2 days in (overpriced) paradise

On to round 3.🎉

And since pictures speak louder than words, I'll try to ... .. ha ha- too early to celebrate....

You know me- keeping it short isn't my thing... 😇

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Today is December 29th, shortly after 11pm.

We had a really awesome day today.

Saw a lot.

Spent a lot (too much).💰

We got carried away with a tour.

So, we first went to a typical Thai market (with all sorts of bizarre stuff), and then drove another 1 hour to the Chaio-Lan Lake nearby.

This lake is apparently THE thing here in Khao Sok and I couldn't wait to finally see it.

It's about 90 meters deep and with its 162 square kilometers, it's twice the size of Lake Chiemsee and really impressive.

So we were taken to a pier to board a longtail boat and sail across the lake for over an hour.

Along the way, we switched to a bamboo boat, which took us to a specific section of the national park.

Past the simplest dwellings of the 'natives'...

We marched or slipped over hurdles to reach a cave.

That wasn't so easy, ey.

Khao Sok belongs to the wettest areas here. (It's called RAINFOREST for a reason, right ;) and accordingly, the ground was....

It's a miracle I didn't fall.

But I had that pleasure yesterday. (more on that later) 🙈

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The cave was not really spectacular, I must say.

But the way there and back was all the more exciting.

Not only did we see monkeys (and that in 2 different varieties.... wait a minute.... varieties!? 🤔 What's the word again!?) ..

No, seriously... And now hold on tight:

I SAW A TARANTULA!

T-A-R-A-N-T-U-L-A. 😱

In the wild.

Of course everyone wanted to take pictures,.... But the poor thing thought 'Nope, not in the mood for a photoshoot' and went back into its spider cave.

But I still managed to catch it. 💪

After another short round on the water, we had some food and then we could borrow a canoe for free and jump into the lake from the 3-meter tower.

From there we went back to our accommodation.

And while we're at it:

If you ever plan to travel to Khao Sok:

Take a lot of money with you and definitely look for another resort!!!

Even though we didn't expect much, there should at least be a minimum level of cleanliness.

But the staff here is incredibly lazy.

In the 3 days we were here, they didn't clean once. Didn't change the towels.

No, we wouldn't even have toilet paper if we hadn't gotten it ourselves. 🙄

The smell of mildew permeates the entire premises

and the internet doesn't work and that's like breathing and eating for me. 😏

Furthermore, you're simply coldly ignored when you sit in the restaurant associated with the accommodation.

That's not the Thai mentality I know.

But oh well. I see it as an experience.

...

To come back to yesterday... We bought a ticket for 8 euros, which granted us access to the jungle.

The humidity was really intense, but it was fun to stroll through the greenery.

Past palm trees and vines, we searched for the waterfall that was supposed to be there somewhere.

After a 90-minute walk, we came across a sign that pointed the way.

Rocks everywhere. In between the river and the 'roar' nearby guided our way.

It was really slippery and very rocky. Climbing level 9000.

Yeah. And at some point, we saw it.

The waterfall.

Well, I have to say...

Considering there was so much advertising for it... How should I describe it?!🤔

Do you all know Viktoriapark in Kreuzberg?

The small waterfall there?

Compared to this one, that one really looks like Niagara Falls. 😑

But at least the river looked inviting.

So, off with the clothes and into the cool water.

The current was stronger than we thought, but we held onto rocks and just enjoyed the fact that there was no one around, really no soul nearby.

Just us, the jungle, and all the sounds.

At some point we got hungry and wanted to go back.

So, we put on our shoes and made our way back over the rocks.

At first, everything went well.

But then... As I jumped carelessly from one rock to the next, well... Even as I prepared for the step, I thought to myself:

'Stupid idea.

Really stupid idea...'

I simply underestimated the distance between the two... I tried to grab onto a branch above me, which of course broke....

Ha ha.

So, as I fell backwards between the two rocks in slow motion, I just thought, great, finally my private accident insurance pays off...

Of course that's not true.

In reality, I was praying that it wouldn't hurt too much.

But as a person who is 'chased away' from Thai temples because of inappropriate clothing (we remember..!?)... Well, what can you expect from God there...

Of course, it hurt.

And boy, did it hurt.

😭

But no, I didn't cry. 😎

I just lay there stupidly, like a fat May beetle, with my legs up... And with a bruised tailbone and hip/pelvis (or whatever it is), I still had to make my way back.

But I still laughed.

And if you had seen it, you would have laughed even louder. 😂

Fortuna was on my side in any case.

Because in previous spots, my 'misstep' probably would not have ended so 'unscathed', as it went much deeper there.

'went much deeper'...

....

Uhh...

Okay.

I'll leave it at that....

Tomorrow we're heading to an island.

So, even further south.

Originally, something else was planned.

But it's Thai holidays, as we're constantly told, so many things are fully booked.

Until January 4th, there are no more tickets to Bangkok from here.

Imagine that... 😀

So our plans were thwarted... Well, everything happens for a reason, I think.

So, just chilling on Koh Lanta.

🌴 😎☀

It's not postponed.... The other way around....

So, mental high five if you've made it this far reading.

And see you soon. ✋