| Cover
story: 25
May 06 / Vol.
23 No. 4 |
|
When
it rains,
we
go travelling |
Urban populations don't like rain but
rural and forest inhabitants do. Rain gives nature life. When
rain falls, the woodlands become alive. The trees and plants
including moss, fern and lichen are fresh and verdant. The waterfalls
roar and dance in full swing. The animals, especially fishes
and amphibians regain their liveliness.
Since Thailand's climate is warm, the
temperature is not too cool even when it rains while you are
in a dense forest. With a rainproof jacket, you will feel comfortable.
It is a refreshing experience to visit the lush forests during
the rainy season. The rain coming in this season lasting from
June to October is most often in the form of tropical showers
which though heavy don't last long, usually no more than an
hour. They won't cause much inconvenience. Instead, they make
your trip more challenging.
Even though you may be more familiar with tours of mountains
with beautiful flowers in full blossom in the cool season and
those of seaside resorts in summer, Thaiways invites
you to go travelling when it rains. Here are some choices for
your lively cool holidays.
Ratchaburi
Less often heard of as a tourist destination than other provinces,
Ratchaburi, 101 km from Bangkok, hides its charm in Amphoe Suan
Phueng in the embrace of mountains.
Bo Khlueng Hot Spring
(By courtesy of TAT) |
Bo Khlueng Hot Spring has its source in Tanao Sri Mountain
Range with water all year round. Sometimes the temperature is
as high as 136°F. Don't miss having a hot mineral bath here.
After immersing yourself in the warm water, go further 1 km
to get drenched in the cool pools of the Nine-Leap Waterfall.
Nine-Leap Waterfall
(By courtesy of TAT) |
Phetchaburi
The province is 123 km from Bangkok. If you wish to fully exercise
and breathe pure air, why not visit Kaeng Krachan National
Park? There's a large freshwater lake and the lush
forests with rich flora and fauna.
A view of Kaeng Krachan National
Park
(By courtesy of TAT) |
Let your heart tell whether to watch birds, observe butterflies
of over 80 species or go trekking. Phanoen Thung Mountain
is 50 km away. Four-wheel drive cars are more welcome as the
road is narrow and driving needs great care. But when you get
to a vantage point during the latter period of the rainy season,
the panoramic view of scenic mountains in the curtain of mist
is very charming. Then, how about shooting the rapids in a rubber
boat in the Phetchaburi River? The current
is very strong and the waterway is long and winding. After finishing
this challenging activity, don't hurry home. Enjoy camping amidst
the beautiful nature at one of the provided camping sites.
Sam Roi Yot Marine National Park
|
Prachuap Khiri Khan
In Prachuap Khiri Khan, 281 km from Bangkok, Khao Sam
Roi Yot Marine National Park offers a large variety
of easily accessible attractions including forest trails, secluded
beaches, limestone hills and caves.
Phraya Nakhon Cave |
Some of them are -- Phraya
Nakhon Cave with a pavilion built especially for
King Rama V's visit in 1890, Kaeo Cave with
spectacular rock formations of a crystal look, Sai
Cave with a lot of stalagmites and stalactites, and
the Khao Daeng Canal nice for a sightseeing
tour through mangrove swamps inhabited by many birds.
Kanchanaburi
If waterfalls are in your dream, only 129 km from Bangkok,
in Kanchanaburi, there are several waterfalls in different
atmospheres and settings for your visit. In Amphoe Thong Phaphum,
there're Phatat, a large waterfall flowing
over a limestone cliff in a setting of shady big trees, and
Thung Nang Khruan, another large waterfall
with 7 leaps each of which is a high cliff. In Amphoe Sangkhla
Buri, there're Takhian Thong standing amidst
bamboo forests and Kratengcheng challenging
for climbing lovers for it has 36 leaps and offers forest
trails passing through giant trees.
|
Erawan Waterfall |
In Amphoe Sri Sawat, there're Erawan with pools
for swimming where you will feel like being in your personal
jacuzzi, Huai Khamin, shady and attractive,
and Than Ngoen with 7 leaps and some nearby
caves and waterfalls.
Phliu Waterfall |
Chanthaburi
Besides being known as the land of gems, Chanthaburi, 245 km
from Bangkok, has some retreats for you in the rainy season.
Soi Dao Mountain caters for your love of nature
with big trees, rare wild animals, attractive butterflies, exotic
birds and especially a 9-leap waterfall amidst a mountainous
setting. Phliu Waterfall at km 347 has a limpid
pool with some fish making their appearance.
Kitchakut National Park |
Khitchakut National Park has a variety of plants including
herbs and wild orchids, hill evergreen forests and deciduous
forests. Krathing Waterfall with a strong current
all year round and a total of 13 leaps. It is said that the
higher the leap, the more attractive it is.
Kamphaeng Phet
If you love to drive leisurely, why not do so in Kamphaeng Phet,
358 km from Bangkok. When it's drizzling, scenes of rice fields
along the way are nice. Kaeng Pha Nang Khoi
is a stream that flows over rocks and became a 4-leap waterfall.
Some trails for nature study are provided. If tired, you can
have a warm mineral bath there.
Khlong Lan Waterfall
(By courtesy of TAT) |
Khlong Lan Waterfall flows over a 100-metre
cliff with a pool for swimming. For those who want to test
their energy, they should go to Khlong Nam Daeng
in Khlong Wang Chao National Park. The way to reach it is
full of difficulties but when you're there you'll witness
the only waterfall of this country whose waterway is formed
by slate.
Phetchabun
You can experience the cool weather at this place all year
round. Phetchabun, 346 km from Bangkok, boasts some nice spots
along the 130-km highway between Lomsak and Phitsanulok that
goes through some highest mountains of Thailand. Khao
Kho commands a panoramic view of a mountainous area
and offers several types of accommodations in wonderful surroundings.
Nam Nao National Park |
Nam Nao National Park contains caves, waterfalls
and dense forests inhabited by several wild animals especially
some 130 species of birds. Phu Hin Rongkla National
Park has a virgin forest, large tracts of rock of
strange shapes, wild orchids and colourful lichen. An attractive
waterfall that you should prove its beauty by your own eyes
is Man Daeng in the park. When the rainy
season is changing to the cool season, the setting is most
fascinating with red maple leaves falling on the ground along
the trail to the waterfall. Thung Salaeng Luang National
Park features orchids and other flowers, fir forests
and a stream with large waterfalls.
Khao Yai National
Park
Covering some areas of four provinces-- Nakhon Ratchasima,
Nakhon Nayok, Saraburi, and Prachin Buri, Khao Yai (about
135 km from Bangkok) is a destination for active travellers
and among the largest and most popular parks of the country.
The most fascinating activity there is trekking through forests.
You won't get bored to explore a variety of attractions along
its 13 trails.
Heo Narok Waterfall,
Khao Yai National Park |
A good opportunity that Khao Yai offers is to watch several
kinds of wildlife in their natural habitat, notably wild elephants,
gibbons and hornbills.
Views of Khao Yai National Park
|
Other activities include joining the night-shining trip,
enjoying cycling, visiting waterfalls numbering about 20,
and watching birds of which there are as many as 300 species.
Wildlife in Khao Yai National
Park
|
For more information about the above attractions, please consult
Thaiways advertisers or contact the Tourism Authority of Thailand
(TAT), Tel: 0 2250 5500.
|
