" One of the huge mistakes people make is that they try to force an interest on themselves. You don't choose your passions; your passions choose you "
Betong, The Story of a Small Town located in Southern Thailand near the Malaysian border, the birth of a Malayan Communist Party (MCP) Village once an old battleground for the Malayan Communist Party (MCP), Malayan & Thai armed forces; Communist Leader Chin Peng, Communist insurgency in Malaysia (1968 > 1989), disbanding of MCP armed units after signing of the Hat Yai Peace Agreement on Dec 2 1989, Friendship Village 1 (locally known as Chulaphon Phatthana Peace Village) now a favourite place for tourists, History Museum of Communist Party Malaya (CPM), bombshells & shelters, Piyamit Tunnel built in 1976, Khao Nam Khang Historical Tunnel (the largest & longest man-made tunnel in Thailand, extensive tunnel networks in secured & isolated area), Communist base camps & underground hideouts, Millennium tree, Friendship Village 2 / Winter Flower Garden, Betong Hot Spring, wats & temples, durian orchards; last but not the least, people are friendly & hospitable, that is the beauty of sightseeing & making our stay in Thailand a very pleasant one !
This is my 5th visit to Betong, a country town in southern Thailand near the Peninsula Malaysia border (my first visit were in Aug 2003 followed by another visit in Dec 2003, my last visits were in 2011 & 2012) - why Betong ? Something near (close proximity, approx 5 hours by car); something old (a town rich in Malaya Communist Party history & a rare sight of a Millennium tree in Piyamit Tunnel); something new (hill slopes planted with durian trees in recent years, peak season July & August, also my 1st visit to Baling & Gerik town). This July 2023 Betong visit is a down the memory lane visit for me (a lapse of over 11 years) & my brother Weng & wife (a lapse of over 20 years). Each time I make a visit to Betong, Thailand, I think of this moving song of Teresa Teng - " The Story of A Small Town ", the lyrics of this song could possibly relate closely to the life, beauty & picturesque Betong town & countryside of Betong - an ideal place for a short holiday to unwind ourselves from the hustle & bustle of city life, enjoying the spicy Thai food & a taste of petai (Betong is a major producer of bitter beans) & durians when in season in July & August each year, not to forget to have a foot bathing in Betong Hot Spring, a historical walk through the MCP's Piyamit Tunnel & a cool cool winding uphill roads to Winter Flower Garden ..... so I took this opportunity to post a few of my pictures taken in Betong trying my best to match the lyrics of this popular song " The Story of A Small Town", a lovely, meaningful song of Terasa Teng, a famous Taiwanese singer during my era of youthful years in the 1970s (Teresa Teng was born in 1953, three years my junior) !
A visit to the Piyamit Tunnel & the History Museum of Malaya Communist Party (MCP) said it all - many stories happened in this small town (1930 > 1980s) - from a political struggle life for members of MCP in this border town between southern Thailand & northern Peninsula Malaysia to now becoming a popular tourist town !
- April 1930 - formation of Malaya Communist Party (MCP)
- 1935 > 1939 - active trade union movement in Malaya
- Dec 1941 - MCP alliance with British to fight Japanese invasion
- Feb 1942 - Fall of Singapore to Japanese
- Early 1943 - guerilla warfare training by British commandos & Force 136
- August 1945 - Japanese surrender
- 1945 > 1948 - Power Vacuum followed by 12 years of terror of the local population
- June 1948 - Malayan Emergency
- July 1955 - Malayan first premier, Tunku Abdul Rahman & his alliance won Malaya first General Election
- Dec 1955 - MCP's leader Chin Peng met with Malayan officials in Baling, Kedah to negotiate for peace
- Feb 1956 - partial amnesty to MCP members
- August 31 1957 - Malaya achieved her independence
- Mid 1960s - number of MCP members dwindled to 2,000
- July 31 1960 - Emergency officially ended
- 1977 - building of Piyamit Tunnel
- Dec 1989 - disbanding of MCP armed units after the Hat Yai Peace Agreement
Indeed , the town of Betong & it's countryside in Yala have many stories to tell & relate to the younger generation ! For those MCP members who chose to live on a new life in Betong District, peace finally prevail & they are glad that there is no more playing of cat & mouse game with the Malaysian & Thai security forces, let the bygones be bygones .... this echoed Tereasa Teng's song that " Small town stories are so very good ", so enjoy as much as possible of your time in Betong as soon as you land in this small little town near the Thai-Malaysia border !
The Story of a Small Town - " The small town has many stories, full of joy and happiness. If you come to the little town, you could harvest a lot "
Travel itinerary (self drive): Subang Jaya > Kuala Kangsar > Gerik > Pengkalan Hulu, Malaysia > Betong, Thailand > Baling > Subang Jaya, Malaysia (mileage 1,000km)
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| Subang Jaya > Betong, Thailand (approx 390km) |
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| Winter Flower Garden |
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| Betong Hot Spring |
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| World Largest Mail Box, Betong |
Weather forecast July 23 > 25 2023 - day temperature 32c, night is 22c, partly cloudy on Sunday July 23, 2023, patchy rain on following Monday & Tuesday.
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Total expenses incurred (4 days, a group of 4): Rm383 (US$82) per pax
- Hotel (3 nights) - Rm117 per pax (twin sharing)
- Thai Food - 1,148bht (Rm155) per pax
- Malaysian Food - Rm15 per pax
- Sim card - Rm4 per pax
- Petrol - Rm50 per pax
- Highway toll - Rm15 per pax
- Travel insurance - Rm6 per pax
- Entrance fee: 100bht (Rm13.50) per pax
- Sundries - Rm7 per pax
5) Sud Siam Park, Betong
10) Piyamit Tunnel, Tano Maero, Betong District, Yala
11) Piyamit Millennium Tree, Tano Maero, Betong District, Yala
13) Chatharattanaram Monastery, Yaron, Betong District, Yala
14) Wat Phuttha Thiwat, Betong
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| Malaysia / Thailand Border Betong (2011) |
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| Winter Flower Garden, Betong Thailand (2011) |
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| Winter Flower Garden, Betong Thailand (2011) |
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| Friendship Village No 1 Betong, Thailand (2011) |
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| Betong, Thailand (2011) |