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Phu Pha Thoep National Park One thing that I will always remember about Thailand in March is it was hotter and less humid than I ever imagined. Do not get me wrong I knew it would be somewhat hot, but I expected much higher levels of humidity. When this conception was proven to be wrong part of me was very glad. But when the temperatures were flirting dangerously with 40 degrees, I started to question why the hell I even left Adelaide. I mean that is usual weather in our summer which fortunately just ended, but I will persevere, after all I do enjoy the heat. However knowing what I was going to do, I was questioning in the back of my mind whether I will still love the heat after all I was about to experience walking through a large national park in hot weather. This could end very badly, but then again it could make it even better. Not in some weird masochistic way though.
We arrive at the National park after a bumpy 45-minute drive from where my father lived. Both of us have decided, irregardless of the temperature, that we want
to venture around the national park. Phu Pha Thoep National Park is famous in the region for the waterfalls, which weren't going to be 'operational' for lack of a better word, because it was deep in the dry season and had been a few month since a some what decent rainfall. This fact was very evident in the drive down to the national park when all the farm yards we passed are all full of dead grass and dried up rice paddies, not to mention the scorch marks where some of the fields have been burnt, whether it has been through controlled burns or through raging unexpected bush fires. Therefore it was quite pointless to go see the waterfalls, but fortunately for us the National Park is famous for another attraction. It was the alien like, almost surreal rock formations that litter the hillside in the start of the national park. It is very difficult to describe them because no two rock formations are exactly the same, but a rather broad description would be that they are Mushroom like. Hearing about them doesn't make it sound that exciting, but when you stand up close observing these rock formations in reality
was truly awe inspiring. It was amazing to think that these rocks are not man made structures, but it was formed by the element of thousands, even millions of years. It is not until you walk amongst some of these stunning structures you realise exactly how amazing the world truly is.
Beautifully stacked, almost delicately placed upon each other resting precariously on the edge of cliff faces and on top of hills over some black and white stained, jagged as animal teeth rocks. These rocks have the ability to strip skin and draw blood if you strike the rock even the slightest bit wrong. But paradoxically with such danger the rocks and the environment has, it also possess such life and beauty. Acting as habitat for some of the most intriguing animals like Deer, Snakes, Monitor Lizards amongst many animals. But also the flora was amazingly green and full of life, which surprised me as around the grass was all but dead. I was constantly questioning in my head, how can such plants survive in such hostile terrain. But they were lush and plentiful for the first 300 hundred metres, but quickly after that the state of
the flora quickly deteriorated. Both in how alive they seemed and how plentiful they were. Soon it was barren and lifeless amongst the rocks, apart from a few patches of dead grass and a salt bush or two scattered on the obviously flood affected stones and ground. Well not completely barren off over the massive cliff faces there is a plethora of trees in a jungle. Not vibrantly green but there looked to be plenty of life amongst the canopy down a hundred odd metres below.
We begin to walk along the cliff face until we get to a sign that tells us we have reached one of the several sights that you are suggested to see, Pha Oot. Situated 253 metres above the ground the cliff face offers some amazing views of the surrounding forested areas. It can only be described as one of the most amazing views of the seemingly endless array of forested lands until and probably further than the horizon mixed with the sun struggling to shine through the smog that is lingering into the early afternoon. Truly a sight that humbled me, just the sheer vastness of a country that I never
really understood exactly how large it really was. Small deliberately stacked stones littered the now vibrantly lush surroundings. But it was mostly drought resistant trees as like I have previously mentioned it can go months without rain so the trees have adapted to be able to survive in the desolate environment by being able to either survive without water for ages or be able to absorb and sustain water for a long period of drought. But amongst the trees you now start to notice more and more white thorn bushes and Cactus all scattered along the area. You know for Cactus to inhabit the area it must be a harsh environment.
We continue to walk a little further inland and further out on the cliff and after a ten minute odd walk through the bush we reach another of the stated points of interest. This time it was Pha Ngoy, an impressive look out over the forest in a different direction, but equally as impressive as the look out at Pha Oot. But it was here were something bad inevitably happened. The foot wear that I chose, the ever reliable pair of Flip-flops (Sandals, Thongs or Jandals
wherever you are from) had a little blow out. By little blow out I mean they fell apart, but fortunately both my father and me were still wearing some of the white cloth bands that were wrapped around our wrists at the blessing. With those we manufactured a very make shift shoe by tying the base of the flip flop to my feet. Very ingenious and McGuyver like brilliance in the situation as it was a couple kilometre long walk back to the car over some jagged and painful rocks which would have ripped the sole of my foot to absolute shreds. But fortunately the makeshift Flip Flop survived and even on the way back to the car we were able to spectate the sheer brilliance of the environment.
Honestly it wasn't somewhere I had ever actually had heard of but it definitely is a place I would suggest to friends or anyone who asks that they should go there. For a National Park it was well worth the journey and putting up with the heat.
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Alexandra
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I agree..
.. about flip flops.. Deffo not for a national park like Khao Yai or Khao sok, which is full of leaches trying to creep under your pants. Also, try using flip flops in Kaeng Krachan; http://www.thainationalparks.com/kaeng-krachan-national-park .. you won't get far. Even a 4WD gets big challenge moving around on those dirt roads! :)