Indian Backpacker – Bon Voyage

Temples are enchanting. Be it Indian or Thai. Every temple is unique in its own way. Before setting off my journey to Hua Hin, I had made up my mind to make a trip to Wat Huay Mongkol temple, which is home to the world’s largest statue of Luang Phor Thuad.

I knew this trip won’t disappoint me. And I was right.

On the day of my visit, it poured heavily. Nevertheless, I enjoyed completely.

The massive statue is part of a big complex, located some 15 kilometers west of Hua Hin.

It attracts a large number of tourists, including Thai people everyday.

People visit this complex to pay respect to Luang Phor Thuad and seek his blessings for health, fortune, happiness and good luck.

The complex has a lake, pavilions and numerous small restaurants.

If you are looking for a place to spend some time in peace and solitude, please visit this place.

I will recommend you to explore the place on weekdays as it can get very crowded on weekends.

How did I reach this place: I queried a lot from local people and found out that there was no direct transport connection between Hua Hin to this complex. I used a shared tuktuk which dropped me on the national highway 3218. From there one kind woman agreed to take me to the complex. Otherwise it would have been very difficult for me to reach this place. Without a personal vehicle, reaching the place can be challenging. I had managed to reach the place but how to return was always there at the back of my mind. Heavy downpour added to my woes. A visitor came to my rescue and she volunteered to drop me at Hua Hin. Miracles do happen.

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From villa to hostel, I experimented all kinds of accommodation during my recent Sri Lankan sojourn. Staying at a hostel has its own charm. You get to meet a whole bunch of new people from different countries. Unfortunately, it did not happen this time as I traveled in the off season. Most of the hostels were half empty due to the country’s extreme hot weather. In Colombo, I stayed at ClockInn Delhiwala and I must say it is one of the best hostels I have ever stayed. Be it food or cleanliness, this hostel deserves a big thumbs up.

In Weligama, an auto driver took me to a hotel where I was the only guest. Although, the host was nice, I was bit paranoid as there was no other guests in the hostel.

And in Bentota, I had a brief conversation with a boy, who took me to a villa, which is running by an old couple. Like Weligama, I was the only guest at their villa. I stayed there just for a night. I had a very long and interesting conversation with the owner over a cigarette break.

In Galle, I had stayed in a sea-side hostel – Coco Palm Beach Hostel – with fewer guests. All of them opted for private rooms, while I stayed in a shared room. Apart from me, the hostel welcomed two girls from France and a couple from Britain.

If you visit Galle, I strongly recommend to stay in this hostel.

Now let’s talk about famous hill station Kandy. I really liked this spacious and colorful hostel, the Backpackers VIBE, which is approximately 4km away from Kandy’s railway station. Though the staff is nice, the amenities are not worth mentioning. The shared rooms are just OK. They also have a bar, where you can chill in the evening with few drinks.