We had a little bit later start to the day than we had planned as Sophie was working on a food science project which we all enjoyed for lunch. On our way to the park, we check the time discovering it closed at 3 PM which was the time Google map estimated we would be there. We decided to go anyway, in hopes that we would still be able to get in as we were already partway there and google is often wrong in Thailand. Luckily, when we arrived, we had no problem, and to our advantage to be there later in the day. To reach the famous cave, which is the most photographed site in Thailand, you take a five-minute boat ride around the peninsula covered in dense jungle. The boats are wide flat bottom boats propelled by an interesting design. What looks like an old car engine drives a propeller, held out into the water on a 3-meter shafts. Our first boat sounded like it was having to work very hard and trailed behind the other boats. As boats cannot get close shore with the tide out; thus you wade through the water up to your knees with the occasional wave going high thigh.
We arrived at the Peninsula that you can only access by boat because of the dense jungle, we were dropped off at a beautiful white sand beach with waving palms. We hiked about a kilometre, mostly up, following a rough stone path climbing through the jungle. You then begin to descend rough stone steps into a majestic, huge, cavernous caves. It was striking that the caverns wee massive, as large as a large sports arena, with an “unsupported roof”. Again, we saw many stalagmites and stalactites, as well as a few places where they joined to form large columns. Wide openings in the ceiling of the cave allowed plants and trees to grow. A rock bridge, no one would dare cross, was visible between the two large openings. Inside the cave there are trees, vines and shrubs thanks to the light leg in b the openings. There is also a dry waterfall as the water contained such high sediment petrified. Going through to the next cavern you see the famous there is a four-gable roofed royal pavilion called Phra Thinang Khuha Kharuhat, built in 1890 for King Rama V’s visits. There is also a description of the three Thai kings honoured at the cave. Because we arrived toward the end of the day, we were able to explore these caverns on our own, adding to the uniqueness of this experience.
On the way down from the cave, we met a wonderful family of Dusky Langur. I was thrilled to see the baby which is ginger orange colour versus its older siblings and parents which have all turned grey a sign of maturity. We were able to observe them in proximity playing wrestling and grooming each other. I got some wonderful pictures and videos.
On another lovely hot day, Alastair and I headed out on the motorbike to revisit another area of National Park at a different site. This provided an opportunity for Alastair to take me on some of the out of the way country roads he had been exploring on the bike for some amazing scenery. We then travelled to the Bueng Boa Boardwalk; it travels over a freshwater marsh. It provides spectacular views and an unique opportunity to see some interesting bird species. This park contains the largest marsh land in Thailand, and there has been renewed interest in how important this is for ecological diversity.
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