Comments on: Khao Sok http://viewfromtheteahouse.wordpress.com/2008/02/02/khao-sok/ the view from the teahouse - chengdu, sichuan, people's republic of china Sat, 26 Sep 2009 21:55:29 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Tristan http://viewfromtheteahouse.wordpress.com/2008/02/02/khao-sok/#comment-236 Tristan Wed, 20 Feb 2008 01:06:55 +0000 http://viewfromtheteahouse.wordpress.com/?p=39#comment-236 Kudos to you for mastering your fear of the cave. My wife (a Thai) and I (a <em>farang</em>) swam in a pitch black sea cave, years ago. It's called Emerald Cave, on the Andaman side. The mouth of the cave does indeed sparkle like millions of green jewels. Some people have the good sense to take a small boat, or at least wear a life jacket. Not us! No, we just jumped into the water and dog-paddled, following our guide, who had borrowed our little flashlight to guide us. We entered the mouth of the cave, which made great, slow breathing sounds. We had no idea how deep it was, or how far back it went. But after turning the first corner, it was already pitch black. My wife confessed later she had never been more scared in her life. Me, I was in heaven. After a short eternity, we saw a glimmer of daylight ahead. And then...We entered The Lost World. Seriously, it was like nothing I'd ever seen. A little beach, a tiny patch of jungle, and sheer rock walls all around, hundreds of feet high. We were at the bottom of a huge well, or a vertical cave with no roof. The Thai call them <em>hongs</em>, which simply translates as "rooms." It really felt as though we'd time travelled millions of years into the past or future. Thailand is full of these amazing, hidden jewels, including many cave temples. Can't wait to hear about your Krabi experiences... Kudos to you for mastering your fear of the cave. My wife (a Thai) and I (a farang) swam in a pitch black sea cave, years ago. It’s called Emerald Cave, on the Andaman side. The mouth of the cave does indeed sparkle like millions of green jewels. Some people have the good sense to take a small boat, or at least wear a life jacket. Not us! No, we just jumped into the water and dog-paddled, following our guide, who had borrowed our little flashlight to guide us.

We entered the mouth of the cave, which made great, slow breathing sounds. We had no idea how deep it was, or how far back it went. But after turning the first corner, it was already pitch black. My wife confessed later she had never been more scared in her life. Me, I was in heaven.

After a short eternity, we saw a glimmer of daylight ahead. And then…We entered The Lost World. Seriously, it was like nothing I’d ever seen. A little beach, a tiny patch of jungle, and sheer rock walls all around, hundreds of feet high. We were at the bottom of a huge well, or a vertical cave with no roof. The Thai call them hongs, which simply translates as “rooms.” It really felt as though we’d time travelled millions of years into the past or future.

Thailand is full of these amazing, hidden jewels, including many cave temples.

Can’t wait to hear about your Krabi experiences…

]]> By: John and Retta http://viewfromtheteahouse.wordpress.com/2008/02/02/khao-sok/#comment-235 John and Retta Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:55:46 +0000 http://viewfromtheteahouse.wordpress.com/?p=39#comment-235 I'm speechless! What an adventure and so well advanced in imagery. I hear Ode to Spring! I’m speechless! What an adventure and so well advanced in imagery. I hear Ode to Spring!

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