36. Traveling by Sleeper Van (Part 12), Letting Emotions Flow with the Destination

The next day, I drove up, heading north continuously. The road was along the coast, and this time it was really along the coast since the road was low and very close to the sea. There were periodic road repairs because a storm had recently passed through. Some sections of the road were eroded by the water. Anyone using this road must drive very carefully because it only has two lanes going in opposite directions. On my left side were rows of trees and the sea, while on my right side were mountains densely covered with trees.

Driving on a winding road like this, close to the sea, can be seen as a beautiful and exciting route if looked at positively. At least, that's how I felt that morning. And even though there were intermittent road repair camps, the good management ensured smooth traffic flow.

They would repair the road lane by lane and use the other lane to manage traffic. There would be a person holding a sign to signal our lane to stop while allowing the vehicles from the other lane to use the available lane first. When the radio on that side announced the end of the current vehicle procession, and once all the vehicles have passed, the people on this side would allow my vehicle to use the road. They would alternate like this.

That day, if I remember correctly, I drove until I reached a 2,000-year-old tree in a village located in the northeastern part of the map. This tree wasn't as tall as I had imagined, but it had many branches splitting off from its central trunk, making it look like several trees were clustered together. However, from a wider perspective, its circumference was quite large. Walking around it was about the same as walking around a small house. Near the tree, there was a small building resembling a shrine. It looked very simple and didn't have the colorful decorations typical of shrines in my country. After looking around for a while, I felt satisfied, so I got back in the car and left that town.

To be honest, I wanted to drive all the way up to the lighthouse located at the edge of the land at the far end of this region. But after talking to a shopkeeper, I changed my mind. He said there's nothing interesting there. Actually, that's just his perspective. However, at the same time, I didn't want to waste too much fuel since I didn't see any big gas stations around here. It seems like this region is quite rural.

So, I drove along the coast until I reached an interesting spot. I don't know what it's called in Thai, but in English, it's called a wharf. It's a structure that extends like a bridge into the sea and is quite long—I'd guess it's no less than 500 meters. The other end abruptly reaches the sea. I know because I walked all the way to the end. The wind was really strong there. From that point, I noticed fishing boats in the distance. Being there alone in the evening gave me a feeling of freedom and endless solitude.

Finally, I learned the background of this Wharf from the board at the entrance. In summary, it was built as a dock during the time when large ships from England came to dock, due to the visits of royalty. This structure has undergone several renovations before becoming what it is today. I saw a black-and-white photo of the workers who were the pioneers of this construction, which made me appreciate the diligence of those people back then, who spent time and labor to build something much larger than themselves.

Even though it was almost evening, I didn't stay overnight there because I felt it was too quiet and eerie. Although there was a restroom nearby as per the specifications, I found a beautiful spot while driving out of that village. This area is an open space by the seaside, set up for tourists to sit, picnic, and enjoy the sea atmosphere. There are benches placed at reasonable distances apart, and a non-flush toilet, which you might wonder how it works. The answer is that everyone's waste falls into a deep pit. How deep, I can't tell because it looks too dark when you look down. People here also use tissue paper as usual (the spray type like we have back home, I haven't seen it here even after a long time). So, this place was very suitable for an overnight stay tonight.

There was a tourist bus that drove in to check it out and park for the night as well, but then they changed their mind. However, their vehicle looked amazing. It was a school bus that had been refurbished to function like a camper bus. I saw it and was really impressed.

I like the idea of the local authorities here who have transformed this natural area into a recreational space with great spiritual value. Because from the surrounding view that I was immersed in at that place, I am not sure if I would see something like this in Thailand without having to pay a lot. The important thing is the tranquility and privacy that make one feel truly close to nature.