On Friday morning Lindsey, Jess, Hanisha and I travelled a few hours north east out of Bangkok to Khao Yai National Park. We were picked up from the bus stop by a driver from our apartment. We stayed at Bobbies Apartment's which had a lovely friendly hostel feel to it and they were so welcoming. They also organised our one and a half day tour, so we headed straight off on the afternoon tour as soon as we got there. It was a relaxing afternoon stopping at a natural spring which we could swim in (although we felt rather naked in out bikini's compared to the Thai's swimming in t-shirts, oh well we are use to being stared at so no change!) The water was crystal clear and beautiful. The next stop was a Buddist Cave with a shrine in it where monks go to meditate. It was very random and we learnt a little bit from our tour guide about the monks which was interesting. the sun was then beginning to set so it was time to see the bats wake up from their sleep and fly out for the evening. Us girls were not overly excited to see the bats as we had already seen similar in Lopburi but this was something else there were millions and millions, I've never seen anything like it.
That evening we chilled at the restaurant with people from our tour and who would be on our tour the next day. It was great chatting about everyone's past and future travel plans and getting to know people from countries all over the world.
After stopping at the information centre and museum for a short time it was then time to start our trek into the jungle with our crazy, enthusiastic tour guide. He certainly made the day fantastic with his craziness and sense of humour. He found hornbills in the highest trees and tracked down several gibbons for us to see. He had an amazing telescope we could look through and he would take pictures through it as well. The gibbons were fascinating swinging from tree to tree and making the strangest of sounds. After several hours of trekking the jungle we circled round and came back to the pick up truck (our means of transport for the day, it did have seats in the back but meant we could see out at any point) for a bit of lunch.
In the afternoon we drove further in to the park and walked to see some beautiful waterfalls. The first one which we couldn't swim in features in the film "The Beach" where they jump off it. Our tour guide took us down a winding path off the beaten track to our own exclusive waterfall, where no one else was in sight. after a day full of walking in the sun it was blissful to cool off in the water.
It was then time to go in search of some wild elephants, there was only a small chance we would see them so we all anxiously peered out the truck in to the jungle hoping to get a glimpse. There were many tour groups on the same mission which was great as a few other trucks were stopped on the road watching one showing us he was there! It was hard to see through the think trees but every so often he poked his trunk out towards the road. Eventually when he thought the time was right and he found an exit he crossed the road to the other side. He was then in full sight for us to see. It was fantastic seeing a wild elephant so close up and in his own home. It was then time for us to head home. We quickly drove all the way to the top of the mountain to a view point. Unfortunately it was misty so there wasn't much to see but then headed back to the apartments for dinner and an early night as we were so exhausted from the jam packed but awesome day.
The next day I got up early and headed back to Bangkok as my cousin, Emily and her friend Lou were in town. I took them to explore JJ market and have some street food near my place. It was great catching up with them after their month round Asia and to hear all their travel stories. Next time we will be reunited is in Singapore in March, can't wait for the adventures to continue.
With love from Thailand xxx
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