Readme before you journey
(June 25-27, 2016)
This is a whimsical travelogue that compiles information gathered both before and during the trip, along with a semi-review of the entire self-planned journey. If you also love to travel or are looking for information on "tourism," come and read our rambling, lonely travelogue with us ^^ (This is my first time writing a travelogue, so if there are any mistakes, please forgive me and give me the correct advice.)
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What are some interesting places to visit in "Lampang"?
We started by making a list of places that looked interesting, and then we looked at the map and read information to see which places we wanted to go to and could actually go to. The summary is as follows:
- Wat Phra Bat Pu Pha Daeng, also known as Wat Chalermprakiet Phra Chom Klao Rachanuson
- Kad Kong Ta (Chinese market along the Wang River)
- Horse carriage city tour: In front of the City Hall 06.00 - 18.00 hrs. / In front of Wiang Khong Hotel or Thipt Chang Hotel 06.00 - 23.00 hrs.
- Ratchadaphisek Bridge, also known as the White Bridge, Ratchadaphisek Rd., Mueang District
- Wat Sri Chum: The largest Burmese temple in Thailand
- Wat Si Rong Mueang: Ban Tha Khao Noi, Tambon Sop Tui, Mueang Municipality (Burmese Temple)
- Wang Heo Reservoir (Lamphang Sea)
- Phra That Lampang Luang
(Many places were removed from the list of interest due to time constraints, distance, and unfavorable weather conditions.)
"Lampang is not alone" this time, I traveled with Bangkok Airways with a promotion of 480 baht (per flight). I booked it since last March. I was excited when I saw this promotion. Because I have never traveled with this airline before, I collected a lot of information before booking. Before I pressed the book, I was still wondering if it would be Phuket, Samui or Lampang. In the end, I decided to go to Lampang, even though I didn't know where I could go in Lampang??? ^^"
Full Service at this price per flight, no matter how green you are, no matter how many times you have to wait for cheap promotions, you can't help but feel tempted. At least you will definitely receive good service. And since this is my first time traveling with Bangkok Airways, I need to study and learn about the airline's information first. The departure airport is "Suvarnabhumi Airport". Lately, I have been traveling to Don Mueang so often that I almost forgot about Suvarnabhumi.
Bangkok Airways offers online check-in 24 hours to 1 hour before your flight.
To save time, check in and print your boarding pass in advance so you don't have to queue at the airport. Go to the Bangkok Airways website www.bangkokair.com and enter your travel details. If you are a member, don't forget to enter your FlyerBonus code at this stage to accumulate points.
For this trip, we opted for a "hassle-free and safe" travel experience as requested by my travel companion (my sister ^^"). We rented a car for 2 days (48 hours) from "Alamphang Car Rental" for 1,000 baht per day, excluding fuel but including basic insurance. The insurance is a Deduct type (similar to a mix of 1st and 3rd party insurance. In case of an accident, there will be a deductible fee regardless of who is at fault or if the other party cannot be found. The renter will be responsible for the first part of the damage). Delivery within the city and to the airport is free.
There are no major car rental companies in Lampang. There are only 2-3 local companies. After comparing them, I decided to use the services of this company.
Day 1: (June 25, 2016 / Departure flight at 12.00 p.m.)
Wat Phra Bat Pu Pha Daeng - Stay in the city - Kad Kong Taa
1:30 PM: Arrive at Lampang Airport / Pick up your rental car
2:00 PM: Head to Wat Phra Bat Pu Pha Daeng (62.5 km, approximately 1 hour drive / Route 1035)
3:00 PM: Arrive at Wat Phra Bat Pu Pha Daeng. Spend approximately 2.5 hours here, including the time it takes to climb up and down.
5:30 PM: Return to the city center (from the temple, take Route 1035 for about 5 km, then continue straight for a total distance of about 12 km, 25 minutes)
6:30 PM: Check in at Villa Rassada Lampang / Walk around Kad Kong Ta
I intended to arrive at Suvarnabhumi early in the morning because I wanted to get into the Bangkok Airways boutique lounge quickly. I wanted to try the legendary sticky rice with banana leaf, which is rumored to be very delicious. Hahaha, as I intended, I arrived at the airport at 9:30 am. I walked into the domestic departure hall, which was beautiful. I didn't check in my bags because I was afraid of wasting time. ^^ I passed the check-in counter and went to the lounge.
