TRIP DONE IN APRIL 2003
Prachuap Khiri Khan is 80 Km from Hua Hin. Its history dates back to the Ayutthaya period. Its original name was Bang Nangrom or Muang Na Rang. It is on the bank of Nang Rom Canal called by the villagers Khlong I-Rom. It was abandoned during the fall of Ayutthaya (1767). In 1845 during the reign of King Rama IV a new town was established at the mouth of Khlong I-Rom and the name was changed to Prachuap Khiri Khan.
TRANSPORT
Trip done by private car
HAT THONG HOTEL
Largest hotel on the bay front near the busy fishing pier.
PLACES VISITED
AO NOI
Bay north of Prachuab Khiri Khan. It is the side of a small fishing village, located near a temple made of beautiful Thai wooden buildings. Due to the fishing activities the beach is not so clean, but the view of all these small fishing boats is quite picturesque. The beach a little bit up north is better for a lazy nap.
KHAO CHONG KRACHOK - WAT THAMMIKARAM
Khao Chong Krachok or mirror tunnel mountain is a hill located in the north of Prachuap Khiri Khan. It is named after the natural arc in the hill side which appears to reflect the sky. Hordes of monkeys live here. There are 395 steps to reach the temple established by Rama VI. The stupa contains a relic of Lord Buddha. The hill offers a spectacular view of the town and the southern seacoast.
AO MANAO
This beautiful curved bay with beautiful casuarinas is located just outside Prajuab town and is under the care of the Royal Thai Air Force Wing 53. Drive 3 Km through the base and over the runway to reach the beach. This area used to be a battlefield between the Thai and Japanese armies during the Second World War. Access by car costs 10 Baht in the weekends. Superb semi-circular beach with view on some small islands. Possibility to hire a motorboat to visit some isolated beaches and see some nature. Seafood, drinks, chair and umbrella available on the beach. Mostly visited by locals, but not crowded. Accommodation offered by the 53 Wing close to the beach (700 Baht/room). A tram runs a few times each day from Prachuap to Lemon Bay.
THE BATTLE OF PRACHUAP BAY
World War II broke out in Asia when Japan invaded China in 1937 and in Europe when Germany invaded Poland in September 1939. In 1940 the German-Japanese Axis Pact was formed against the western colonial countries (France, Great Britain and USA ! known as The Allies Throughout much of 1941), it was generally thought that there was no immediate threat of war in Southeast Asia by October 1941, however Imperial Forces had already occupied bases in southern Indochina and were moving towards the Peninsula. Thailand became one of the Southeast Asian countries within range of Japanese air raids and could be used as an overland invasion route into Burma, India, Malaya and Singapore. An invasion of Thailand seemed imminent. In the early hours of 8 December 1941, a few hours after the Japanese destroyed the American fleet at Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces invaded five provinces in southern Thailand - Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Pattani, Songkhla and Surat Thani.The Japanese were victorious within a few hours in four of the five battle zones.
At Wing 5, the actual Wing 53, in Prachuap Khiri Kan, however, they encountered fierce resistance. The tragic and glorious battle began on 8 December 1941 at approximately 0400 Hr when 2000 Japanese combat troops landed near Prachurap Khiri Khan. Part of the invading force attacked the police station and the railroad station in the town, but the bulk of the force moved inland in two heavily armed columns, over Prachuab Bay and Manao (Lemon) Bay, in order to occupy Wing 5 before dawn. However, airmen from Wing 5, who were up early in order to catch fish for their daily meal, spotted a large number of Japanese soldiers. Realizing their country had been invaded by a foreign power, they sounded the alarm. The officers and men of Wing 5 went on full alert and dependents were evacuated to the nearby hills. The resulting battle raged from before dawn of 8 December until late morning of 9 December. The morale of Wing 5 forces remained high throughout the battle, but the supply of ammunition began to run low. The Commander of the Wing, Squadron Leader ML. Pravas Chumsai, ordered his brave subordinates to fight to the bitter end. The officers and men fixed their bayonets and were ready to fight to their death to protect their country. Just before another Japanese assault would have taken place, a telegram from the Prime Minister and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Field Marshal Pibulsongkram, was received. The message instructed Wing 5 to surrender in order to avoid more loss of lives and destruction. The 32 hours of fighting ceased, and an uneasy end settled over Wing 5. The battle of Prachuap Bay cost the Japanese the lives of more than 400 soldiers and one landing craft. Wing 5 lost 39 men, one volunteer youth soldier, and two female residents.
RESTAURANTS
PAN POCHANA
Prachuab Bay - Sarachip Rd
On the premises of the SUKSAN Hotel
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