“Travel breaks down routines, monotony and brings back some adventure, excitement, and exploration to people’s lives…”
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| (Drinking hot coffee @ Phu Tubberk peak) |
Day 04: 10 Dec 2018 (Monday)
Route: Phetchabun - Phu Tubberk - Route 12 - Chai Nat
Distance: 441 km
Hotel: Fantasy Resort Chai Nat
Last night Ajilong/Sha arrived quite late and their room was earlier booked. From here on they will be riding with us.
This morning we rode out of town to have breakfast at Restoran Feeros. Some of us packed some food for lunch later. After refuelling we rode on highway 21 then highway 2372 to the highlands of Phu Tubberk, 95 km away from Petchabun.
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| (The four cheerful pillion riders) |
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| (A photo with the owner of Feeros Restaurant) |
Phu Tubberk is situated at the western range and the highest point of the Phetchabun Mountains at 1,768 meters elevation. The peak rises 12 km west of Highway 203, between Loei town and Phetchabun town. Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park is in the area around the mountain. Most of the mountain is covered in mixed evergreen forest and there are also some farms on its slopes where the climate conditions favor cabbage farming. The area around the mountain is part of the Luang Prabang mountain rain forests eco-region. The villagers at Phu Tubberk are the Hmong hill tribe from the northern part of Thailand. The mountain, originally home of Hmong people's settlements, has been overrun by holiday resorts, chalets and restaurants.
The road leading to the peak is winding with a few switch-back corners. It is quite dangerous and slippery in the rainy season and bikers have to take extra caution. When we neared the peak, fog and clouds covered the top of the mountain making visibility poor. The weather was cool and fresh at the peak. There are many stalls selling vegetables, fruits and local souvenirs.
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| (Street vendor selling local honey) |
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| (The produce from Phetchabun, sweet tamarind) |
After a cup of coffee and photo shots, we rode downhill with care. At the foot of the hill we bought sweet tamarinds fruits from one of the many stalls along the road. Sweet tamarind or Makham Wan in Thai is only found in Phetchabun district or surrounding northern districts.
Sweet tamarind is a delicious dried fruit, the ripe meat is normally eaten straight from the pod, as a snack. If you travel through Phetchabun or other northern provinces like Loei, around this time of the year, you shouldn't miss out on trying fresh sweet tamarind sold in nets, plastic bags or per weight. It makes a practical snack, since it can be kept without refrigeration for many days.
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| (No entry to the Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park) |
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| (Fresh fruits and vegetables stalls along the route) |
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| (Arriving at the fog-covered summit) |
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| (Our 3rd riding trip here, cool air at the peak) |
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| (A clear bright day to ride on Highway 12) |
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| (One of the many scenic stops) |
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| (A photo opportunity at Route 12 R&R) |
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| (Light snacks and fruits for lunch) |
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| (Crunchy sweet persimmons bought at Phu Tubberk) |
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| (The Route 12 Coffee Shop is not as lively) |
From Route 12 we rode towards Nakhon Sawan bypassing the town of Phitsanulok. Stopped to refuel at a PTT along the way on route 117. As it was getting late, we performed our prayers at a gazebo by the Amazon Café. We reached Nakhon Sawan around 7.30 pm and detoured to Aminyan Halal Restaurant for a sumptuous heavy dinner.
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| (Trying a new halal restaurant in Nakhon Sawan) |
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| (This restaurant offers better food choices with nice ambiance) |
From Nakhon Sawan we rode on highway 1 to Chai Nat and checked in Fantasy Resort for B800/night.
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