The left bank of the Khao Laem Lake is the origin of the , far from the Vajiralongkorn Dam where we will start this trip. This is a rich area of the famous Western Forest of province in which some parts have been cleared for agriculture by the older generation of more than 40-50 years ago. The area north of this Dam is wide enough to allow the beautiful nature to be hidden for it to always exist.

The blood of the Enduro rider like us has never stopped. A new trip will always be there, and this time, we chose to travel to Thong Pha Phum at Ban I Tong, or the Mine that many people already know during the best and most beautiful time as well as the most difficult for sure. Our partner for this trip was a Kawasaki KLX150 BF that is very agile for the muddy conditions of the teak forest and jungle route, which are moist with the rain falling a few times per day without anything ever being dry. The Vajiralongkorn Dam was the meeting place we could get up and keep on for starting this trip. The first destination was Suan riding and not be a difficult Pa Thong Pha Phum, Ban Huai Kheyong, which burden to the group. Going has a route that had a lot of fun waiting for us. slowly was safer and we could We indirectly turned back passing a block of giant help each other. The senior trees of the Thong Pha Phum National Park before members taught the younger going up the mountain to Ban I Tong. From there, ones to pass the obstacles like we turned off the paved road passing Muban Huai the loud sound, hill after hill, Kheyong. Leaving the village behind, the Thong Pha potholes after potholes until it Phum Forest embraced us with the earth, gravel, was over. and orange mud. As far as the eye could see, the road was wet like a soft cake stretching into the deep forest and going far enough to be beautiful in itself like a fish in water. Everyone turned the throttle and in their mind instructed their body to prepare The very cloudy forest to adjust themself for the way. This called on all route alternating with the the skills that the instructors had once taught us in sunlight of Kanchanaburi the Enduro class to use everything all at once. No created a problem of matter if you could read the way, ride through the accumulated humidity for basin or the slippery steep slope, or even controll the city people wearing a the brake and throttle to go smoothly, the KLX150 full motocross outfit like BF was still able to take us through this without any us. It was considerably difficulty with its light weight, agility, and the right annoying, but it was for amount of power. safety in the case if we overturned, This established rapport that would result The problem of travelling was not in fun after passing those obstacles that you related to the motorcycle’s performance, would never forget with the wind blowing especially a 150 cc one. This kind of slowly if you had to help your friends motorcycle is set to have an appropriate collect the Enduro out of the mud that often balance of high horsepower, torque and splashed onto the route. Anyway this route speed. The Big Foot (BF) does not need might make us easily exhausted. The way to to worry about potholes everywhere. basically protect yourself is to find a camel Just raise your bottom, spread out your bag and fill it with water to help quench elbows, and move on with comfort, your thirst and relieve the body heat. The but travelling by two wheels requires beauty provided sufficient enjoyment, but skill and adapting your knowledge that dirt road of the forest is a fun ride, so do about the route as later when coming not tell anyone. It was guaranteed that none here, some parts of the road might be of us would be clean after this. The orange damaged. mud was cool from the heels of our boots to the tip of our helmet. We smiled with Besides the aching leg muscles enjoyment and happiness accompanied of the orange route, we hit the with our friend, the dust. Even though this throttle to move through the time it was muddy, the good relationship bends to keep hot on Highway from a popular activity like this woukld No. 399 and headed towards have a lot of value with the word ‘friendship’ Ban I Tong, the Pilok Mine on a more than ever. steep and curvy route like this. If we sometimes like excessive speed, then we have to remind ourselves that our travelling companions might be able to often avoid potholes and eat dust. But let us remind you that, we cannot even be 20% careless, so that others are careless. Results have shown that good travelling is not bad for health, so we do not have