A few days ago, while I was browsing through the Facebook timelines of local residents, I came across a picture of Phang Nga Bay from a high angle, similar to the ones I've seen used by the Tourism Authority of Thailand or travel agencies for promotional purposes. I always thought that the only way to see such an angle would be from an airplane landing in Phuket. But wait! This wasn't it. There was also the "Milky Way" in the picture. I scrolled through the pictures in the album... Wow! They were really beautiful. After reading the information, I found out that this was a new Unseen viewpoint in Phang Nga called "Samed Nang Chee", which officially opened to the public on February 16, 2016. I didn't hesitate to plan a trip to take pictures right away. According to the information, "Samed Nang Chee" is located in Thao Uthao Subdistrict, Phang Nga, which is only about 40 kilometers from Phuket Airport. (I almost said that I was in Phuket.)

Early Saturday morning, February 20th, I met up with 3-4 friends at the entrance of Phuket Airport at 4 am. We then set off for "Samed Nang Chee"... As it was my first time there and it was still very dark in the early morning, we had to feel our way around a bit. Especially when we entered the alley, there was hardly any phone signal, so we couldn't access any additional information on the internet. Fortunately, we had the coordinates saved in our map, so there was no problem.

Upon reaching the parking lot leading up to the viewpoint, I knew I wasn't lost because there were already almost 10 cars parked there. I could hardly believe my eyes because at first I was worried about whether it would be deserted and dangerous. But where did I get the idea that there would be so many people with the same idea?

As the parking lot was already full, I parked my car on the side of the road and started walking up to the viewpoint. I remembered that the information I had read said that I had to walk up a hill for 300 meters, which was a bit tiring because the path was quite steep, even though it was wide and well-maintained. ... After walking about 200 meters, there was a sign on the right-hand side. Don't worry, it doesn't mean you have another 200 meters to go! 555 ... This spot is also a good place to take photos. You can see the same view, but from a slightly lower angle, which gives you a more panoramic view of the sea.

From a distance of 200 meters, walk a little further and you will reach the viewpoint, which is an earthen platform prepared to accommodate tourists… and I was shocked again because at around 5 am, there were photographers and tourists setting up cameras to take pictures of the stars and waiting for the sunrise. There were at least 30 people (but I think it was definitely more). I didn't wait, I found a corner to squeeze in, set up my tripod, and started recording the scene in front of me.

Today is the 13th waxing moon, at 5 am the moon has set, so the sky is quite dark, allowing tens of thousands of small stars to shine brightly without being obscured by the moonlight. This is one of the most beautiful nights I've seen the night sky in months. In front of me is Phang Nga Bay, adorned with beautiful limestone mountains, making the scene even more beautiful. While taking pictures, in addition to seeing shooting stars from time to time, there were also airplanes passing by, so some pictures have long streaks of light from the airplanes included... It's a pity that the neon lights below are disturbing, making the picture not as perfect as it should be.

As the reddish light gradually appeared on the eastern horizon, the stars slowly faded away, replaced by the dazzling colors of the morning sky.



As the morning light grows stronger, the light of the stars fades away.



As the sun began to rise, the atmosphere transformed into a breathtaking spectacle. Long-tailed boats set sail for the open sea, their silhouettes casting long shadows against the golden horizon. The dense mangrove forest below was bathed in a warm, golden glow, creating a truly unforgettable sight.


Immerse yourself in the joy of the view before you.



My friend and I were the last group to return. Bang, the pioneer of this viewpoint, was standing with a smile at the parking lot. He asked how it was, and I said, "It's beautiful!" He smiled broadly and said, "Come again..."


In this review, I am fulfilling my promise to Bang Nee to introduce this viewpoint to fellow travel enthusiasts so that they can experience it for themselves. Who knows, this place might become a huge hit, attracting a lot of visitors. I urge all tourists to help maintain the cleanliness of the area and to be respectful visitors by avoiding making loud noises that might disturb the local residents. Let's work together to ensure that this viewpoint remains a beloved tourist destination in Phang Nga for years to come. Thank you.



Information on photographing the Milky Way

Nikon D750 Lens Nikon 14-24 f2.8 Aperture f2.8 ISO 1600 at 30 seconds white balance 3600


Getting There
From Phuket Airport, take the route towards Phang Nga Province for about 35 km. You will reach Thao Uea Subdistrict. Look for a pedestrian overpass and stay on the right lane to make a U-turn at the next U-turn point. After making the U-turn, drive back a short distance past the overpass and you will see a soi (lane) on the left-hand side with a sign saying "Baan Hin Rom Pier." Follow this road for about 13.5 km, and you will see a parking area on the right-hand side near the entrance to the "Samed Nang Chee Viewpoint." From the parking area, walk up the hill for about 300 meters to reach the viewpoint.


Coordinates
The coordinates of the entrance to the viewpoint are 8.281244, 98.371559
The coordinates of the parking lot at the viewpoint are 8.240564,98.449013

Important Information

  • There is no public transportation available, so you will need to use your own vehicle to get there. A car or motorbike is fine, but a car is probably more convenient and safer, as the alley is quite deep.
  • There is parking available for several cars at the top of the hill, or you can park on the side of the road.
  • There are temporary toilets available at the top.
  • There is a tent rental service available at the top. You can contact Bang Nee, who pioneered this viewpoint, at 0622081390.
  • For those who want to go and take pictures of the stars, you should leave Phuket no later than 4:00 AM (I'm counting from the airport).
  • This viewpoint is open to the public for free. There are donation boxes at the top and in the parking area to help develop and maintain the area.
  • If you go in the morning, you should bring a flashlight because there are no lights on the way up.
  • There may be mosquitoes at the top, so you should bring mosquito repellent.
  • From the entrance of the alley to the viewpoint, the phone signal is quite weak (AIS, DTAC) and the signal may drop out at times. Therefore, if you plan to use the internet to look up information, you may have problems. It is better to print it out or save it on your phone. However, there is a signal at the top of the viewpoint.

Thanks to the beautiful pictures from Theerasak Saksritawee, who helped inspire this trip to find the unseen... Theerasak Saksritawee has also made travel information available. Check out the beautiful pictures and maps here.

https://www.facebook.com/popumon/media_set?set=a.10204138208174803.1073741943.1813785478&type=3


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