Hello, I was fortunate enough to be one of 20 people selected to join P'Lek Greasy Cafe on a journey to retrace the steps of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great (Rama IX) in solving water problems in Pak Phanang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, as part of the "Continuing the Father's Work" project. The trip took place from November 20-22, 2016. The project selected lucky individuals to learn firsthand about the locations where His Majesty addressed the issues, with the goal of sharing these stories with others. (In addition to Pak Phanang-Kiriwong, there are four other locations: Doi Ang Khang, Ban Mae Lan Noi, Doi Inthanon, and Ao Kung Kraben.) I would like to express my gratitude to the project for this opportunity. I am posting this thread as I had intended before the trip, but I was delayed due to other commitments and the major floods in the south. However, as the situation has now improved, I would like to share the stories I had the chance to witness during my journey. I apologize in advance for any missing or incomplete information.

P'Lek, the owner of Greasy Cafe, is one of the collaborators in this project. To be honest, one of the reasons I chose to travel there was because of him. Hehe.

Upon meeting P'Lek in person, I found him to be a kind and easygoing individual with a highly sophisticated worldview.

Please follow my page on Facebook: เที่ยวไปดั่งนอแรด (Updates are posted sporadically).

Here are some of my previous works.

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Embark on a journey to Cradle Mountain, a World Heritage Site nestled within Tasmania, Australia's largest island.

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Embark on a journey to the heart of Australia's Red Centre, where you will encounter the world's largest monolith.

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WAH student shares their perspective: 4 Months in Melbourne, Australia!

Link to a comment on the Pantip website.

17 Days in Myanmar. A 17-day travelogue of my experiences in Myanmar.

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The story will continue on November 20, 2016.

We met at Don Mueang Airport as instructed by the project and traveled together to Nakhon Si Thammarat by plane. Upon arrival in Nakhon Si Thammarat, the project team took us to pay respects at Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, the most important temple in Nakhon Si Thammarat, for good luck.

After paying respects at the temple and having lunch, we continued our journey to Pak Phanang District. Historically, Pak Phanang was a port city and a major commercial and economic center. Due to its geographical location as a peninsula jutting out into the sea and the bay within the Pak Phanang River mouth, it was suitable for shipping and the distribution of goods to other major cities. This led to a flourishing economy in the past, as Chinese junks and large cargo ships docked and distributed goods. King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) also visited Pak Phanang during his reign.

Pak Phanang district is also known for Laem Talumphuk, which was hit by a major storm, Typhoon Harriet, in 1962. The storm caused unprecedented damage and casualties in Thailand. His Majesty the King graciously provided assistance to the victims of the storm in various ways. He ordered the Director-General of the Department of Public Welfare to register the establishment of the Rajaprajanukroh Foundation under Royal Patronage on August 23, 1963, and donated 3 million baht. He also instructed the radio station of the Dusit Palace to broadcast news to the public to join him in donating. The donation received a warm response from the Thai people, who donated a total of 11 million baht.

The Pak Phanang River Basin in Thailand is facing a multitude of environmental challenges. The once-fertile region has been impacted by a growing population, deforestation, and climate change. These factors have led to a decrease in freshwater availability, saltwater intrusion, and soil acidification. Additionally, agricultural runoff has polluted waterways, causing conflicts between rice farmers and shrimp farmers. The Pak Phanang River Basin Development Project, a royal initiative covering 1.9 million rai, aims to address these issues and restore the basin's former prosperity.

Within the Pak Phanang Basin Development Project area, we visited a museum and listened to a lecture by a resource person about the origin of the royal initiative project and His Majesty's problem-solving approach. Most remarkably, His Majesty was able to solve all the water problems that arose without ever visiting the site in person. Instead, he solved the problems and planned the project based on four maps that were joined together into one large map, which he worked on himself. This truly demonstrates his extraordinary intelligence. This is the map...

His Majesty the King has graciously bestowed royal initiatives on numerous occasions to address issues and promote development in the Pak Phanang River Basin, aiming to alleviate the plight of the local populace.

- The first time was in December 1988, following the major flood in November.

- On October 9 and 11, 1992, at the Khok Ku Wa Pumping Station in Pron District, Tak Bai District, Narathiwat Province, and the Ban To Lang Pumping Station in Tak Bai District, Narathiwat Province, His Majesty the King granted a royal initiative for the Royal Irrigation Department to consider the construction of the Pak Phanang Water Gate in Pak Phanang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, to prevent saltwater intrusion and store freshwater, along with the construction of a drainage canal system to alleviate flooding problems and a water distribution system for cultivation in the Pak Phanang River Basin.