any accidents. The Tourism Authority of (TAT) has considered that the highway of 399 bends is threatening for other tourists, but we were not discouraged because when riding up the Tanao Sri Mountain range of the We arrived at Muban I Tong at almost dusk Thong Pha Phum National Park, it after spending most of the day riding along was still beautiful and pleasant. We the Huai Kheyong route in which we had did not exactly count the time for very little time to see the village. Ban I Tong travelling, but the feeling we had when is a community-based tourism attraction, arriving at the viewpoint of the sea of which is a small village located on the Thai- mountains along the way was just like border. It is quiet, peaceful, safe, a moment, so we were not somewhat but still preserves the nature and local culture satisfied with the amount of words that is the charm for city people to come and spoken. experience the unspoiled nature of this place. If cooked, the price will be around Muban I Tong 250-270 Baht per kilogramme, so most tourists will come to eat crab. was established around 60-70 years ago Ban I Tong is a small village with at the same time when the excavation homestays, restaurants, and 3-4 of mineral ore began in this area. The grocery shops, as well as a shop name Muban I Tong comes from the selling souvenirs, postcards, and words “Muban Nat Eng Tong”, which attractive shirts. “Nat” means god or angel, “Eng” means house, and “Tong” means mountain. In addition to this, there is a Together this means the village that camping spot in the area of the is located on the angel’s mountain. helipad. Besides the way of life of the Later, the name was slightly distorted people of Ban I Tong that is peaceful, and became “Muban I Tong” like at simple, and friendly, the all year- present. In this small village, there is a round cool weather is a charm that pond in the centre with drinking water lures tourists. Another highlight of from a natural water source, a fresh this village is eating fresh sea crabs food market, and school. There are no and prawns from the Andaman shops or entertainment venues. The coast, which come from Myanmar. old cinema has been transformed into This is because Muban I Tong is a grocery store, and there are also very only a little over an hour or about few restaurants; such as, Pa Tui, Khrua 60 kilometres from the Andaman Sut Daen, etc. In the area of Muban Sea. The crabs and prawns are sold I Tong, there are accommodation fresh in the market and the price is services for tourists including resorts cheap at about 200-220 Baht per and homestays. kilogramme. The Pilok Mine is at the entrance of the village. In the past, some decades ago, someone saw some Burmese smuggling excavated ore in the area of Tambon Pilok to Besides that, tungsten and gold The opening of the mine at that time sell to the British army. This rumour led the were also intermingled with the resulted in confrontations between Department of Mineral Resources at that tin as well. Then in 1940, the the Thai police and Burmese time to have a group of engineers to do a Royal Department of Mines and labourers because the Thai side did survey, who were dumbfounded when they Geology opened the Pilok Mine, not allow the Burmese to sell the ore discovered that this area had a lot of tin and as the first mine at Ban I Tong, to the British. wolfram. Tambon Pilok. Come to Ban I Tong and the Pilok Mine, which has numerous places of interest, such as, Chong Mitraphap, Noen Sao Thong, and what should not be missed is Noen Chang Suek, and before the end of the day, we will check into here so to tell our friends on Facebook that we have arrived. Noen Chang Suek is a viewpoint on the hilltop of the Thai-Myanmar border. Tourists, who visit the Pilok Mine, like to see the surrounding 360-degree However, the Burmese constantly panoramic view, especially during the encroached on the area, so there cool season when there is fog covering were many skirmishes that lead to a the mountain tops. This is a very lot of injuries and deaths. In the past, beautiful viewpoint. Noen Chang Suek the local people called it “Mueang is the operations base of the Border Phi Lok” (Tricky ghost mine) but Patrol Police 135 (Chang Suek Base). later was changed to “Pilok” like the Some people call the top of Doi Pilok name of the mine and district. Later, or Tong Palae as the BPP Base, which is around another 50-60 large and located on the Thai-Myanmar border, small ore mines gradually opened. 