Aranyaprathet - Pang Sida

Located only 230 something kilometres east of Bangkok , the province of Sa Kaeo is blessed with many attractions. Our travel route today doesn't cover all those places. But, trust me, it will take you to the better ones.

Well, let's start our journey!

From the town of Sa Kaeo , drive along Highway 33 past Wattana Nakhon towards Aranyaprathet. Our Point A, the Rong Klua border market, is 5.5 kilometres from the Aranyaprathet town.

After you're done with shopping, head back to Aranyaprathet. From there take Highway 348 for just a few minutes and you'll see the smaller Highway 3397 on the left-hand side. Yes, go that way. (On some of the maps commercially available, this road is wrongly marked as the 3379.)

Along the way, the road will fork at many points, just make sure you stay on the 3397. At Ban Don Lum, the 3397 turns right. (If you go straight, the road becomes the 3381.) Follow the 3397 (this section is also known as the Ban Khok Soong-Nong Sim Road ) for a few kilometres and you'll see signs leading you to Prasat Sadok Kok Thom.

From the Khmer ruins, continue along the 3397 past Ban Tab Siem to Ban Na Ngam where the 3397 meets with Highway 348. Now turn right, Ta Phraya is 12 kilometres from that point. There're a number of restaurants in the town.

In case you're not so hungry, instead of going all the way to Ta Phraya, turn left onto Highway 3393. Eight kilometres after the point where the road intersects with the 3486, there's a minor road on the right-hand side with a sign saying that it's the way to Ban Nong Phak Waen. That's the village where Lalu, our Point E, is located.

To get to Pang Sida, continue on the 3393, then turn right onto the 3485, which runs along the park's southern boundary. Drive on until your road meets with Highway 3462. To visit Pang Sida, turn right. To go to Sa Kaeo, turn left.

By the way, to add fun to the ride, while you're going along the border, turn on the car radio and auto scan for music from Cambodian stations.
Bangkok Post August 2005 www.bangkokpost.com