The mountain was named Khao Kho for its profusion of kho trees, a variety of palm, according to our tour guide. Here we could appreciate the wide range of winter-season fruits, vegetables and flowers such as lychee, broccoli, strawberries, lettuce, carrots, Japanese cucumber, parsley, carnations and esters as well as other farm products. I picked up some fresh corn and a few bags of dry okra for making juice. Most of the visitors to the farm are Thais but lately some Europeans, mostly Germans, have started to come. The farm is open to the public for shopping only, from 8 am to 5 pm.
Admission is free.
Next, we arrived at Ithi Base, a military site that has become a tourist draw. What used to be an artillery unit has been converted to a Weapons Museum, where the public can study the history of the local campaign against the communists. One kilometre away from the base lies the Khao Kho monument, located on the peak of the mountain. The triangular marble structure was built in honour of the soldiers, police and civilians who lost their lives in the fight against communists. I hoped the car would have enough horsepower to carry all of us to the top.