"Mi-ah Nge-or A-wa" - A greeting in the Mon language, meaning "Hello".

October... the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the cool season, coupled with remaining vacation days that need to be used before the end of the year...

I thought for a long time about where to go... In the end, I decided on this place, the place we will go...

.. Sangkhla Buri ..

Our trip this time... believe it or not, it was the trip we thought about the most... It's not our usual style at all, you know. Normally, we're more into beach vacations, as you can see from our previous reviews in the link below...

First day of the trip: October 17, 2015

We started our journey at 6 am. It took us half an hour to reach our first destination, Victory Monument. We decided to travel by van because we thought it would be the fastest way to get there. We boarded a van at Win Happy, a van terminal near the BTS Victory Monument station. The fare was 120 baht and the van took us directly to Kanchanaburi Bus Terminal. We left at 6.55 am and arrived at 8.55 am, a journey of only 2 hours. The van did not stop to pick up passengers along the way, only at the designated stops. Happy, as the name suggests!

We originally planned to travel by air-conditioned bus (Bangkok - Three Pagodas Pass). It was a direct bus to our destination, which was convenient. But fate played a trick on us. We called the HOT LINE: 1490 to check the travel schedule. The officer told us that there was only one trip on the day we were traveling, which was at 9:30 AM. It was too late! It would be evening by the time we arrived, and we would have to find accommodation. We didn't believe it. We searched for information on Pantip and found that there were many trips. We checked the website again http://www.busticket.in.th and found that there was really only one trip. Boo hoo... We had to change our plans!

More about travel

1. Travel by train (Thon Buri - Taling Chan - Salaya - Nakhon Pathom - Nong Pla Duk - Tha Ruea Noi - Kanchanaburi - Bridge over the River Kwai - Wang Yen - Ban Kao - Tha Kilen - Tham Krasae - Wang Pho - Ko Maha Mongkol - Waterfall) It is recommended to sit on the left side to get a better view of the Death Railway ...

When you arrive at Namtok Station, take a songthaew to the front of Trai Yok Noi Waterfall for 20 baht. Then wait for the bus on the opposite side of the waterfall sign (under the ear tree). There will be a bus going to Sangkhla passing by ^^

2. Travel by air-conditioned bus When you arrive at Kanchanaburi Bus Terminal, you need to transfer to a non-air-conditioned bus or van to Sangkhla Buri.

• New Southern Bus Terminal, buses depart every 20 minutes, travel time 2 hours, arrive at Kanchanaburi Bus Terminal.

- Mo Chit Bus Terminal, buses depart every hour, travel time 3 hours, drop off at Kanchanaburi Bus Terminal

Upon arriving at Kanchanaburi Bus Terminal, we immediately looked for the Asia Traiyok minivan company. We had to walk outside the bus terminal to the row of shophouses, where we could see the company's sign from afar. Without hesitation, we rushed to book tickets. The ticket price to Sangkhla Buri was 175 baht, with drop-off at the Sangkhla market. This minivan company is very strict about seating arrangements; you can't sit in the wrong seat. We got our assigned seats and that was it. Our minivan departed ten minutes early because all the passengers had arrived. We left at 9:20 AM. Along the way, there were several military checkpoints where they checked the passengers' ID cards. Don't forget to bring your ID card with you. The road to Sangkhla Buri is a series of uphill and downhill sections, with many curves. Some parts of the road are in poor condition, so if you're driving yourself, please drive carefully. (There was no mobile phone signal for some stretches.) We arrived at the Sangkhla Buri market at around 12:30 PM. The journey took about 3-4 hours. We arrived earlier than expected. Yay!

