Amphoe Tak Bai
Ko Yao
The island is located close to Wat Chon Thara Singhe.
From Tak Bai District Market intersection, there is a 345-meter
long wooden bridge spanning Tak Bai River to Ko Yao. The island’s
attraction is its eastern seaside section with a white sandy beach
and cozy ambience. In addition, most of the inhabitants are Muslim
fishermen who dwell in simple homes in coconut plantations.
Kubu Beach-Ban Khlong Tan
This 24-kilometer beach extends over Tambon Sai Wan, Tambon
Sala Mai and Tambon Chehe ending at the mouth of Maenam Su-ngai
Kolok. The beach has a long, powdery beach dotted by shady pine
trees that creates a relaxing environment. To get there, take
Highway No. 4984 (Narathiwat-Tak Bai) and proceed for 20 kilometers
and switch to the beach road that runs for 1 kilometer.
Taba Checkpoint or Tak Bai Checkpoint
This checkpoint is at Ban Taba, Tambon Chehe, approximately
3 kilometers from the district. The checkpoint is another trading
post between Thailand and Malaysia apart from the Su-ngai Kolok
checkpoint. Crossing over is possible by long-tail boats or by
ferry (different landings). Boats leave every 15 minutes and operate
between 6.30 a.m. and 5.15 p.m. The fee is 6 bahts per person.
(same price for every pier) The fee for a motorcycle is 15 bahts,
a 4-wheel car is 50 bahts and a bus is 100 bahts.
Visitors wishing to drive a car further than the customs checkpoint
have to obtain car insurance for driving in Malaysia. Other regulations
are that the car must not have more than 40% tinting and must
have seatbelts, as Malaysia is very strict about vehicle safety.
It is possible to purchase insurance in Thailand providing coverage
for 9 days to 1 year with the normal cost of insurance being between
600 and 700 bahts. To get there, take Highway No. 4084 (Amphoe
Mueang-Amphoe Tak Bai).
Wat Chon Thara Singhe
This
temple is at Mu 3, Tambon Chehe, on the bank of Tak Bai River.
From the town, take Highway No. 4985 (Narathiwat-Tak Bai) until
the Tak Bai District Market intersection, turn left and proceed
for another 100 meters to the temple entrance.
In 1873, Phra Khru Ophat Phutthakhun established the temple and
requested land from Phraya Kelantan for its construction. At that
time, Tak Bai was still a part of Kelantan in Malaysia. This Buddhist
temple, which played an important role in the secession of land
between Siam and Malaya (then a colony of the United Kingdom)
during the reign of King Rama V in 1909, is located in a predominantly
Muslim community. The Thai side raised the fact that since this
is a Buddhist temple, it should remain with Thailand. The British
relented and agreed to use the Klok River (Tak Bai River) that
flows through Tak Bai as the boundary. Therefore, the temple is
also called “Wat Phithak Phaen Din Thai” or the temple
that protects Thai sovereignty.
The temple is generally peaceful and has a spacious lawn on the
riverbank that is ideal for relaxation. The chapel, built in the
reign of King Rama V, has murals drawn by monks from Songkhla.
The paintings depict the life of the Lord Buddha and the daily
life of locals at that time. It also houses a main Buddha image
made of gold, which covers its original features of a red mouth
and black hair and situated on a 1.5-meter high base. From the
style of the base, it is believed that this is a Mon image. Another
building housing a reclining Buddha image has inner walls covered
with old Sangkhalok porcelain.
To get there, take a bus to Tak Bai district. Other transportation
options are mini-buses (20 bahts), vans (30 bahts and board at
the roundabout in town) and buses. If traveling by bus, get off
at Tak Bai intersection and walk for around 500 meters. Vans will
take you right into the temple.