Oops..I met a bear too. So cute! Can I have a picture with you?
Don't waste any time, show your boarding pass at the front counter and get your Wifi code to sit inside.
The passenger lounge is more spacious than I expected. There are seats in the form of chairs, sofas, and counter bars. In addition to the seats and free Wifi, there are many other free services, such as:
- Computer for checking news information
- Beverages and snacks
- Electrical outlet plug
- Boarding time display board
They live very comfortably indeed.
Sweets and drinks, go all out at this point.
And here it is!! "The legendary sticky rice" A must-have. I got to eat it… Bite-sized pieces, delicious as rumored, and also cute ^^
11.20 a.m. is the boarding time (boarding time is 40 minutes before departure). When the time is near, walk and wait. Don't stay in the lounge for too long. Otherwise, you will be too comfortable. You might miss your flight again. Oh my.
"I need to charge my phone for a bit, haha." At Suvarnabhumi Airport, there are free temporary charging outlets available. This is so good! ^^
When it was time, the airline staff announced that we could board the plane. It was time to leave. We had to take a bus to the plane at the parking lot.
Shortly after boarding, food was served again. What a feast! They really take care of us here. Oh, and it's delicious too, not just for show.
This small plane flew lower than other airlines I've used, allowing for a comfortable view of the scenery below. Even at its highest altitude, the ground was still visible. It was a different kind of beauty, and I really liked it. I really like this airline, and I'm impressed by many things. ^_^
13.30 p.m. Arrive at Lampang Airport (1.30 hours) with a tram waiting to pick you up at the passenger terminal.
I contacted a car rental company to deliver the car to the airport. The car was quite old, but I didn't mind as long as it was fuel-efficient. After signing the rental agreement and checking the car for any scratches, I set off on my journey. For this trip, I relied heavily on Google Maps for navigation. (It's advisable to study the route beforehand, as Google Maps can sometimes lead you into the wilderness.)
Today's main destination is "Wat Phra Bat Pu Pha Daeng", also known as Wat Chalermprakiet Phra Chomklao Rachanusorn or "Doi Pu Yak" by the locals. It is located in the Chalermprakiet Phra Chomklao Rachanusorn National Park, Moo 7, Ban Tung Thong, Jae Hom District. From Lampang city, take Highway 1035 to Jae Hom District. Then, from Jae Hom city, go for another 1 kilometer. There will be a left-hand fork. Look for the archway to Ban Ya Yao village. Then turn left and go for about 200 meters. You will find the road to Wat Chalermprakiet on the left-hand fork.
The sky is quite clear, which is a relief because I came during the rainy season. Before I left, I was worried that I might encounter rain, but when I actually arrived and saw the sky like this, I felt relieved.
Oh, wait, wait, wait! On the way, I saw "Baan Sa Fresh Market" on the left-hand side. Let's stop by and see what we can find to snack on before we go any further.
We got some snacks and continued our journey until we saw this view. The mountain peak and the pagoda are in the distance, which means we are almost there!
Previously, tourists could drive themselves up the right-hand fork in the road. However, due to past accidents, the park and temple authorities have closed this road. Instead, tourists are required to use the left-hand fork and take the four-wheel drive vehicles provided by the park and temple. This measure is implemented to ensure the safety of all visitors.
From the intersection, it's not far before you'll find a spacious parking lot.
This location offers 4-wheel drive vehicles to transport visitors to the top, where they can then climb the stairs to the summit. During the first year or two after the opening, visitors were allowed to drive their own vehicles to the top before climbing the stairs. However, due to the single lane and rough terrain, only four-wheel drive vehicles were permitted. This posed a safety risk, and there were accidents. Therefore, the temple and the national park have adjusted the service to provide shuttle vehicles instead.
You can see a lot of four-wheel drive cars parked there. Walk that way.
Come buy tickets first.
100 baht each, with 80 baht going to the temple and 20 baht to the national park.
Luckily, the driver let me sit inside, but there was someone else in the front seat. I got to sit in the back seat, which was still good.
In a moment, we will reach the point where we have to continue walking up.
Let's do some light warm-up exercises before we start walking, and then we'll walk together. At this point, let's fight!
