Klongmaster's Day Trip to Mahasawat

Mahasawat is only about 50 kms from Bangkok in Nakhon Pathom Province and is best accessed via the Nakhon Chaisi highway. It’s near to Mahidol University’s Salaya Campus at the end of Puttamonton Sai 4.
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Nakhon Pathom is criss-crossed by many canals and irrigation ditches. Mahasawat is built along one of these canals which is the life source of the community, and for many, the only way of commuting.
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Mahasawat is an area which highlights agro-tourism with the active support of various governmental bodies.
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From the pier beside the Suwannaram Temple you can take a six-seater boat for a visit to some of the agricultural and horticultural properties. The open boats are used by the locals but the boats for the tours have a makeshift roof to protect you from the sun and are fully equipped with life jackets.
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A short cruise along the canal will take you to an export Orchid Farm. Orchids are beautiful, but difficult to grow. Here you can talk to the owner –through the guide if need be – to find special tips about how to get them to flower and keep them flowering. If you’re living here you can buy orchids to take home and generally the prices are a lot cheaper than you’ll find elsewhere.
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Back on the boat for a short jaunt along the canal to the next stop which is an Organic Orchard.
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This is a working orchard which has opened its doors so tourists can get a glimpse of the rural lifestyle. The “reception” area is the tractor shed and here you’ll be treated to a taste of whatever fruit is in season.
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Then its on the trailer for a ride through the orchard. Driving a Thai tractor is unlike any experience you’ll have ever had, especially in the turns!
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Here, they also grow organic rice, but you’ll need to go in July to see the fields in this wonderful hue of green.
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You’ll get another free tasting on your return from the orchard tour and the opportunity to buy some fresh produce before you leave. With your purchases safely stowed aboard you can continue your trip along the canal, stopping next at the Khao-Tung Hna-Tung or Crusty Rice with Shrimp Dip “factory”.
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This cottage industry produces these wonderful snacks in a most innovative manner, using a unique solar cell oven which looks like a hot-house but is used only for drying the boiled rice. There’s a free tasting and some for sale as well. This is where we have lunch for those on our tour.
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Sorry about the quality of these next two pics but they might give you and idea how to make this kanom.
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Back on the boat and off to the last stop which is a Lotus Farm. Lotus flowers form an important part in Buddhist worship and the myriad of temples throughout the greater Bangkok region rely on local producers to meet their daily requirements.
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This pond is huge, covering five acres and has a nice sala –funded by the government for the promotion of tourism in this area – where you can sit surrounded by thousands of water lilies. Claude Monet would have been in seventh heaven.
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They harvest 3000 flowers on alternate days using a flat-bottomed aluminium boat. The other day they harvest the leaves which are used for wrapping the flowers ready for the market. The stalks are just broken off by hand – not cut – and they are quite prickly so gloves are in order.
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That’s it. Time to return to Suwannaram Temple and to leave the tranquility of Klong Mahasawat for the hustle and bustle of the city once again.
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More information on touring Mahasawat can be found here.
Mahasawat the Home of Thai Agro Tourism

WoW! reminds me of my exwife. She took on that eco tour down teh canal about five years ago. She was workig non her masters degree in Eco tourism or some-such at Mahidol.
I enjoyed the day immensely Do they still have teh huge plot of grapow and horapa thee at the lotus farm? I remember the Orchid farm and Pomelo farm too. Pleasant way to spend a few hours.

small world Frankie...and you're right...the program was set up originally by Mahidol but unfortunately interest there has waned as seen by their - non-existent - website...

well there professor that was my ol' ladies mentor (whatever they're called) had mentioned a website to me about 5 - 6 years back. Funnily enough noting eer came of it. Found out later it took a few gifts of jewelry to get the thesis approved and the masters awarded :33: maybe If I'd a mentioned a kick-back the site would be up??

Great thread and pictures again. Cant green as got to speand the luving around :)

An even smaller world mate ... Mahidol guys took me through there a few years back and depending if the Prof is in the same faculty it could be the same one.

Great pics and helped remind me of the good things within a stones throw of Bangkok - thanks :).

Great stuff. Thanks. Keep up the posts. So many interesting places to see.

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Originally Posted by Wayne Kerr

Great pics and helped remind me of the good things within a stones throw of Bangkok - thanks

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that's really my point here...there's so many neat places which are handy for us to go to, but we hardly ever go...

I've been going recently because I want to include them in my tours...but I'm the one who gets the benefit...clean air...quiet surroundings...lovely really...

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Originally Posted by klongmaster

there's so many neat places which are handy for us to go to, but we hardly ever go...

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When we first moved here we were doing a road trip every month and day trips several times a month. I guess the house and the crash of the dollar have both kept us home. But I'm determined to get out more once (and if) we actually move.

Great that you're doing this and documenting it all so well for us.

Some of us came her because the country is such a beautiful place. I remeber all my road trips over the years. It really is a beautiful country. I'll go back. Thanks for the reminder

Thanks for sharing your pictures with us.

Excellent! Klongmaster does the klongs.Great thread.Thanks.

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Originally Posted by friscofrankie

I'll go back. Thanks for the reminder

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Take the car though.