Day 12, Friday, 15th March - Betong

Magical Breakfast?....... Due to yesterday's success we can leave Merlin Hotel and Sungai-Kolok but quite where we will end up is a matter of debate this morning. However, the two favorites are Yala and Betong, both out of this province. After checking around on the booking sites we settle for Betong although it is further than Yala. We therefore cannot hang around too long. This morning they say there is breakfast included but whether coffee out of a machine and buns constitutes a breakfast well, if it keeps us going until lunch, I guess the answer is, yes.
Chao Mae Tomo Shrine....... Chao Mae Tomo Shrine is a Chinese shrine dedicate to the Goddess Tomo located in the hotels' area of the city.
Wat Thong Di Pratcharam....... Wat Thong Di Pratcharam is a Buddhist temple in the south of the city and is a tourist destination noted for its ancient Siamese design and architecture. Many of the building here are quite old.
My last stop is at the Genting Market to look for a sports shirt but I fail to find what I want. We finally leave the town heading west. This will be via a different route from the one we used to get here and takes us into the mountains of central-southern Narathiwat. This will allow us to pass through more of Narathiwat's districts and there is one in particular that has something more of interest.
Sukhirin District....... Sukhirin is a mountainous district and the town itself is quite small with a lot of road workings taking place here. The district is criss-crossed by rivers running off the mountains that straddle the border. Bridge rebuilding and general upgrades are ongoing and the area is prone to landslips after the rains. This district is the location of a locally important landmark of historic significance.
Kampung Chulaphon Patana 12....... We arrive at Kampung Chulaphon Patana 12 around lunchtime and the village here is deserted.
We've come to visit the site of one of the Communist tunnels used by the Malay Communists who had Chinese and Russian support during the Cold War Era. The village also has the Kampung Chulophon Patana 12 Museum but it's closed. My researcher starts asking around to find out when it opens then out of the blue the village comes alive. Almost the entire male population of the village pours out of a nearby mosque including the key holder. We are then introduced to this local historian who shows us around the museum. Even though I'm at a great disadvantage with the language I get a good idea of how extensive Communist operations were on both sides of the border and how dedicated the Communists were about their cause. The exhibits in the museum are evidence enough.
For the record, a tripartite agreement was signed in 1989 between the Thai and Malay Governments and the Malay Communists bringing the conflict to the end. Concessions and pardons were offered to secure the peace.
Golden Opportunity....... For lunch, we find a small shop happy to knock up a meal; a burger being more than welcome. There then is a pleasant surprise. Maybe it's a friend or relative who has a business nearby, a business that needs no premises. I had dismissed a location as having no significance but as we are led down to the nearby stream, oh yes, a couple here are actually panning for gold. However, the minute qualities of gold just about earns them a living. There is no gold mine here as is suggested.
Finally, the Last Province....... We now enter the forested districts of Chanae and Si Sakhon as we transit towards the provincial border. At 4.15 pm we enter Yala Province for the very first time. This is going to take time to sink in. We now join Road 410, Yala to Betong and stop to take photos of the massive Bang Lang Reservoir from the Tok Ku Chae Bridge (Halabala Forest Lake Bridge) and follow the reservoir for much of the way south until it becomes the Pattani River once more. I take this as the very first attraction in Yala Province and it's time to break out the champagne. 77 out of 77 provinces visited. WOW!
Betong Hills Residence....... We arrive in Betong well before dark and get a flavour of what this town has to offer and my first impressions are good, not at all as I expected. We check in at Betong Hills Residence to the south of the town but still in the city itself. The room is practice enough, and we can eat in or out tonight. After we settle in we head straight out to get a flavour of what Betong has to offer and I'm soon impressed. It's been a long time since we've been in a tourist town. Apart from the charm of being in such natural surroundings, the town has hotels, restaurants, bars and gift shops, all within walking distance and that is worth paying a bit extra for. For dinner, we don't need to walk too far. So near in a side street is a local restaurant, quiet at the moment, offering tasty food. That's most welcome as it allows for a quiet night after a busy day of travel. Today has been a huge day of transition which has taken us into the remote mountainous region of southern Narathiwat and onto more impressive scenery in Yala.
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