The hike to the top of the mountain is 800 meters from the parking lot. The trail is a mix of paved paths and stairs, and while it's not a long distance, the steep incline can be challenging. Many people find themselves out of breath and sweating profusely, and some even have to stop before reaching the top. Others experience dizziness or leg pain. It's highly recommended to warm up before starting the hike and to bring along some smelling salts or other remedies. Interestingly, I saw some people in their 60s successfully complete the climb. I believe their strong faith helped them overcome the physical challenges.
Along the way, enjoy the scenery and the lush greenery.
Until I saw this view, Oh...!! I'm here!! I'm here!! I'm finally here!!!
It is said that this place is a sacred land, as villagers discovered footprints of the Buddha inscribed on a large stone slab. However, the area where the footprints were found is currently closed to tourists due to damage caused by a group of teenagers who entered the area. (Information provided by park officials) Therefore, it is necessary to close the area to preserve its natural beauty. To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of King Rama IV on October 18, 2004, the Sangha Council decided to build two temples in his honor to commemorate his great kindness to the Thai people: Wat Phra Maha That in Bangkok and Wat Chalermprakiet Phra Chomklao Rachanusorn here. In addition, there are many caves in the vicinity, such as Tham Phasawan, the magical wind tunnel with beautiful rock patterns, the ancient lime kiln, and the ancient city called "Mueang Wichet Nakhon". However, we did not go there for fear of running out of time.
Let's walk this way first. The golden pagoda you see is the Wishing Pagoda. Anyone who wants to make a wish can come here. (Make a wish and then be determined to fulfill it, okay?)
Once you reach the top, you can pay your respects and make a wish at the pagoda. You will also find this chair. Taking a photo from this angle is quite beautiful.
And the view that I saw next from the chair just now is!!!! … So beautiful…ค่ะ!
Turning the other way to the opposite direction, we will find this view. We are starting to see the small white pagoda.
We want to see it closer. Walk down the same way and follow the path further. This is the Phra Hall. Let's go in and pay our respects to the Buddha first.
After that, we continued walking towards the sign that said "To the Prayer Hall".
As you walk up to the pavilion, you will be greeted by the best atmosphere of the day. It is the best prayer pavilion with the best surrounding atmosphere I have ever seen.
This place is ranked as one of the 10 Unseen Thailand destinations by the Tourism Authority of Thailand in 2014. The top of Wat Phra Bat Pu Pha Daeng is 815 meters above sea level. There are many white pagodas on the top of the mountain, which were built by the villagers with amazing faith. You can see a wide and beautiful view of the city of Lamphang from here.
From this point, we can look back at the wishing pagoda in a wider angle. And I saw that it was a very beautiful angle. At that time, I got goosebumps because I felt so full of the image that I saw, I can't really describe it. It wouldn't be wrong to say "fin".
Turning the other way, you'll be greeted by the highlight of this place: numerous small stupas lined up on the mountaintop.
I feel so lucky that I didn't encounter any rain. The sky was beautiful and the atmosphere was great. It was really worth the climb. I wanted to stay and watch the last light of the day, but I was afraid of coming down late because I had to go back to the city. It would be too dark. The last picture I took captured the atmosphere up here. I'm so full and happy. I'm so happy, let's just say that.
Walking down the same path, I feel like it's twice as fast as going up. Wow... the view is amazing.
5:30 p.m. Walk down to the waiting area for the car to pick you up. Walk a little further along the path and you will find another pair of Buddha's footprints that you can visit.
Walk along the path for about 100 meters, you will see this sign. Then continue a little further and you will arrive.
This area also has accommodation available, which is under the care of the temple. Most of the people who stay here are those who come to practice meditation. However, if tourists are interested in staying here, they can call to inquire. As for the rental fee, it is up to the individual's discretion and is considered a donation to the temple.
The pair of Buddha's footprints are located behind this pavilion.
And this is the "Pair of Buddha's Footprints" (which is assumed to have been found after the Buddha's footprint on the top was found).
I walked out to wait for the car downstairs, sat and watched the view while it was raining lightly. The sky was a little cloudy, which gave me this picture.
