Out of Norm Travels

Part 2 of my December travels brought me closer to the Thai-Cambodian border, within the Ta Phraya National Park ( Thai : อุทยานแห่งชาติตาพระยา )  where I  found myself in one tourist location that is not well known to non-Thais called Lalu. This is Thailand's small version of the famous Grand Canyon. It is quintessentially an area of earth stalagmites; naturally caused by the erosion of rainwater and the subsidence or collapse of soil. Its closeness to Cambodia resulted in the naming of this place which means "penetrated"  in Khmer language. With an area of more than 2,000 hectares, its uniqueness warrants an afternoon visit. The combination of wind and rainwater has eroded the hard rock into many shapes similar to a city wall or cliffs. You will find this same scene on a bigger scale at Phae Mueang Phi of Phrae province resulting in some locals calling it "A New Phae Mueang Phi". Getting here from the visitor area requires the hiring of a guide and tract...

A long standing travel wish was fulfilled in November 2012 when I attended Thailand's International Balloon Festival at Chiang Mai , in northern Thailand. I was fortunate enough to be there for the morning flights and evening programmes for 2 out of the 3 days of the Festival as the 3rd day of the festival forced to be cancelled due to a huge thunderstorm. It was a festival like no other that I have attended elsewhere - it was filled with lovely big balloons and a marvelous carnival-like atmosphere in the evenings complete with music and delicious food for picnic on the grounds of one of the oldest golf courses in Thailand. One cannot feel but happiness and joy when seeing the hot air balloons take off into the big blue skies. Truly a beautiful sight!  I managed to get up close with the balloon when it was being filled and it was HOT, HOT, HOT!  I have made a pledge to come down for the 2013 festival as for me, this is the Life that is worth livin...