TrangSatun Ko Lao Liang Nong CONTENTS TRANG 10 Trace Back to the Olden Days 11 Find Inner Prace at the Spiritual Retreats 14 Discover Incredible Local Wisdom 15 Fantastic Getaway Islands for Some Fun in The Sun 19 Relax and Connect with the Nature 26 Get Active While Enjoying the Natural Scenery 30 Have Fun Shopping and Tasting Local Delicacies 33 Be a Part of Trang’s Amazing Festivals 36 Transportation from Bangkok to Trang 39 Restaurants and Accommodation 39 Useful Contact Information in Trang 39 SATUN 40 Voyage to the Past 41 Escape to the Paradise Islands 44 Journey into the Mysterious Caves 49 Unwind in the Midst of the Nature 52 Be a Part of Satun’s Amazing Festivals 59 Transportation from Bangkok to Satun 62 Transportation from Trang to Satun 62 Transportation from Hat Yai to Satun 62 Restaurants and Accommodation 62 Useful Contact Information in Trang 62 TRANG TRANG Satun 6 Trang Trang 7 8 Satun Satun 9 Chang Lang Bridge TRANG 10 Trang Close your eyes and imagine a place where shophouses and the beautiful street arts you can get away from the hustle and bustle starts at Trang Railway Station, where a line of everyday life, a place where you can explore of Trang’s iconic frog-head Tuk Tuks awaits natural splendours, a place where you can their passengers. Hop on to the Tuk Tuk and experience diverse cultures, and a place where begins the journey. The Tuk Tuk’s first stop you can make amazing memories. A treasure is for the passenger to take photos with the chest full of surprises on the coast of the street art picturing ‘Si Trang Tree’, which Andaman Sea, Trang has everything you need is Trang’s provincial tree. Located directly to make your dream holiday a reality. opposite to the painting is Siriban Building, a stationery shop with the astonishing Trang attracts divers and beach lovers from Sino-Portuguese architecture. A little further all over the world with its wealth of natural in the same alley is the painting of the phenomena, including stunning tropical islands, ‘Rubber Trees’, where many people enjoy exotic beaches with powdery white sand, posing as if they are tapping the rubber crystal-clear turquoise waters, and enchanting tree. Move on to the last street art, which underwater world. From the unspoiled island is the painting of ‘Tham Morakot’ or the paradises, come ashore and discover all the ‘Emerald Cave’, a famous attraction in Trang. other beauty of Trang. Get off the beaten Not far from Tham Morakot mural is Trang track and savour the tranquil nature, learn the Church, another popular spot where the fascinating local wisdoms and way of life, trace locals and tourists come to snap photos of the intriguing history of the province, and the century-old building. As the Tuk Tuk makes immerse in the wonders of caves and waterfalls. its way through the road, it is easy to spot Gastronomes would also have a blast on many old buildings with Sino-Portuguese culinary adventures and indulging in the architectural style dotting the area. In the delightful delicacies that Trang has to offer. past, Trang was a flourished city and an Although Trang is world-famous for the important tradition ports and the evidence Underwater Wedding Ceremony and the can be seen through the style of the buildings unrivaled islands like Ko Lao Liang, Ko Muk and that indicates the wealth of the merchants. Ko Kradan, there are plenty of other interesting The remarkable old buildings that showcase places and activities await to be explored. splendid Sino-Portuguese architecture and Come and find out for yourself why the Trang’s rich history, combine with stunning beautiful and flavourful Trang is ranked among street arts illustrate that Trang Old Town is truly the top of many travellers’ favourite destinations. the gem of Trang city centre. TRACE BACK TO THE OLDEN Location: Ratchadamnoen Road, Kantang Road, and Rama VI Road, Tambon Thap Thiang, DAYS Amphoe Mueang Trang, Trang GPS: N07° 33.266´ E099° 36.278´ (Trang Rail Trang Old Town way Station) The quest to tour around Trang Old Town N07° 33.455´ E099° 36.507´ (Siriban Buiding and and search for beautiful Sino-Portuguese Trang 11 Kantang Railway Station Trang street art – Si Trang Tree) for exporting and importing goods, it makes N07° 33.497´ E099° 36.466´ (Trang street art – the Station becomes even more intriguing. Rubber Tree) People who visited Kantang Railway Station not N07° 33.470´ E099° 36.293´ (Trang street art – only gets to admire the beautiful architecture, Tham Morakot) but also be at a place that is a historical N07° 33.542´ E099° 36.278´ (Trang Church) evidence that Kantang was once an important port of the South. Although Kantang Railway Kantang Railway Station Station is no longer as busy and lively as in the Standing in front of the Kantang Railway Station past, its rich history can still be felt and it is still and one cannot help but be in awe of the classic very special because it is the last station of