After descending, we headed back to the city center via the same route 1035 we took on the way up (from here you can travel to Jae Son National Park to visit waterfalls and hot springs, which are not too far away, but we didn't have enough time, so we'll have to come back another time ^___^)
6:30 p.m. For the first night, we chose to stay at "Villa Rassada Nakorn Lampang" located on Charoen Praphet Road, along the Wang River, opposite Kad Kong Ta (Old Market Road). You can call to reserve a room and pay at the hotel. The contact number is 054-018-547. You can see sample pictures on the hotel's Facebook fan page. https://www.facebook.com/villarassadanakornlampang
This hotel offers a variety of rooms at different prices. We chose the cheapest one, which was 690 baht and included breakfast. We requested a double bed so we wouldn't have to sleep next to each other. The room was very good, clean in every corner, and had all the amenities you would expect from a 3-star hotel (except for a bathtub, but it did have a hairdryer).
After playing for a while, they went out for a walk. Their destination was "Kad Kong Ta". They crossed the Rachaphisesak Bridge and arrived.
Kad Kong Ta, or translated into central Thai as Talat Khlong Tha, was once a thriving center of water trade. Therefore, there are many ancient buildings over a hundred years old along the line. People in this area call it 'Talat Chin', a walking street market on Talat Kao Road, parallel to the Wang River. The merchants are friendly and lovely. The things here are not very expensive. Some things are very cheap, such as grilled squid and grilled meatballs, starting at 5 baht per skewer. It's great at this point.
The first night I went there, there were very few stalls. The vendors told me that it was because it had been raining and had just stopped, so many of them had already packed up. It was a pity, but I thought, "Oh well, I'll come back tomorrow." Hahahaha.
Date 2: (June 26, 2016)
Ratchadaphisek Bridge - City Hall (Horse Carriage Ride) - Wat Sri Rong Mueang - Wat Sri Chum - Wang Heua Reservoir - Kad Kong Ta
09.00 AM: Take a stroll through Kad Huakua (Huakua Bridge Market)
11.00 a.m.: Check out / Head to Ratchadaphisek Bridge
11:30 AM: Take a horse-drawn carriage ride around the Provincial Hall.
12.00 p.m. : Walk and take photos at Old Market Street / "Hmone Ngoe Sin" coffee shop / Check in at Alam Bhanga
3:00 PM: Head to Wat Si Rong Muang (approximately 2.7 km / 10 minutes)
3:30 PM: Head to Wat Si Chum (approximately 2.7 km / 10 minutes)
4:00 PM: Head to Wang Heur Reservoir (Wang Heur Community Raft, Lampang Sea / 15.6 km, approximately 20 minutes)
5:00 PM: Return to "Alampak" accommodation / Walk around Kad Kong Ta
Today I'm going to chill, focusing on staying in the city. Before I came here, I intended to go to Kiew Lom Dam as well. But after calling to inquire, the weather isn't cooperating. If it rains, we won't be able to raft in the dam. So I decided to skip that route for now.
8.30 a.m. We came down for breakfast. There were two options: rice porridge with pork or American breakfast. We chose the latter.
After eating, I walked to the "Kad Huakua" or the bridge market. Along the way, I saw a few shops selling sticky rice in bamboo.
I saw a beautiful brick wall on the side of the road, so I asked for some space to take a selfie. ^^
I can see the Ratchadaphisek Bridge now!!
The Saphan Saphan Ratchadaphisek Bridge is also beautiful at night.
"Kad Huakua" or Huakua Bridge Market
"Kad Huakua," also known as Huakua Bridge Market, is a bustling fresh market offering a wide variety of goods, including food, daily necessities, vegetables, and local specialties. It's a perfect spot to grab breakfast if your accommodation doesn't provide it, and you're guaranteed to leave with a full stomach.
11:30 AM. After checking out, we headed to the front of the provincial hall to find something unique to Lamphun, which is "horse-drawn carriage" lol.
The Lamphun Horse Carriage Association has set three fare rates: 150 baht for a small city tour (20 minutes), 200 baht for a large city tour, or 300 baht per hour. The horse carriage queue is located in front of the Old City Hall and operates between 6:00 AM and 4:00 PM. The queue in front of the Tipthep Chang Lamphun Hotel, Wiang Lakor Hotel, and Lamphun Wiang Thong Hotel operates between 6:00 AM and 11:00 PM. You can also contact the Lamphun Horse Carriage Association at 054-21 9-255.
I also saw the clock tower that stands in the middle of the city.
