This weekend, after working every Saturday for a while, we finally had some free time. We decided to take a trip to the forest and mountains, but the weather didn't cooperate. So, we opted for a more relaxed approach, focusing on food, camping, and scenic drives. It was a quick two-day getaway.

Finally, I arrived at my destination: Ratchaburi. I had been wanting to visit Khao Hin Ngu for a long time, and I finally had the chance. Google Maps said it would take two hours to drive to Suan Phueng, but I didn't want to take the easy route. So, I decided to stop for lunch at Khlong Khon first. I was really craving crab! But what I didn't expect was the abundance of other places to visit in Ratchaburi, such as the various caves. The province is huge, and I haven't explored many caves before, so this was a real treat for me. And then there was Sam Phran in Nakhon Pathom, which was absolutely amazing! There's a 27-story building with a dragon wrapped around it, and the coolest part is that you can actually walk inside the dragon to get to the top. I had no idea such a thing existed!


Review <<<<<< 5 stars mean easy, convenient, and good.

★★★★★ : Easy to drive, not many cars, good roads, many gas stations. You can also drive a motorcycle, it's not far.

★★★★★ : This campsite [Phu Yu No Camping] is recommended for tent camping. They provide free barbecue grills and clean bathrooms, but no food is available.

★★★★ : Tourist attraction [cave-temple] At first, I didn't think there would be anything, but it turned out to be very good. I deducted one star because it was hot.

★★★ : Price 1,700 baht per person, all inclusive. This round, 2 people. Summary below.

Itinerary

Day 1

  • Bangkok - Krua Ta Nui (Khlong Khon) - Khao Ngu Stone Park - Khao Bin Cave - Phu Yuno Camping - Vineyard

Day 2

  • Phuyu No Campsite
  • Mo Ai Coffee
  • Tham Nam Temple
  • Sam Phran Temple
  • Bangkok

(September 1-2, 2018)

According to the image, we will travel on the lower road first. After Khao Bin Cave, it will be the same route. In fact, there are many more places to stop along this route, such as the Umbrella Market and Amphawa Floating Market.

September 1, 2018

8:00 AM - We set off with the goal of having lunch a little early, because we didn't want to wait long if we arrived around 11:00 AM. Our target was "Ta Nui Restaurant" in Khlong Khon. I had actually thought about staying at a homestay here once (I've never been here before), but even though we weren't staying here, I wanted to stop by and eat some seafood. We chose this restaurant because it wasn't too far from the main road. When we arrived, there was no one in the restaurant. There were only two of us, but we ordered three dishes and couldn't finish them all.

A massive plate of deep-fried prawns in tamarind sauce.

Half a kilo of crab with roe, 2 pieces, at 1200 baht per kilo.

11:50 AM - Continuing the journey to "Khao Ngu Stone Park" under the scorching sun, even though it has been raining almost every day in the middle of the week. It takes less than 30 minutes by car to reach the park. Park your car near the roundabout under the shade of the trees. Before entering the park, there are shops selling food. Walk a little further and you will see the hill. The highlight of this place is the small hills for taking pictures and the walking path along the hill. Most importantly, admission is free. According to the information available, this place used to be an old mine and is a popular spot for pre-wedding photoshoots.

Following the designated path will lead you to the scenic viewpoint. However, before you ascend, you might realize, "Hey, I could have parked my car right here!" Haha! But I recommend parking at the bottom, as it wouldn't feel like you truly arrived otherwise.

15:00 - Khao Bin Cave

The next stop was Khao Bin Cave. Initially, I didn't have high expectations, as the pictures I saw online didn't impress me much. However, upon arrival, I was surprised by its sheer size. It was truly extraordinary. If you're passing by, I recommend checking it out. Let me know what you think!

Before entering the cave, you need to purchase a ticket for 20 baht. Young tour guides will provide information, and you can tip them as you see fit. The cave has eight chambers with unique names. Explore them at your own pace. However, I found the cave to be quite stuffy, so I didn't stay long. By the time I exited, I was drenched in sweat.

The entrance is cool, but the pictures might be a bit blurry because I didn't have a tripod.

The first room was already impressive, but as I ventured further, I discovered even larger chambers.

