06 Route 12: Phitsanulok

“Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood...” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

(Sukhothai Historical Park)

Day 06: 23 April 2025 (Wednesday)
Route: Tak - Phitsanulok
Distance: 200 km
Hotel: Rattana Park Hotel

Breakfast with toast, fried eggs and salad in the hotel dining room. This morning we planned to visit a few attractions in Tak.

(Well decorated Be Rich Hotel)

(We were early for breakfast)

(Simple healthy breakfast)

After breakfast, we visited two mosques located in the centre of Tak town. We have been to these mosques during our previous rides with the bikers gang.

(Masjid Al-Fatah, Tak)

(Masjid Darul Salam, Tak)

Our next destination was the suspension bridge of Tak. This bridge is also known as the 200-year Rattanakosin Suspension Bridge, which is considered one of the most beautiful river viewpoints in the province especially with beautiful lighting at night. It is 450 m long and crosses the Tak River. The bridge was constructed in 1982 to commemorate the 200 year anniversary of the founding of a new royal capital in the Rattanakosin area of Bangkok.

(A beautiful suspension bridge in Tak)

(The bridge crosses the Tak River)

(Walking to the mid-point of the bridge)

Next was a visit to King Taksin the Great Memorial Park. King Taksin the Great was the only king of the Thonburi Kingdom that ruled Thailand from 1767 to 1782.

(An old signage of the historical attractions)

(The shrine at the centre of the park)

(A wild black horse)

(Another horse statue)

(A small museum in the park)

We checked out of the hotel by 11.00 am. Stopped at Kopi Malay Cafè for an early lunch of nasi lemak and roti pisang before we drove on the Route 12 towards Phitsanulok.

(An early lunch at Kopi Malay Cafè)

(Tak Route 1 t-shirts and stickers souvenirs)

(With Safarwan, the young Malay owner)

About 795 kilometres of the 1,530-km-long Route 12 highway lies in Thailand. The Thai section of the highway begins at the Second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Mae Sot to Mukdahan, where it connects to Laos at the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. Our trip this time started from Tak and will end in Mukdahan. We will stop at a few towns in between.

(A Police road block on the Highway 1)

(The start of Route 12 in Tak)

(Clear traffic, we are all alone)

(An old city, half-way to Phitsanulok)

(Route 12 road to Sukhothai)

Half way to Phitsanulok, we passed the town of Sukhothai. Sukhothai is the very first capital city of Thailand. We made a brief stop to visit a small part of the Sukhotai Historical Park. During 2014 solo ride with our KTM bike, we had the opportunity to visit most parts of this historical park.

(Visiting Wat Traphang Thong)

(The temple on an island with Buddha footprint)

(Built during King Lithai in 1360)

(Singhalese-style round shaped chedi)

(The ancient artefacts lining the roads)

(Leaving the city of Sukhothai)

From Sukhothai we drove another 70 km to Phitsanulok. Phitsanulok is the 10th largest city in Thailand, founded in the 13th century. It also represents one of the oldest cities in Thailand.

(Driving on Route 12 to Phitsanulok)

(A prominant landmark of Phitsanulok)

(City of shrines and chedi)

Arrived in Phitsanulok around 3.30 pm and drove to Masjid Pakistan to perform our jamak prayers. Met with a local who assisted to show us the smaller prayer hall on the ground floor for us to use.

(Pakistan Mosque of Phitsanulok)

(The main prayer hall on the upper floor)

(A newly appointed Imam?)

(Met an 80-yr old local man in the mosque)

We checked-in Rattana Park Hotel at Rm78/night. The hotel compound was a little dusty because of the on-going construction works.

(No complementary breakfast for us)

(Our lodging for the night)

After a short rest we drove around to look for dinner. The only halal eatery that was still open was located near the Pakistan Mosque. We had nasi kuning daging kambing for dinner. The eatery is owned by an elderly couple from Pattani. We used to eat here during our previous visits and they still recognised us.

(A late dinner a Pattani restaurant)

(Nasi kuning daging kambing)

👈RT 05: Kanchanaburi - Tak

    RT 07: Phitsanulok - Khon Kaen👉

07 Route 12: Khon Kaen

“The secret of success is to do the common thing uncommonly well...” – John D. Rockefeller Jr.

