July 19th, 2013
A day of waterfalls
We made plans for Riam to take us out for the day to Doi Inthanon National Park. We went there three years ago, with a trip to the top and a visit to a waterfall. This time, we asked to go see three other waterfalls….one of these, Riam had never been to….see….she is learning stuff from us ; ))
I don’t think it was intentional, but the waterfalls got progressively more impressive as we went along. The first stop was Siriphum Wateralls. The actual waterfall wasn’t very big per se. It was very high, but not a lot of water. The gardens surrounding the area were very impressive if even just a little bit confusingly so. We were literally the only people there. It cost 20 baht per person entrance and i wanted to pay with a 50 baht bill and she couldn’t make change….but you could tell the paths, gazebos and flora and fauna were elaborate….which seems weird for a place no one goes.
I gotta see if I could get a fern tree like this to grow in my yard! Cool eh!!
Gorgeous!!
Then we went to Wachiratharn (or Vachiratharn) Waterfalls. Basic surroundings to an otherwise significantly more spectacular waterfall. Pretty impressive hike for us, up to the top…and this would be the very first time we have not had the sweet pay off for making the hike! The was zip, zero, zilch at the top. A small parking lot….no view of the waterfalls from the top. So we started to make our way back down, there was a spot where we moved off the path and someone (not me) decided to go past the signs that said “slippery route” and “danger” etc to try to get a better picture. Hmmmmm…..when he disappeared, I would like to say I threw everything down and flew in there to rescue him, but his head popped back up pretty quickly. Bruised bottom and elbow, muddy clothes and a very lucky camera save….he came back to my side of the handrail. He did confess, he thought the camera was going to skitter away from him for all eternity….but alas, he used up some of his chok dee (good luck) and was able to pull it back from the brink of disaster.
Yes, it would have been quite a ways down….
This is what the stairs looked like….they were steep, but totally doable….
Our third and final waterfall stop of the day was the grand finale! Mae Ya waterfall. Riam had never been to this one before!
It literally had the best path of any place we have ever been!
I believe they refer to this as a cake walk ; )
As we were meandering up the path, we saw this! What is this even?? We LOL’d….yes we did….how many centuries old is this?
There was no dial tone. REALLY??? I totally tried to call you Mom!!
These falls were absolutely stunning…..best of the day.
And this is what strikes me today about this place they call Thailand! Often you can go a mile before you can find a darn garbage can here….but in this park, there had to be 100 garbage cans and recycling bins and reminders and signs and fine notices if you get caught littering. Everywhere else in the country is basically a free for all, but here it will costs you 1,000 baht if you drop your candy wrapper.
And then when I saw this sign, I was able to keep Troy on the right side of safety (this time; )
All in all a wonderful day….we were exhausted when Riam dropped us back off at hotel….time for quick dip in the pool, supper at Ginny’s, a massage and then rolled into bed.
Ahhhhhhh……..
August 6th, 2013
Brooklyn Says :
A) Haha dad would do that… im glad hes ok though and idk how his camera is still working at this point
B) They have to enforce that or the waterfalls would be so clean and gorgeous! WOW! Stunning on all three but I would kill to have a chance to photograph that last one and its really cool that you guys suggested something Riam hasnt done (as a tour guide thats rare)!
C) Yeah mom I’ll make sure I “don’t swimming.” 😛