As soon as we got off the car, the first symptom that showed up was our stomachs growling. We should have eaten something before getting on the car... This won't do, we need to find something to eat or we won't have any energy... For our first meal of the day, we decided to eat at Krua Nai Toi restaurant. We just wanted to eat enough to be full, nothing too expensive. This restaurant is located opposite Sangkhla Buri Hospital, near Sri Daeng Hotel and Sri Daeng Restaurant (the first restaurant in Sangkhla Buri). The sign says so, but we didn't get to try it. If anyone has been there, let us know how the food is... ^^

After we were full of energy, our next goal was to find a motorbike to rent and a place to stay... We walked straight to the motorbike taxi driver... The driver took us to a place where we could rent a motorbike... Let's go, we have to go to P Guesthouse... So we decided to start at P Guesthouse. Even if the accommodation is full, at least we can rent a motorbike first (most people will aim for this place)... But why did the motorbike taxi driver drop us off at J. Family HomeStay!? The answer was, come here, there is both accommodation and motorbikes for rent... 'This is fine, brother'... (The driver lied, he said he would take us to P Guesthouse. Along the way, we saw many motorbike rental shops. If I had known, I would have walked to find a motorbike to rent myself so that I wouldn't have to pay twenty baht for the taxi.)... So we decided to rent a motorbike here, but we didn't like the accommodation style so we refused to stay. But it was only 400 baht per night, hehe... We arranged our ID cards and paid. We rented a motorbike for two days, 200 baht per day, but when we return the motorbike, we have to fill the tank with petrol. Oh! Sometimes we will hear local people call motorbikes 'mail machines'. It's a good thing that my father's house is in Nakhon Pathom. I've heard them call it a mail machine since I was a child, so I'm a little familiar with the word ^^... We got a motorbike, our next goal is to find a place to stay...

1. Sam Prasob Resort (034595050, 0891374831) This resort offers a clear view of the Mon Bridge. Prices start at 900 baht, with a 200 baht discount during the low season. However, I haven't been able to inquire about availability yet. The sign in front says "No Vacancy".

2. Coffee Berry (0624832873) has a total of 3 zones with a price of 800 baht, but the answer is "It's full".

3. **Must Tawan** (0822925139) is a wooden house located opposite the entrance to Th. Ton Pheung. Prices start at 500 baht, but they replied that it is "full".

4. **Cheun Jai House** (0814028960, 0813009376) Home-style, no reservations, walk-in customers only. Prices start at 450 baht, but they replied "full".

5. P Guesthouse (034595061 , 0814502783) is a budget-friendly option for backpackers, located opposite Graph cafe. Rooms start at 250 baht (shared bathroom) and 950 baht for air-conditioned rooms. Motorbikes and bicycles are available for rent. However, it is also 'fully booked'.

6. Haiku Guesthouse (081751365) is located opposite P Guesthouse. It has only 4 rooms available at 650 Baht per night. It's fully booked.

In the end, we luckily found a room to stay in. No matter the price, it was better than having nowhere to sleep. We found accommodation at Baan Suan Sombun, which only had one room left for two people. We had to grab it before it was gone! If you're planning to visit, I recommend calling to book a room in advance so you don't end up in a difficult situation like us. TT^TT

The owner is very friendly and approachable. The price for a double room with air conditioning is 1000 baht on Saturdays and 800 baht on Sundays-Fridays. Those who check in on Saturday will be provided with breakfast on Sunday morning. You can choose what you want to eat. You can see more details on their Facebook page: Baan Suan Sombun. We checked in and will be staying here for two nights, the total cost is 1800 baht. We paid it all at once, haha. When we travel, we have to soak up the atmosphere to the fullest, don't be too serious. It was past 3 pm by the time we found accommodation. After resting, washing our faces and eyes, we still had some time left for the day. We will go and rent a boat to see the submerged temple, Unseen Thailand. After resting and relaxing, we decided to go see the submerged temple, which is Unseen Thailand. We wouldn't miss it for the world! We rode our motorbike to Sam Prasop Resort and found a place to park it nearby. The resort only allows parking for their guests. Here's a view from where we parked our motorbike. Isn't it beautiful?

As we descended to the area near the Mon Bridge, young children would approach us and ask, "Have you heard the history of the Mon Bridge yet? If not, I would be happy to tell you about it." Or, "Have you taken a boat to the submerged temple yet?" They would then conclude by saying, "Don't forget to come and offer food to the monks on the Mon side tomorrow morning." The children here are adorable.

