I can't believe we're finally here in Phatthalung Province. We never thought we'd get to visit, maybe because it's so far away. But it wasn't too far after all. During our one-night stay, we had so many adventures. Sit down, and I'll tell you all about it.


01

FIRST IMPRESSION

. . .

A warm welcome and a heartfelt smile.

"Where is the banyan tree market?" We asked for directions throughout the journey. The small community where everything is close together. The search seemed like a thin veil over our eyes. We drove past it several times, but still couldn't find it. Until we asked for directions one last time, and thought we would finally find it. We slowly drove and looked at the road. "Found it!" The community's theme song played loudly. Three or four older siblings were waiting to welcome us. "Hello," we smiled and greeted them. The older siblings asked back, "Have you eaten yet, son? Come, come and have some snacks first." After we rested, drank water, ate snacks, and fruit for a while, the rain started to fall.


After the rain stopped, we walked down to enjoy the view below clearly. The view of the rice fields next to it is beautiful. There are young cows in the middle of the field and white egrets are standing in rows along the ridge. The view in front of us is really beautiful. In addition, the smiles and friendliness of everyone made us feel comfortable beyond words. And this is our first impression of this place. Welcome to "Takmod", the city of the heart.


Before we set off for our next destination, we suddenly remembered a question we wanted to ask. "Excuse me, what kind of buffalo is this? Why does it look so fierce and have a hump on its back? Is it a special breed of cow?" Everyone was confused by our question. After a moment, someone knowledgeable pointed out, "It's a fighting bull, the kind they raise for bullfighting." Ah, I see. So this is a fighting bull walking past us. Its name is Lungsad, and its owner told us not to get too close, just take pictures from afar. It seems ready to fight anything.

02

BELIEVE

…

Faith and Belief

Each community has its own unique faith and beliefs. In Takua Pa, a community of two religions, Buddhists and Muslims live together in peace and harmony. Everyone in the community is like brothers and sisters, living in harmony. Wherever you turn, people smile and greet each other warmly. Most importantly, there is a spiritual anchor here, "Father Than Chuai," who has been the guardian deity of Takua Pa for a long time.

People here believe that if you come to pay respects to Father Than Chuai at Wat Takua Pa, you will be lucky. We ourselves did not miss the opportunity to visit this place. At Wat Takua Pa, there is also a library dedicated to Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother. This small temple is truly a breathtaking example of Thai architecture.

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In addition to the temples, we also saw a shadow puppet hanging in the small bedroom of our guide, Mr. Apai. The legend of shadow puppets, which has been passed down for generations, has never been lost from the hearts of the people. Without hesitation, Mr. Apai picked up the shadow puppet and told us the story of the people of Takua Pa through the character of Mr. Teng. It was the first time we had ever seen, heard, and experienced the southern atmosphere. We were very impressed.


03

ORGANIC LIFE AND BE COOL

. . .

Horseback riding in the garden, Sufficiency Economy Uncle Nung


Learning Sustainable Household Sufficiency Economy with Uncle Nung

Amidst a field teeming with hanging plastic bottles, Uncle Nung shares his insights on sustainable household sufficiency economy. Recognizing the longevity of plastic, he ingeniously repurposes it into vegetable planters. This not only serves as a practical solution for growing vegetables but also contributes to reducing plastic waste.


After that, we went horseback riding in the garden. Today, we will introduce you to Pete and Singha, the two horses here. Pete is the brown and white one that we rode. Pete was very cute and not stubborn with us at all.

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The other person is Singha. We were born in the same month, and today is Singha's birthday. So I sang Happy Birthday and gave Singha a warm hug. I love you so much. I just met you, but I feel like I've known you forever. I'm hugging you, Singha.

The Adventure Begins: Kayaking

04

Embark on an unforgettable adventure with a thrilling kayak journey.

Paddle through the serene waters, immersing yourself in the beauty of nature.

Let the journey unfold, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

We have arrived at the starting point of our kayaking adventure, where we will paddle from the source to the mouth of the river. Look, the water is crystal clear and cool, and you can even see the fish swimming. Just touching the water makes me feel refreshed. This is my first time kayaking, and I'm so excited. I can't wait to start our journey and explore the river.


Gasping for air, we paddled a long way, dodging bamboo branches, twigs, leaves, and even tree stumps. We even capsized the boat! It hurt a little, but it was a lot of fun. We learned how to solve problems, paddle a boat, and avoid obstacles. Along the way, we stopped to pick and eat wild fruits and roots. It was a delightful experience.

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The vibrant colors of the kayaks and the stunning natural scenery were a delight. The kayaks were brightly colored, and the surrounding nature was equally beautiful. The color scheme of everything was harmonious and aesthetically pleasing. However, there was a curious incident. When we started paddling, our kayak was orange, but when we returned, it had somehow turned red. It seems someone had stolen our kayak! The white berries we saw were fishbone fruits, which had a peculiar sweet taste. They were surprisingly delicious, and I highly recommend trying them if you have the opportunity.


