Erawan Waterfalls

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Geo: 14.02, 99.53

Went to breakfast this morning for the first time at the River Kwai Hotel. It was very extensive but nothing really tickled my fancy except for the bananas. There was no apple or orange juice, no bacon, no yoghurt and the toaster was incredibly slow, but Nana and Pa loved it as they're used to eating what we'd have for dinner at breakfast.

Mum and I went to reception so they could get us a tuk-tuk, but they said 'No, taxi only, no' so we agreed and then a pick-up truck arrived and by this stage Nana and Pa were down stairs to so we all piled in and off we went. It was about 1.5km from the hotel to the bus station from which mum and I would catch a bus to the Erawan Falls and Nana and Pa would walk home. We were told we'd missed the bus by 2 minutes and now had to wait 45 minutes for the next bus. Great. We passed the time by walking around the market that was next to the bus station and then arrived at our bus with 10 minutes to go, then the bus driver told us it would be 20 minutes late, well he didn't tell us, rather point to his watch at the time and then go round to 11.10.

The bus ride was an experience that I could've happily gone without. This bus would not make it in Australia, it was at least 30 years old, bigger than a mini bus but smaller than a normal bus. The windows all had cracks in them and the floor was made out of wood, but there were holes in it so we could drive along while looking at the road - just what we want to do - or not. There was no aircon but there were three small fans that were turned on twice for 5 minutes. We stopped 3 times, once for petrol, once to help someone whose car had broken down (we were all thinking we just wanna go) and once so the bus driver could do something but were not quite sure what, but afterwards he came back and collected our money (50B pp). Along the side of the roads you could buy any amount of granite rock you wanted, some carved and/or polished and some as is. You could also get the play equipment that I loved from China - mum said 'No' before I even asked. That sucks.

We got to the Erawan Waterfalls at 1.23 so it was a one and a half hour bus trip. By this stage it was only mum and I and 2 Europeans on the bus. It cost 200B per person to get into the park. We got off the bus and walked to the first waterfall which was only meant to be 700m but was over a kilometre, like the bus trip up here when it says 540m it means 1540m. Well they think they're right but by no stretch of the imagination are they right, on the bus it took us 30 minutes to travel 5km if you believe the distances on the signs. We went straight to the 2nd waterfall and jumped in (got changed in the toilets) near the waterfall is very deep so I went to get a life jacket but you have to pay 80B and give them your passport as a deposit, then there was a donation box for more life jackets. It's stupid, you pay to feel safe and you have to give a deposit? They think you can walk out of there with a fluro orange life-jacket? So we just went in the shallow bit and there were 2 local girls there who offered to help me to where they were so I thought why not, then fell on my bum because I lost my footing. It really hurt then when I stood up the girl started rubbing my bum vigorously. Very embarrassing! The water is crystal clear and you can see a fair way down but you can also see all the fish. They biggest one we saw would've been 35cm and these were the foot-spa fish from Malaysia.

The sign saying 'this trail is available for every ages because is not too slope' couldn't been more wrong - the steps would've been a good 40cm high at some points and the ground was very steep and uneven. We made it to the 4th waterfall out of the 7 which wasn't too bad. We were heading for the 5th and had been for quite a while, I reckon we were 100m away but we couldn't see it and had to turn around so we didn't miss the bus.

On the way back, just before the 2nd waterfall we got in and got wet before the walk back, but that proved to be pointless as it started raining almost straight away. We got to the bus with 3 minutes to spare so we raced over and got a drink and icy-pole each. The bus started and the driver beeped for probably 4 minute non-stop to make sure no one was left behind as it was the last bus for the day. The friends from Europe came racing onto the bus, they didn't have a watch and were looking out for us as a sign to go back but didn't see us. On the way back the driver tooted at every building and everyone he saw to see if they wanted to hop on but he never stopped. Pointless. It felt like it took half the time getting back which was good and it pelted down most of the way. It stopped at our hotel for us as you just stand up where you want to be dropped off and he will stop.

The second last thing we did for the day was go for a swim in the rain and the storm - it was very nice but the water was boiling. All the restaurant staff were standing at the door looking and laughing at us but oh well – we like being 'stupid tourists'. We finished the day with dinner and ice-cream at the same restaurant as yesterday.

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Comments

[joan34]

Beautiful butterfly photo.We were very glad to see our 2 drowned girls arrive back safely.Another first for this trip

[Leesa Fisher]

Hi Melissa,I'm enjoying your blogs very much and your photos as well.I guess part of the fun of going overseas to countries like Thailand is roughing it a bit even if the buses are very old and rickety Ha! Ha!.