Caves and Houseboats

As it creeps up on April, the hottest month of the year in Thailand, there are a couple ways to escape the heat: water and caves. These pics are from Kanchanaburi province and the famous "River Kawai". The six-eight cylinder "longtails" pulling the houseboats rumble up and down the river, most with a modified pipe as a muffler. The only thing louder are the high-powered PA systems that send ripples through the canyons.

This is another fine example of using noise pollution as a marketing tool to draw participants in Thailand. Besides meditation, it seems noting is done quietly in the Kingdom. Follow your ears to the action... literally at any time of the day! Between the searing heat, unrelenting smoke of burning season, and the ear shattering noise from PA systems in every nook and cranny, the festive summer holiday season can be trying times for many foreigners living in Thailand.

My plan to escape north, to the mountains of Chiang Mai, were dashed when the Bangkok Post reported the International Airport had to turn on the runway lights, in mid-day, because of the blanketing smoke.

Ahhh... Amazing Thailand.

Khao Yai National Park

Procrastination has kept me from two things, updating my blog site and visiting Khao Yai National Park. This post now catapults me back into the world of travel writing, my hobby that has recently been lost in the working world.

About two hours away via scooter, or motorcy as they call it in Thailand, is Thailand's first national park. While two hours can not be constituted as an expedition, it is a bit challenging to make your way out of the congestion of suburban Bangkok. So therefore, to bolster my own self-worth and pride, I will think of it as a mini solo expedition.

Conquering the smoke belching trucks and rule-less streets heading towards the mountains, the air quality drastically improved after entering the park. It is a steady climb to the top with several waypoints to see waterfalls, wildlife and viewpoints. As always, morning is the time to beat the crowds. Even though on the outskirts of a population of 10,000,000 inhabitants, I had Thailand's largest park mostly to myself before 10 AM.

When life gets busy, sometimes it is easy to forget how a couple hour drive can totally change your environment and mood. It is always a gift to get back to nature, and let the worries fall off like the leaves of a tree... as John Muir once said.