beauty of the wooden structure in mustard Thailand’s Southern-Andaman railroad line. yellow lined with dark brown colour. The Station Location: Tambon Kantang, Amphoe Kantang, is a one-storey building with hip roof built with Trang the architectural style widely used during the GPS: N07° 24.649´ E099° 30.876´ reign of King Rama VI. Inside the building is a small museum displaying railroad antiques and Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahison the history of the station. Having learned from Phakdi Museum the museum that Kantang Railway Station was As soon as you step foot inside the Phraya opened in 1913 and also served as the depot 12 Trang Ratsadanupradit Mahison Phakdi Museum, you are transported back to the time between 1890-1901, when Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahison Phakdi served as Trang’s governor. A life-sized wax figure of Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahison Phakdi, the most influential governor of Trang, in the hall way greets visitors as if he was still alive and is inviting visitors to explore his former residence. Inside the simple but beautiful 2-storey wooden building is the displays of Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahison Phakdi’s personal items, photographs, as well as household items. Amongst Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahison Phakdi’s numerous contributions to Trang, the most important legacy is bringing the rubber seedlings from Indonesia and planting them in Kangtang. Rubber then becomes the economic plant of Thailand while Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahison Phakdi was praised as the ‘Father of Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahison Phakdi Musuem Rubber’. One of the original rubber trees is still standing and is located only around 1 kilometre manicured lawn coupled with the stunning away from the Museum. After finished exploring bird’s-eye view of the Trang River and the the Museum, stop by to admire Thailand’s first Kantang town make up for it. Khuan Tamnak rubber tree that is the beginning of the thriving Chan Public Park is not only just a beautiful rubber industry in Thailand. recreational park that is particularly lively in Location: Tambon Kantang, Amphoe Kantang, the evening with locals coming to exercise Trang and watch the magnificent views, but it is rich GPS: N07° 24.458´ E099° 30.924´ (Phraya with interesting history. The Park got its name Ratsadanupradit Mahison Phakdi Museum) from when the royal villa was built to receive N07° 24.575´ E099° 31.372´ (Thailand’s first the royal visit of King Rama VI, who was still rubber tree) a crown prince at that time. After taking a break Operating Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 8.00 a.m. – at the pavilion, walk over to another historically 4.00 p.m. significant site within the Park, which is the underground tunnel used by the Japanese Khuan Tamnak Chan Public Park army during World War II. Inside the tunnel, Although walking up to the top of Khuan retrace the path of the Japanese soldiers and Tamnak Chan Public Park that is situated on come out to take photos with the cannons that a hill is a tiring exercise, the greenery of the were left behind after the war ended. Trang 13 Wat Phukhao Thong Location: Tambon Kantang, Amphoe Kantang, of the costume. There are many Buddha Trang images in southern Thailand with the Manora GPS: N07° 24.321´ E099° 31.219´ headdress, but the one at Wat Phukhao Thong Operating Hours: Every day 8.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. is the only one that is in a reclining posture. Spend time venerating the stunning beauty of FIND INNER PRACE AT THE this one-of-a-kind Buddha image before taking SPIRITUAL RETREATS a walk around the serene temple and explore the magnificent architectures of the structures Wat Phukhao Thong around the temple. Complete the visit to Sitting under the shade of trees in front of the Wat Phukhao Thong by solving the religious majestic golden Buddha image in the entering riddles on the wall that encircling the stunning nirvana posture brings an indescribable sense white-coloured Ubosot (ordination hall). of calmness as well as a sense of grandeur. Location: Tambon Nam Phut, Amphoe Mueang Enshrining at the foot of the limestone cliff Trang, Trang and believed to be built to cover the mouth of GPS: N07° 41.777´ E099° 42.979´ the cave, the Buddha image is called ‘Phra Phuttharup Sihasaiyat Song Soet Manora’. Over Khao Phra Yot a thousand years old, the Buddha image is While making way up the long flight of steps, gracefully decorated with Manora headdress with the destination being the golden pagoda on (Manora is a type of traditional southern Thai the mountain, take your mind off from the dance) that is considered the highest ornament strenuous walk by paying attention to the many 14 Trang Na Muen Si Weaving Group Buddha statues that are placed along the way.