This little girl's name is Fah. I really like her. She has chubby cheeks, a cute smile, and is small. She was playing near the bridge. ^^

Meanwhile, we went to contact the boat tour of the old temple in the middle of the water. The rental rate is the same for all shops. They have a club. There are 2 prices to choose from: 1 temple for 6 people 300 baht and 3 temples for 6 people 500 baht. We wanted to visit all three temples, but it wasn't worth it for two people. So we told the younger brother that we would wait for someone to join us. He said, "Wait a minute, brother. If someone joins, I'll call you." While we were waiting, we went to take pictures of the Mon Bridge and the Bua Wood Bridge. In the afternoon, not many people come to the bridge because the sun is quite strong.

After taking some photos, we found a coffee shop near the bridge called "Aree". We ordered a latte and waited for it (they have many menus, but only hot and cold, no blended drinks). The shop also has a Facebook page, you can check it out at this link: http://www.facebook.com/areecoffee

We met a girl in the backpacking group who was also visiting Sangkhla Buri for the day. We asked if she wanted to join us, and she said yes. So we gained another travel companion. On the way to pick her up to go to the boat, we met two more lovely people. They asked where we were going, and we told them we were going to the submerged temple. They asked if they could join us, and we said yes. So we had two more people joining us on the boat, making a total of five members. We were ready to go. Friendship is easy to find, as long as we open our hearts.

The first temple we visited was Wat Si Suwannaram, which emerges from the water during Songkran. On the day we went, we couldn't walk down to it anymore, as it was almost completely submerged. So we could only circle around it by boat. Our two young tour guides, Nong Chat and Nong Nut, provided us with all the information for this boat trip.

The second temple we visited was Wat Somdet. This temple is located on a small hill and was not submerged in water, so we were able to take a boat to pay our respects to the Buddha statue at the top. Our guide prepared flowers and incense for us for ten baht each, which we paid for later. This is a way to support the education fund for the children. ^^

This is the back of the church. We have to enter through the front and exit through the back. The tour guide told us that this church has only been open to the public for a year.

Before entering the church, we must touch the door with our hands and make three wishes. When stepping into the church, we must not step on the threshold.

Inside the church, there is a replica of the 17th Phra Buddha Chinarat for us to worship and ask for blessings. ...

Little Nut said that this is a belief in the matter of extending life for another how many years, not sure about the information, I would like to ask for permission not to write it.

And this is the way up to the church, there are a total of 63 steps... It makes me breathless, indicating that my age is not enough anymore, hahaha...

Let's move on to the last temple, which is located just across from Wat Somdet. This temple is considered an Unseen Thailand, which is Wat Wang Wiwekaram or Wat Ban Kao. It was the first temple of Luang Pho Uttama before it became a submerged temple due to the construction of the Khao Laem Dam. Fortunately, when we visited, the water had not yet completely flooded the temple, so we were able to enter the chapel. The entrance is the same as at Wat Somdet, enter through the front and exit through the back. You can hold the door handle and make three wishes, but be sure not to step on the doorjamb when entering.

We wondered what was on the wall. Nong Nut answered us that it was a picture frame. There were a total of 2,500 frames, but when the flood came, they were moved to Wat Phutthakaya, the golden pagoda that we saw standing tall as we sailed past.

The boat tour to the temple in the middle of the water was both an atmospheric and educational experience, leaving us with an indescribable sense of fulfillment. The children led us back to the Mon Bridge, where they ran off to play as children do. It was time to say goodbye to the beautiful friendships we had formed along the way. Although it was a short time, the five of us will surely cherish these memories forever. ^^

It's five o'clock in the evening now... We're seeing more and more people strolling along the Mon Bridge, more than this afternoon... So we're just taking in the atmosphere until the sun sets. We've captured some photos to share with you, so let's take a look... Take it slow, don't overthink things, do what you want, be wherever you feel comfortable, just do it ^^

Our first day isn't over yet. We'll stop by the accommodation to freshen up before heading to the market for some food. I read on Pantip that there's a walking street, so we have to check it out. Whew!

