Home visit 2018

I usually go back home at least once a year. As a faraway workman, it is pretty normal, but however always special when the homecoming time allows me to visit my parents, family members, teachers and fellows in faraway Ranong. My home visit 2018 came to an end a few days ago, offering me the golden chance to visit my respected ones at different places such as Tapotaram temple, a community temple situated near my home (about 2 kms away from the town) and Khaoniwet school, a small school located in the town near Ranong Fresh Market. My latest trip focused on paying a visit to these three feel-good places: 1) Hot Springs, 2) Wat Tapotharam and 3) Khaoniwet school. Let me take this opportunity to take you to the places with short introductions.  

Wat Tapotaram or Tapotaram temple   

Tapotaram temple, Ranong, is one of the key study temples that has a Buddhist school inside providing Dhamma subjects and general subjects to novices and monks. Also, the temple is a focus of significant Buddhist holidays like Magha Puja and Vesakha Puja days, rites, festivals and community activities. Every visitor can enjoy  meditation practice with monks, Buddhist mantra chanting and worshipping the Buddha statues in different postures enshrined inside the ordination hall and Dhamma hall. 

The most attention-grabbing feature of the temple is the ordination hall covered with wall paintings depicting scenes of the life of Buddha. Around every corner you will find small bell-shaped stupas covered with gold leaves. When in Ranong, you should visit the temple, which is open to the public from 8.30 am - 18.30 pm every day. Everything is free of charge. 

Hot Springs   

Located opposite to Tapotaram temple, "Hot Springs" or "Bor Nam Ron" in Thai (which means "hot well") is one of the most visited tourist eco-spots in southern Ranong. Known for its hot wells and pools, "Bor Nam Ron" gets a lot of attention from tourists passing by. The waters in the wells average about 65 degree Celisus, which can boil an egg in just a few seconds. It is a dangerous zone for all tourists, especially children. Please keep your children away from the wells. 

However, the place has many hot pools filled up with water at a soothing 40 degree Celisus. It means that you (or your children can dip their feet into the pools) can dip your feet  into the pools with no charge. Spa treatments and massages are not free.  Prices of these healthcare services are set differently depending on your selected level of service. 

Apart from that, it also has footbridges across the river. The wooden footbridges allow you to lounge with your feet in the clear water flowing, perhaps with some good food like papaya salad and grilled chicken purchased from one of the riverside vendors. Food prices are not expensive. If you want to buy some souvenirs for your loved ones, you can buy at souvenir shops lining up along the two sides of the road.

Khaoniwet school

Located near Ranong Fresh Market, Khaoniwet school is a municipal lower secondary school with about 500-600 students at all levels studying right now. The school aims at giving poor children an opportunity to have a good education, with educational scholarships provided. 

Inside the school, it has one head office building, three classroom buildings, one canteen, one playground and one music room. Most of the learning activities are held in the classroom buildings. Besides that, the school still holds countless social activities for students such as tree-planting, mobile Thai massage, temple cleaning and vegetable-growing demonstration. Every year, students win prizes and awards from acdemic competitions both inside and outside the province. Another important thing is all about learning atmosphere.

Covered with various trees, it offers students a great natural atmosphere which, psychologically speaking, is important to student learning behavor and academic success. With no doubt, the school is among the choices for parents to select.