05

WATERFALLS

. . .

Life and Water


This area is renowned for its abundance of waterfalls. Locals are accustomed to playing in the waterfalls, having done so since childhood. As children, we are eager to experience these wonders for ourselves. Today, we have visited both Mom Juy Waterfall and Lad Toey Waterfall.


The elder sister and Tippy told us that the villagers use tap water from the source here because it is free of toxins and clean. So we decided to try it out. The water here is really clear and refreshing.


I came to the waterfall and wanted to take some cool pictures to take home. Today's waterfall walk was so much fun. I have to thank my sister, Tippy, and O for taking us up here. It's so beautiful.


06

BEST FOOD, GOOD TASTE

. . .

Eat authentic southern food from the Roy Sai kitchen


The food here is so delicious, I can't help but think about it. I want to go back and eat again. Haha! Everything here is delicious. Just looking at the pictures makes my mouth water. From savory dishes to sweet treats, and a variety of fruits, everything is just perfect. I'm hungry now.

In addition to the exotic cuisine, this region also boasts unusual-looking fruits that you may have never seen before. For instance, the small, round fruit pictured is the "maeo" fruit, which can be used in savory dishes or boiled to make a drink. It is said to have numerous health benefits and medicinal properties.


There are many other fruits with strange names, such as this orange seed, called 'Champuri'. The name is very cute. It is on a very tall tree. The taste is similar to a tomato mixed with a mafai, a bit bland, but still delicious. And the Mak Uek, used to make chili paste. There are many other fruits and vegetables that we have only seen here for the first time. We ate everything that was offered to us, even being tricked into eating Andrographis paniculata leaves, which were very bitter. It was a very exciting experience.


07

KUAN TA KHOM

. . .

Admire the sea of mist at Khuan Ta Khom


MORNING GREETING FROM THE HILL

This is the viewpoint of "Khuan Takham". "Khuan" means hill, and "Khuan Takham" means the hill of Takham. Haha, it's simple, isn't it? This is the hill where many people here often come to flirt with each other. Oh, really? They also come here to watch the sunrise and sunset together romantically. We did the same. Today, we woke up at 5:30 am to watch the sunrise. We walked up the hill, and the sea of fog on top was beautiful. However, it's a pity that there was too much fog today, so we couldn't see the sunrise.


BRUSHING AGAINST THE SUN

A Breathtaking View: A Midday Ascent

At midday, before our lunch break, we decided to ascend the viewpoint once more. Thanin had mentioned that the scenery would be equally stunning in the daylight, albeit different from the early morning hours. As we reached the summit, I felt a surge of gratitude for returning. The vista was truly breathtaking. The azure mountains and lush green forests stretched before us, bathed in the bright sunlight. The heat was intense, almost suffocating, but the view was worth the momentary discomfort. The beauty was so overwhelming, it nearly took my breath away.



' Falling in love with him '

Each moment reveals a different kind of beauty. It's truly beautiful no matter what time it is. It was worth the many climbs up here, haha!

08

KHAO HUA CHANG

. . .

Khao Hua Chang Reservoir

This is another landmark of Takmod that everyone who visits must take photos and admire the view. We had the opportunity to visit both during the day and before sunset. The different beauty of each time made us fall in love as if under a spell. See that big mountain in the distance? The cloud there has never drifted far away. We observed for a long time, this cloud still stays there, always beside that big mountain. It's so warm, isn't it?


As the sun began its descent, casting a warm glow over the horizon, the fishermen steered their boats back to shore. The tranquil atmosphere was filled with a sense of contentment and gratitude for the beauty that unfolded before their eyes. This experience is one that should be cherished and shared, offering a moment of serenity amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Land of Honey

ตะโหมด, a city renowned for its honey production.

This community is renowned for its honey, which comes from the Indian honey bee. This bee species typically lives in tree cavities, making honey extraction difficult. As a result, villagers have learned to build their own hives. Honey from the Indian honey bee has numerous medicinal properties because these bees collect nectar from a wide variety of flowers, possibly thousands of species.


This is a picture of a beehive that villagers have built for the bees to live in. The shape is similar to a human house, but smaller, with space inside for the bees to live. We will lure the bees with beeswax to make them build their nest. After that, we will wait for the right time, put on protective gear against bee stings, and go! To collect the honeycomb. As for the white beehive, it is the abandonment of the hive by the bees, or all the bees have migrated to live elsewhere, leaving the hive empty.


10

GOOD MORNING SUNDAY

. . .

