GLOWORMS IN AMPHAWA

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I walked along the waterfront and started seeing guesthouses. I walked towards one and a lady boarded me. She said all busy and all expensive 1200-1500 THB that she would take me somewhere cheaper by the bus station. She took me to an old house with two rooms and the shower and toiled outside of the room shared. She said “cheap -cheap 600 THB”. Its Saturday its busy and you are not going to find anything else. The room looked clean. No AC. With a fan, it just had a bed. I didn’t want to settle for the first place and wanted to see at least another one. But she said that she would not keep the place if I go see the glowworms and come back later. So I said all right at least that is sorted. She said: “money money” and once I gave her the cash she gave me the key and took me to her house by the river where I could charge my phone and “play” with internet.

I booked my trip to see the glowworms. The synchronous flashing of Pteroptyx malaccae on trees along the Mae Khlong riverbank is spectacular and fascinating. - See more at: http://www.lampyridjournal.com/well-managed-firefly-tourism-a-good-tool-for-firefly-conservation-in-thailand/#sthash.Tgcqoj0W.dpuf

The boats take you for pretty much the same fare: 50THB. I took some photos of the different kinds of guest houses on the riverfront during the ride to the area where the glowworms live but the glowworms themselves are impossible to photograph because we are on a moving boat shooting at night. But tt was beautiful to watch. I felt in a wonder world. They were everywere. Little sparkles in the trees.

Then all the longboats raced each other on the way back. That was pretty fun but scary at the same time. The boats bounce from side to side when going across each other wakes and they did not feel stable at all. They make you wear life jackets for safety. Their engines at night are rigged with neon lights and look pretty fancy in their own way. I had no luck photographing their colors.

To see a quick video of the boat ride to see the glowworms before it got completely dark plese click here:

Comments

[D MJ Binkley]

Long boat ride
Beautiful reflections.