Walks in the Kingdom of Siam (page 3 of 11)

Our first full day with Noey takes us through the countryside toward the hills. Between villages, rice fields, and the lake.



We’re lucky to visit a stunning temple nestled in the forest on a hillside. The site features a main temple, a nearby chedi with a large stone Buddha, and an abandoned Chinese temple.





















The late king of Thailand got along well with the monk in charge of the site and made regular visits. A few photos remain, as well as a small viharn with gold and silver Buddhas decorated with diamonds and emeralds, gifts from the king. There’s also a gem-encrusted elephant, a gift from Sri Lanka. It’s undeniably one of those magical places you explore with delight.



It would’ve been better if it hadn’t been drizzling, which kept us from visiting another waterfall due to the heavy rainfall in the area just before we arrived.

It’s not always straightforward in Thailand: some sites stay open, others close from July 1st to September 30th, and some shut temporarily depending on the weather. It’s not a bad idea during this season to call—or have someone call—the park rangers’ headquarters.

Noey takes us for lunch in a beautiful natural setting. It’s authentic—despite our request, the dishes are served nice and spicy. Off the beaten path, things aren’t sanitized!



In the late afternoon, we get to explore the night market, and even experience it from the inside since Noey’s parents run a stall where they make coconut treats. It gets a bit chaotic when a sudden downpour briefly dampens the mood, but overall, it was a great experience—our first night market without a single tourist.

Is the little one there to shoo away the flies?

Wow, what stunning landscapes and what a joy to wander through Thai markets, tasting everything—especially those little sweet treats I love! You just want to try it all, it's so beautifully presented and sooo good!

Thanks for this new travel journal entry that’s making my mouth water for our upcoming trip at the end of January!

In half a day, Noey guides us to several temples around the city.

First up is the most renowned one: it dates back to the 15th century, and a highly revered Buddha sits prominently inside.









After Noey and the rest of us managed to charm the guardian, we were lucky enough to admire the interior of the viharn, which is usually only open four times a year since some Thai students damaged the murals during a visit. The artwork and colors are truly stunning. The guardian, proudly sporting a hairstyle reminiscent of a warrior from bygone eras, explains that the magnificent stone Buddha we’re looking at has already been stolen twice.











Another wat has some really lovely exteriors. But no luck—all the monks are away, so we can’t visit the museum. We wander around under the sly, cross-eyed gaze of a Buddha.





At lunchtime, it’s a whole company out for a meal. A dozen big 4x4s are parked in the lot. Everyone’s wearing yellow tops—it’s the King’s Day. You can tell who’s the deputy, who’s the boss, and who’s the *big* boss just by how they act.

One of the deputies, clearly aiming for a promotion, is laying on the manners and affectation a little too thick. A senior manager, probably a former deputy herself, radiates the importance she’s gained—she barely notices anyone, since they’re all beneath her. They’ve brought along staff who keep waiting on them, on top of the restaurant employees. This little dance is sometimes amusing, sometimes intriguing, and altogether fascinating because we’re still figuring out all the unspoken rules...

The guard should recommend his barber to Kim Jong Un.....

😄 😄 😄

Both of you, please, no making fun of the warriors' haircuts! 🙂

I’ve got another example up my sleeve—no small one either—that I’ll share with you in the coming weeks, right here.

Under that haircut, there was a really kind guy. You should’ve seen him hugging his stone Buddha with love—stolen twice and recovered twice!

stolen twice and recovered twice

😮 So surprised: that must be one of the best ways for a Thai person to attract bad karma. Some people have such ideas...

Early in the morning, we climb more hills and are treated to one of those sumptuous landscapes that the Kingdom of Siam delights in offering.







Throughout the day, we traverse a region where hills and valleys follow one another, along with banana trees, cornfields, and rice paddies. A real breath of fresh air—well, warm fresh air.







Just a little wave to the farmers busy transplanting and harvesting their crops, and everyone greets us with big waves in return. The rice fields, much loved by tourists, are actually quite backbreaking for those who work in them.

The little one is there to shoo away the flies?

Yeah, but it looks like she’s also trying to trick her tiredness—bedtime isn’t far off! Anyway, she’s an intern at her mom and dad’s place.

Almost everywhere in the markets, there are electric turnstiles with one or more little cloth strips that keep flies from landing.

Always makeshift solutions and always so much ingenuity!

Almost everywhere in the markets, there are electric turnstiles with one or more small pieces of cloth that keep flies from landing.

Always makeshift solutions and therefore always ingenious!

It’s true that it’s clever. I sometimes see them in markets. It brings back good memories. 🙂

When waterfalls appear along the way, don’t hesitate to enjoy the refreshing break and the stunning views!



















Here’s one of the quirks of this country: as soon as you reach the national park barrier, smoking is banned—even in the parking lot. So you keep walking, and halfway between the parking lot and the waterfall, right in the middle of the tropical forest, what do you stumble upon? A designated smoking area, right before our astonished eyes!

What a delight after a long day to savor seafood curry served in a coconut. If you haven’t tried it yet, do—missing out would be almost a sin!

Noey was absolutely wonderful throughout this very long day, trekking through the countryside and forests with us and truly earning her tip. We had no idea just how much.

It's amazing, all these waterfalls! 🙂

Don't you have a photo of the curry?

First off, I’ve got to say I loved starting to read your blog.

The little one’s got such a cute face! Your comments are hilarious, and I’m still stuck on that image of the leopard, its tail, and the impala.

I see you’re not just sticking to your favorite destinations—thanks for checking out my latest report that I share with VoyageForum readers.

Françoise and I think you switched up your camera gear between 2011 and 2015? 😉 Either way, there are quite a few of your photos where, well, we just end up staring at them for a while.

A photo of the curry? I don’t think so. Every year, I tell Françoise we’ve got to photograph the dishes, but most of the time, we don’t manage it because as soon as they’re on the table, we dive right in. Since it’s you, tomorrow I’ll dig through the archives and let you know.

Thanks for the compliment—I really appreciate it, especially for the photos. Safari is all about patience, and yeah, I switched up my camera gear—good eye! 😛

Back to the topic at hand, that curry has me intrigued.

To wrap up, I need to update my website since it’s not quite up to date anymore. Even though Southern Africa is close to my heart, I also love exploring other places.

Undeniably, it's something that swims and is edible ;)

We didn't try it, but while we were there, we wanted to taste everything—we held back!

This is a country where you won’t have any trouble getting your lunch in early...

Hi Joël, This travel journal is so tempting—Thailand is already one of our favorite places just for that... I’ll be following this journal too since Thailand is the country of our heart. Thanks for sharing! Isabelle

Hi everyone,

My friend and I loved it too. It’s quite mysterious, which makes guessing the spots fun—it’s all for the best!

Have a great afternoon,

It's amazing all these waterfalls 🙂

Don't you have a photo of the curry?

Oh, well, actually no. No photo, sorry!

https://youtu.be/pfOgTOTcMCQ

🙂😛

That all looks really appetizing—is it not too spicy?