Actually, I've prepared to show you a couple of exciting routes in the upper north this week and next week so you can plan your own trips for the upcoming cool season. But heavy rains never seem to stop bombarding that part of the country so let's spare them for some time later.
Well, there're still many areas closer to Bangkok that are interesting to explore. How about Ratchaburi province?
Today we're going to drive from the Chedi Hak Intersection near the town of Ratchaburi all the way to the border district of Suan Phung. I know there are many ways you can drive to Suan Phung and the Highway 3087 featured in today's column isn't the shortest route. But, trust me, it has a number of nice places you can visit.
Okay, let's get going! From the chedi, follow the 3087 westward for about 14 kilometres and you'll see the minor road to Khao Bin Cave . The road to Khao Prathabchang Open Zoo is just 500 metres down the highway.
Further along the 3087, you'll reach the town of Chom Bung and then the Chomphon Cave . From the cave, Suan Phung town is 30 kilometres away.
You can either drive from Chomphon Cave straight through Ban Chat Pa Wai or take a "shortcut", the Nong Kham-Thab Tako Road, which branches off the 3087 at an intersection just a couple of kilometres before Ban Chat Pa Wai. Actually, the distance of both routes are about the same but the "shortcut" lets you bypass the community so you can go faster.
Don't drive too fast, though. Otherwise you might follow the smooth road all the way to Thab Tako, which is way off the mark. After four kilometres, remind yourself to veer off onto a smaller road, the Rural Highway 4021. Drive on this road for 10 kilometres and you'll emerge back on Highway 3087. Turn right, go across a bridge and drive through Suan Phung town.
The road to Phawothai Folk Museum is not far from the town. To get to other attractions, you'll have to go further along Highway 3087 to the Y-intersection in front of Phu Pha Phueng Resort. The smaller road on the left will take you to Bo Klueng Hotspring, the Nature Park and the Kao Chan Waterfalls. But if you continue on the 3087, you'll get to the Usamanee Rose Nursery.
Actually, there's a dirt road near the hotspring that can take you to the rose nursery without having to come back to the Phu Pha Phueng Y-intersection. But unless your vehicle is a 4x4, I recommend you not to be stubborn like I was and stick with the asphalt roads. However, in the dry season, a normal pick-up should do okay through this shortcut.
On the way back, if you take the 3087 out of Suan Phung to Chat Pa Wai, you can drop by at Pong Yoop, a smaller version of Phae Muang Phi. But if you have already seen the famous site in Phrae province, don't waste your time.
Bangkok Post October 2005 www.bangkokpost.com
