Fang & Back - A Fang Meander

[DavidFL]

UPDATE  JULY 2015

Still pottering around Fang & the town is booming. Loads of new hotels, restaurants + a few pubs & numerous new moo banns being built. The pace of change is staggering but Fang is still a classic traditional rural up-country town - & its not that easy to find places still with a bit of classic charm. There are still plenty of beautiful old wooden residences / shops (not yet bulldozed & replaced by concrete shop houses.). Long live Fang.

The city pillar at night

Out to the east of Fang across the Fang River & on the road to Mae Saluk there is a massive new temple being built.

Wat Thamma Chaloen

Back in town on the west side....the Wat Chong Paen is looking magnificent

Wat Thep Amnuay

The big black Buddha above the memorial shrine to Fang's saving prince & princess

is now a gold colour

Fang is a beauty of a classic town. Take your time, ride around the back streets. Spend a night or two there. Don't pass by in a rush thinking it is a backwater.  It is worth it.

I counted at least 10 new hotels in town & then there are heaps of new coffee shops & restaurants

The Galileo - the new upmarket restaurant

The Crepe Cafe - something I'd never ever expected to see in Fang

Check out the GTR Fang accommodation tips

https://www.gt-rider.com/se-asia-motorcycling/topic/fang-accommodation

Check out the GTR Fang restaurant tips

https://www.gt-rider.com/se-asia-motorcycling/topic/fang-restaurants

 

[Goran Phuket]

Fang still has one other interesting piece of history - the Fang oil fields & petroleum museum.

What's that you say Fang oil fields?
Yep that's right oil fields & a refinery in Fang.

Oil was first discovered in Fang over a hundred years ago, when oil was found seeping out of the ground. A well was built & the oil, believed to be magic was used as an ointment for skin infections.

In 1921 the first real wells were drilled with steam power by Prince Kampangphet Akkarayothin & a US Geologist Wallace Lee.

These first wells were dry & abandoned, but in 1958 HM The King & Queen visited the oil fields & ceremoniously spud a well.

Since then over 240 wells have been drilled in the Fang basin.

There have been 7 oil reservoirs
1. Chaiprakarn (abandoned 1984)
2. Mae Soon
3. Pongnok (abandoned 1985)
4. Sansai
5. Nongyao
6. Sanjang
7. Banthi

According to the Petroleum Museum, there are currently 60 wells scattered around the Fang basin. Not all are in production. Wells are used for 9 months, then closed down for 3 months for servicing. The total oil production is 1,200 barrels a day. The Mae Soon field is the biggest producer.

The Museum entrance

and indeed these must have been exciting adventurous days.

And just a few hundred metres east of the museum & refinery is another shrine.

The Jao Por Kor Mue Lek Shrine.
Considered one of the most holy places in Fang.
Jao Por Kor Mue Lek was a fine warrior & the leading warrior for the King of Fang in the battles against the Burmese.
It is believed he is the protector of the Fang land & its treasures.
In drilling for oil in the Fang basin several miraculous events related to safe & successful drilling have occurred & homage paid to Jao Por Kor Mue Lek accordingly.
His shrine is highly respected by the staff of the refinery & drilling operations.

This is great info, had no idea oil drilling took place in Fang.
Must visit on my next trip up north.

 

[DavidFL]

2020 & still meandering around Fang - there's a lot out there to the west.

Nam Roo

Nam Roo is a pretty forest park situated west of Fang. It is a popular family picnic spot with a nice pond for which the water comes from a spring at the site.

The spring & water source

The pond is situated on a hill and there are some outstanding views of the surrounding countryside

Check it out sometime

You take the hot springs road from Fag & continue straight, following the signs, then you turn left

Nam Ro is on the new GTR GT map coming out

Google Maps Location: Google Maps

 

[DavidFL]

Bump for Steve Merchant looking for a swimming spot for the kids