Reset Your Lungs and Embrace the Mountains at "Khiriwong" By: Still Photography

Greetings. We are students from a university in Surat Thani province, and this is our first review. During this stressful time, with deadlines looming, we sought a brief respite on a weekend getaway. The question arose: where should we go? "Let's try Khao Kiriwong," a friend suggested. We decided on this destination and began planning our roundtrip journey. But before we embark, let's delve into a brief introduction to Khao Kiriwong.

"Khiriwong Village"

Nestled in the foothills of Khao Luang mountain in Kamlon Subdistrict, Lansaka District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, lies the ancient community of "Khiriwong Village." This community, established by migrants seeking refuge near the mountain's ascent route, boasts a peaceful lifestyle and close-knit social structure. Their primary livelihood revolves around mixed fruit orchards, known as "Suan Somrom," where they cultivate mangosteen, rambutan, durian, and sataw.

Khiriwong Village has emerged as a model community for ecotourism management, earning the prestigious "Outstanding Tourism Industry Award" in 2000 for the "Cities and Communities" category. The village's allure lies in its breathtaking natural scenery, surrounded by mountains, forests, and waterways. Visitors can immerse themselves in the captivating landscapes and engage in various activities that will leave them mesmerized.

So, let's embark on a journey to explore the wonders of Khiriwong Village!

The morning of April 6, 2018

We departed at 6:30 AM from the Kaset Song Market, taking a minivan on the Surat Thani - Nakhon Si Thammarat route for 120 baht per person. The journey took 2 hours. Upon arriving in Nakhon Si Thammarat, we disembarked at Wat Wang Tawan Tok and walked to the songthaew stand for the Nakhon Si Thammarat - Khao Kaeo route. The songthaew stand is located next to the walking street, where various songthaew routes are available. If you can't find it, don't worry, as the songthaew drivers will constantly ask where you're headed. 5555

The journey to Khao Kiriwong takes approximately 20 minutes by car. The fare is 25 baht per person.

At approximately 9:15 AM, we arrived at Khao Kiri Wong. As everyone was starting to feel hungry, we decided to find something to eat to refuel. We each ended up with a package of this.

Sticky rice with butterfly pea flower and fried pork. The pork belly is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the fried shallots are a must-have. It's delicious! It costs 20 baht per wrap. They also have fried chicken, fried liver, and shredded pork. Everything is wrapped in banana leaves. This is the place to go!

After recharging, we continued our journey. A must-do activity here is **cycling** to enjoy the atmosphere. We rented bicycles for 50 baht each, which is the same price at every shop. However, if you're feeling lazy, there are motorcycles available for rent at 200 baht each. Let's go and see the sights!

This perspective showcases the "Pong Canal Bridge," which connects to the other side of the Kiree Wong village.

We continue cycling, and soon we reach a spot with a distant view of the bridge. Tourists are starting to arrive in increasing numbers. Let's move on.

Intrigued by the peculiar appearance of the bridge, one might wonder about the fate of its predecessor. The answer lies in the destructive force of a flash flood that swept away the old bridge. In response, the local community constructed a temporary bridge, aptly named the "Betel Nut Bridge," using betel nut palm trees as its primary material. The choice of betel nut stems from their inherent resilience and resistance to breakage.

The atmosphere is very good.

The sun was starting to come out, and the weather was getting hot. So we decided to find something cold to cool down. The shop we were going to was a vintage-style coffee shop. It would be a big mistake to miss this shop, "Nai Tang Na Kiriwong". The shop is located on the right-hand side of the alley if you come from the junction in front of the village sign.

The ambiance of the shop is vintage, adorned with a myriad of old items, both familiar and unfamiliar.

The iced tea is delicious and not too sweet. It costs 40 baht per glass.

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Ice cream costs 59 baht.

After lunch, we continued to the "Khiriwong Natural Dye Batik Group", located in the same alley as the Naitang Restaurant, but further inside. Today, there was no fabric making, but next door was the "Khiriwong Product Distribution Center" where you could browse and purchase products.

There are many processed products, such as durian paste, "luk yi" (a type of palm fruit), "kluai breg dtaek" (a type of banana), and the unusual "mangosteen paste".

After a long journey, we finally arrived at "Wang Mai Pak Waterfall".

There is nothing much here except for fish. There are a lot of them.

The water was so clear that it was almost intimidating to get in. Fish food was also available for purchase at 10 baht per bag.

However, the highlight is not here. Where is it? Let's continue to find out.

We cycled back to the front of the village and turned left into the alley to head towards Nan Hin Tha Ha, which was about 2 km away.

Around 12:30 PM, we started to feel hungry. We decided to look for something to eat along the way while we continued cycling. Then, we came across this.

"At Loog Lam Chiak Noodle Shop, they offer crab curry noodles, green chicken curry, and made-to-order dishes. We ordered the noodles, which were 30 baht per plate. The taste was average, scoring a 5/10."

After finishing our meal, we continued our journey until we came across this captivating atmosphere, which we couldn't resist exploring.

Let's move on quickly.

Along the way, there are many souvenir shops, and the most common item is tie-dye fabric.

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And then we arrived here, "Nan Hin Tha Ha". As soon as we arrived, we saw the familiar local bikers.

This is the "suspension bridge". If you don't walk across it, you haven't really been here. It sways a bit, but if there are a lot of people like in the picture, it sways a lot. 55555 Your legs will shake.

A view from above the suspension bridge

On my way here, I came across this a lot along the way, so I decided to try it. That is, **"floating glass meatballs."**

The taste is similar to that of longan, but it is more oily and the fruit is smaller. It costs 25 baht per glass and there is a promotion of buy 4 get 1 free. The shop is located in front of the suspension bridge.

Further inside, you will find a more secluded and peaceful spot for swimming than the area around the suspension bridge. This area is a dead end with access to the water for swimming.

The tranquil atmosphere, coupled with the availability of hammocks for napping in the breeze, provides a serene setting. However, a nap that results in a fall could lead to a rather damp experience.

After enjoying the breeze and atmosphere for a while, we decided to head back.

Upon returning to the village, we were overjoyed to discover a bustling market. The villagers informed us that it was the market's inaugural day, and we couldn't have been more fortunate. This unique market, which adheres to sustainable practices, utilizes biodegradable materials for food and beverage containers. It operates from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM every Friday and Saturday.

Fried yellow noodles for 10 baht

Coconut candy 10 baht

It is currently around 3:30 PM. It is time to head back.

Before returning, let's stop by to buy some souvenirs.

Durian paste grilled and wrapped in betel leaf, 30 baht per bag.

As I walked to the car, I saw a durian. It was so tempting, but I knew I couldn't carry it all the way back to Surat Thani. Haha.

We walked to the queue for the shared taxi, which was located at the head of the bridge over the Tha Dee Canal.

Farewell, goodbye...Khiriwong.

See you again. Where will it be? Stay tuned! ^^

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The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.