, passed out life
jackets, and gave us seats to install in the kayaks so that everything would be
ready for us in the morning.
Hans and Lieneke
adjust their seats.
Iew loves her seat!
The
double-acting pump makes quick work of inflating the kayak.
Kayaks await
tomorrow morning when the paddling begins.
After settling into our comfortable rooms, most of
us walked through the market above the resort and followed roads to a pedestrian
suspension bridge over the Khwai Noi to a temple, then climbed steps to Phuttha
Chethiya Khiri Pagoda at the summit of a limestone pinnacle. The sun had already
set behind the mountains, but we enjoyed a fine panorama of town and its
surroundings. Back at the resort we got together for dinner—an omelet and fried
vegetables for me.
View across the
river to Phuttha Chethiya Khiri Pagoda
View upriver to our
home for the night, Thong Suan Rim Khwai Resort
The pedestrian
bridge across the Kwai Noi
Detail of the chedi
just across the river
Monastery and chedi
near the riverside from the summit
Panorama of Thong
Pha Phum from the summit
Phuttha Chethiya
Khiri Pagoda has fine panoramas.
Phuttha Chethiya
Khiri Pagoda
Buddha images nestle in the niches.
The crown of
Phuttha Chethiya Khiri Pagoda