Welcome to the Jungle

I definitely picked the right semester to teach in Thailand. Tons of random holidays and meetings…love it!!! So after a 3 day weekend in Koh Samet and a short 3 days of teaching, we had another 3 day weekend for Constitution Day. This time instead of the beach, I wanted to do something different. The girls and I decided to head to Khao Yai National Park. This is one of those places that I would say is a must if you're in Thailand for a longer period of time. A great giant ‘monsoon forest’ north of Bangkok; the largest in Thailand actually.

Khao Yai National Park

We stayed at a hostel called "Bobby's Place" which was pretty awesome. Although we arrived in Pak Chong (the town that surrounds the park and where most hotel/hostals are located) late, Mike who owns Bobby's picked us up. One of many favorable accommodations… We started into the park the next afternoon after sleeping in and just relaxing. That afternoon/evening with our super knowledgeable, funny, and fabulous guide - Jeap- in our personal Jungle Tour sorng-teaw, we went into a cave to see stalagmites and stalactites, and shortly to a field to see about 3 million bats emerge from their cave at dusk. It almost was surreal. The bats appeared to create this smoke like imagery. It went on like this for about 45 minutes, and probably longer if we continued to stay and watch, and if we weren't all starving. That night I ate one of the most fabulous Pad-See-Ew dishes ever although the English name is wide noodles with black sauce (soy sauce?). The portions at Bobby's is the largest I've seen since I stepped foot in Thailand. yah!!!

Jeap our guide

Sunset before the bats emerge

Some of the 3 million bats

The Bat Smoke

The next day we got up early for a day full of unknown adventures. Four of us, a French firefighter from Leon named Lionel, a Finnish veterinarian named Mary, and Jeap trekked through the forest in fabulous socks that were meant to keep ticks and other critters i.e. leeches out.

We didn't see many other people as we traipsed through random 'trails' until we came across this waterfall. I guess it pays to have a guide: unknown routes, knowledge on plants and bugs, and where the heck we were going…This waterfall was the first of three we were to visit, and was the only one we were able to jump from. Liz and Lionel were brave enough to jump, while the rest of us ate our corns, cake shavings, and rested.

After they jumped, we continued on in our journey. I must say I really enjoy the wilderness, and being in an actual jungle reaffirmed why. So as we were trekking, we were able to see with Jeap's eagle eyes, a gibbon (super rare).

Gibby the Gibbon

This totally was worth paying for a guide. I doubt I would have experienced and been able to see anything.

The second waterfall we got to was just as beautiful, and I actually swam in it. Waterfall water is icy but super refreshing.  By now, we aren't simply just trekking, but jumping onto rocks in the river. to cross. Super fail on my part. Short legs and all don't work so well with this. I immediately sink. Eh…water trekking shoes come in handy at this point… Although the trekking was pretty intense as I mentioned, it gets even more so…. we climbed rocks using tree roots as rope, and climbed inclines that required us to use bamboo as anchoring points. I am definitely out of shape sigh…stupid cheap delicious food and desserts… Eventually we make it to the third waterfall and this waterfall is pretty famous. It was filmed for Leonardo diCaprio's film "The Beach." Way crowded and not swimmable with all the rocks..darn I definitely could of used a dip. Hiking in yoga pants is great way to protect you from mosquitos and its stretchy material is great for climbing, but sucks since it insulates your body heat, and soaks the sweat. Lovely yes? hahah

Later that night, the only thing that could of make it even more perfect…spotting wild elephants. And did it happen? DING DING DING….

Several wild elephants were near the roads as we were leaving. Beautiful creatures. Of course right as we get closer one stepped onto the road and stopped traffic. It was soo cool to see it so close, but it looked confused and lost. I think in it's confusion and fear, which turned to aggression, that was the reason why it tried to run us down..eeeekk but a park guide came along and used their special driving skills and experience with the elephants in the park, and pushed it safely into the forest. Phew..

So I know I keep saying it, but PERFECTION!!! I guess each weekend is so unique that each is perfect in my mind. I mean I hiked in the jungle, saw a gibbon, a wide horned bill bird, a wild crocodile during our after lunch stroll, and several wild elephants as we were leaving the park.  Super exciting!