As we rode through the city in a horse-drawn carriage, the horse kept neighing. The uncle said that the horse hadn't been walking normally that day and wouldn't neigh if it walked often. When it was away from its friends, it would neigh. After a while, the uncle said that the horse was a teenager and might have smelled a female horse earlier. After a while, the uncle came up with another reason. We were confused as to what was wrong with the horse!! I wasn't scared, just curious and amused.
12.00 p.m. After enjoying the city view, we continued to Old Market Street , the same street where we walked through Kad Kong Ta the night before. As soon as we arrived, our hunger pangs kicked in and we were ready to eat anything! We started with a skewer of pork tendon meatballs each as an appetizer.
Walk a little further, you will find a Sukhothai noodle shop. Oh! I'm hungry again!! Hahaha!
Don't call it hungry, call it wanting to eat. Eat alone with a 40 baht bowl of bamee. The taste of the noodles is ordinary, not the taste of Sukhothai noodles at all. Just put in some long beans. But it's edible. I'm full and have the energy to walk on.
What's on this street? ... It has a classic charm, which is the presence of many old buildings from the reign of King Rama V. You can walk and admire the beauty of the old buildings that still retain their beauty within a distance of less than 1 km. You can walk comfortably. We dragged our high heels without any pain or fatigue, even though we don't normally wear high heels. But we wanted to get beautiful pictures, haha.
I wanted to walk and take photos of every house on the map, but it was quite sunny (at least it was lucky that it didn't rain). And I was worried about the other people on the trip, so I only managed to take photos of a few houses. But I still like the charm of this street.
Starting from the first house, "Baan Khom San"
The first owner, known to the Chinese market as Pan Noi-Ya Langsat Kamsan, was the first person to build a concrete house in the area. The house was built around the same time as the Ratchadaphisek Bridge, in 1917. Pan Noi had a foreign friend from a logging company help design the house, and used skilled Shanghainese craftsmen to build it. The construction materials were brought from Bangkok by train and steamship. Originally, the house was painted light gray with a red tile roof. However, when it was passed down to the grandson, Khwanpong Kamsan, it was renovated and painted yellow, making it a striking sight.
Next is "The Bubble Building"
Or "Pattamasewee Building" is a brick and wood building decorated with gingerbread patterns. The various materials used in its construction were imported for the first time during the reign of King Rama V. It is considered a representative of the architectural style during the golden age of Lampang Province. More importantly, the Fong Lee Building was also awarded the Outstanding Architectural Conservation Award in 2008 by the Association of Siamese Architects.
"Yanxi Palace"
It is a commercial building made entirely of concrete, decorated in a full-fledged Western style. The roof is hipped but with a flat roof. The patterns used are both wood and concrete. In the past, the Yian Si Tai Lik Kee Department Store was the largest department store in the Chinatown area.
"Kanchanawong Building"
It is a two-story gingerbread-style building with a cross-gable roof, which is a typical layout for Chinese shops. It was originally owned by Bua Pat Kanchanawong, a Burmese, but is now owned by Ruunrevee Treethammapinitch of the Tia Heng Hong shop in the Sap Tuai area. The builder of this house was a Burmese timber merchant who built it as a residence and a tailor shop. The building is made entirely of concrete, and the building and the wooden fretwork are painted white. The wooden parts around the doors and windows are painted light gray. The house has been recently renovated.
And "Hmong Ngoy Sin Building" or the current Hmong Ngoy Sin shop.
The Sino-Portuguese style building is a two-and-a-half-story gingerbread house with a Manila-style roof. It used to be an art gallery, but has been converted into a coffee shop that serves a variety of drinks, including honey toast. National Artist for Visual Arts, No. Na Paknam, has praised it as the most beautiful gingerbread building on the roadside in Thailand. It also received the Outstanding Architecture Award in 2007 for the category of Lanna Architectural Conservation Building from the Lanna Committee of the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage.
Let's indulge in the beauty and savor the sweetness here.
The interior is decorated with antique heirlooms passed down through four generations, and there are also historical stories to read and enjoy.
The interior is very beautiful. The person who takes care of the building or the owner of the shop is already the 4th generation. It's beautiful, I secretly chatted with them for a bit. I saw that they were eating, so I didn't dare to chat too much. ^^"
The path to the bathroom, the atmosphere looks lonely like this... But it's beautiful and has a good mood.
