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Weekend blues For those looking for some place less visited, where nature is still unspoiled and it is close enough from Bangkok to get away on weekends, Suan Phueng in Ratchaburi Province can be a good alternative. Nature is still pristine in this district bordering Burma, with green forest cover and the air refreshingly clean. It offers weekend travellers a healthy choice of accommodation and there are plenty of interesting things to do and see. "Despite its beauty, Suan Phueng is little known to the general tourist," said Chinapong Jongyoosuk from Mike Team Tour, a member of the Smart Group that brings together four Bangkok-based travel agents that are trying to put Suan Phueng on the tourist map. Going back a few years, Suan Phueng made headlines but for the wrong reason, at least as far as tourism goes. God's Army, a rag-tag band of Karens fighting the regime in Rangoon, seized the provincial hospital and demanded release of their comrades languishing in Burmese jails after holding the staff and patients hostage at gun point. The standoff ended in bloodshed after Thai special forces stormed the hospital and killed the captors. That incident brought negative publicity to this otherwise peaceful district, said Chinapong. However, no untoward incidents have been reported since. As we travelled the district exploring its various attractions, it became evident that its residents - an even mix of Thais and ethnic Karens - were a polite, cheerful and sincere lot who abhor violence and live in peaceful co-existence. To tap its tourism potential, the Suan Phueng Tourism Promotion Club was set up and together with the Smart Group it is now working to firmly anchor Suan Phueng in the minds of weekend travellers. New accommodations are sprouting all over the district. To the untrained eye they would seem to be rising in a haphazard manner, but explained the chairman of the club who operates Usawadee Rose Garden, the idea is to give visitors a wide choice of accommodation to fit their personal tastes and preferences.
Duanlom Resort incorporates various styles of accommodation under a single roof; Scenery Resort boasts white Mediteranean-style lodges set against hills; Darat Homestay and Ban Rim Khao Resort offer beautiful mountain scenery as the backdrop; and if you fancy riverside view, there is Supkana Resort that has rooms with balconies overlooking the Pachee River. For the record, the exotic Pavothai Museum Resort is the only place stocking precious objects from ancient times. And there are many more. Adventure buffs will love the four-wheel drive on an unpaved road that snakes past an old tin mine to Khao Krajom, 1,000 metres above sea level, from where you are rewarded with a panoramic view of mountains and mist hanging in air if you arrive there early morning. A sign tells visitors it's the westernmost point of Thai-Burma border. As we were having a meal, we were surprised by a flock of hornbills that flew in a long straight right in front of us, as if qualifying the presence of abundant forest cover in this district. A trek to Pha Daeng Waterfall will appeal to naturalists and adventure buffs who crave a challenge, even though the trail is riddled with leeches. So wear proper shoes. Suan Phueng also offers rafting. Ban Rai Sai Ngam Resort has put together rafts made from rubber tyres. It is a different experience, but fun all the same. Also available is homestay and nature-based activities. The hot spring at Bor Klueng is a nice place to relax with bath after the trek or rafting. There is a common outdoor pool fed by the spring. The temperature of water hovers in the range of 48-182 degrees Celsius. Nearby is the Natural Science Park established at the behest of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. It features flora and fauna native to Suan Phueng. And with that ended my eventful trip to Suan Phueng. But I hope to be back soon, and why not? It is only a short drive from Bangkok. |