Hello again,
My adventures have taken me inland from the coastal pleasures of Khao Lak, in search of some peace and quiet, and possibly some wild animals ( not the drunk tourist kind… ) I’ve ventured to Khao Sok national park. A fabulous display of old growth jungle, on top of the beautiful limestone karst formations that make this region famous, Khao Sok is a wonderful place to relax and watch the time drift by.
My journey began with, by my standards, an adventurous bus ride. I’m tightening the belt a bit, so opted for the 150 baht ( $6 ) public bus ride instead of my usual private transport. I shall continue to do this, as it was an air-con’d beauty, and for 1/10th the cost I was soon at my destination. A rep from my hotel was there to meet me on the highway, and I found my way to a beautiful little bungalow, 300m from the park entrance.
Eager to get things rolling, and my body moving after feeling quite idle on the boat, I booked a 2 day, 1 night stay on Cheow Lan Lake. Probably the most famous feature of the park, this beauty boasts 120m depth at some points, deep lush jungle surrounding it, and its gem feature, floating bamboo huts!
The next morning I was off, and soon the noise of a longtail boat was burning my ears as we ripped across the smooth lake. Amazing views all around, we would soon be at our home for the night. Very basic huts, they float in a cascading row together joined by a central eating area.
We settled in, did some swimming, and then began the first activity. We hiked through the jungle to a 680m long cave, which was a walkthrough consisting of neck deep water and tight walls at some points. Not for the claustrophobic among us. This would however, prove to be my undoing, as while passing through waste deep water, missed a step with my left foot into an ungodly abyss, the depths of which are still unknown! I clobbered my arm, and my poor right knee bore the brunt of my weight with a crash that would tear it wide open. A bit shocked at first I continued onward, hoping it would be ok. We made out way back to camp eventually, I cleaned up the deep wounds, and let it sit.
That evening we had a great supper, and hit the bamboo early. I would learn soon later that my bloody knee was about to show its true colors. I woke to pee out my bamboo hut window in the middle of the night, and felt some serious pain as the blood rushed to the joint ( my knee that is…). Shit balls. It really hurt. I sucked it up and slept, but the next day I was forced to sit out the hike, and lay around like a lump. At least it was in a stunning landscape!
The next two days would pass uneventfully, as I rested my knee and enjoyed the serenity of the peaceful jungle. It is still recovering, and I can at least bend it some now. I’m dithering alot on what to do next, and can’t seem to commit to anything. The later trip is taking shape, but for now the next month is an open book, and I’m struggling to write the chapter titles.
Stay tuned, who knows where I’ll be next!