Amazing National Parks
Trip Start
Aug 15, 2006
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118
155
Trip End
May 27, 2008
Kao Sok,
Thailand
Saturday, February 2, 2008
The scenery around the valley was stunning and we managed to find ourselves a really nice cheap bungalow at a place called Banana Hut, run by a Swiss guy of all things! It was brand new so I think we got a special rate, plus maybe it helped with Ollie being Swiss.... Ollie was keen to hike to Sip et chan waterfall (with 11 tiers) but the guide said it was at least 4 hours return and it was already quite late in the day. We decided to risk it and jogged parts of it and I took my headtorch just in case. I'd heard there were gibbons in the park and suddenly I heard a loud crashing noise in front of me but didn't see anything, however Ollie was lucky anough to spot it - very jealous! The path seemed fairly well marked so we weren't too concerned and spent some time swimming and exploring the falls. I was a bit weary that I had no shoes on when I almost stepped on what looked like a baby snake but that was the least of our worries....... We started to head back and although it wasn't dark, it certainly wasn't very bright under the canopy and soon I had to use my headtorch. The trail was OK but the problem came when we hit the river crossings as there were no bridges and sometimes you had to walk along the edge a bit to get the path the other side.
Waterfall just out of Kao Lak
Soon we were lost and couldn't find the path the other side of one of the rivers. It must have been a good 20 minutes and I was starting to think about how much water I had and where we could sleep for the night until it got light but suddenly we found something that looked hopeful and eventually made it back to the main path. What a relief! When we returned to the main gate (at 8.30pm in pitch darkness!) the guards didn't seem concerned which was strange since we'd had to sign in to say where we were going and had been worried that they'd have sent out a search party! We also discovered that we'd encountered some other wildlife if the park - leeches! I only had a couple on my ankles but poor Ollie had trekking sandals on and they'd even got between his toes! For once he was more concerned about them that the fact we hadn't eaten for a long time and were starving!Today we set off early and walked to Tom Kloi waterfall. On the way we stopped at another place where we had fun sliding down some fast rapids between small pools. I was worried I'd be carried off downstream since the current was very strong! Tom Kloi was empty when we arrived and we had fun exploring the area but soon some locals showed up complete with picnic and beer (which they offered me!) but we decided to head back since it was a long walk with some tough scrambling and we had to catch the boat for the dive trip.
On the drive back we stopped at a cute restaurant by the side of the road and had a great meal for very little money which is what we needed after spending so much on the dive trip! Back in Kao Lak we had to refuel the bike before returning it and the only way here (apart from Petrol stations which are rare in small towns) is by petrol sold out of whiskey bottles. Bizzare but it's the norm here.
We went to the dive shop and had the important task of getting our equipment together. I made sure to get 2 wetsuits, even though the water is warm here, as I always get cold diving. We met our dive staff, Brenda (Irish) and Carlos (Spanish) and the rest of the group which was Peter, a middle aged German guy, and Anna Leanna and Nick from Sweeden. The boat is nothing special but we're hardly paying for a luxuary yacht! Food was OK though and at least the bunkbeds are long enough for Ollie with him being well over 6 foot. Up at 6am for our first dive!
Comments
Scooter
I think we had our first reminder of how many tourists hit the dust on scooters in Asia - we came back from Kao Sok and there was a girl with nasty grazes and cuts all up her legs and arms. See Amanda, you were really blessed to have me as a chauffeur! (except for that time in Sen Monorom!)