Sarasin Bridge

This is the bridge to the paradise - the bridge between Phuket and the main land. This is for me the limit on my tours on bike. 100 km per day I have set as the maximum trip, but of course I could make an overnight stay somewhere. In fact this is just what I did in September 2006 - see the chapter 'Khao Lak, Phangnga and Krabi'.

Anyhow I have penetrated the nearest surroundings on the other side of the bridge. The first thing which I noticed was a big whirlpool below the bridge - this is between to seas - Andaman Sea and Phang-Nga Bay . I have never seen such a strong whirl in open water. Its centre was very low compared with the surrounding water. Just thinking of falling down there was thrilling. Many people have made suicide on this place - the 5th of September 2005 a 36 year old lady from Phuket ended her life here. The bridge has become a special attraction to Thai people and some poet has written a song about it. There is also film produced about the Sarasin Bridge . It has become a place of pilgrimage among Thai people and when they pass the bridge they make a secret wish. I also felt a kind of mysticism when I saw the whirlpool.  

Before reaching Sarasin Bridge the road passes Sai Kaew Beach (means glaas-sand-beach) a beach with very nice and clean sand. It is the north end of Mai Kao Beach. Together they constitute a very long beach with few visitors. The short distance it keeps contact with the road there are 10 restaurants, which all were washed away by the tsunami, but surprisingly no one were hurt. The first of this restaurants has become my favorit:

First the owners: Anon and Kai. Next: papa Nang and finally the daughter Srisuda with Saksit. I have tried many dishes - all tasting good. The beach is very tempting but in heavy waves the current is strong and dangerous depending on the fact that the bottom steeps heavily. You have to be used to this kind of waves:

Here are two guys with a special kind of fishing nets for small shrimps:

On the main land side of the bridge you will find very long rows of stalls where you can buy crabs, crabs and more crabs. I turned directly right and entered a little picturesque fishing village:

The boys (left) joined me in the village everywhere. They were interested of my drawings and tried to teach me Thai. I have forgotten their names.

One day I left my bike at the hotel and let a friend of mine - Ning - take me on her motorbike to her sister - Mem, who lives in the jungle south of Sarasin Bridge . Here she lived with her family in a small cottage at 6 square meters standing on 1 meter high piles.

This is Mem, her daughter Kiab, the daughters 2 weeks old daughter Na Dia, Ning and behind her Noan.

 In some neighbouring shack some other relatives were living. They did not mind about the overcrowded conditions. They were all very happy when we arrived and Ning's gifts (clothes to the grandchild - Na Dia) and my bottles of beer and soft drinks were well received. I walked around and took some photos. Mem's husband - Noan - helped me to collect all his 11 hens by clapping his hands. He asked me if he could offer me a hen to eat. 

I did not like the thought of eating one of his hens, but I had the feeling it should not be polite to say no. But to my luck another alternative appeared.

 Mem showed me how she had preserved fish in an urn with pickle and let it be for two months. She did not think I should like it, but I seized the opportunity and tried one of them (about 7 cm long). I found it very tasty - like pickled and fermented herring but without that smell. Thus a real delicacy to be eaten all included (head and tail) served with rice, lime and a singha beer: 

After lunch I was guided around. They showed me the rubber work shop (jang pala), where Mem and Noan worked:

The family rented 1000 trees from a tenant living in the near. He and the Noan family split the profit 50/50. It is about 500 Bath/day when it is not raining. Under the roof (left) they kept all the tools for cutting slits in the trees:

In addition to the rubber trees they grew spices and particularly chilli:

Next year in Septeber (2006) I biked to this place alone hoping to see the production process, just to find that there is no work during the rainy season. I brought beer, coke and something to eat and we had a little party and I think they liked it.

Another trial in November the same year showed to be a success. This time I brought my wife Karin and my friends Gunilla and Thord with me. A very nice Thai man - Kris Sada - drove us by a minibus. Kris talks perfect English and translated information of interest. We gave them cloths, beer, coke, food and 1000 Bath. In return we were looking at the production - a chance, which is very difficult to hit in time. The whole family Noan, Nem, Kiab and Dia worked together.

On a bench the last moulds for the latex were waiting for treatment:

The next step was rolling - Dia with the rolling pin:

The result about 50 latex sheets treated here by Kiab:

After this mangling in two steps- first by Mem and Dia:

Second step in another mangle giving a grooved surface by Noan and Kiab:

The mangled sheets were then hanged up first in the sun and then inside for drying:

Wastage is also taken care of in the production to a lower price:

The spectacle took about an hour and at the end the time was 12 aclock. Tapping from the trees had been done early in the morning.

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