Soda spring in Kanchanaburi

Soda spring in Kanchanaburi

In February 2021, while drilling a well, a soda spring was discovered in Huay Krachao district in Kanchanaburi province. This is the only such place in Thailand and is going to be developed as a tourist attraction.

Thailand discovers naturally carbonated water fountain in Kanchanaburi (February 11, 2021)
https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-discovers-naturally-carbonated-water-fountain-in-kanchanaburi/
งดดื่ม‘น้ำพุโซดา’ รอผลแล็บชี้ชัด (13 ก.พ. 2564)
https://www.khaosod.co.th/newspaper/newspaper-front-page/news_5942574
“Soda Springs” to Become Tourist Attractions (17 February 2021)
https://tna.mcot.net/english-news/line-today-english-news-638657
กรมน้ำบาดาลเผยโฉม'น้ำพุโซดา' จ่อแจกให้ชิมสัปดาห์หน้า (20 กุมภาพันธ์ 2564)
https://d.dailynews.co.th/regional/826600/

In 2020, my parents and I passed through Czech Republic. There is an area (near Franzensbad / Frantiskovy Lazne) with cold volcanic activity (mofettas / fumaroles not touristically developed, and Soos National Nature Reserve developed for tourism). In Soos National Nature Reserve, there is a spring ("Source Vera" on googlemaps, either misplaced or misnamed, the spring I’m referring to is at 50.1484, 12.4032) that had the most delicious water I ever drank. Now it seems I can get the same experience in Thailand!

Spring is visible from hundreds of meters away, when there is a gap in vegetation along the road.

The water springs up to about 5 m and is blown to the side by wind. Impractical to catch, and one would get wet. Some splashes on my glass and camera left spots of limescale. In the end, I had to use vinegar to remove the spots.

Small visitor center with information board. Nearby (no pictures) some food stalls but currently not open due to lack of tourists.

Chemical analysis for well #1:
(chemical symbol or formula, charges omitted, amount in mg/l): Ca 450, Mg 120, Na 130, K 100, Fe 10, Mn 0.6, Cu n.d., Zn 0.1, SO4 4, Cl 20, CO3 n.d., HCO3 2420, F 1.4., NO2 n.d., NO3 1, total dissolved solid 2020, pH 6.5, conductivity 3100 microS/cm).

The three analyses for three well vary slightly for major components, and considerably for Fe and Zn (well #2: Fe 28, Zn 27).

Processing plant next to visitor center:

Processed bottled water (bottle 600 ml for 10 THB, or 12 bottles for 100 THB) is sold, and there are taps where you can draw water for free.

At the end of the pond I noticed another small spring. I took a water sample, and when comparing them at home, I found this (unprocessed, brown sediment settles in bottle) water tastes much better than the processed or bottled, and is comparable to the water in Czech Republic. 

Getting there and back
The place is in Huay Krachao district, halfway between Huay Krachao and Bo Phloi towns (district capitals), from Kanchanaburi easiest to reach via Bo Phloi. Bus #325 Kanchanaburi – Dan Chang (Suphanburi) passes through Bo Phloi. On internet, I found a frequency of every 25 minutes, but when I arrived at Kanchanburi bus station, the timetable showed only the following: 10, 12, 13:30, 15, 16, 17, 18. I was lucky to be just in time for the 10 bus.

As soon as I approached bus station, locals asked me where I’m going. In such cases, even though I know where to go, I play along and and got correct information. Whereas in touristy areas, this would be a scam.

Fare is 35 THB and it took 9:59-11:18 to reach Bo Phloi. To my surprise, there is no bus station in Bo Phloi, there are only two shelters in front of Bo Phloi Hospital and Wat Khao Wong Jindaram (sitting black Buddha, across the road from hospital), with no information. From there it’s 12 km to the soda spring. I didn’t see any car or mocy for hire, so I asked a group of locals who were eating nearby and they called me a mocy taxi by mobile phone. The driver arrived and asked for 200 THB for return trip, which is reasonable and I agreed (there was no choice anyway). Spend half an hour at the spring and return to bus shelter.

Mocy driver says next (or last?) bus is 17, and he would drive me to Kanchanaburi for 400, an offer I decline (ride too long, too uncomfortable). Ask nearby people: there is no timetable, there will be buses to Kanchanburi, the last being 17:40? Judging by the timetable Kanchanaburi-Dan Chang, there might be a largest gap of 2 hours between buses.

Time to polish my thumb. Figuratively, as hitchhiking in Thailand is done by pointing your outstretched arm with palm down, just like calling a taxi. In 10 years, I have hitchhiked about 50 times and seen only one other person hitchhike.

One of the worst spots I have ever been. From pavilion, view of coming traffic is blocked (wouldn’t be a problem for bus, as bus would slow down to look out for waiting people and honk). The sun is opposite, i.e. I have to step out into the sun to see the traffic and hail a car. The pavilion is in the northern part of town, i.e. many cars might just be going to Bo Phloi and not to Kanchanaburi.

But I get lucky and a car stops and he is going to Kanchanaburi and even knows my hotel and will send me there. Ride 14:58-15:45 in back of pick-up truck. An inglorious way to travel, hold my phone tightly lest it flies away and keep my mouth shut lest my dentures are blown out by wind and push my glasses close to my face lest they are blown away. But still: better than waiting undetermined time for bus, and faster as well.

Only by experience and speaking Thai and luck did I get there and back within reasonable time and reasonable expenses.

This approach is general and I do it often. Go somewhere by public transport or taxi or mocy with driver, return by hitchhiking. At bus station or stop you can get information about public transport or hired car/mocy, on the way back there is high probability that a car going in direction of town is actually going to town.

There is no public transport on the road (hwy 3363) passing the spring, but bus 325 passes on hwy 3086 in 5.5 km distance. Too far to walk, but suitable for hitchhiking.

On the way, I stopped at Luang Pho Nil Bo Phloi (black sitting Buddha on hill, 200 steps Naga stairway) and Carhenge Thailand.

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