We then walked over to sit down and continue with the dessert. We ordered drinks first. There are many drinks to choose from here. We ordered iced caramel tea. Personally, I like iced tea that is a bit sweet, but this one wasn't very sweet or strong. And the price is quite expensive. This glass is 75 baht, but it's not strong at all. The cute thing is the small palm leaf box that comes with 2 pieces of free rice crackers. The rice crackers, or rice cakes, or nang led, are delicious.
Another plate of honey toast, please. The taste is... ordinary. The ice cream and fruit are sour, which completely cuts through the sweetness of the honey toast. I can't smell any honey at all. I'm not sure if they used real honey. (I'm just being picky... I'm just telling it like it is ^^") You can ask the staff in the shop to order the rice noodles from the shop opposite. The shop told me that.
My sister bought balm back home. There is also balm for sale according to the elements.
Total 294 baht. The atmosphere of the restaurant is interesting. I would give it a 10 out of 10. As for the taste, I would give it a 5. However, everyone has different taste preferences, so others may have a different opinion.
1:30 p.m. Check in to the accommodation for the second night, "Alam Phang". I must say that before I came here, I wanted to stay in many places. There are many beautiful places with prices in the hundreds. But I will focus on those that are next to the Wang River. In the end, I chose this place. For Alam Phang, you have to call to book and transfer the full amount in advance. During the high season, it will be full quickly. Or you can book through various websites in advance (checked, the price is not different). I called to book but it was not convenient to transfer the money in advance. Another thing is that I thought I would go and see it first. If there is no room available or it doesn't work, I can change the place. When the time came, I tried to stop by and see. I felt that it was quite right, so I decided to check in and pay for the room here. There are many types of rooms with different prices. You can see the floor plan and sample rooms from the website in advance. http://www.r-lampang.com
This place is a hybrid between a homestay and a resort. It has four large houses with almost twenty rooms. The room we chose was the cheapest air-conditioned room at 690 baht (excluding breakfast). It was in the green house, which looked pretty cool...
The building is surrounded by various photogenic spots.
This place has a very classic feel, like being at your grandparents' house. There's a common area with seating, a TV, and a bookshelf. Anyone can come and relax here. The rooms are 2-star level. Since it's a wooden house, it's not very soundproof, but it's still comfortable to sleep in.
Checked into the room and put our stuff down, then the rest of the group went to sleep. Hahahaha!
3:00 PM Continue the journey, starting from "Wat Si Rong Mueang", which takes about 10 minutes by car.
"Wat Sri Rong Mueang" is a Burmese temple built during the reign of King Rama V. The wooden viharn has a multi-tiered gable roof with 9 pointed spires, in the Burmese architectural style. The ceiling is decorated with carved wood and the large round pillars are adorned with stained glass patterns. Originally, the temple had both a large and a small viharn. The small viharn consisted of 9 buildings, but these have all collapsed, leaving only the large viharn, which is the main viharn of the temple.
3:30 PM. Next, we head to "Wat Si Chum" , located just 2.7 km from Sri Rong Mueang, taking about 10 minutes.
"Wat Sri Chum" is the largest Burmese temple among the 31 Burmese temples in Thailand. The highlight of Wat Sri Chum was originally the Vihara, a half-brick, half-wooden building with Lanna and Burmese art decorations. The wooden roof with a pointed top was beautifully carved with patterns. Unfortunately, the Vihara was completely destroyed by a fire in the early morning of January 16, 1992. Only the carved wood at the entrance arch of the Vihara remains, with an openwork floral pattern. The temple has now been restored, and some of the building decorations that were destroyed by the fire are on display behind the Vihara. Wat Sri Chum was registered as an ancient monument in 1981.
4:00 p.m. Head to "Lampang Sea" or Wang Heua Reservoir. We will go find nature together. The distance from the city is about 16 km. It takes about 20 minutes by using Highway No. 11 to Denchai-Phrae. When you reach the Ban Phai Lad intersection, drive straight for about 1.5 km. U-turn back to Lampang. Before reaching the bridge, there will be a fork to turn left for another 1 km. Then you will reach Wang Heua Reservoir.
Upon arrival, you will find the Lamphang Seafood Restaurant (Seafood Restaurant - Lamphang).
There are food and beverage services both in the pavilion on land and the raft on the water. If you have a lot of time, it would be great to have dinner here while watching the sunset. You can choose your seat as you like.
