Kanchanaburi - Srinakarin Reservoir

Even on rainy weekends, Kanchanburi is worth a visit. It has been years since my last visit to the 7-tiered Erawan waterfalls and they are now a very busy tourist destination. Locals and foreigners play around in the cool water or lounge on the shores of the stream.  The falls are beautiful, but the atmosphere is not quiet and serene. The sheer number of people makes it difficult to get a feeling of "being one with nature." 

Erawan Falls and plenty of visitors

 So, I decided to head to Huay Mae Khamin Wateralls. Again.

http://tinamue.blogspot.com/2013/08/kanchanaburi-huay-mae-kamin-waterfall.html

On the way, I stopped at Pra That Cave. It was is quite a climb to get to the cave entrance. The path was well laid out, but the jungle humidity during rainy season made the climb a sweaty one. 

At the cave entrance, a park ranger waited and gave a guided tour once at least four visitors had arrived. Inside the cave were the usual stalactites and stalagmites, but I was surprised by the size of the cave. It is made up of four big rooms and is much bigger than I had expected. 

Next on the agenda was the Huay Mae Khamin Waterfalls - the upper tiers could only be reached if you were willing to risk being totally covered in mud as the paths along the stream had turned extremely slippery due to rain. So, I decided to only enjoy the lower tiers and the view of the Sri Nakharin reservoir. 

Beautiful Huay Mae Khamin 

In fact, I decided to catch a ferry to Si Sawat across the reservoir. Getting from the waterfall to the ferry is bumpy and a bit risky for sedans during the rainy season. The ferries plying this route can best be described as minimalistic, but they do serve their purpose and the trip offers good views. 

Two Rainbows Don't Make a Crowd

As we were crossing, dark clouds came towards us and soon we were drenched. But then, the rain stopped as abrupt as it had started and two rainbows appeared.

Once on the other side, one can drive along the edge of the reservoir - a winding and scenic route - or take another ferry which cuts an hour off the travel time to reach Kanchanaburi city.

Uthai Thani - Cyber Waterfall

This waterfall has alternative spellings. I am not sure why "Cyber" seems to be the spelling most frequently used on the Net as it seems very "un-Thai" to me. At the park ranger station, there is a sign offering a much more correct transliteration.

You can call me Cyber

Anyway, the waterfall is located in the Huai Kha Khaeng wildlife sanctuary. One can park near the ranger station and must then trek roughly three kilometers in lush forest before reaching the waterfall.

Sai Bor is actually not an impressive waterfall, but it is a case of "it is not the destination, but the journey" as the trek provides views and sights that make it worthwhile.

More information can be found at:

http://www.huaikhakhaeng.net/

Uthai Thani - Huai Khun Kaeo Reservoir

This reservoir in Huai Khot district is your typical run-of-the-mill reservoir. But on an island connected to the mainland by a causeway, there is a small spring that sprouts up to the surface: Ban Samo Thong Hot Spring. The water is clear (although with the aroma of sulfur) and has been put to good use.

The Royal Irrigation Department did some landscaping on the small island to create a rest area for visitors. Huts with mineral baths and a swimming pool with view of the reservoir are available for tourists.

Small bungalows can be rented for those who want quiet evenings / nights on the edge of a reservoir. I enjoyed my stay there and can recommend that you give it a try.

On your way to the Ban Samo Thong Hot Spring, you are likely to pass through Ban Rai. I did and I noticed some signs to caves and to an "old tree". I decided to take a look and as I got closer to the tree, the signs indicated different ages for the tree. I don't know which estimate is correct, but the tree is apparently between 250 and 400 years old.

Whatever the tree's real age is, it is impressive, but it is not worth a major detour to see the tree. Because once you get there, there is nothing else. You (and the tree) are in a small patch of forest surrounded by younger trees, and that's pretty much it.

Uthai Thani - Phathang Temple

This small village temple has an impressive Buddha statue located less than one kilometer of the main road.

On the way to the temple, you will pass the "ancient weaving cloth center" (an OTOP initiative) where you can buy over-priced hand-woven products.

Uthai Thani - Thung Yai Naresuan – Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary

The Thung Yai Naresuan – Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary was registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in December 1991.

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/591

It covers 5,775 square kilometers across three provinces: Uthai Thani, Kanchanaburi; and Tak. It is the largest connected conserved forest in Thailand and the South East Asia Region. To me, the important aspects of this national park is that it really is a sanctuary for wildlife (public access is more restricted than in normal national parks) and that it is so solely due to the work and sacrifice of one individual.

Visitors to the wildlife sanctuary are restricted to three relatively small areas. There are nature study routes (trekking) where one can enjoy flora and fauna. The national park area is so huge that one can only get to experience a tiny part of it. Today, it is a popular destination for groups of off-road enthusiasts who don't come to appreciate nature but to tear through the forest in their 4x4.

At the headquarters of the wildlife sanctuary, there is a statue of Seub Nakhasathien, the man who valiantly fought to preserve what remained of Thailand's forests. He was head of the sanctuary for eight months until he was overcome with despair over the obstacles he faced.

Seub Nakhasathien

 He is quoted as having said: "Personally, I'd rather do conservation research than focus entirely on trying to catch poachers and loggers. The people we catch in the forest are just the workers, not the masterminds. Those who are really responsible, the influential people who arrange and gain all the benefits from the illegal forest activity are never caught. The legal process doesn't apply to them."

For more info on this amazing person:  http://www.seub.or.th/

Near the headquarters, there is a memorial for the park rangers that have been killed while patrolling the wildlife sanctuary. Like khun Seub, these rangers paid the ultimate price in the fight against poaching and illegal logging.