Welcome to Chaiya - The Srivijaya connection...

Continuing from Tapi river at the western promenade of Surat Thani.

From Surat Thani we moved up north some 40 km to the town of Chaiya.

It is a small town but with much historical significance.

For some believed this is where the Malay empire of Srivijaya started nearly 1,400 years ago before extending southwards.

More than 500 years later, when the empire has shifted capital to a central part of the island of Sumatera records where found that Chaiya could be the northenmost frontier of the empire...

Tapi river at the western promenade of Surat Thani

Continuing from Surat Thani from the top floor of a main hotel.

After checking out from the hotel we went to look for breakfast.

It happened that the halal food stall we found is situated besides a big river.

The river actually cuts through the northern part of the city of Surat Thani,

It is called the Tapi river and these are views from the western promenade of the city...

Surat Thani from the top floor of a main hotel

Peace be upon you all. On to the 5th day of the Thailand trip 12-23 December.

Satuday morning 16th December 2017. I went to the top floor of the hotel I slept at the previous night...

Eager for good views of the surrounding I climbed out the window on to the maintenance verandah.

For the record I was in the city of Surat Thani...

I checked out the city from many different angles...

This is the hotel where I spent the previous night at...

Enter the city of Surat Thani

Continuing from Gulf of Siam from Thasala district.

Our next stop, the city of Surat Thani is situated some 150 km north-west of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

We arrived there at 6 pm. It was almost sunset...