Are you a caffeine loving photography buff,
desperately seeking Mother Nature’s dramatic settings?
If the words serene, peaceful and enchanting send you into a happy state of zen bliss, then calmly follow me. You’re going to love this part of Nakhon Nayok province, Thailand.
Now call me an ignorant toad wren but I didn’t really know much about the Nakhon Nayok area before this little adventure began*, which is silly really as it has much to recommend. This small province in Central Thailand is found a couple of hours northeast of Bangkok and makes for a splendid weekend away.
Most of Nakhon Nayok’s tourism is centered on the ever-popular Khao Yai National Park, or the lesser-known Khun Dan Prakarn Chon Dam, a magnificent structure and enjoyed by those who frequent this area for its waterways and scenery. These are both covered in future posts.
Today we will have a full day enjoying off the beaten track nature in Nakhon Nayok. Our first stop is the charming Coffee and Tree cafe. Let’s kick start the day with a strong coffee and we can take some interesting pictures!
Coffee and Tree Cafe
Coffee your way to happiness…
My attention is immediately caught as we drive towards Coffee and Tree by the colourful roadside stalls selling brightly coloured flowering plants. It’s a peaceful horticultural area, the cafe is found nestled amongst these bougainvillea plant sellers and beside the canal. You could almost pass by if you weren’t in the know…
But do stop, and chances are the owner Khun Somkiat will be there to greet you. I’m wishing my Thai is better, but a framed newspaper article gives me the background.
Years ago Khun Somkiat gave up a stressful corporate life to meet and greet visitors and offer them a quiet place for coffee amongst the flower sellers. Yep, I can see why you would.
Once inside you hardly know where to look, there is so much going on. This cafe is a snug little place with a big surprise. The original old Thai style wooden house was lovingly decorated by the owner with treasured possessions. It’s jam-packed with trinkets, wicker baskets, bird mobiles and the like. Obviously Coffee and Tree was a bit hit AND when passing coffee lovers came they couldn’t resist adding to the charm by leaving little messages, and the story grew.
The cafe became more than an Aladdin’s cave of treasures, it became a living book!
The owner does not speak much English but is none the less is extremely welcoming. You will find an air-conditioned building with Thai food by the entrance and a small number of Thai sweets and cookies on sale alongside the coffee.
Outside overlooking the water is a perfect place to sit, still your mind and compose your written contribution to this cafe. How good is that wooden swing and the old grainy table? Isn’t it just calling out to stay awhile?
Find Coffee and Tree Cafe at:
Coffee and Tree cafe is found at: หมู่ที่ 3 ถนน รังสิต – นครนายก Tambon Khlong Yai, Amphoe Ongkharak, Chang Wat Nakhon Nayok 26120 or click here for a map link.
If you are having trouble finding the cafe, show this to the driver:
How about some plant love in Klong 15?
Before we depart this area, we should find time if you will, to buy some plants. I mean with cheery bougainvillaeas starting at 10 Baht, that’s a bargain. I hope you’ve got space on a balcony or a friend to buy for!
OK after some coffee and plant happiness, let’s head towards the Bamboo Tunnel at Chulabhorn Wanaram Temple to take a gong meditation bath. A wat I hear you ask? Exactly I reply. Sorry I couldn’t resist that!
Bamboo Tunnel at Chulabhorn Wanaram Temple:
The highlight here is to wander through the enchanting bamboo tunnel entrance to a hidden temple. The bamboo grove on each side of the path sways and towers high above you and meets in a perfect kiss high in the skies.
As you walk you are drawn deeper along its inviting path. Some say it reminds them of Kyoto’s Arashiyama forest in Japan. It’s not quite on this level, but give it time to grow and thicken, this is one attraction in Thailand that is so going to improve with age.
The Chulabhorn Wanaram Temple has been newly renovated and is a vision of shiny gold and red. It’s just finished appearance is in rich contrast to the natural setting.
I’m excited to be introduced to this place and feel sure it will develop as a tourist destination, its appeal is the tranquil setting. Let’s hope it’s off the beaten track location, shields it from too many visitors, and the only thing that grows massively is the creaking, towering bamboo!
On the way out I’m drawn to the big gongs. Apparently, the Thai writing tells that it is a meditation gong. Phew, luckily I stopped myself from disgrace, I could have so easily given it a good whack. I’m hurriedly given a lesson in gong meditation and my music fills the air. It was a so, very therapeutic.
