Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Wild elephants watching - Kuiburi National Park

On the way back towards Hua Hin after visiting Dan Sing Khong, I took a detour into KuiBuri National Park.

It was about 3pm in the afternoon. Lucky us, we met the ranger at the Park HQ who was about to lead a small convoy to watch wild elephants.
















Our guide, Khun Somchai





















This was an exciting time for me, may be with some anxiety. Seen many tame elephants at theme parks and Bangkok streets. Encounter with an wild elephant? My first experience!

He led us to another part of the park about 20km away.
The check point en route to the observation area.
















We learned there are 168 elephants & more than 15 tigers in the wild here.
The waterhole is walking distance away and animals would come for a drink or a bath.





















As we arrived, a group was watching a black bear perched on a tree top. Without the ranger's guidance, it would be hard to spot them!
















We drove along dirt tracks with the ranger in radio contact with others elsewhere looking out for the elephants. After an hour, sometimes hap hazard about turns to rendezvous with other groups, we came back to the water hole where a male elephant was feeding.
















If you are unprepared with binoculars, you may rent one from the park HQ.





















A privilege few had vantage point.





















Keeping a safe distance, we all watch in silence with respect to the animal.
















Catching a last glimpse before departing.
















I did wondered about personal safety as we wondered around in the wild. But I placed trust with the rangers escorting us. We also hear about their close encounters at times. The huts at the observation center were manned by rangers. They are armed in event of animal attacks during the night which did occurred in the past.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Wild Orchids of Myanmar

If you love orchids, then one place to visit when in Thailand is Dan Sing Khong, a Thai border town along the Myanmar border (perhaps an hour & half drive south from Hua Hin).

The town is unmarked on Google Maps but I have located for your reference. The turn-off (sign posted) from the Asian Highway 2 (Phetkasaem Road) is roughly midway between the towns of Huai Sai & Huai Yang. The road leading in is good and well traveled by weekenders seeking wild orchids!

View Larger Map

I came for 2 reasons, one is to sample the orchids; the other is to check what kind of wood products available.

Well I am not disappointed with the first, but fall short of the second objective. There are good selections of wood pieces for orchids cultivation. However, the wood furniture on displays are rather bulky and lacks fine craftsmanship.

Rows after rows of make shit stalls flourish into a fair size market place.
















You can differentiate their Burmese origin as most women folks wear a white power on their faces for skin protection.
















It was a leisure pace all round. Wake her up if you want to know how much to pay!
















Yes, I'll surely be back again when it is time to start my orchid collection.

I've also found a link that gives more background info about Burmese wild orchids and this town.
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/281327