This night market is full of things to sell, from food and drinks to snacks and even Mon costumes. ... Normally, this market has a walking street event every Saturday and public holidays that are closed for several days. There will be more things to sell. But the day we went, there was no walking street event because it had been raining for several weeks. They will start organizing the walking street again on October 23rd. Anyone who goes during the walking street event, please share the atmosphere with us ~

Burmese pork skewers, if you come to Sankhla and don't try them, it's like you haven't been here. The owner of the accommodation told us that the delicious and clean ones are not being sold at the moment. Oh... it's a pity we missed the delicious ones (forgot to ask which one is the delicious one, whoever goes there, please ask for me, hehe). So we tried this one at the market first. There are a lot of people waiting to eat, huh? ... One baht per skewer, you can choose which part you want to eat, but I like the most, the fat part! Hehe, will it clog my arteries? ... As for the dipping sauce, there are two types to choose from. I don't know what they are called, but if it were in our country, I would call them seafood dipping sauce and sukiyaki dipping sauce. But I like the green dipping sauce, it's delicious!

We had barely been sitting down to enjoy our pork fondue for five minutes when the unthinkable happened: the entire district lost power! But that wasn't going to stop us from digging in. We continued to eat in the darkness, with only the light from our phones and the flickering flames of candles to guide us. If you're ever at the market, be sure to try the Karen salad in addition to the Burmese pork fondue. I don't know what it tastes like, though, because the power went out and the market closed early. 😭

Don't miss this three-wheeled beverage shop, Uncle Dam's Ancient Coffee, the original recipe of Sangkhla Buri. Before Uncle went home, he gave us a bag, a huge bag. I carried it back to the accommodation. .. Driving through the darkness, there was only the light from the front of our car. ...

As we drove back to our accommodation, we saw something that was hard to find in the capital city. Without the light pollution from buildings, the stars in the sky made us very happy to look at. The twinkling stars in the sky, we sat and imagined that it was this constellation or that constellation... I remember seeing a review of a photo of the Milky Way from this review by Uncle Thamrong. http://pantip.com/topic/34286750 So I tried taking some pictures myself. I set the camera according to what Uncle Thamrong said... As a newbie trying to hunt the Milky Way, I got this picture from my first hunt. It's not as beautiful as Uncle Thamrong's, but I'm glad I tried...

Day two of the trip: October 18, 2015

Today we have an appointment to make merit in the morning. We set the alarm clock at five o'clock, like waking up to go to work. But not drowsy, energetic and ready to receive good things today ... It's time to leave the accommodation at six o'clock. This morning, the atmosphere is especially lively. Strangers from different paths, but with the same destination... The Mon Bridge, which is the longest wooden bridge in Thailand, is 850 meters long. o.O

Before crossing over to the Mon side, we can make merit by offering food to the monks on this side first. The monks on this side will bless us. There are sets of offerings available for purchase all along the way, so don't worry. ^^

This morning's atmosphere is rather gloomy, with a thin mist and a cool breeze. The temperature is 23 degrees Celsius. There are swarms of some kind of insects flying all over the place. I happened to meet P'Yen, a star of the Mon Bridge. P'Yen told me that these are white chipa insects. P'Yen also said that the fog isn't very pretty today. Bummer! Here's what the white chipa insects look like. I took a close-up picture for you to see.

This is Ms. Yen, the star of the Mon Bridge... When you cross to the Mon side near the alms-giving area, you will hear Ms. Yen organizing the tourists who come to give alms.

Upon crossing over to the Mon side, there will be a service offering Mon attire for 99 baht per set. They even offer free Mon costume rentals! I must say, it's almost impossible to tell the difference between the tourists and the real Mon people when they're all dressed up. Haha (just kidding)! ^^

We have arranged to buy a set of alms for Phi Yen. There are a total of 10 monks who will receive alms on the Mon side. They will walk from Wat Wang Wiwekaram. The monks will arrive around 7 am. While waiting, we can find something to eat first.

After we were full of merit from making merit, on the way back to our accommodation, we couldn't help but buy some souvenirs. If you like Thanaka, there are many types to choose from, including lotions, soaps, and even the original version.