1,053 metres above mean sea level. There is staff accommodation, Before the sun set into the horizon, In the morning, we surveyed the area of the a helipad, and viewpoint from we returned to the accommodation at Park Office, which had been maintained and a high angle in which you can the Thong Pha Phum National Park decorated as a garden amidst the trees and see Thailand and Myanmar. On that we had reserved in advance. The nature. It has 2 viewpoints, Noen Chang the Thai side, you can see the National Park is about 7 kilometres Phuek and Noen Kut Doi, in which you Noen Sao Thong Viewpoint (returning the way we had come), and can see a panorama with the undulating and Muban I Tong in the valley we arrived at the accommodation in mountains as far as the eye can see, and on below. On the Myanmar side, the dark, so we did not wander about days when there is fog, you might see a sea of you can see the mountains the area of the Park Office . . . we were fog covering the mountaintops as well. and forest that is undulating tired . . . so ZZZZZZ...... mountains, as well as the same forest as in Thailand stretching out as far as the eye can see. There is also a gas station on the Myanmar side that is not too far from the border. The characteristic of the 2 viewpoints is a wooden platform stretching out to be a yard of the edge of the foothills. This spot has a bench for sitting to look at the nature and view of the beautiful mountains. At the Noen Chang Phuek Viewpoint, you can see the top of the highest mountain in this area, which is Khao Chang Phuek. As for the Noen Kut Doi Viewpoint, this is a place to see the sunrise as well as a camping ground to see the wide view and the Vajiralongkorn Dam in the distance. Before returning, the National Park officers recommended that we visit the Chok Kradin Waterfall in the At first, When the trip was over, if you ask Park. As we had already paid the Park what was the best part of travelling entrance fee, it was worthwhile. At first, we thought was it a waterfall every time, we who like the Enduro when we heard the name, we thought according to the name or not, would say having the opportunity that it was a small waterfall, but after but the waterfall crashed down of being close with nature, and considering the name, we thought it like the sound of a large bell. receiving and exchanging the would be interesting. The first minutes But guess what, it was both environment of the flesh with the upon hearing the name, we did not enormous and very beautiful. body. If we want to stop, we stop. If think it would be attractive because the We saw that the waterfall had a we want to walk or ride anywhere, signboard that we saw only had 2 words stream of clear, cool water with then we can do it. But if not, then that we do not know which one to a shady atmosphere. Looking at it causes a problem for others. We officially use - Chok Krading Waterfall the waterfall, we could see the ride with high spirits of an Enduro or Chok Kradin Waterfall. top where the water flows down rider on the gravel dirt track and hitting the rocks to the left and smile while chilling. We intertwine right, and to the left again it the relationship with our friends flowed down into the pool below together each time that it is hot, beautifully. The final location cold, raining, or muddy, so the ride is like a sandy beach that has is extremely tight. Both the skills, attractive rocks with the waves our friends, and brothers and rippling on the shore. If there is sisters will still see each other. time, you can go swimming as well. But if asked specifically, what part Accommodation of this trip do we like the most? Thong Pha Phum National Park Tel.: 081 382 0359, 034 532 114 Everyone would answer the same like copying homework that “not tired, not bruised”. We ride on Ban I Tong Homestay the route we can use. We have Ban To Mai Tel.: 081 755 8043 independence on a preferred jungle Ban Ko Kaeo Tel.: 081 013 0453 route and return home to the city Ban Mi Chuen Homestay Tel.: 034 546 663, 081 755 8043 not tired, not afraid, not sad . . . even Arm Homestay Tel.: 086 170 3410 though Monday is waiting for us in I Tong Homestay Tel.: 087 169 0394 the next few hours, so see you again on the next trip. GPS Coordinates of Important Attractions Vajiralongkorn Dam: N 14.79918 E 98.59667 Thong Pha Phum National Park: N 14.63587 E 98.44659 Chok Kradin Waterfall: N 14.68615 E 98.38081 Noen Chang Suek: N 14.67280 E 98.36867 Ban I Tong & Pilok Mine: N 14.67838 E 98.36785 Noen Sao Thong: N 14.68104 E 98.36287 Chong Mitraphap: N 14.68344 E 98.36227 Somsak Mine: N 14.65462 E 98.40271