- The most significant event occurred on October 2, 1993, when His Majesty the King granted an audience to the Executive Committee of the Pak Phanang River Basin Development Project at the Thaksin Ratchaniwet Palace. He bestowed additional royal insights, stating, "...Constructing a water gate at the mouth of the river, approximately 3 kilometers from Pak Phanang district, should be considered to address all issues. This implies that it is the project's cornerstone, capable of resolving issues ranging from drought, floods, and saltwater intrusion to providing residents with water for consumption and agriculture... While this single water gate may not solve all problems, necessitating the creation or continuation of projects, it serves as the starting point for addressing them comprehensively. From this point forward, anything can be accomplished, and separate projects can be developed..."

Information on royal initiatives from

[Spoiler] Click to reveal hidden texthttp://www.rid.go.th/royalproject/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=137%3A2009-05-24-07-10-36&catid=66%3A2009-05-04-07-29-58&Itemid=9After receiving initial information and knowledge from the expert, we visited the Uthokvipaschprasit Water Gate, which serves as a central hub for addressing freshwater shortages for agricultural and domestic use during the dry season, saltwater intrusion during the dry season, and flooding of agricultural land during the rainy season. The construction was carried out between 1996 and 1999. The Royal Irrigation Department constructed the Uthokvipaschprasit Water Gate, which has 10 vertical gates, each 9.00 meters high and 20.00 meters wide. The maximum discharge capacity is 1,430 cubic meters per second.

The Uthok Vithaprasit Watergate serves as the central solution to the "4 Waters, 3 Flavors" problem, addressing issues of flooding, drought, saltwater intrusion, and soil acidity.

Previously, the area was flooded for 3-4 months, but now the flooding lasts only 20 days. During the dry season, the stored water is released, and the saltwater intrusion that used to contaminate freshwater has been mitigated through water separation and salinity adjustments.

The speaker noted that even His Majesty's royal projects for the people have encountered challenges. While the initial plan was to construct five reservoirs, only one, the Huai Nam Sai Reservoir, has been completed to date. Construction on the other reservoirs has been put on hold due to objections from local residents who are not yet ready for the project. His Majesty has always been receptive to public feedback, hence the delay in construction. The area around Pak Phanang district is home to both farmers who require freshwater and shrimp farmers who rely on saltwater. Ultimately, His Majesty's compassion and understanding of the local context allowed for a successful resolution, with the project progressing in stages.

We then continued our journey to the Siam Ruby Pomelo orchard, where farmers have benefited from the water management solutions implemented through His Majesty's royal initiative. As a result, they now enjoy significant income, and the Siam Ruby Pomelo is truly delicious.

The reason why Siam Ruby pomelo has a good taste is because the land in this area is located in a brackish water area. Farmers said that before the water management, nothing could be planted in this area. However, after the Pak Phanang Dam from the royal project came to help manage the water, they have been able to make a living until today.

That night at the hotel, we gathered in a circle and had a lively discussion, exchanging thoughts and feelings. We talked about our heartfelt feelings towards His Majesty, which brought tears to many eyes. One highlight of the evening was that everyone who had chosen this project with P'Lek wanted to see him perform live. However, we were disappointed because P'Lek had come empty-handed and didn't bring his guitar. He explained that he had come with the intention of working and learning according to the project's objectives. This made me realize P'Lek's seriousness and was impressed by his thoughtful approach that night. As for what exactly he said, I'll keep that to myself.

November 21, 2016

On the second day, we traveled to Kiriwong Village, a village known for having the best air quality in Thailand. It also received the Outstanding Tourism Industry Award (Thailand Tourism Awards) in 2008 in the City and Community category. This is because it is a strong community and a model for ecotourism business management. The village is located amidst the natural beauty of mountains and rivers. The villagers live a peaceful life in a close-knit community. Let's see what the atmosphere is like.

After a brief introduction and conversation, the guide led us on a hike through the forest to visit the gardens of the Kiriwong villagers. We continued our journey to our final destination, the Fish Pond, a popular recreation spot for the villagers of Kiriwong. Here, we witnessed the pristine beauty of nature and the villagers' deep connection to their environment. They work together to maintain cleanliness and a healthy ecosystem, understanding that healthy soil, water, and air contribute to overall well-being.