We didn't miss out on the food either... Tubtab cookies... You have to buy them, they're really delicious. I've tried them ^^... The kids near the Mon Bridge told me that the Tubtab cookies near the Three Pagodas Pass are cheaper. Oh! I missed it. I already bought it, didn't I? Never mind, the taste is the same anyway... (comforting myself)

What's going on on the Mon Bridge? Why are there so many people watching? ... Let's run in and join them. Oh! It's a diving show from the Mon Bridge by the handsome Nong Mud. Please help donate to these kids. Ten, twenty baht, whatever you can afford. ... The handsome Nong Mud, as everyone calls him, his real name is Tong. When I first heard it, I thought it was "Song", haha. He's so cute, especially his jokes that make the tourists around there laugh. It's another highlight on this bridge. He will come to show off his diving skills from 6.40 am to 9.00 am. ... We asked him how deep the water is here. He said it's 4 wa, brother. Wow, that's about 8 meters (or is it!?). I'm bad at math, haha.

This is another highlight on the Mon Bridge this morning. The students will come to sing and play music for us to listen to on the bridge. It's really beautiful ^^

After we returned from the Mon Bridge, the breakfast prepared by the host was just ready. There were soy milk, deep-fried dough sticks, fried rice, or pork congee. You can choose whatever you like. Before we go on a trip today, let's have a breakfast to recharge our energy.

Warning: From here on out, we'll be taking you on a whirlwind tour of various tourist attractions. Get ready for a barrage of photos... We rode our motorbikes for over a hundred kilometers. Wow, we really did it! Let's just say we got pretty tanned, haha. (We almost got lost near the border. We only realized it when we opened Google Maps and saw the concrete road turn into a dirt road.) Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go on an adventure together! ~ Whoosh!

The first place we will go from the main road exit at Thanon Sam Phrasob, turn left and you will find the Wang Ka Viewpoint. Before reaching the viewpoint, there is a concrete bridge where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Mon Bridge from a different angle. You can see the full view of the bridge.

The second place, Phutthakaya Chedi, is where we saw it while taking a boat tour of the temple in the middle of the water. We didn't go inside. We happened to be wearing shorts, so it wouldn't be appropriate for us to go in, so we just took a picture of the outside for you to see. Phutthakaya Chedi was initiated by Luang Pho Uttama in 1978, modeled after the Phutthaya Chedi in India. Inside the chedi are the relics of the right thumb, contained in a 3-tiered stupa, which Luang Pho invited from Sri Lanka, and a 400-baht gold umbrella placed on top of the chedi. Thank you for the good information from the sign in front of Phutthakaya Chedi. ^^

The third place is Wat Wang Wiwekaram, the temple where the body of Luang Pho Uttama is enshrined. On the day we went, it was the 8th anniversary of Luang Pho's death, so the temple was especially lively. Local people were dressed in the traditional style of the Thai Raman people, and there was free food for people who visited the temple. They believe that this is a way of making merit, similar to the food stalls in our country, but it is warmer. And another important event in February is the annual celebration of Luang Pho Uttama's birthday.

This is a Mon dance. It's strange, but it's exciting to see this kind of culture.

Walking around the temple, I was struck by this. The grandmother who made it asked, "Do you want some, son? Chewing it will make your teeth white..." Haha, it was betel nut. I felt a little lightheaded and walked away ^^

The fourth place, Three Pagodas Pass, we have to go back the way we came, the alley we turned into at the beginning will meet a Y-shaped intersection, then turn left. I have to say this because we got lost for a long time and wasted almost an hour. (Riding a motorcycle for a long distance like this, my butt is a bit sore. The fuel I filled up is really tough.) .. This point is the end of the Thai-Burmese border. Anyone who wants to cross over to the Burmese side can apply for a temporary passport using only their ID card. There are also Burmese tour guide services nearby. Anyone interested is welcome to join us. .. Three Pagodas Pass used to be called Hin Sam Khon. ..

The fifth place, Khao Laem National Park, we drove for a long time. On the way, when we entered the park, it started to rain. We were soaked. At first, we were going to visit the waterfall, but we changed our minds and visited Huai Krathing instead. When it rains, nothing is fun. We took shelter from the rain in the park for a long time.

