The long concrete road ahead, the swaying green grass and the light music were good incentives for a peaceful sleep which the voyagers enjoyed until they were awaken as they arrived at Sai Yok district. The stop was only timely, a welcoming break for them to take advantage of the small but refreshing Sai Yok Waterfall amidst the idyllic surrounding. At the same time, the steam locomotives that have long been the painful reminder of World War II at the Death Railway in the waterfall neighborhood to Myanmar also present an excellent opportunity for snapshots. With photographs taken, the voyagers were ready to be on the road again to their destination in Sangkhla Buri district. The smooth and lone road soon becomeswinding, twisting and steep, By the time we arrived at Baan Mai Pattana in Sangkhla Buri district, it was already 4.00 p.m. The community looks peaceful, people clad in distinct attires; the language sounds different from that spoken by an average Thai. This is the Karen Village.
We embarked a boat immediately upon our arrival. From the boat, we could thoroughly admired Uttamanusorn Bridge, allegedly Thailand's longest and most beautiful road. Bathed in light sunshine, it made a wonderful reflection on the surface of Songkalia Creek.
"From the top of the bridge, we can see the spot where three waters converge in front of the old temple of Luang Paw Uttama which is completely under water. This place is referred to as Sarm Prasold, the three waters of Songkalia Creek, Beklee Creek and Runtee Creek", said the guide while pointing to each of the creeks before they converged.
The boat sailed smoothly across the peaceful water, all the while accompanied by the kind guide's narration. He explained that this was once a land mass accessible via the infamous Death Railway which was built during World War II as a bridgehead into Myanmar from Thailand's Thong Pha Phum district. However, with the construction of Vajiralongkorn Dam, the area and the railway were inundated, Since our trip took place during the dry season, March and June, the water has receded enough to allow everyone to see the land mass and other constructions.
The guide showed us the railway although it is buried under piles of pebbles which helps prevent it from being swept away by the currents since it is completely under water in the rainy season. From there, we continued to the old temple of Luang Paw Uttama which had re-emerged. The remains and remnants of the temple that strewed across the temple compound presented tourists with a rare opportunity for a snapshot or two.
The sun was about to set; a number of Mon women were crossing the bridge as they headed home; children in their birthday suits were enjoying a dip. These laid-back scenes soon disappeared into the darkness of the night.
We left for the two-century-old Karen temple at Baan Mai Pattana the following day to join the 'Aiyara Party', an old tradition dedicated to elephants. The giant animals had already formed a line by the time we got to the ceremonial ground. As it moved, scores of local women performed the
dancing ahead of the procession which was tailed by cattle-drawn carts. The procession moved through the village and came to a stop at a large square where a giant fruitcake for the elephants dominated; the party would begin after the monks sprinkled the holy water and completed the ceremony at which a cord was tied around the foot of the elephants.
"Tying a cord around the elephant's foot is an old ritual that takes place every April, the hottest month of the year when the giant animals have a month-long break. The mahout from each household takes this opportunity to organize a blessing ceremony for the elephants. In Karen, this is called kai krachong jung (kai meaning tie while krachong means elephant and jung is equivalent to hand). When the 'Aiyara Party' was first introduced on 15 April 1997, the elephants from each household marched into take part in this specific event", explained Mr. Somchai Srisuke, the former Director of Baan Mai Pattana who continued saying that tying cords to the elephant's foot is a gimmick designed to appease the giant animals making them obedient and performing their duty well. Today, Aiyara Party takes place_every June.
At the end of the ceremony, we hit the road again; the destination was Wat Wang Viveykararn. Despite the scorching
afternoon sun, an air of devotion in the temple was soothing to both the visitors and worshippers. The distinctively delicate art motifs of the temple are uniquely Mon. We entered the chapel to pay homage to Luang Paw Uttama's unspoiled corpse and paused to say a prayer before we moved on to pay respect to the Buddhakaya pagoda, the tallest building in the compound with its spire piercing into the blue sky. The top of the pagoda, ornate with a 400-baht gold canopy, houses the Buddha's relic that was brought into the country from Sri Lanka.
