Birding in Petchaburi

While passing through the farmlands and salt pans of Petchaburi province, I can't help notice the rich variety of bird species around. Marvelous & beautiful creatures of flight - the frustration is my lack of ability to identify them. Besides my simple camera isn't capable for close up shots of wild life.

After taking this shot, I wanted to learn more about them.. at least be able to identify them for a start.
















The best starting point is back to Google search, of course! Birding reports listed more than 300+ species in the province. Wow, that's a lot more than I realize! In fact Kaeng Krachang National Park is also among favorite birding destinations. Thailand itself has close to1000 species!

My first lesson.. photos from a Thai birder, Noom Nuttun, taken in Petchaburi.
Noom has couple more photos at his site site: http://170674.multiply.com/
















































































































I found an article interview with Philip D. Round, author of Guide to Birds of Thailand citing most of their favorite birding areas are in Ban Laem district of Petchaburi province.
http://www.ornithomedia.com/magazine/mag_art355_2.htm

Philip is reputed to rediscover a specie of the large billed reed warbler (Acrocephalus orinus) in Petchaburi; thought to be extinct and not been seen since 1867, when a single bird of the species was reported in the northwest of India.
info: http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/acrocephalus/

Another link with photos of birds at Laem Phak Bia, Petchaburi.
http://www.pbase.com/wsusanto/laem_phak_bia

Someday I'll probably end up as a serious birder!

Kaeng Krachan - Thailand's largest National Park

Kaeng Krachan as I learned is the 28th and largest National Park in Thailand. It is about 60Km from Petchaburi or a 3 hr drive south-west from Bangkok.

This trip provides a small glimpse of this vast NP. I'll be back to update this blog in time to come.. surely there are much more to be seen.

There are much info available on the internet, this is one:
http://www.trekthailand.net/central3/index.html

The first earth filled dam in the country. The lake behind feeds the vast irrigation system of rice fields and shrimp farms of Petchaburi province all the way to the Gulf of Thailand.








Kids having fun with the swift currents of the Petchaburi River fed by the lake.
















The road along the lake offers many scenic spots.






































The mountain ranges at the far end are the water shed that borders with Myanmar.
































My friend P'Moo took us to visit a Karen village, a 60km drive from the Park's Center on 4 wheel drive. Karen villages spread along the long borders between Myanmar & Thailand.

Finally reaching the village across the river, a very peaceful place!





















Villagers use the floating bamboo raft for crossings.


















2 village girls fishing on the river.. with elastic bands!
















Tree's expose roots on river bank invites a photo.
















This appear to be the village's communal area, tidy and well kept.
















P'Moo posing in front of a typical village house elevated on stilts, without walls. Wonder how long can I last living here!
















Petrol station near the NP, a little out of the way!

Cha Am

Cha Am is probably the nearest popular beach approx. 180km to the south west of Bangkok (about 20km further than Petchaburi). Said to be the longest white sandy beach of Thailand, it is pretty well develop with tourists amenities. During weekends, hoards of visitors arrive to soak the sun and have fun at sea.

Flying toy planes crafted out of Styrofoam .... pretty ingenious!
















Approaching the beach from town, one would not miss a row of restaurants offering roast pork. Seem like a local specialty.





















Roast chickens looks good too!





















Of course there are many good seafood restaurants around. This table made of a single tree trunk more than a meter wide caught my eye.
















Looking out to the vast expanse of the beach as far as the eye can see!

Lovely Palms

When touring the countryside of Petchaburi, I love the sight of tall palms dotting the rice fields!































































Checking out further, these are its fruits. Smaller than coconuts but distinctively different.
















A closer view

















Cut open, each has three of these jelly-like fruit within! Sweet but not too sweet.

















Beside the fruit, palm sugar & drinks comes from it too!





















Boiling away the water content with low fire to extract sugar





















Laying out the sugar into cake form, light brown in color





















Palm sugar are used in cooking and making of desserts

Amphawa's Weekend Floating Market

Update - 22nd Oct 2008
Ampahawa seems to be growing each time I dropped by. The last time I took a night fireflies boat tour - noted a section along the Khlong I missed out before; fronted with few shops and mostly guest houses or home-stay outfits.

View from the pedestrian bridge - water level risen a lot now.





















Food vendors are busy as ever along the embankments.
















Turning right from the bridge away from crowded area above lead to this stretch of guest houses.
















Atmosphere is filled with another sort of quiet charms. Interesting for a night stay here I reckon.
















A couple of lizards waiting for preys showed up as an interesting shot!






















Amphawa's floating market
Another big draw of Ampahwa is the weekend floating market, located in town along the Mae Klong river. It is a night market crossing a floating market.

By the early evening, crowd begin to build up. There are so many delicious Thai food to sample!










































Local crafts.. decorative lamps shades made of coconuts!





















Can't resist these grilled squids! Huge, aren't they?
















Drinks made from local fruits.





















This fish curry sell out fast!





















Steamed fishes are very fresh too!





















Someone once told me, if the food vendor look well fed, their food must be good!
















I always order a "cafe yian" (iced coffee) when I see a store like this
















My favorite shot.. girl checking out Thai dessert made in fruit form, so colorful!
















Flower garlands!
















More desserts!





















Mini dumplings
















Can't miss out the tropical fruits!





















Photo shooting tourists over the bridge.
















It's the floating market below, of course!





















See the crowd sat by the canal side & enjoyed the food!
















Delicious food of all sorts
















This soup seem to be very popular!
















Make payment & take delivery via basket hung on a guide wire
















Another way to serve, spot the lady stretching out with a bamboo pole?
















There goes the delivery to a customer!





















In spite of busy thoroughfare, the atmosphere is still casual
































Souvenirs shops lined the walkways where tourists goes.










































Tourists on boats to fire fly watch at night.





















Technicians serving engines of tourist boats.





















Drying food out in the sun at the market.

















An old charming house across the canal.
















Their skills of boat handling with single oar impressed me.. you'll know what I mean if you have tried before!
















Fishing game - kids get to keep their catch with paper scoops!
















A blind musician performing.