Around Bangkok Places
Sangklaburi
Sangklaburi is a sleepy town on a large lake created by the Khao Laem Dam. There was once a Mon village here, but when the dam was built in 1983, it was almost completely covered by water. (Some parts, including a temple, are still visible beneath the surface.) The Mon were relocated to a village on the lakeshore opposite Sangklaburi. The Mon arrived in the area 50 years ago from Myanmar, seeking religious sanctuary.
The village has a temple with Indian and Burmese influences and a bronze-color pyramid chedi that's illuminated beautifully at night. A dry-goods market in the village sells Chinese and Burmese clothes and trinkets, with Mon dishes available at nearby food stalls. You can reach the village by car or boat or you can walk from Sangklaburi across the country's longest wooden bridge.
Due to its closeness to Myanmar's border, Sangklaburi is also home to Karen and Bangladeshi communities, and its small night market (4 pm-7 pm) attracts itinerant ethnic stalls selling food, clothing, and trinkets. Jungle trekking and visits to Karen villages are popular activities for visitors; trips can be arranged through guesthouses. You can also cross into Myanmar at Three Pagodas Pass with a passport photo and US$10 (U.S. currency only—there's an exchange facility at the border), but you cannot renew Thai visas at this checkpoint, so you won't be allowed to go any farther than the Myanmar border town, Phayathonzu.