Wrens Tip: avoid the Sunday crowds, to enjoy maximum serenity at this temple.
Food suggestions in Nakhon Nayok Province:
I expect by now you have worked up an appetite and lunch beckons. Here are some great ideas for lunch as found in this Nakhok Nayok guide to 10 must-eat restaurants. There is more than chicken soup for the soul here…
We stopped off at Mee Na Mee Nam Restuarant found at: Meena Villa 101 Moo 11, Tambon Sarika, Amphoe Muang Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Nayok 26000 and thoroughly enjoyed the good Thai spread on offer here.
But let’s not linger long as I can’t wait to show you our next destination.
Phu Kariang Farm:
A Sufficiency Economy Natural Agricultural & Learning Centre.
I loved the setting at Phu Kariang (also referred to as Phu Karen.) The farm project is 60 rai, divided into 50 rai of rice farm – a wonderful place for a wander and a wow heavenly place for photographers.
There is a traditional folk art museum, an ivy tunnel, a 100-year-old rice barn, a bridge through the rice field and free-range poultry farming. You can also find a cafe and a small shop selling agricultural products and traditional handicrafts from the Phu Kariang region.
Looking back on why I found it so utterly charming, I concluded that it is because it is so uncommercialised.
You feel like you’ve been invited to a Thai friend’s farm for the afternoon and then unexpectedly find that out the back, in the fields is like being in a movie set. I could have half-expected Leonardo Di Capro to have come running through these rice fields on his way to his famous waterfall jump in the movie The Beach, which was filmed not so far away.
One of the highlights was the owner showing us around the homestead museum, which has not changed much since his grandparents lived there.
There are plenty of animals to feed, beware those pushy kids, not to mention the horns on the water buffalo.
When we arrived it was in the middle of a torrential downpour (July rainy season) everything was newly washed looking and oh so green.
Who wants to come with me for a wander on this bright blue curvy path?
C’mon race you to the end!
I loved my time enjoying the Agri – Tourism at Phu Kariang. I enjoyed the history of the land and homestead, It was wonderful to hear stories of the life of the owner’s grandparents and I loved the way this business was developing including a tourism learning component.
We were also treated to some lovely homemade Thai sweets, including Khao Yakhu, a Thai dessert from milled rice and locally grown fruits
DIRECTIONS: For Fri – Sunday opening times and to arrange visits please contact the Founder and MD, Mr Piyawat Janla: via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pkrfarm Tel 087 361 5821
Khiri Wan Village, no 1, Si Nawa sub-district, Mueang district, Nakhon Nayok Province 26000
For the total map of all these places: Click here at Google/mymap/Zen BlissNakhon Nayok
If you would like to learn more of Nakhon Nayok check out the following:
- Little Wandering Wren: Amazing Thailand and Weekend Wanders Nakhon Nayok etc,
- Trip Advisor: The 10 best things to do in Nakhon Nayok
- Tourism Authority of Thailand: Destination Nakhon Nayok
- Deer is Travelling: Coffee and Tree Cafe
I hope I leave you loving the feeling of zen calm which can be found here in Nakhon Nayok and that you might come and visit someday?
Don’t forget you can always contact me via e-mail at wrensrambles@gmail.com if you have any further questions.
Let’s go wander Nakhon Nayok, everyone!
* Little Wandering Wren travelled as a guest on the TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) 2019 Blogger Competition Winners’ Trip and was beyond thrilled to accept.
The prize was to join five other bloggers as guests of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to explore Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri and Khao Yai (Nakhon Ratchasima) as part of their Open to the New Shades of Amazing Thailand campaign.
Linking with thanks to Travel Tuesday and Angie at Mosaic Monday
6 comments
Lovely locale.
There’s so much to love about this area and your beautiful post! But I have to go back to the beginning and say that the coffee cafe would be my favorite! What a great place to spend time!
Wren – I am definitely feeling the peace. I love nothing better than an eclectic coffee shop, and then the peace of the temple AND the farm. What more could you want? Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday!
The area is enchanting and I do love the coffee and tree cafe! Lovely photos of an area I’d love to explore.
Looks a good place to see,
All the best Jan
Agri-tourism seems like a fabulous idea, Wren! I’d love to go through that bamboo tunnel…looks magical. What an interesting destination (the whole area).