Siamese Tulip and weird stones at Pa Hin Ngam NP in
Chaiyaphum province ทุ่งดอกกระเจียว อ.ช.ป่าหินงาม จ.ชัยภูมิ
Even without Siamese Tulips this National Park would qualify
as spectacular, whereas visits to Khao Yai (mostly in Nakhon Ratchasima
province) and Khao Sok (Surat Thani province) left me wondering “What is all
the fuss about” because I found them underwhelming.
Location (weird stone field):
15°38'00.9"N 101°23'14.4"E = 15.633582, 101.387341
No public transport, we rented a mocy with side car from
Thep Sathit (nearby railway station Wa Tabaek วะตะแบก),
which cost 400 Baht one way (30.5 km, 11:00-12:00 including 5 min detour to
change driver and mocy; this trip would cost 230 Baht by Bangkok taxi, and the
taxi would be more comfortable and faster). Return by hitchhiking (first hitchhike with a friend) .
I spotted bus 9903 (Bangkok-Chaiyaphum, whereas van 9903 is
only Bangkok-Thep Sathit) and local bus 4296 (?) pass on hwy 2354, from there
it’s 13.2 km to NP entrance and there is traffic, would be easy to hithchike.
says: "...and Song Thaeo (a minibus) provided for tourists at the entrance of Ban Wa
Tabaek to the market near the Office of the National Park" and indeed I spotted this (similar to bus inside the NP, don't know about timetable, price and where exactly it leaves):
Entry 200 Baht for foreigner, 20 Baht for Thai. There is a
bus service 30 Baht (or walk some km). Sky was covered (with light rain later),
which doesn’t block UV light, I got skin reddening. There was a fresh breeze,
with wind I felt chilly in shorts and T-shirt. Pictures in order of visit.
ผาสุดแผ่นดิน "end of land cliff" 846 m above average sea level (inscription on wooden bench) with great view over forest and other mountains, border between Lopburi and Chaiyaphum province and watershed between Chao Phraya and Mekong. If you are brave, you can sit on the overhang and dangle your legs - I'm not.
There were other tourists, but nearby is a 1.7 km nature trail (concrete elevated over grassland). Walking 1.7 km is beyond most of the Thai I know’s physical
abilities, so we had this nature trail entirely to ourselves. Low density of white and pink Siamese Tulip, but interesting looking stones and bark of trees.
Entrance to main field with Siamese Tulips ดอกกระเจียว (also called ทุ่งบัวสวรรค์, can be pink or white). Internet says they bloom from June to August.
Spot to have your picture taken (left top corner).
"Beautiful stone field" ป่าหินงาม
หินเรดาร์ "Stone that looks like a radar antenna":
Detail of erosion:
Stone that looks like giant chicken:
Oh my God! This looks like a giant...asparagus!
มอหำตั้ง "Stone that looks like an erect penis":
Further reading:
There is another national park (ไทรทอง Sai Tong) 25 km north of this, which is very similar (Siamese Tulips, weird rocks, and a rock overhanging a cliff even more spectacular: ผาหำหด Pha Ham Hod http://cdn.gotoknow.org/assets/media/files/000/196/491/original_humhod.jpg?1352596793
don't click this link if you are afraid of hights!)
Assumption is the MOTHER of all fuck ups!
(Under Siege 2:
Dark Territory)
Actually the entire day didn’t start well. When I woke up I
noticed my charger had no contact in power plug, battery was at 36%. When we arrived in Thep
Sathit, I urgently had to go to toilet where I dropped my bag on floor (some mm
standing water, my pants got wet as well), but once at NP I was rewarded for
all the hardships.
Travel-wise, we learn two things: all individual transport in
provinces is about twice as expensive as a metered Bangkok taxi, at the same
time slower and less comfortable. Going by car with driver, you can pack twice
as much in a day compared to going by public transport + hitchhiking + walking.
Combined experience from various trips.
Copyright 2015 ChristianPFC
Walking 1.7km is beyond the mental capability of most Thais. I think it's just a mindset thing, not physical capability
ReplyDeleteThat was a joke (physical abability). The 1.7 km is true, and indeed many of my Thai friends would refuse if I told them we are going to walk 1.7 km.
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