3:30 PM - We continued our journey, having not booked accommodation in advance. We had our sights set on camping at Phu Yuno Camping, so we followed the GPS. Upon arrival, we immediately inquired about a place to pitch our tent. However, I'll skip ahead to the topic of dining first, as there were no restaurants on-site and we hadn't brought any food. We drove out in search of sustenance and stumbled upon this establishment: "Phu Pha Vineyard." Honestly, we just followed the signs, driven by hunger. Our haphazard approach led us to a small restaurant nestled amidst a vineyard. While waiting for our meal, we took a stroll through the vineyard, which was an unexpected bonus.

The sour curry is delicious. Below is a spicy stir-fried catfish. This trip is going well.

6:50 PM - We left the intersection and turned towards Phu Yu No. We bought snacks at a tent and arrived when it was already dark. We chatted for a while. The campsite is lit all night, making stargazing difficult. However, it seems safe. The bathrooms are clean and separated by gender. Soap is provided. There are both flush and squat toilets. After showering, we went to sleep early. We will definitely wake up early tomorrow.

September 2, 2018

The location where I pitched my tent was a narrow strip of land with water on both sides. As there were not many people around, I was the only one there. The price for pitching a tent was 150 baht per person. The accommodation had tents for rent, but I did not ask the price. (The accommodation did not collect money from me last night, and there was no one there in the morning. So, I put the money under the calculator in the morning. That was their money.)

This is how I feel in the morning.

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

Due to the rainy season, the clouds tend to be thick. The view from the accommodation faces south, so you won't be able to see the sunrise.

A spacious location to pitch a tent alone

This is a lotus pond. It is expected to bloom in full in October. It is worth a visit, it should be very beautiful.

The neighboring tent, located at a considerable distance, is quite peaceful.

There are small pavilions where you can sit and enjoy the view.

8:15 AM - Embark on the return journey. After waking up early, I decided to grab a bite to eat. I came across this shop while driving and decided to stop by. "Mo Ai Coffee" has a beautiful interior design and plenty of photo opportunities. The prices are in line with the ambiance.

The Stonehenge replica is a decent approximation.

10:00 AM - We continued our journey to "Tham Nam Cave" for another round of cave exploration before heading back. This time, there was no entrance fee for Tham Nam Cave. The atmosphere and air inside were more open compared to the first cave we visited, but it was also smaller. At the entrance, monkeys were waiting to be fed by visitors. While monkeys are present at most tourist attractions, I personally don't particularly like them. Haha.

11:40 AM - We continued our journey to the final destination, "Wat Samphran". Before arriving, I did a little research and found out that there were dragons and buildings, but I didn't read much detail. When I arrived, I was quite surprised by the atmosphere, as there was much more than I expected. I encountered giant turtles with a walkway through their mouths, leading to the footprints of the Buddha. As I walked towards the building, I wondered how I would get to the top. The answer was to walk inside the dragon, which led me to the highest floor.

- The planner didn't know what to expect, but ended up being surprised themselves. Haha.

- The majority of tourists are foreigners, making it feel like I'm visiting another country.


Enter through the mouth without taking off your shoes. There is a long walkway that leads directly to the dragon.

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

The Base of the Buddha's Footprint

This is a literal translation of "รอบพระพุทธบาท," which refers to the area surrounding the footprint of the Buddha. This could be a specific location, such as the temple complex built around the footprint in Saraburi, Thailand, or it could refer to the concept of the Buddha's footprint more generally.

Without further context, it is impossible to say for certain which meaning is intended.


Entering the cave again, and the light from the end of the path.

The elephant that the nun said that if you pass through it, you will be lucky.


The path inside the dragon, another cave. This is why this trip is also called the cave trip.

The journey was thrilling, perhaps due to my overactive imagination. The dragon, however, was located outside the building, not inside as I had envisioned. The image depicts the building's entrance, not an exit through the dragon's mouth.

On the upper level, a nun will guide you through the steps of making merit and other important things to know. However, she will also introduce the worship of a red cloth, which is intended to be tied at the very top level.

Approximately 27 floors above.

The red cloth in question.

The descent was easy and quick. The picture shows a steeper section.

Financial Summary:

  • 7/11: 128
  • Highway: 40
  • Khlong Kon food: 1075
  • Red water: 25
  • Khao Bin Cave: 40
  • Phu Yuno: 300
  • Phu Pha Vineyard: 445
  • Three-way intersection shop: 220
  • Mo Ai: 289
  • Dinner: 100
  • Fuel: 663
  • Roti: 100

Total cost: 3,435 baht >>>>>>>>>> Per person: 1,712 baht


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