The Golden Triangle Rider

Captain_Slash · Posted: 17.12.2007, 20:31 Post subject: Trat Back To Aranyaprathet

The return was pretty much on the same roads as coming here with a couple of diversions, I took the 318 eastwards for about 4 km then left onto the 3157 until I came to the right turn onto the 3299

Two pictures of the return trip on the excellent 3299 which takes me to the 317, its a right here and 17 km later its a stop for petrol and a drink at a new 7-11 at the PTT filling station at Pong Nam Ron. Here I turn right onto the 3193 and ride for about 15 km then its a left onto the 3247

The 3247 is a pleasant enough road

And a few hills to the side, at a T junction I take the right then about half a km later on its another right onto the top section of the 3193, I ride for about 10 km then its a left onto the 3405

I rode this road coming down to Trat and its equally as nice on the return, halfway along I take a right onto an unnumbered road that goes to the Cambodian border and you can do visa runs here, thats at least two places I know of along this stretch of road. I reach a crossroads at a small town and do a right onto the 3395 heading for Khlong Hat, I ride for about 10 km then its a crossroads where the right is for the off limits 3479, I take the left and stop just down the road to examine my map, I notice there is Khao Ta Ngok Cave a little way down the 3479 so I put my balaclava on to see if I can just ride through as they often just assume you are a Thai and let you pass checkpoints as I have done many times before. I get to the checkpoint and get stopped, last year I was just turned back but today I show him my map and say the cave and I get shown how to get there

The cave, I thought I had to pay a visit as its the only thing that got me this far, I dont know how far it goes as I didnt have a torch and it was full of water

I start to ride the 3479

The surface is a bit shitty here

This apparently now runs into Cambodia

This was the end of todays foray down here, I managed 5 km before the checkpoint where he says ahead is Cambodia

So its back to the 3395, a pleasant road but a disappointment to be on it as I was looking forward to photographing these cliffs from the other side

At Khlong Hat its a right onto the 3259 which joins the 3479, here at the right turn for the 3479 the barrier is again up and I start to ride down it to see the signpost which clearly says Ban Khao Ta Ngok 32 km, so at one time this road was completely open, I wonder when they decided that part of it is in Cambodia and closed it off to traffic. I carry on and reach the 3383, I turn right and follow this road to its end

This road goes into the 3367 and then I reach the 3366 and take a left into Aranyaprathet. I check into the Aran Garden, my usual abode here for 150 Baht.
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draggons · Pedestrian Joined: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 8 Location: Thailand

Captain, what maps do you use and where are those cliffs do a fair bit of climbing and they look like they're worth a look at.

Captain_Slash · Posted: 27.12.2007, 11:51 Post subject:

I mainly use Thinknet maps, they are on the 3395 south of Khlong Hat but the pictures from close up are on the 3479 and you will need to tell the soldiers at the checkpoint that you are going to visit Khao Ta Ngok Cave otherwise they will tell you the road is off limits, just carry on past the sign for the cave and you will soon come to them
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If Typhoo Put The T In Britain Who Put The C_unt In Scunthorpe