Pak Kret Things to Do

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Another beautiful temple in Ko Kret, Wat Phai Lom. Mon people call this temple as “Phia To.” The temple was built in the late Ayutthaya period. The feature of the temple is a beautiful chapel show wood flower patterns. There are 2 small white pagodas in front of the building, golden pagoda behind, and a nice courtyard around. Front of the temple, accross the walk way is the pier where you can sit and view the movement on the river.

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The museum located right next to Wat Poramai Yakawat, showcasing the temple's treasury. There is a lot of artifacts and other interesting things exhibit inside as for me would spend whole day in there to get enough, very interesting for me !. There‘s also earthen Buddha image, glassware, porcelain, which I saw a lot in there and the “Hem”. The Hem is a Mon-style coffin, its superb design and aluminum plate carving have been delicately done. It is believed that the Mons had copied the coffin style of Lord Buddha, which had a straight base, wide top, and narrow sides. The drawing of this coffin is shown in the museum. The Hem usually contains a dry corpse. A monk’s Hem has a window for onlookers to see the corpse inside.

There's some beautiful temples on the islet and Wat Poramai Yikawat or another name Wat Pak Ao is the main temple of the islet. You will notice this temple easily since your ferry landing. In the area, there are many interesting things to see.

Since I walked in, the locals asked for donation for the temple. I got in the convocation hall, its very beautiful. Inside, it’s decorated in European style as I gather the info, the items imported from Italy, a style that was popular during the reign of King Rama V. The main Buddha image inside is in the Man Wichai posture. By the wish of the King to preserve some of the traditional ways, he commanded this temple had prayers and pray in the Mon language, that why this temple is only one where keeps the Buddhist scripture in Mon language. There is also a small castle with a five-tiered roof at the temple’s landing. It used to house a Mon coffin of a former abbot.

I spent too much time visit this temple and had no enough time for other beautiful temples. Mostly visitors do only one day trip on the islet and this will be the first temple to visit after the ferry land.. ( seem one day not enough )...

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The temple situated another side of Ko Kret, beside the river. Front of the temple area is floating market, where open only on weekend or public holidays. The chapel look old and probably was on restoring. There are some old pagodas surrounding. My visit to the temple just in the Ko Kret package boat tour and this temple was the last stop. I couldn’t see much as they gave me only 15 min. hmmm.

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This is a canal locals call Khlong Khanom Wan (Khlong=Canal, Khanom=dessert, Wan=Sweet) where most of the locals have homes that specialize in making Thai sweets dessert. Some set their homes beside the canal as shop sell their product and also some demonstrate how to cook for tourists. There are some other canals nearby also made a lot Thai dessert. The canals are just another side of Ko Kret. To get there I think you must ride a boat.

There are 2 major pottery villages, one on the east coast near Wat Poramai Yikawat and another one line on the north to the west. Anyway you can see some pottery workshops along walkway in the islet, some place only sell but some welcomes to walk in and browse or even demonstrate the processing, also you may see kilns while you are walking around. The price can go from 5 baht for simple and small and up to thousand baht.

Wat Chim Phli, The temple locate another side of Ko Kret, about 1 km from ferry landing pier. The Chapel at the temple is very beautiful, upper part of the chapel has woodcarving depicting an angel riding a chariot surrounded by floral patterns. The building base is in the shape of a junk’s hull and the doorway has a pyramid shape. As the temple situated other side of Ko Kret islet so the easy way to get there must ride a boat from Ko Kret or from the land Pak Kret.

Since I was first walk in Wat Poramai Yikawat temple, I saw first several white marble pagodas around, carved in the Mon style. I could see them easily coz they were really white in a sunny day. It is a Mon characteristic, Mon-style pagoda which is a replica of Phra That Chedi Mutao in Hongsawadi that is revered by all Mon people and houses the holy relics of Lord Buddha.