Niwat Montreewasuwat

Join Xmas & Happy New Year Party of Young Happy Group for the elderly at YH office, Samyan Mitrtown. It was quite fun.

Pay respect to sacred venerable Luangpoo Sonkh whose co**se just got mummified without decay. His body is placed in a sealed glass coffin. It is time to say goodbye to Viroj and Ood who have departed us for Suratthani.

Visit a small fisherman village called Bokha. The beach is pebble stones with some large beautiful rocks in the sea. At the end of the beach there is a big holed rock looking like a gate to the sea.

Climbing up 2 hills, the latter with 373 steps to khaoplu and Khaokrieb to see the Caves that had Buddha Image and magnificent stalactites and stalagmites.

Paid respect to Buddha relics at Phraboromathatsawi Pagoda and museum that displayed lifestyle of local folks. Then Visit Nai Duppm Garden cafe where variety of toilet seats are displayed together with treehouses in the garden. They also served coffee and very good lunch.

Paid respect to HRH Chumporn shrine and went to Mustsee peak to pay respects GuanIn overlooking Chumporn delta, then had light snack at Fareda Roti.

Today we left Kuiburi for Chumporn and had lunch at Yak&Jone in Chumporn Cabana where they served wonderful and excellent organic food by the sea. We went to the300 meter long wooden bridge handed-built by only 7 people within 2 months without modern tools. It connected to an island in the middle of the lake. We checked into a beautiful Novotel Chumporn Resort by the sea. Our rooms were upgraded and we also got complimentary afternoon tea.

Trip to Pranburi mangrove park and lotus pond at Samroi-yod national park, Prachuab-Khirikhan where I used to visit a few times in the past 3 years. We had wonderful seafood for lunch then went to Kuiburi reserve to watch wild elephants and gaurs. It was fun despite repeated trip.

Attend meditation refresher course 9 Monastery.

This morning started with giving alms to the monks at the temple, then donate blood at Thai Red Cross. They gave me a bag of snack and an amulet as souvenirs. Then donated money to Ramathibodi Hospital as a gratitude to all teachers including patients, without them, I would not be a person I am today. After that donated another amount for medicines for monks at Monk Hospital. Merit making always give me self satisfaction and happiness. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Attend meditation refresher course @ Praram 9 Temple. A lot of attendees had to cancel due to positive Covid test a day prior to this course. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Lecture “Ethics in Clinical Trials” for oncologists at Splendid Hotel, KhaoYai.

Visited Songkhla National Museum Songkhla that was originally belonged Visited National Museum that was originally belonged to the Governor (Na Songkhla Family). Then visited the house that was former Prime Minister Prem Yinsulanont’s birthplace. to the Governor (Na Songkhla Family). Then visited the house that was former Prime Minister Prem Yinsulanont’s birthplace.

The Hotel owner has kindly invited us to visit his own private collection of Chinese artifacts that have been salvaged from ships or caravans along Silk Road over several thousand of years. They all are genuine priceless and rare items that can match with those shown the museum in China or Taipei. He has donated some pieces to China and Thailand but there are still a lot left with total values over several billion dollars. He would like to establish the museum to properly display all these items. 👍👍👍👍👍👍

Strolling in Songkhla Old Town starting at the remaining of city main gate, Red Building that is transformed to tourist information smart center, the had ice-cream at Songkhla Taeraek (the beginning of Songkhla) Boutique Hotel that has converted the shops into Ancient Chinese Inn with genuine items of furniture and porcelain decorations throughout the hotel. The guest rooms are vey charming making the feel that guests are emperors or Royal families.

Strolling in Songkhla Old-town starting with sunrise at Samila Beach and morning coffee or breakfast in charming & nostalgic Songkhla Old Town.

Lunch with Dr. Patpong, an old friend who has dedicatedly practiced as only Opthalmologist in Yala >40 years.

Brief stop at Yilapun Bridge, a century old iron-cast bridge. It was also used by Japanese troops during WWII. It is no longer used.
Also visited wat Tham Khuhaphimuk with many Buddha images in various status.

Splendid and magnificent sunrise over the sea of cloud at Aiyerweng, Betong.

We went to Thailand-Malaysia Border and cement hill that has been artificially constructed as barriers to prevent flooding. We took photo at OK Betong, a famous landmark for lovers, tried Betong Bings. Then went to Red Cross Charity Fair in BetongMongkholit Tunnel.

Visit Friendship Tuunel in Piyamitr Community that used to be Chinese Liberation Army against Malaysia in the past. Impressive how determined and fighting spirit of these people to survive the war against all odds in the old days. There a giant 100 year old Banyan tree in the community.
We visited Durian farm that grows famous Mousan King durians in Betong. My friends who love durian said it was very delicious despite very expensive price. I prefer oranges.
We went to Betong hot spring to try soaking our feet in hot spring.

Cruising along Halal Balal great canal that was formed from upstream overflow of Balang dam. There is a small island where Luangpoo Thuad used to stay. There is also a small waterfall and a resort nearby.

Sunrise at Cool Camping, Betong and simple yet enjoyable breakfast

Breathtaking view over Yalang River and magnificent sunset at Cool Camping, Betong.

Meeting old friends at CS Hotel, Pattani to enjoy Roti and tea, then visited 100 year old, UNESCO heritage house belonged to Lord Pitakraya, the governor of Pattani over a century ago. Later we paid respect to Limkoniew Shrine and Luangpoo Thuad at Chaanghai temple.

Our last day of this trip, we visited wat Saensuk that was built according to Thai legend about heaven and hell. The hell interestingly shows how the sinners are judged, tortured according to their severity of sin they made when alive. We went to try homemade ice-cream at Mek Icecream. It was quite cheap and tasted good. We had a late lunch at the riverside restaurant in Bangpakong Electric Power Plant on the way back to Bangkok. The meal was surprisingly tasty and the portions were so large that we could eat only 3 dishes and had to pack the fish as takeaway.

Visit Nongwaeng temple before leaving for Nakornrajsima. The 9-storey grand pagoda contains sacred Buddha relics and late venerable monks.
We had lunch at NaiMuang roast chicken restaurant hosted by friends in Nakornrajsima. It was fun chatting with friends about those old days.

Dinner with old friends who have moved to Khonkaen over 40 years. We had a great and enjoyable chats.