And the highlight of this place is... the floating raft. You can go down and have your meal on the raft. What you see as lines in the water are ropes that can be used to pull the raft out to the middle of the lake by yourself. It's so cool! ^^
The view is amazing... It's more beautiful than I thought. It's actually a small reservoir, but it has everything you could ask for in terms of views. Trees, grass, mountains, water, it's all there.
The wildflowers are so captivating, making us lose ourselves in this breathtaking view once again...
Wildflowers, nature always has its own beauty. Little butterflies are still fascinated ^^
However, we had limited time, so we only admired the view. It was much more beautiful than I had imagined. Although it was not vast, the scenery was breathtaking. Water, mountains, wildflowers, butterflies... The reflections were perfect. Everything was perfect. But the only problem was that there were a lot of mosquitoes. If you are planning to visit, please bring mosquito repellent.
5:00 PM. Back to the accommodation and went out for a walk (looking for food) at Kad Kong Ta again. Tonight, there were a lot of stalls selling things, but after walking for a while, the wind started to pick up and it looked like it was going to rain again. The shops started to pack up, too. Wait, wait, wait, I haven't even walked that far yet >< But it's okay, there are still quite a few shops left. I continued walking (eating) and came across a fried chicken wing stall. I found fried chicken wing tips for one baht each. I couldn't resist buying them, and they were delicious.
I walked for a long time until I was satisfied, then I walked back. As I approached my accommodation, it started to drizzle. The weather was cool and comfortable tonight.
Day 3: (June 27, 2016 / Return flight at 2:00 PM)
**Luang Phra That Lampang – Phra That Chom Ping – Lampang Airport**
09:00 AM: Check out and head to Wat Phra That Lampang Luang (approximately 20 km, 30 minutes drive).
09.30 AM: Wat Phra That Lampang Luang
10:00 AM: Head to Phra That Chom Ping (the inverted shadow of the pagoda) (16 km, approximately 20 minutes)
12.00 p.m.: Depart from Lampang Airport
2:00 PM: Depart
9.30 a.m. Check out was a bit late. I intended to leave at 8.30 a.m., but when I checked the time again... it was late!! Luckily, I had bought some snacks from Kad Kong Ta as provisions for the morning. After checking out, I walked to the riverside to take some pictures of the atmosphere before leaving.
10:00 AM: Head to "Phra That Lampang Luang", the zodiac pagoda for the year of the Ox. Located in Tambon Lampang Luang, about 18 kilometers from Lampang city. Drive along the Lampang-Thein highway until you reach kilometer marker 586. Turn in and continue until you reach the Ko Kha District Office. Then turn right and drive for another 2 kilometers. At the fork, turn in for another 1 kilometer. (If you are traveling by public transportation, you can take the blue songthaew from Thanon Rot Wiang near the Government Savings Bank Market.) As you know, Phra That Lampang Luang is the zodiac pagoda for the year of the Ox. Those born in the year of the Ox should come to pay respects for good luck at least once. However, those who were not born in the year of the Ox can also visit and admire the beauty of this temple.
At Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, there are also horse-drawn carriages decorated with colorful flowers, even more beautiful than those in the city.
You can sit on a horse-drawn carriage to take pictures with Wat Phra That Lampang Luang in the background ... 10 baht per person, a lovely price ^_^
Let's walk this way first. It seems a bit confusing which way to go first, so let's just walk slowly.
Stop by to pay respects to the Buddha at this point first.
I didn't forget to take a picture when I saw the flowers.
Follow the path until you reach this point. It is a magnificent and magical creation. Within the temple grounds, there are many sections to explore. Let's start with...
1. The Kok Gate: This beautiful gate was built by ancient royal artisans. It is made of brick and mortar, with a pointed arch in several tiers, facing four directions. It is decorated with patterns, stucco moldings of flowers, and mythical Himalayan animals. The Kok Gate is used as a symbol of Lampang city in the provincial seal of Lampang.
2. The Royal Wihan: Located on the same line as the Khok Gate and the Phra That Chedi, it is a rectangular gable-roofed wihan in the style of the early Lanna period. The gable roof is layered, and inside the wihan is the Mondop of Phra Chao Lan Thong. Inside the second neck line, there are ancient murals depicting the Jataka tales.