The last place, **Fort Pi Viewpoint**, I really wanted to visit this place. But the day we went was a Sunday, and the entrance fee was quite expensive for two people and a motorbike. I recommend coming on a weekday, as the entrance fee is 50% cheaper. It's a shame, I really wanted to capture the sunset here. T^T

If you don't mind, we'll share some beautiful photos of the scenery we passed instead of the viewpoint. There are still other places we haven't been able to visit due to time constraints. For example, Takhian Thong Waterfall, Kaew Sa-wan Bandan Cave, Kering Kraweia Waterfall, Dai Chom Thong Waterfall, etc.

The second day of the trip ends with a picture of the Mon Bridge at night… The bridge at night is also beautiful in another way. ^^

**Last day of the trip: October 19, 2015**

Is this the last day already? Time flies so fast... Today, we specifically set out to capture images around the Mon Bridge. The atmosphere was different from yesterday morning. There were fewer people, probably because it was Monday and the working population had already returned to work. This allowed us to see a different view of the Mon Bridge in the morning. And one thing that we felt was very worthwhile, making it worth waking up to capture images today before heading back, was the sight of the thick fog and the absence of swarms of white flies. It was truly beautiful, perhaps not as beautiful as the sea of fog at Phu Thap Boek, but today's trip was not in vain. We got to experience the fog too! Hooray!! ... Today's temperature was 22 degrees Celsius. ~

As we walked through the mist towards the Mon side, another signature of this place that we saw regularly was the carrying of things on the head. We were curious about the origin of this, but we forgot to ask. We were too excited about the atmosphere in front of us. ^^

Today, our accommodation did not provide breakfast, so we decided to walk to the Mon-style porridge shop. We had been eyeing it since yesterday when we came to offer alms, but it was crowded so we didn't get to try it. Let's eat there today then... At the shop, you order and then take your food to a seat. Don't order and wait for service. There are many menus, but we'll start with a light pork porridge with soft-boiled egg, Ovaltine, and youtiao.

As we were walking back, we saw some kind of round pastry. It wasn't quite like Thai **pa thong ko** or doughnuts, and it was drizzled with syrup. We decided to try it and were told by a local that it's called **Mon doughnuts**. They're a bit harder than our doughnuts but have a delicious sweetness from the syrup. They'd probably be even better if they were hot! ~

On the way back from renting a motorbike, the homestay owner told us that we should book our bus tickets early. There was once a person who was about to return and went to buy a ticket, but it turned out that they couldn't buy a ticket and couldn't go back. We don't want to experience this kind of situation, so let's prevent it. We'll go back the same way we came. There are vans leaving every 20 minutes. We drove to book a van ticket with the Asia Sai Yok company, 11.00 am round. It's done. We can definitely go back. Besides, we won't be in time for the car. Haha, there are still 2 hours left before the car leaves. We'll go back to the accommodation, take a nap, take a shower, pack our things, and then come back to get on the bus at the van stop. ~ Whoosh!

When it was time, we boarded the van with the same fixed seats as on the way there. We slept all the way to the bus terminal, and then we took another van to Bangkok. We chose to take the van from the Mangkorn Thong company, which cost 130 baht per person. This van company picked up passengers along the way, so it took 3 hours to reach the Victory Monument. This van will stop next to the Century shopping mall. If possible, I would choose to return with the Happy van instead. It would probably be faster. Sigh ~ This 3-day, 2-night trip cost no more than 2,500 baht.

For ATMs here, we mainly see Krung Thai and Siam Commercial Bank ATMs. If possible, please withdraw enough cash as it is difficult to find ATMs. There are no Bangkok Bank ATMs in this area. You can see from this picture.

Before we part ...

Please find the translation below:

Let me leave you with this picture as a farewell... Every place I've been, every journey I've taken, has always brought about stories that have given me many wonderful memories... And one of those places, this place, will also be in my memory... I want to shout out loud that I've fallen in love with Sangkhla Buri, this place...

Thank you to everyone who follows. If there is any mistake, I apologize here. I am happy to receive all comments and suggestions.

PHOTO BY : SONY A6000

.. See you again on the next trip ..

Tangkoon in Mon language means thank you.