Thailand Thale Noi: the small inland sea of Phatthalung Phatthalung, Southern Provinces, Travel to Thailand 5 (9)If there is a whole region neglected by tourism, it is the extreme south of Thailand. Well, extreme, not so much, but if we draw a line between Surat Thani and Krabi, rare are the people venturing below (apart from the islands on the Andaman Sea side anyway)… a remark that I already mentioned in my article dedicated to Nakhon Si Thammarat but here we are even further south of Nakhon Si Thammarat. Summary hide Thale Noi, a unique natural park Of nature and craftsmanship Viewpoint at the temple Thale Noi, a unique natural parkLiterally translated, Thale (sometimes written Talay since it is pronounced Talai in Thai) means "sea" in Thai and Noi, "small", hence the nickname of small sea. A somewhat misleading name due to its proximity, in particular due to the junction made via the large lake of Songkhla located to the south of Thale Noi.Numerous aquatic plants and an environment rich in natural resources explain the high concentration of aquatic birds in the region. Moorhen, marsh hen to which are added teals, gulls and sandpipers that migrate here in winter, in all, 180 different bird species are listed in the area!The largest water bird park in ThailandThis abundance of waterfowl has earned Talay Noi special attention, recognizing it as one of the most important wetland ecosystems in Thailand. It was also the first no-hunting zone in Thailand!The best way to visit the place is to rent a boat, you will be taken around the lake for a one-hour ride (count 400 baht) in the heart of the local fauna.Of nature and craftsmanshipAs part of Phatthalung is mountainous, it is also possible to visit several natural sites such as waterfalls, including Mom Chui and Phraiwan. You can climb the Khao Ok Thalu summit, the symbol of Phatthalung province and walk in the Khao Pu-Khao Ya National Park.If you are more into local crafts, you will find several centers including one dedicated to the use of coconuts, others, on the local specialty, the development of puppets used for traditional shadow theater. These are made of leather and can be found on the small market next to the edge of Thale Noi.You can also visit the fishing village of Laem Chong Thanon, whose specialty is fermented fish (watch your nostrils!). If you want to see a traditional dwelling, a quick visit to theold governor's house Phatthalung then imposes itself, the places being named Wang Kao – Wang Mai, for “old palace – new palace”, an old residence dating from the end of the 1889th century adjoining the “new” residence which dates from XNUMX (entrance 50 baht)I took advantage of being in the region to admire the countryside and visit villages, what one could call an “authentic Thailand”.Viewpoint at the templeOf course, you are in Thailand, and so you will find your share of temples (if you are not full by then!). The main temple being the Wat Wang. You can also go to the Wat Tham Khuha Sawan, located in a cave not far from the Phatthalung market.For my part, it is at Wat Suan Tham Chedi (not listed on the various tourism sites related to the region…) that I was going to. I had seen a sign indicating it from the main road (n°4048) leading to the lake, and had said to myself, “let’s go see!”.More than the temple itself, it is above all its viewpoint over the whole lake of Thale Noi and the surrounding countryside which is worth a look!This concludes this short visit to a clearly unknown region.A trip to the real south of Thailand, is that in your plans? Did you like the article? Vote on the article Note globale 5 / 5. Number of votes: 9 No votes yet. Be the first to rate this article! Did you like the article? Follow me on social media Along the water Nature and landscapes Wildlife observation 1 12 Roman 03/03/2015