3. The Chedi: A blend of Lanna and Sri Lankan styles, this large brick and stucco chedi features a square base with three tiers of lotus bud moldings. It is covered in sheets of brass with intricate cut-out designs, known as "Thong Jango." According to legend, it enshrines relics of the Buddha.
4. The Buddha Hall: At least 700 years old, the hall was originally open-air with a pediment decorated with floral patterns and stained glass. Inside, the main Buddha image is a large, seated figure in the Mara-Vijaya attitude, made of brick and stucco in the Chiang Saen style.
5. Wihan Nam Taem: This is a satellite viharn located to the north of the main stupa. It is a rectangular wooden viharn with ancient murals inside. It houses a bronze Buddha statue with a lap width of 45 inches.
6. Wihan Ton Kaeo: This newly built structure replaced the old one in 1967. It measures 6.92 meters wide and 15.10 meters long. Inside, it houses a reclining Buddha statue made of wood, the same size as the real Nan Tippy Chang. This Buddha statue is the family Buddha of the northern princes, namely Na Lampang, Na Lamphun, Na Chiang Mai, and the seven lineages.
7. Phra Phutthabat Hall: This is a square-shaped brick architecture. The base of the stupa was built to cover the footprint of the Buddha. It was built during the reign of King Ha Chao Than, in 1992. It is a place to see the reflection of the stupa in an upside-down angle (but we didn't go in because we were so busy admiring the beautiful surroundings that we forgot the important thing, what a pity ><).
In addition, there are other areas for activities according to beliefs, such as "Praying to lift the elephant to predict success".
This small golden elephant may look unassuming, but don't let its size fool you, it's quite heavy!
The man uses his little finger to hook, the woman uses her ring finger to hook, and then lifts it up after making a wish. If it lifts up, it predicts that it will be successful.
Next to it is another one, "Lucky Stick of Phra Chao Than Jai".
At first, I was a bit hesitant and confused about how to do it correctly. After a while, a kind person came over and demonstrated how to use it. They picked up a wooden stick and measured the length from the tip of one finger to the tip of the other, placing the stick against their chest. They then marked the position with a rubber band tied to the stick before making a wish. After making the wish, they measured again in the same way. If the result showed that our fingers reached further on the stick than before, it meant we were lucky. ^^
We spent quite a while here, but we still couldn't see all the beauty. Time was tight, and one of our group members forgot something important at the Aalamphang, so we had to rush back to get it before heading back to the airport (we were really worried if we would make it). And because of this, we didn't have time to go to the Phra That Chom Ping. Phra That Chom Ping is not far from Phra That Lampang Luang, so you can easily set it up as a one-day trip.
On the way back, we didn't check in with the airline in advance. We arrived at the airport at 12:30, but the car rental company was available to pick up the car at 13:00. So we checked with the call center of Bangkok Airways. After receiving the answer "You're in time," we were relieved... We returned the car and hurried into the airport. We had plenty of time.
And at the airport, there is also a small corner of Bangkok Airways to welcome passengers as well. It's very valuable. It saves time finding restaurants and saves a lot of money on food. Come and have a full stomach here, to be honest ^^"
13.20 p.m. Time to board the passenger plane back. Bye-bye Lampang, the enchanting charm of the horse carriage city. See you next time, I'll come to visit again.
Wait, wait, wait! I forgot to mention that there's another meal served on the plane too! ^^
Additional: Summary of expenses
Let me add some more information about getting out of Suvarnabhumi Airport. "Can I avoid taking a taxi from here? It's expensive." ... Yes, you can. If you don't want to take a taxi but don't want to have a hard time getting out, then the Airport Rail Link is the way to go. But for me, it was my first time using the Airport Rail Link, so I had to find information right then and there.
Once you have the information, just follow the signs (no journey is difficult if you know how to read, observe and ask).
(Thinking about my trip on the Tokyo Metro in Japan when I saw this picture. It brought back memories.)
When you reach this booth, choose your destination, insert money and receive a token. Easy peasy, right? ^^
Once you have your coins, just follow the signs.
Not many people, good too. Good, good, good, really good.
Queuing up for the train in an orderly fashion, the "Lampang (not alone)" trip has come to a successful end. Thank you.
GowithAmp
Friday, September 27, 2024 10:20 AM
