Pakchong

During August 22-24, 2008, we went to Khun Eksun house at Pakchong, Nakornratchasima which is nearby Khao Yai National Park. He is developing this plot of land to a cozy second home for weekend and comes here almost every week. The weather is fresh with cool breeze thus we do not need air conditioning. Moreover, because of the weather condition and 350m-higher-than-sea-level, some flowers grow up beautifully as well as some vegetables and fruits, such as custard apples, grapes, avocados, dragon fruit, can plant productively here.

Scenery from Khun Eksun House.

Dragon Fruit and Plumeria Flowers from Khun Eksun House.

Granmonte, Asoke Vineyard

Granmonte is Italian word, mean Big Mountain, located in Asoke Valley adjacent to Khao Yai National Park. We intended to go to its shop called Montino at the vineyard since we are interested the taste of its Syrah. We bought 2002 Celebration Syrah and the new release, 2006 Primavera ‘Unfiltered’ Syrah, which won silver medal at Syrah du Monde 2008 competition in France. They recommend us to drink this wine next year that it will provide the best taste. I also bought some grape cookies and salad dressing.

The vineyard map and sample of grape plantation.

I was shopping around the Montino, while P.Ou tasted some wines.

Eatery at Pakchong-Khao Yai

While we were at Pakchong, it was convenience to eat out since Khun Eksun home is not far from Pakchong Market. We had breakfast, Thai-style coffee, Pra-Tong-Koh, soft-boiled egg, and dished eaten with boiled rice, at the market. I also bought Chinese sausage, dried and crispy pork from Je Huang which recommended by his friend as souvenir.

Picture of Thai-style cafe where we had coffee and eggs and Food stall sells Fried Tofu and Taro at Pakchong Market.

In addition, Khun Eksun leaded us to 3 restaurants. First is Country Kitchen which the owner are Bangkokian and come to take care the place every weekend. The place is on the road to Khao National Park. It offers good food, such as Fish Steak in Black Pepper Sauce, Deep Fried Pra Tapien, Fried Chicken with Crispy Lemongrass, and Grilled River Prawn. I like Fish Steak.
Second is Primo Posto del Khao Yai which has outstanding building that invite visitors to stop by and take pictures. The place is located on the road to Granmonte. We went there for lunch and it offers only salad and 2 set menu, Italian Sausage with French Fried and Spaghetti with pork and tomato sauce. Since Khun Eksun does not eat pork and there could not prepare other food so he could eat only appetizer, spinach rolls. I would say the food tastes fair, and its Italian sausage tastes like Bangkok Ham's.
Third is Ruan Thai Restaurant, located at Pakchong area, and it offers ordinary Thai food. We ordered Salted egg in Palo sauce, Tom Yum Kung, Fried Sea Bass. There were a few customers at the restaurant when we went there because that evening, the 2 Thai boxers contended for Gold Olympic Medals and Pakchong is the birthplace of a Thai Boxer's wife, so they all went to her place to cheer their hero and eat free food.

Picture of Country Kitchen and Primo Posto del Khao Yai

Wang Nam Khieo

Since the reputation of Wang Nam Khieo, we drove approx. 80 kilometers east to see the scenery. Wang Nam Khieo is ranked 7th in the world for the best ozone level, adjacent to Khao Yai but in different direction of Pakchong, so it is easier to go to Wang Nam Khieo from Bangkok by Road no. 304 passing Kabin Buri to Prachinburi and it takes about 3 hours. We dropped by Kraw Imp Suk to have some beers and snacks, such as Fish sausage and Deep Fried Salmon Head.

Beautiful scenery from the hill of Kraw Imp Suk.

Khun Eksun stopped by an Orchid House and bought some. There are more pictures of Orchid at http://picasaweb.google.com/arthivon/PakchongKorat#