Phetchabun Stop Over on way to Chiang Mai

Field Trip Lampang

Making a field trip to Chiang Mai/Lampang. Made it as far as Phetchabun day one so I'll post it here. Extended family has a resort on the river Ping - Lampang side. About a dozen or so bungalows, catering to Thai’s, no advertisements only word of mouth. Seems to work quite well as they usually are 1/2 to 3/4 occupancy.

Nephew purchased a bunch of orchard land – purchases on contract irrigation services, caretaking and harvesting, grows various fruits, more a businessman than a farmer. Seems to be doing well. Purchased land for house build. We’ll do the arrangements for ongoing fruit orchards care and feeding and begin the landscaping and foundation work this trip.

The resort owners oversee the orchards and will provide on-site services for the house build.

Left Monday 6 AM. Stopped at the Wat Phu Tap Boek in เขาค้อ Khao Kho. After a couple of hours there we evaluated our schedule – the joys of retirement living. No milestones and a flexible timeline as I got no bosses. We were about halfway to Chiang Mai so we decided to camp out in the mountains. Plenty of bungalows and tents for rental. The farmer nephew wanted to experience “cold” weather. All of 20^O C – but, the coldest weather him and his wife ever experienced. Bungalow had no heat but heavy blankets. Gas fired hot water heater that was either far too hot or far too cold. But, we survived. Poor quality overpriced Thai food but rice is rice, pork is pork and chicken is chicken. The shrimp were quite small but, we survived. Did have good espresso so the necessities were available.

Will add to this as time passes.

Some pix.

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Those are nice, but how did you go through Petchabun on the way to Chiang Mai? I have been through Pitsanalok and Tak but never that way..

It is funny when 20C is cold..:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by aging one

how did you go through Petchabun on the way to Chiang Mai?

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Quite simplistic - the shortest distance between two points is entirely at the drivers prerogative. :)

He wanted to camp out in the mountains - may well be a "bucket list" item.

A refreshing cool wind from the top of the temple hey.

Did you have something to eat around there? Some great food...

Photos do not do that temple or the temple complex and the surrounding scenery justice.
It is simply stunning and highly recommended.
Some Spanish guys were involved with the mosaics and tile artwork that worked on the famous Gaudi Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona.
Parts of it are insane.
Hugely impressive.
Best time to visit is Dec - early Jan when the weather is at it's coolest and a sea of low clouds envelopes the surrounding mountains.
Get there and visit before it becomes just another stop off for 1000's of tour buses full of Chinese and South Korean tourists.

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Originally Posted by thaiguzzi

Photos do not do that temple or the temple complex and the surrounding scenery justice.

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Indeed, it's a breath taking place.
Some pics from a thread i did you might be interested in...

The Temple That Towers Above The Rest In Thailand - Wat Pha Sorn Kaew - Phetchabun!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by thaiguzzi

Photos do not do that temple or the temple complex and the surrounding scenery justice.
It is simply stunning and highly recommended.
Some Spanish guys were involved with the mosaics and tile artwork that worked on the famous Gaudi Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona.
Parts of it are insane.
Hugely impressive.
Best time to visit is Dec - early Jan when the weather is at it's coolest and a sea of low clouds envelopes the surrounding mountains.
Get there and visit before it becomes just another stop off for 1000's of tour buses full of Chinese and South Korean tourists.

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For the sake of scenery, the best time to take in the surrounding high altitude view will be mid-rainy season [July-August], where the region is flush with green and the Wat's flower settings are lively - and it's warmer. Less foreign tourists, as well....

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Originally Posted by HuangLao

For the sake of scenery, the best time to take in the surrounding high altitude view will be mid-rainy season [July-August], where the region is flush with green and the Wat's flower settings are lively - and it's warmer. Less foreign tourists, as well....

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Scenery perhaps, but i would have to disagree with the best time.
Just after dawn as the sun is coming out in late Dec early Jan when the low clouds give off the "sea of fog" look as the Thais call it.
Wonderful, magical place.
Without the bus loads of tourists...

Paradoxically, in such places of new (huge) investments for the Wats there will be not much spent on a usual daily needs of people, not speaking about schools, old people care, etc.

I must say, the Gaudi rip offs look really shit.