(Moai Cafè - used to be a charming spot on Route 12)

Day 07: 24 April 2025 (Thursday)
Route: Phitsanulok - Khon Kaen
Distance: 325 km
Hotel: B2 Boutique Budget Hotel

By 8.00 am we were already driving on Route 12 towards Khon Kaen about 325 km from Phitsanulok. The everage journey duration would be between 6 to 7 hours as the road is hilly and winding. With a few stops along the way, it will take longer.

(Early checked out of Rattana Park Hotel)

(Route 12 mountainous winding road)

(Less traffic on the road)

We planned to stop for coffee break at Route 12 Cafè but to our dissappointment, the favorite pit stop for Malaysian bikers was closed for good. We used to have coffee and enjoyed the panoramic scenery from the cafè terrace. Took a few photo shots of whatever left of the Route 12 cafè.

(Abandoned shops and cafè)

(What is left of Route 12 Coffee shop)

(A lone friendly dog greeting us)

(Iron man is the only survivor)

(What used to be the attractions in Khao Ko)

A short driving distance away, we stopped at the entrance of Breezehill Khao Ko Hotel to take pictures of a structure resembling Mount Rushmore, featuring the sculpted faces of four U.S. presidents, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.

(The hotel is still in business)

( A mount Rishmore structure)

Next we stopped at whatever left of Khao Ko Moai Coffee Shop. There was a big notice in front of the entrance. From google translate we learned that the court has evicted the owners and workers from the viscinity because of encroachment on government land. 

(Once a popular stop for big bikers)

(An otai biker taking a rest)

(Cool and breezy day on the mountain)

(A panoramic view of the valley)

Before we ascended the Petchabun mountain range, we stopped at a PTT for comfort and coffee break. Bought hot coffee and halal buns from 7-eleven as we were already feeling hungry.

(A cup of hot steaming coffee)

(Savoury buns for snacking)

Along the route to Khon Kaen we passed through Nam Nao National Park.  It is a tranquil and wildlife-rich destination in Thailand, offering nature trails, pine forests, caves, and a campground. It's known for its diverse species list, making it one of the best birdwatching spots in the country.

(The Nam Nao National Park)

(The entrance to the national park)

(Beware of elephants)

We arrived at Khon Kaen in late afternoon. Khon Kaen is the capital of Khon Kaen province and the fourth-largest city in Thailand. It is one of the four major cities of Isan. 

(A green dinosaur welcoming us to Khon Kaen)

There were many statues of dinosaur along the road. There are three Dinosaur museums in Khon Kaen where Dinosaur fossils were displayed. Fossils were first found in Thailand in 1973. Since then, scientists have been discovering plentiful fossilized remains of 19 different species of dinosaurs in northeastern Thailand in an area known as the Korat Plateau. Some of the species had previously been unknown.

(Entering the town of Khon Kaen)

(Apsara dancers decorating the lamp posts)

We were very hungry so we drove direct to Karo Halal Food for a late lunch. The halal eatery is located opposite the Khon Kaen Hop Inn Hotel. The weather was pretty hot for comfort but we decided to eat in. The nasi goreng was delicious and cheap.

(Karo Halal Food, Khon Kaen)

(Tasty nasi goreng seafood)

After lunch, we visited the Nurulhidayah Mosque of Khon Kaen, located at Tambon Nai Mueang in the centre of Khon Kaen town. It is situated at the corner of a busy street with no roadside parking.

(Masjid Nurulhidayah, Khon Kaen)

(Majlis khatam al-Quran during Ramadhan)

(A big mosque along a busy street)

Next we visited the Ibadurrahman Mosque of Khon Kaen at Phra Lap. It is a beautiful secluded mosque by the lake. Met with Mr. Farouk, the caretaker of the mosque who has just been in Malaysia for a month.

(Masjid Ibadul Rahman)

(A beautiful mosque by the lake)

(Double storey house converted into a mosque)

(Mr Farouk, the caretaker)

Checked in at the B2 Boutique Budget Hotel at Rm85/night. This hotel is an old hotel and not the cleanest of hotels. The compound was full of dried leaves and dusty. Even the lobby area was messy. We had problems with the room key card. Had to pay a refundable deposit of Thb 500 during checked-in.

(B2 Boutique Budget Hotel)

(Waiting for the room key)

(A room with basic amenities)

Tonight, not feeling very hungry, we decided to stay in the room and watch TV.

👈RT 06: Tak - Phitsanulok

         RT 08: Khon Kaen - Mukdahan👉