Chiew lan lake

I thought I had seen the most beautiful place on earth yesterday and then I got to chiew larn lake (I have seen a mlion different spellings so I'm just goin with it). Crystal blue waters lapping at towering limestone cliffs. Thick jungle scales the jagged rocks and skeletal trees rise up from the waters near shore. The oldest living rainforest on earth and it did not disappoint. It truly has the feeling of being u touched by human hands. As our long tail careened across the placid turquoise waters I realize we were the only boat on the vast lake. As far as you could see just water and dense jungle. I stated the whole 45 minute ride in awe, a huge smile plastered across my face. Arriving at the floating raft houses I realized just the ride out was worth all the baht in my travel pack wallet.

The day was filled with swimming, kayaking and relaxing. Explorations of a few of the thousands of small islands saw monkeys crawling up bamboo shoots and coming down to the waters edge to drink and we casually paddled by.

We explored jungle trails and caves and even ate our dinner on a bamboo raft floating on the lake as the sun turned the clouds pink and the darkness brought the jungle to life in a symphony of screeching insects. The highlight of the trip was the swim at the monk rock where we climbed up the rock walls of the nearest islands and jumped off into the 30m deep fresh waters below. The warm water flowed into sparkling caves that we could swim into ad explore. It was perfection. Khao sok is the kind of place that makes you happy to be alive, it reassures you that there is still true, untouched beauty in the world

Khao Sok national park

I had the best day best day ever today. After a very long day of traveling from koh sumui via a taxi to a ferry to a bus to another bus to a mini bus to a pick up truck we arrived in khao sok. The oldest living evergreen rain Forrest on the planet, do I had very high hopes. Today lived up to them completely.

We decided to go it on our own for the first day and get the lay of the land. We rented mountain bikes and headed into the park. It was a rocky dirt path which curved through the jungle canopy, with steep climbs and mud pits and plenty of obstacles to conquer. We visited a couple spots to swim and walk along the river before we got to the point where we had to leave our bikes behind.

We set off on foot down narrow paths through the most lush landscape I had ever seen. There wee slips and falls as we climbed over giant tree roots and down steep ravines using jungle vines to brave ourselves. We stopped by every so called waterfall and swimming stop on the map in the search for the perfect location to relax and enjoy the Forrest. We came upon it at the point when I dot think any of us could have made it much farther anyway.

The water was crystal clear, flowing smoothly over the rocks and collecting below in sandy bottomed pools. We explored and swam in the most spectacular setting I have ever seen. The trees rose up hundred of feet around us, the dense canopy parting only briefly where the river split it. The water was cool and refreshing in the thick heat of the Forrest. Everything was perfect.

It was so mesmerizing that we could hardly believe it was already 3:30 and time to head back before the bugs ate us alive. The trek back was challenging after the long and hot day, but as the sun went down, the jungle came alive with the screaming of birds and insects. Things seemed to be moving all around but you could never see anything. As we rode our bikes down the final few miles of path i heard a loud rustling in the bamboo bit far off. I sopped to observe and found 2 black monkeys swinging and climbing through the bamboo. My day was complete.

Sweaty, smelly and filthy, we rode our hikes back to the rainforest resort to shower as change before heading out for some beers and a huge Thai feast. The perfect end to a truly perfect day in paradise.