(Happy birthday, Tache :)

Boiled entrails in herb soup for lunch!

Monks have their own special waiting area at the railway station in Bangkok.

I had planned to spend a week on Koh Phayam (Thailand’s last unspoiled island?) whilst waiting for my Indian visa to be processed. But my train was running late and I didn’t want to arrive in Chumphon at 2:00 am so I got off the train at Prachuap Khiri Khan. Where Bev and I had spent the New Year thirty years ago.

I found a nice hotel (the SunBeach Guesthouse) across a quiet road from the sea and quickly settled into this very relaxed and quiet Thai town, deciding right away that I didn’t need to continue further south to Koh Phayam.

The view from ‘Monkey Mountain’ in 1983

… and the view in 2013

Prachuap is well-known for the quality of its seafood. And the best I had was at the ‘Sunflower’ restaurant on the seafront. There isn’t a big sign advertising the restaurant so you may have to ask directions! Fön was spending her vacation helping her mother who runs the restaurant; a delightful girl!

Mother and daughter

The monkeys up on ‘Monkey Mountain’ were still as territorial as they had been in 1983:

But the views are as spectacular as ever…

And, suddenly, a week has flown by and it is almost time to leave; I have a minibus up to Bangkok tomorrow morning. Hopefully, my Indian visa will be ready for my flight to Delhi on the day after.

Yesterday, I hiked up a mountain on the Wing 5 air base that adjoins the town. I had hoped to see some of the langurs that live in the trees there but had no luck. The views from the top were worth the uphill climb in the midday heat, though. This morning, I got up early(ish) and went back onto the Wing 5 air base to try my luck with the langurs again – with more success. These are very elegant, graceful and dignified animals, with beautiful orange babies. It was a lovely morning. I am going to miss Prachuap. I will be back!