North of Cha Am - Photo Essay [long]

[Ratsima]

When I stay in Cha Am I always enjoy cycling on the country roads that wind around amongst the small farms, resorts and isolated beaches just north of the harbor. Within just a few kilometers the landscape can dramatically change. These photos were all taken on Wednesday, July 13th, 2022, Asanha Bucha Day (อาสาฬหบูชา) and, also, a full moon day.

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Fishing boat harbor at low tide taken from the Blue Crab drawbridge.
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Tidal pool with brewing storm.
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So green and set off by the rusted steel roofing.
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Tumlay caravan (trailer) camp, cafe and bar. I'm not sure of the attraction of places like this. Why drive someplace only to stay in a trailer. But, this place was completely full that day. To each.
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Tumlay cafe and bar.
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Tidal sand flats
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This is commonly known as Jurassic Mountain, but the actual Thai name is เขาตาจีน (Khao Da Jin - Chinese Eye Mountain?). The wall belongs to a Buddhist Monastery called Tham Chedi Nam Khao Ta Chin Bureau of Monks (สำนักสงฆ์ถ้ำเขาตาจีน - The English translation is bizarre.) I've cycled by this place many times but never stopped, thinking there was nothing to see. Recently I'd seen posters inviting people to come and see a cave with a Buddha Image.
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These are the steps up to the cave.
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View looking south at Khao Yai and Cha Am from the cave entrance.
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Cave entrance.
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Continued on next post.

[Ratsima]

Continued from OP.
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Cave interior
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Buddha Image encased in glass. Perhaps Sukhothai style, but not old.
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Sala of the monastery. There was a religious service going on. And, yeah, that's my bicycle.
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Some distance away is this, one of the weirdest places I've experienced. It's called the "Nang Nuan Cave Meditation Center" (ศูนย์ปฏิบัติธรรมถ้ำนางนวล). I first visited the place years ago when it seemed abandoned and in need of repair. I mangled to make my way through a pack of dogs into the cave. There wasn't much to see. The structure has since been renovated and seems occupied by a fortune teller.
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Wat Nikhom Wachiraram - วัดนิคมวชิรา


This is another odd place. The wat has a burial ground behind the main structures and up against a limestone cliff.

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The first time I visited there were many broken and empty crypts. I'm not a believer in the supernatural, but I have to admit it was creepy. After that I always called it "The Scary Wat". The next time I visited, the broken crypts were gone. I assumed they had been hauled away. On this visit I discovered that they had simply been destroyed (with a sledge hammer?) and the detritus spread around the grounds.
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Cool banyan tree.
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I wonder who got away?
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Continued on next post.

[Ratsima]

Continued from previous post.
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This handmade crypt is set into the limestone cliff. It was made from some cement and construction bricks. I have no idea what the blue pain signifies.
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I believe this is Kaempferia galangal. Also known as galanga (ข่า in Thai), the rhizome of which is used in cooking all over SE Asia. This one was growing right out of the limestone cliff about two meters above ground level.
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Thai stupa containing the ashes of the deceased. I like the praying or meditating figures on one face and the dancing figures on the other.
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This stupa has inset Buddha images behind glass. I love the decoration on the frame.
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This is the route I cycled. All the photos are taken from the green arrow (harbor) and the red arrow (Wat Nikhom Wachiraram).

[bigston]

Great Viewing
its sometimes remarkable just whats almost in your back yard

[Big Boy]

Thank you Ratsima. I enjoy reading reports like this one.

[Dannie Boy]

Yes it’s interesting to see what’s in your “backyard” - it’s not far from where we live so will try to explore the area when we get back.

[Chazz14]

Thanks for your efforts, Ratsima

[Big Boy]

Ratsima, that could be a pleasant drive/exploration. Is your route on roads, or do you go offroad please?

[lindosfan1]

Thank you very interesting

[Ratsima]

Ratsima, that could be a pleasant drive/exploration. Is your route on roads, or do you go offroad please?

All drivable roads.

[Big Boy]

Excellent, thank you.

[Ratsima]

I should clarify about the drivable roads. It is not possible to drive a four wheel vehicle across the drawbridge at the west end of the Cha Am harbor. To drive to the north side of the harbor you need to take the so-called Scenic Route out of Cha Am. Get on Si Sakun Thai, the road that goes past the Cha Am hospital. The road name changes to Khlong Thian Rd which crosses the river after leaving town. Take the first right turn. Head east until you hit the north-south road. Turn north.

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Here's a Google Map of the complete route discussed in the OP:

North of Cha Am

[caller]

Great stuff Ratsima, thanks for posting this.

[huahinjim]

Thank you Ratsima. Interesting and good photos.

[Taf in Cha-am]

A wonderful tour, Ratsima. Thank you for posting.

My family and I have been regular guests in that neck of the woods for 10+ years and have always felt at home there--so much so that we bought our retirement home in one of the condo buildings visible in some of the photos.

Looking forward to seeing the space in person after 2+ years away, and glad to have had the chance to "visit" via your photos.