Looking for souvenirs to take home, we stopped by the shops around the Three-Pagoda Check Point. There, at the top of the road, I spotted some Burmese maidens who were selling traditional Burmese face powder. A modest purchase of a small pack of the face powder was enough to put a smile on the young vendor's face. She waved us goodbye when our bus made the way out of Sangkhla Buri.
We embarked a boat immediately upon our arrival. From the boat, we could thoroughly admired Uttamanusorn Bridge, allegedly Thailand's longest and most beautiful road. Bathed in light sunshine, it made a wonderful reflection on the surface of Songkalia Creek.
"From the top of the bridge, we can see the spot where three waters converge in front of the old temple of Luang Paw Uttama which is completely under water. This place is referred to as Sarm Prasold, the three waters of Songkalia Creek, Beklee Creek and Runtee Creek", said the guide while pointing to each of the creeks before they converged.
The boat sailed smoothly across the peaceful water, all the while accompanied by the kind guide's narration. He explained that this was once a land mass accessible via the infamous Death Railway which was built during World War II as a bridgehead into Myanmar from Thailand's Thong Pha Phum district. However, with the construction of Vajiralongkorn Dam, the area and the railway were inundated, Since our trip took place during the dry season, March and June, the water has receded enough to allow everyone to see the land mass and other constructions.
The guide showed us the railway although it is buried under piles of pebbles which helps prevent it from being swept away by the currents since it is completely under water in the rainy season. From there, we continued to the old temple of Luang Paw Uttama which had re-emerged. The remains and remnants of the temple that strewed across the temple compound presented tourists with a rare opportunity for a snapshot or two.
The sun was about to set; a number of Mon women were crossing the bridge as they headed home; children in their birthday suits were enjoying a dip. These laid-back scenes soon disappeared into the darkness of the night.
We left for the two-century-old Karen temple at Baan Mai Pattana the following day to join the 'Aiyara Party', an old tradition dedicated to elephants. The giant animals had already formed a line by the time we got to the ceremonial ground. As it moved, scores of local women performed the
dancing ahead of the procession which was tailed by cattle-drawn carts. The procession moved through the village and came to a stop at a large square where a giant fruitcake for the elephants dominated; the party would begin after the monks sprinkled the holy water and completed the ceremony at which a cord was tied around the foot of the elephants.
"Tying a cord around the elephant's foot is an old ritual that takes place every April, the hottest month of the year when the giant animals have a month-long break. The mahout from each household takes this opportunity to organize a blessing ceremony for the elephants. In Karen, this is called kai krachong jung (kai meaning tie while krachong means elephant and jung is equivalent to hand). When the 'Aiyara Party' was first introduced on 15 April 1997, the elephants from each household marched into take part in this specific event", explained Mr. Somchai Srisuke, the former Director of Baan Mai Pattana who continued saying that tying cords to the elephant's foot is a gimmick designed to appease the giant animals making them obedient and performing their duty well. Today, Aiyara Party takes place_every June.
At the end of the ceremony, we hit the road again; the destination was Wat Wang Viveykararn. Despite the scorching
afternoon sun, an air of devotion in the temple was soothing to both the visitors and worshippers. The distinctively delicate art motifs of the temple are uniquely Mon. We entered the chapel to pay homage to Luang Paw Uttama's unspoiled corpse and paused to say a prayer before we moved on to pay respect to the Buddhakaya pagoda, the tallest building in the compound with its spire piercing into the blue sky. The top of the pagoda, ornate with a 400-baht gold canopy, houses the Buddha's relic that was brought into the country from Sri Lanka.
Looking for souvenirs to take home, we stopped by the shops around the Three-Pagoda Check Point. There, at the top of the road, I spotted some Burmese maidens who were selling traditional Burmese face powder. A modest purchase of a small pack of the face powder was enough to put a smile on the young vendor's face. She waved us goodbye when our bus made the way out of Sangkhla Buri.