Sunday Market


This morning, we had the opportunity to visit the Sunday market, a must-see for everyone. The market was filled with exotic and delicious food. The morning market sells fresh vegetables from the garden, which are a sight to behold. The food is also affordable and delicious. There were also many other tempting treats, such as "Khao Niao Mamuang" (sweet sticky rice with mango), "Khanom Dok Jok" (steamed flower-shaped dumplings), and fried chicken with long queues. There was also a wide variety of fresh fish and seafood. Everything was truly a feast for the eyes.



The absolute best and most enjoyable dish was the crispy roti. It was incredibly delicious, like "wow!" If you get the chance to try it, you definitely should. The fried fish eggs were also delicious, and for twenty baht, you get a huge portion that you can't even finish. We went shopping for food and completely forgot to consider whether we could actually eat it all. In the end, we didn't, haha!


11

FEEL LIKE HOME

. . .

Welcome to Arok Mol Homestay


We arrived at the accommodation in a daze, preparing to eat dinner like starving people. After a while, Ms. Tip said, "You'll be sleeping here tonight, dear." Oh, really? I thought to myself, "No wonder the homeowner was smiling so sweetly." And this was our ONE NIGHT STAY accommodation: "Arok Mol Homestay, welcome." Ms. Oh, Ms. Lek, and Ms. Namon welcomed us warmly, making us feel like it was really our home. We talked and exchanged stories like we were relatives rather than homeowners and guests. The atmosphere around the house was pleasant, and we felt very good too.

The rooster's crow woke me up at exactly 5:00 AM. It's been a long time since I've heard a rooster crowing to wake me up instead of an alarm clock. It's almost time to go back, but I don't want to leave yet. Here, I feel like I'm at home. I do everything here, like washing clothes, hanging them out to dry, and washing the car. It really feels like home.


12

MORE THAN PRESENTS

. . .

Gifts that are more valuable than that


Tell me what you want, and I'll get it for you. Whether it's fruit or food, you name it. There are also many OTOP products here, such as fried durian, crispy roti, Khao Sangkhaya, and natural soap, which smells great. I love it. Before leaving, my sisters bought me both her favorite stinky beans and a lot of fruit, so much that I couldn't carry it all. Plus, my sister gave me some delicious dried fish curry. But more importantly than all the souvenirs, the smiles that everyone shared will be the most valuable souvenir I've ever received.

It was a pleasure meeting you.

Thank you to Thanin, Apai, Lek, my sister, Tip, Oae, and everyone else who warmly welcomed us.

I don't know if I can call it love, but I feel good.

See you again.

Love, Tamod.

See you again.


P L A N
Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Exploring the Charm of Tamoad Community

Travel: The journey begins at Hat Yai Airport, where a short one-hour ride takes you to the heart of Tamoad community.

Morning:

  • 01: Gather at the lively Talay Tai Market, immersing yourself in the local atmosphere.
  • 02: Pay respects to Father Than Chuai at the revered Tamoad Temple.
  • 03: Indulge in the unique taste of deep-fried durian at the OTOP Center, powered by sustainable energy.
  • 04: Embark on a horseback riding adventure, witnessing the community's embrace of sustainable agriculture.
  • 05: Savor a delicious lunch, savoring the flavors of local cuisine.

Afternoon:

  • 06: Glide through the serene waters on a kayak, enjoying the tranquility of nature.
  • 07: Witness the breathtaking sunset at the Khao Huachang Reservoir, painting the sky with vibrant hues.
  • 08: Delight in a delectable dinner, relishing the community's culinary expertise.
  • 09: Settle into your cozy homestay, experiencing the warmth of local hospitality.

Day 2: Unveiling the Hidden Gems of Tamoad

Morning:

  • 01: Greet the rising sun at the scenic Khuan Takam, embracing the beauty of a new day.
  • 02: Explore the vibrant Sunday Market, discovering local treasures and handcrafted goods.
  • 03: Delve into the spiritual realm at the Meditation Center, seeking inner peace and tranquility.
  • 04: Visit the Thai Beehive Learning Center, uncovering the fascinating world of beekeeping.
  • 05: Relish a delightful lunch prepared in the traditional "Krua Roi Sai" style, savoring authentic flavors.

Afternoon:

  • 06: Embark on an adventure to the cascading Mom Jui Waterfall and the enchanting Lad Toei Waterfall, immersing yourself in the beauty of nature.

Budget and Booking

Package: Immerse yourself in the community experience with a 2-day, 1-night package, including accommodation, meals, and engaging activities.

  • 2-3 people: 1,250 Baht per person
  • 4 or more people: 900 Baht per person

Minimum: 2 people

Contact: For bookings and inquiries, reach out to the community at 087-2988588 (Mr. Thaninthorn).

Stay Connected: Follow our journey and discover more hidden gems on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/imminimus/

#ta mode community homestay#phatthalung#community#accommodation#thailand#kayaking#horseback riding#* automobile* airplane* bus
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