The left bank of the Khao Laem Lake is the origin of the Khwae Noi River, far from the Vajiralongkorn Dam where we will start this trip. This is a rich area of the famous Western Forest of Kanchanaburi 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 Pilok 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 Thailand (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 Myanmar 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.