We have arrived at Wang Pla, and the weather is fantastic (although the sun is a bit hot). Here, we will encounter a vast school of Pla Pruang, so much so that it can be considered a kingdom. The locals are aware that this fish species should not be consumed, resulting in a significant population increase.

When people are surrounded by nature, they all have their own peaceful corners. Just like Brother Lek, hehe.

The Kiriwong community is a self-sufficient economic community, a model of self-reliance. They have created supplementary occupations to generate income, divided into various subgroups. Today, we have seen several examples of income-generating occupations for villagers, such as batik tie-dyeing, fabric tie-dyeing, and dreamcatcher making.

This demonstrates the art of batik painting, where each design is unique and one-of-a-kind, reflecting the artist's individual imagination.

Tie-dye fabric is another unique feature of this place. We tried tie-dyeing handkerchiefs ourselves and everyone got to take home a souvenir.

The last activity was trying to make a dreamcatcher, which was surprisingly difficult.

Serenity and beauty at Khao Kiriwong

The second night was our last night together, so we gathered around to get to know each other better. Our group leader, P' Lop, secretly borrowed a guitar from the village headman. It was a guitar with broken strings that we fixed ourselves so that we could ask P' Lek to play us a song. We all knew we wanted to hear him play. In the end, P' Lek played us a song, and we all loved it. I really want to share it with you, but I don't know how to upload a video. Haha. But the feeling of that night will stay with us forever. Thank you to all my friends.

That night, I brought the photos of P'Lek that I had taken when he came to play a concert in Chiang Rai to give to all my friends. At first, I was very hesitant and afraid that it would be too much of a bother to P'Lek, but in the end, he signed them for me with the utmost willingness. Thank you very much.

November 22, 2016

Today is the last day of the project. We woke up early to visit Wat Kiriwong, the village temple, to participate in the annual merit-making ceremony to commemorate the great flood of 1988. Every year on November 22nd, a merit-making ceremony is held here to remember the great flood that devastated Kiriwong village. There are many food stalls, and the villagers are smiling and cheerful. In the picture on the right, you can see the peak of Khao Luang, the mountain that is the source of the river and one of the starting points of the flood.

Sitting in a circle, talking with community leaders about the severe flood. The cause was continuous rain for 7 days. After that, flash floods flowed down from Khao Luang, catching villagers off guard. The water swept away sediment and large trees, causing damage to the village. Many people died. The damage was extensive, not only in Kiri Wong. However, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great had an idea to rehabilitate the area, solve the problem, and prevent further damage to Ban Kiri Wong and nearby areas. In 1989, the Royal Irrigation Department carried out work in accordance with the royal initiative, including dredging and widening the canal, as well as constructing bank protection works for the drainage canal.

The Kiriwong community's unwavering unity is exemplified by their response to the devastating flood. When authorities proposed relocating the community due to the lack of safe land within Kiriwong, the residents adamantly refused. "We declared that we would not leave, that we would rather die here," they stated. "This is what our ancestors instructed us, and we are all determined to remain." The government eventually conceded, and the Kiriwong people enthusiastically collaborated on dredging canals and riverbanks. Remarkably, no other community has willingly surrendered their land for such a project without compensation. This extraordinary sacrifice epitomizes the spirit of the Kiriwong people.

A notable characteristic of Kiriwong is its close-knit kinship network, where all families are related. This strong sense of kinship enables the community to achieve success in various endeavors. For instance, when a community savings group was swept away by a flood, along with its records, the group remained intact due to the unwavering trust and empathy among its members. This incident exemplifies the unity, honesty, and compassion that define the Kiriwong community.

Partial data from

[Spoiler] Click to reveal hidden texthttp://www.manager.co.th/Daily/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9500000019973After the merit-making ceremony, we still have some time before boarding the plane back to Bangkok. So, let's take a tour of the beautiful Khao Kiri Wong.

As Khao Luang is a headwater, it is home to numerous waterfalls. We had the opportunity to visit one of the waterfalls with the help of a local guide.

What is the name of this waterfall? Anyone know, please tell me. 55555+

"Our natural environment, including land, forests, rivers, seas, and air, is not just beautiful; it is essential for our survival. Protecting our environment is protecting the future of our children."

Royal Address on the Occasion of the Royal Birthday Ceremony, December 5, 1978

Our journey has come to an end. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the generous sponsors of the "Following in Father's Footsteps" travel project.

I hope there will be more good projects like this in the coming years. It is really beneficial.

Permission to use the image from Facebook page: เดินทางพ่อ : Walk of The King.

I hope we will meet again in the future.