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Sunflowers in Sunshine day |
 Today we will go to Lopburi, don't forget. Departure time of the train is 06.20 am. Do you want to miss the train? Wake up and take a bath...go...go...go...quickly! “
Sunflowers in Sunshine day
Sunflowers in Sunshine day
04.30 am: Pang Nam, Samuthprakarn
“Good morning....wake up....wake up.....wake up..p...p...p!!!
Today we will go to Lopburi, don't forget. Departure time of the train is 06.20am Do you want to miss the train? Wake up and take a bath...go...go...go.....quickly! “
Ah....Hello readers. This morning is very busy. We are going to Lopburi.There is an annual festival there. It is “Sunflower Blossom Festival” annually organized during around November until January. For this year, it is from November 1, 2004 to January 14, 2005 . I have to get dressed now. Wait me a few minuites...........
O.K we are all ready to be Alice in “The Sunflowers Land”. That sounds great, right? Well, don't waste the time. Let's go!
06.00 am: Hua Lamphong Railway Station
We will go to Lopburi, Land of Monkeys by train. This is one of many tourism promotion plans of State Railway of Thailand and The Tourism Authority of Thailand. My friends bought the tickets 2 weeks ago. Before buying, he called me to make decision what was the class of ticket we would buy because there are 3 classes which I personally call “Expensive class”, “Quite economic class” and “Economic class”. The last one is my decision. It costs 300 Baht. I forget to tell you that this is round-trip ticket, so I think all classes are reasonable price, though I call them expensive and quite expensive because there are the difference between each class such as with and without air conditioner. It is upon to us. Ah!!! bell rings......I have to go now....see you on the train
06.20 am – 10.50 am: On the train
Guess....s....s....s what are we doing?
We are having breakfast: grilled pork with sticky rice, our traditional food when we were students because we often went back home by train and we could see these foods at every stations. We are still in Bangkok area. Talk...talk...talk....until....hungry....and...eat.....finally.....sleep...I guess.
Information of “Sunflower Blossom Festival” is found very easily. Just key “sunflower + Lopburi” in search engine. Information you need is waiting you there. But there is only 1 information which I cannot find. It is the history of these sunflowers fields. How does it become a tourist attraction? Sometimes, I will find the answer from local people. Information below is from www.tat.or.th Enjoy your read, I will come back when we see the first monkey.
About Lopburi
Lop Buri, formerly known as “Lawo”, was one of the important ancient towns of the Khmers from the 10th-13th century. Many Khmer ruins are found in and around this town. During the Ayutthaya period, King Narai the Great established Lop Buri as the second capital with the help of French architects. Most of the architecture of that time reflects the mixture of Thia and Western styles. Today it is a modern garrison town and provincial capital, 153 kilometers north of Bangkok.
Sunflower Blossom Festival
Nov 01 2004- Feb 14 2005
Venue: Lopburi and Saraburi Province
Region: Central Region
Description: Stroll in the sunflower fields and the vineyards. Meet the Thai cowboys and taste exquisite fruits. Blooming sunflower along both sides of the highways from Lopburi to Chai Badan, and from Muak Lek to Wang Muang. Visit “Pa Sak Chonlasit Dam”, the world's biggest and longest saddle dam. Also experience the cowboys' outdoor lifestyle at “Chok Chai Farm” in Pak Chong.
Areas in Lopburi Province where you can watch the sunflower belt are:
Muang District:
- Khao Ta kla Thong Road to Nong Hoi Intersection from 9 to 25 December, 2004
- Tambon Khok Toom from 5 to 20 December, 2004
- Ban Nam Chun of Khao Sam Yok Sub-district, from December 25, 2004 to January 9, 2005
Phattana Nikhom District:
- Chon Noi Sub-district, blooming period: 4-20 December, 2004
- Chong Sarika Sub-district, 4-20 December, 2004
- Nong Bua Sub-district, 15-31 December, 2004
- Phattana Nikhom Sub-district, 4-20 December, 2004
How to get to Lopburi?
By car
- From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 passing Saraburi to Lopburi, a total distance of 153 kilometers.
- From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 and Highway No. 32 to Ayuthaya and travel further alon Highway No. 347 to Lopburi Province via Amphoe Tha Ruea.
By bus
Both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses leave Mochit 2 Bus Terminal to Amphoe Muang, Lopburi many times a day. Call 0 2936 2852-66 for more information.
By train
The Northern Line runs many times a day from Bangkok via Lopburi to Chiang Mai. State Railway of Thailand website www.srt.or.th/httpEng/index.html
For more information, please contact the travel Service Division at 0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020.
Best time to go
The best time to come to Lopburi is from November to March, so that you avoid the heat and the rainy season.
10.00 am:
Yeah..h..h....Finally, we arrive at sunflowers fields. Follow me. Just 30 minutes to take photos with these golden fields. Wind is quite storng today. Before getting off the train, guide tell us not to touch sunflower trunk, especially, children, because you may be allegic. I feel disappointed since the flowers are quite wilt. We arrive late. In my opinion, there should be well-informed person to give us the useful information about sunflowers such as how to plant, what is its nature, etc. Natural beauty should come with knowledge. It's a pity!!!
10.40 am: Pa Sak Chonlasit Dam on the train
Wow!!! How wonderful! It seems that the train is running on water in Pa Sak Chonlasit Dam. Befor having the dam, there was a railway which was flooded when dam was constructed. The new one was built not far from the old one and used until now. Guide give us 20 minutes to take photos and to keep this impressive view in our memory.
11.00 am: Pa Sak Chonlasit Dam
We have 1h30 to have luch and go shopping at the shopping area of Pa Sak Chonlasit Dam. Here, besides sunflower seeds, there are fried fish, dried fish and grape. You can buy them as a gift.
13.30 pm: On the train
It is very hot in the aftertoon. It is time to go back home. After lunch, I feel asleep and I am going to have a nap...p....p....p....p........zzzzz
04.45 pm:
Where are we? Oh...We arrive Hua Lamphong. If you want to visit this sunflower blossom festival, December is appropriate time because sunflowers will be completely grown.
Next week, do not miss to see G.Girl at “Food Club” column. Special sunflower menus will wait you there. And do not forget to visit Suan Luang Rama IX to appreciate the beautiful flowers in “Beautiful flowers in Suan Luang Rama IX Festival” organized during December 01-10, 2004. Bye
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