Ao Noi

[caller]

I'm a little confused about this thread, which is why I haven't said anything. Am I correct in saying the area we are talking about is the sea front beyond this bay pictured, to the left of the headland, smack in the centre of this old photo of mine, taken from the old temple on top of the hill?

[Big Boy]

Yes, I think so. In the dozens of times I've to Prachuap, I've never turned left.

[migrant]

If it's where I think it is, drive into town and turn left at the light, I've been down many times to customs. It's a nice area some good retaurants too.

[Big Boy]

I usually drive around the mountain with the temple on top to laugh at the monkeys (maybe they laugh at me also) on my way home, but that's as far North as I've been.

[caller]

Okay, so it is as I thought, thanks. Well, I've been around there several times over the years, starting in 2009, and over to what I now know is Ao Noi. When I first went that way, there were boat repairers, new boats being built, and fishing paraphanilia everywhere. It's a pretty undistinguished area with an unardorned beach, not really used for recreation, as I recall. However, on my last trip that appeared to be changing. I know there is a small hotel recently opened that side, although I couldn't have been looking in the right place and I never knew of the cave.

Of interest is a temple very near to the cliff face of the headland, as you follow the beach road. You can't see any sign of it as it's all below the height of the canopy formed by the trees, and is where the local population headed after the Japanese invaded. And only re-emerged after the 'armistice' was signed. Spotter planes couldn't find them, nor the temple because of the much denser tree cover formed by trees and the proximity of the cliff face.

Anyway, I am likely to be heading down that way on the 21st so will check it out again.

[KhunLA]

Just use Gmaps, as there 2 turns (?) that will get you down to where the larger boat pier is. Drive slow, as sois of small, and sort of blind curves back there. They just upgraded the road back there and built a walkway. #1 on map below:



#2 on map below, past the parking area at Wat, (wat on right, lake on left, to dead end) turn right, pass living quarters, small path to surf



They also upgraded the parking, and area around the lake, where Wat Ao Noi is (non cave structure). I actually never went to the cave, as not a fan of.

Vid starts at crematorium part of wat. @ 2:37, you see the 'tourist' Wat, monk residence, go back past the huts & living quarters, and that's where #2 on map vid was taken from. Now there is concrete, completely encircling the lake.

[Big Boy]

Thanks for the videos KhunLA, it looks lovely. Is it possible to walk out on the piers? Probably more importantly, if it is, do you know if they are wheelchair friendly?

[KhunLA]

Thanks for the video KhunLA, it looks lovely. Is it possible to walk out on the piers? Probably more importantly, if it is, do you know if they are wheelchair friendly?

Yes, not problem. I've even driven down halfway, to take snaps. It's wide enough for trucks, as they unload the boats directly to trucks. Wide enough to 2 way traffic.

On the back end of the Wat, #2 point where I made the vid, not wheels friendly, as too much sand between parking area & surf.

[Big Boy]

Thank you. Wheelchair is not essential fot short distances, it is just easier on my wife's lungs.