Thread: Trip journal, Part 1; Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park

There are some forty Wat's around Kamphaeng Pet. Fortunately, all of the ones in the Historical Park are clearly signposted and explained, so culture vultures and history buffs should be content. This is no theme park.









The ruins vary from quite well preserved to some piles of crumbling bricks. Whilst perhaps overshadowed by the ancient capitals of Sukhothai and Ayuddhaya, I reckon KP is well worth a visit- no vendors or souvenir stands here, and very few tourists.
Well set up for the visitor though- well done Thailand.

Many if not most visitors to KP come to see the Wat Pra Khaeo, or sleeping monk. In a piece of inspired Thai logic, there is a falang price here- 80 bht. yet, if you paid 50 bht to see the historical park first (much nicer in my opinion) it is no extra to get in here. Go figure.



Opposite the Wat is the KP National Museum, which might be worth a visit. We were thinking of our lunch stop however.







I guess this place must mean something to the Thai- Mrs did a fair bit of Waiing there.



The eponymous sleeping monk.

So onwards to Tak for a pleasant lunch by the River- pleasant by the river, but average food that is.





Riverside Tak. From here, we drove onwards for an overnight stop in Chiang Mai before heading to Doi Angkhang next day.

A venerable Teak Door tradition was continued here, being stood up by CMN, who texted to tell me he could not make it for a beer that evening as he was in Phrae (pretty good excuse really). We checked out the Pub anyway- The Red Lion, h'mm very touristy and located in the midst of a crowded tourist market. But it was the first stop of several, and we ended up getting well pissed.

Impressions of CM- touristy, some character areas in the centre and old city, and the city has a traffic problem.

We were only in CM for the night of the 28th frankie, and early lunch the next day. If thats when you called, we were probably walking through some crowded tourist area with the phone tucked away in Mrs bag. Shame.

Anyway, I'll take a break now. Next Thread, Part 2- the drive up to Doi Angkhang, Angkhang Gardens and the village. Part 3- Tha Ton & the drive to Chiang Rai.

The details of the nite in CM are a bit hazy, but over the river from the night market you've got a row of about three restaurants, each fairly big places with a band playing. We had a nice dinner at the Riverside, then checked out a few places in the adjoining old town, which seemed a nice place to hang out- I think I'll stay around there next time. Then we pub crawled back to our hotel, I've forgotten the name but it was right next to a restaurant called the Steakhouse and cost 800 Bht a nite. CM was heaving with tourists- it was obviously high season- so we were glad to get a hotel with parking.

I'd like to go back to CM for a few days and get to know it more. It's a pleasant place to wander around, and of course several attractions around it. It won't be in Peak season though- too many tourists, too much traffic. The last time I was in CM was about 12 years ago, and I remembered it as quite a sedate place in comparison.

ERRATA-

I clumsily put these Fot's in the wrong albums on TD hosting, so I'll tack them on here:-



Entrance to the Chinese temple.



Everything is well signposted and explained in KP historical Parl.