This trip was a blast! We went during the New Year with a challenge: 6 of us wanted to go for only 2 days, not too far from Bangkok, avoid crowds, and have activities to do (full of conditions).
Huh!!! No crowds during New Year? Is that even possible? We decided to go in December, but wouldn't all the accommodations be fully booked? But then, like a stroke of luck, we found a place that was big, luxurious, had activities, wasn't crowded, and was close to Bangkok. It ticked all our boxes! Our destination for this trip was Phetchaburi Province.

We left Bangkok early in the morning to avoid the New Year's traffic. We decided to find something to eat along the way and ended up at Danus' Hobby Farm (just past Wang Manao intersection). We've passed this restaurant many times, but we never knew what it was. So today, we decided to stop by and check it out.

What is the style of this shop called? English Cottage? The shop is very cute.

The food was reasonably priced and tasted good. It was served with riceberry rice. We ordered it as a light snack before heading to another restaurant.

This restaurant has a sheep farm and other animals in the back. The entrance fee is 50 baht. Since we were already there, we decided to go in and play.

As mentioned earlier, we stopped at the first restaurant to fill our stomachs before heading to the noodle shop near Wat Tham Khao Yoi. We first visited the temple to pay respects and seek blessings. There were many monkeys, but we didn't have to worry about our shoes being stolen because there were people guarding them to prevent the monkeys from taking them.

After paying respects at the temple, we headed to a nearby noodle shop. The shop displayed signs indicating that it had been featured on numerous television programs.

They claim it's red pork noodle soup, and it looks exactly like the picture. It's not like the waterfall noodle soup, but it's still thick and rich.

We have arrived at our accommodation, which is located approximately 20 kilometers off the main road. The journey was pleasant, with minimal traffic. We checked in during the afternoon.

From the lobby of our accommodation, you can see the Mae Prachan Dam in the distance (this will be another place we will visit together).

We booked a traditional Thai house for 6 people (normally 4 with 2 extra beds). The house is quite large, with everyone sleeping together. There are 2 bathrooms and 2 toilets. We can rent a stove for grilling, which is perfect for large groups (although we brought our own). There is a market near the accommodation that sells everything you need, so you can buy food for grilling there and avoid the hassle of bringing it yourself.

This is the view from my front yard. The breeze is so refreshing, I don't even need to turn on the air conditioning. I can just lie down and enjoy the fresh air.

This is a partial view of the surrounding area of the accommodation.

Note: For those who prefer not to share a room with others, there are hotel-style rooms available on the upper floors. These rooms offer stunning views of the mountains and the reservoir, as shown in the picture above.

With accommodation settled, we waited for the sun to set and the wind to die down before embarking on our adventure activity. The activity took place within the hotel grounds, and we opted for the High Ropes course, which involved climbing, traversing, and rappelling. I was excited, having never tried it before, and the activity details seemed basic. But as the saying goes, don't count your chickens before they hatch!

The high ropes course has 15 stages (priced at 300 baht, but we got a 20% discount for staying here). The difficulty varies, and I'll take you through each stage. We'll start with set A, which has 3 stages, beginning with an easy first stage.

Climbing the net was surprisingly easy, but walking to the next point didn't seem difficult either (the first stage was probably just a test to see how we would react).

Others crossed easily, but I wanted to capture the moment, so I brought my camera. It wasn't an action camera, and it didn't have a waterproof case. I was so worried about the camera falling into the water.

Set A's 3 stages are complete. Let's move on to Set C, which has 6 stages. Just climb to the top, and there will be something there. It's easy. (Wait, I just did 3 stages and I'm already talking?)

Let's start with set C without further ado.

1. Crawling through the donut hoop: It depends on how you crawl through it to get through it the easiest way. Head first or feet first, it's up to you. I mean, I think it's going to be hard for me to get through because I'm big (my family calls it the final stage of chubby).

The second obstacle was a single bamboo pole suspended by a sling. Stepping onto it was a challenge, as the pole swung wildly, mirroring the frantic beating of my heart. The initial steps were terrifying, but after conquering two or three poles, I began to find my rhythm and regain my composure.

Despite the fear and excitement, they still had the presence of mind to take photos. The height was considerable, and the wind made them feel unsteady. They held onto the bamboo tightly.

3. The rope bridge was difficult to navigate due to its narrowness, making it challenging to place one's feet. After completing this stage, the staff informed us that anyone who felt unable to continue could opt out at this rest point, as the challenges ahead would be more demanding. However, no one chose to withdraw.

The difficulty level has increased. At the fourth stage, there are three suspension bridges, two of which we can hold onto, and the other we have to climb. It's a bit scary, and I'm afraid of making a mistake.

The most challenging stage (in our opinion) was the 5th stage, the double sling. There were two ropes for us to hold onto while climbing, but it was difficult to maintain our balance. Standing on the ropes, we felt like we were going to fall forward or backward. It was terrifying! We were so afraid of losing our grip. We couldn't help but wonder what would happen if we let go. But somehow, we managed to get through it (or did we?).

I am very happy to have completed the sixth checkpoint of set C. This checkpoint also involved climbing a single rope, but it was easier than the previous one (although not much easier).

After completing Set C, the group exclaimed, "What did we do to deserve this punishment?!" Moving on to Set B, which we skipped earlier, it's safe to say that Set B is a breeze compared to Set C. With 6 stages, this set can be summarized with pictures.

The thought of tomorrow's soreness already crossed my mind after finishing the activity. I would have loved to continue with other activities, but my body couldn't take it anymore. Besides, it was starting to get dark, so it was better to call it a day. We headed back to our accommodation for a party. We had booked a New Year's promotion package that included dinner. The food was plentiful and delicious (but my battery died, so I couldn't take any pictures).

Despite having a hearty dinner, we couldn't resist the allure of grilling under the cool night breeze.

Waking up early in the morning, I drove to watch the sunrise at the Mae Prachan Dam, which is located near my accommodation. Initially, I planned to rent an ATV from the accommodation, but the service only starts at 8:00 AM, so I missed the opportunity to drive around. The morning atmosphere at the dam was excellent, with a cool and comfortable breeze. The dam is conveniently located, so there's no need to search for distant attractions. A short drive will get you there. Alternatively, if you're not an early riser, you can relax in the evening and rent an ATV from the hotel.

This place is great! There are so many activities to do, and you don't have to worry about safety. They have all the necessary safety equipment. I haven't even tried everything yet, and I didn't think Phetchaburi would have activities like this. Plus, it's close to Bangkok, so it's an easier drive than going to Pak Chong. Most importantly, the prices are reasonable, and there are a lot of activities to choose from. I'll definitely have to bring my friends back here again because there's still so much to do. Come in large groups and have a blast! If you don't believe me, you have to try it for yourself.