Day 2, 10th February - Phitsanulok
Comfortable Enough....... It's been a comfortable evening and night at the iKon Apartment with no complaints. There's no prepared breakfast, but we can take through what we bought at the market last night into the dining area. To that they provide coffee and toast. So what is the plan for today? I could just continue north as planned as soon as we are ready. However, just how far north? After some thought I decide to split the difference between my location and where I'd like to be tomorrow night and decide on Phitsanulok for our second night's stop over. The journey will take not much longer than four hours. That means we don't have to set off immediately and can take out time.
No Joy....... One option is to continue where we left off yesterday and scout around for potential locations that have land available. I'm still warm to a room with a view and there is a possibility to the west in the City District of Lopburi Province. The mountains around Phatthana Nikhom is noted for its jagged karsk rock features while around the base in winter are gorgeous sunflower fields. We head off to explore but find nothing obvious. There is some land with derelict buildings in the City District but it's well overpriced on account of the views I suppose. We soon give up and head into Lopburi itself noting that any land on the main road is just crazy money. It's not necessary to reach Lopburi because this is a city I've visited a number of times but there's still plenty of time so why not go to the train station and find some lunch at the same time.
At Lopburi Railway station I record one service from Phitsanulok to Bangkok and pause to take some more recent pictures of the magnificent ruins in the city.
Historic Lopburi....... So easy to reach from the station are the ruins of Wat Phrasi Rattana Mahathat, Phra Prang Sam Yot and the minor ruin of Wat Indra. Except for the last, I've covered these previously but more than 10 years ago. Wat Phrasi Rattana Mahathat was built in the 12th Century when Lopburi came under Khmer rule while Phra Prang Sam Yot was built by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII in the 13th Century. Wat Indra was built before the reign of King Narai the Great and is located within the inner city wall to the east of Wat Nakhon Kosa and before the Phra Karn Shrine. Now only the viharn on an earth mound remains built in the Ayutthaya Architectural Arts style. The Fine Arts Department registered the site on 2nd August 1936.
Chao Pho Lak Mueang Lopburi Shrine....... As we leave the city I stop at the Chao Pho Lak Mueang Lopburi Shrine as well, located beside the Lopburi River. This shrine stands where it's believed the original pillar existed. Lopburi is the only city in Thailand that has had continuous occupation since recorded history. It's now over to Katoon to get us to Phitsanulok where she's booked accommodation at Hop Inn.
An Apitite for Trains....... The route takes us out to the west where we join HWY 32 heading north. Some four hours later we reach Phitsanulok at a comfortable 4.15pm after passing through, Singburi, Nakhon Sawan and Phichit Provinces. It's time to stock up with provisions as there is no catering as such at Hop Inn. We head into the city to the market's area which just happens to be next to the railway station. Wonderful! However, there is little activity as I arrive at the station just one stationary engine, a CSR SDA4. There is no passenger service for another hour but I do succeed in making one video of an aging General Electric engine marshalling some oil wagons.
Job Done....... So the job is done for the day and it's time to check in at Hop Inn. I'm not a great lover of this national chain but it's Katoon's choice tonight. I actually find it inconvenient and somewhat overpriced with only coffee free in reception and needing to hump around unnecessary baggage but let's just leave it at that. The day at least has been quite productive and tomorrow is likely to be even more so.
Next Page.
Comfortable Enough....... It's been a comfortable evening and night at the iKon Apartment with no complaints. There's no prepared breakfast, but we can take through what we bought at the market last night into the dining area. To that they provide coffee and toast. So what is the plan for today? I could just continue north as planned as soon as we are ready. However, just how far north? After some thought I decide to split the difference between my location and where I'd like to be tomorrow night and decide on Phitsanulok for our second night's stop over. The journey will take not much longer than four hours. That means we don't have to set off immediately and can take out time.
No Joy....... One option is to continue where we left off yesterday and scout around for potential locations that have land available. I'm still warm to a room with a view and there is a possibility to the west in the City District of Lopburi Province. The mountains around Phatthana Nikhom is noted for its jagged karsk rock features while around the base in winter are gorgeous sunflower fields. We head off to explore but find nothing obvious. There is some land with derelict buildings in the City District but it's well overpriced on account of the views I suppose. We soon give up and head into Lopburi itself noting that any land on the main road is just crazy money. It's not necessary to reach Lopburi because this is a city I've visited a number of times but there's still plenty of time so why not go to the train station and find some lunch at the same time.
At Lopburi Railway station I record one service from Phitsanulok to Bangkok and pause to take some more recent pictures of the magnificent ruins in the city.
Historic Lopburi....... So easy to reach from the station are the ruins of Wat Phrasi Rattana Mahathat, Phra Prang Sam Yot and the minor ruin of Wat Indra. Except for the last, I've covered these previously but more than 10 years ago. Wat Phrasi Rattana Mahathat was built in the 12th Century when Lopburi came under Khmer rule while Phra Prang Sam Yot was built by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII in the 13th Century. Wat Indra was built before the reign of King Narai the Great and is located within the inner city wall to the east of Wat Nakhon Kosa and before the Phra Karn Shrine. Now only the viharn on an earth mound remains built in the Ayutthaya Architectural Arts style. The Fine Arts Department registered the site on 2nd August 1936.
Chao Pho Lak Mueang Lopburi Shrine....... As we leave the city I stop at the Chao Pho Lak Mueang Lopburi Shrine as well, located beside the Lopburi River. This shrine stands where it's believed the original pillar existed. Lopburi is the only city in Thailand that has had continuous occupation since recorded history. It's now over to Katoon to get us to Phitsanulok where she's booked accommodation at Hop Inn.
An Apitite for Trains....... The route takes us out to the west where we join HWY 32 heading north. Some four hours later we reach Phitsanulok at a comfortable 4.15pm after passing through, Singburi, Nakhon Sawan and Phichit Provinces. It's time to stock up with provisions as there is no catering as such at Hop Inn. We head into the city to the market's area which just happens to be next to the railway station. Wonderful! However, there is little activity as I arrive at the station just one stationary engine, a CSR SDA4. There is no passenger service for another hour but I do succeed in making one video of an aging General Electric engine marshalling some oil wagons.
Job Done....... So the job is done for the day and it's time to check in at Hop Inn. I'm not a great lover of this national chain but it's Katoon's choice tonight. I actually find it inconvenient and somewhat overpriced with only coffee free in reception and needing to hump around unnecessary baggage but let's just leave it at that. The day at least has been quite productive and tomorrow is likely to be even more so.
Next Page.
Lopburi Province
Lopburi Railway Station, Lopburi
Pratu Chai, Lopburi
Wat Phrasi Rattana Mahathat, Lopburi
Wat Indra, Lopburi
Cheeky Monkeys of Lopburi
Phra Prang Sam Yot, Lopburi
Lopburi River, Lopburi
Chao Pho Lak Mueang Lopburi Shrine, Lopburi
Phitsanuok Province
Phitsanulok Railway Station, Phitsanulok