something-to-remember: Thailand- a journey (part3)

And so we go on traveling.. it's time as Thailand is not such a small country, but warm and in January try and sunny.
Now that I am in Satun, the car is taking the streets through the country up north and the goal is the town nearer to Trang at the end of the day.
Waking up on a calm and sunny day and the beach behind the hotel, just a few steps before breakfast.
The shower in the morning just with cold water, but the toilet is European style, as you must know toilets looks different here, means- you don't sit on them you kind of stand and bow.

Like you see on the pic, it is to keep and eye on your trousers and where you do your steps as many toilets this way are not try on the ground. And the rosa bottle is for the water to flush your whatever you lose... but also have always tissues with you as their don't have toilet paper! But let me tell you- you get use to it.

But where did we go? To the Diamond Caves! Biggest caves as they say in Thailand and they have been discovered by a monk in his meditations and then a group searched for it and so we gladly can visit them now. Really it is a very big cave and inside the sparkling of the stones and minerals looks very much like snow in the afterglow or sunset. Many stones look like faces, figures, Buddhas and so on.
The tour inside is going up and down and is very interesting, kind of amusing and yes, once it is said to be true- people have lived inside them and there is also a part where the sunlight can come in. So.. Stunning sights will be to discover for you and only the entrance is very small.
Some people may not feel so good inside, as it is very warm and it is a cave, but as I said a very big one, so you will have much space to go, look around and you are able to move without getting into panic.
The area around the cave is not that special, just the stairs up to the entrance of the cave is a challenge.
You're climbing up a cliff kind of. But what would be the fun, if everything is just easy?!

Afterwards our way went to another rocks and those where filled with water. A waterfall actually you can bath in, climb on and try to not to fall, while going down them again. Refreshing and funny place and you have space around to make a picnic, eat and drink something and I had the luck to do so, as my guide had friends being there so we could take a seat and chat and eat and drink. Also we got try again after all the water sparkling on us.

Then it was time to travel to the next place. Taking a ride on the river? Maybe. Eating some lunch? maybe. Meeting new and special people? Maybe.
I actually don't remember the english name of this place as it was not to read in english on that place itself. Something you should be prepared to. In the very south, as tourist are not that common, mostly things as streets, hotels and places are only to find in Thai. No english translation. I guess in the next five years there will be, but just now. No. So just like on the picture I took- you'll gonna find those places in Thai.
Well, I was near the river but not to take a boat. Though it maybe would have been fun and if you are there with children- this is the place to do an adventure boat trip on the river as this was a very family friendly one. I was there to eat, thought I was not that hungry after the picnic, but I could see, my driver and guide needed some food. Those poor lamps looked so devastating. How could I not let them eat themself lucky.

Don't take me to serious! But truth is, the way we eat in Europe and when we eat is bit different to Thailand. Not only is it common to take a soup and rise in the morning, you eat more often, but mostly a little. Though I can understand it when you think of the temp. and the way of life on this place. No hurry and more to the fact that best time to work and do some things is always after lunch. Therefore it can get late into the night and many stores and restaurants are often open up till midnight.
But back to my adventure and what could be next after food? Seeing a tribe.
Yes in the area between Satun and Trang there are a couple of tribes. Living very simple and as they told me, they don't want the country to give them land, thought it could make more sure they can survive, they prefer to live on the place they think it's right. The houses, made of palm leaves and wood are changing their places every year, but this is not a bad thing, they just do this and the houses won't last longer I guess to protect them, so they have to rebuild them anyway. Yes, the government made sure that once or twice a doctor comes, but it is mostly just vaccination and to look after, but nothing more as the tribes don't believe in our medicine and therefore don't want the western medicine. Somehow this is understandable and as we already know from older experiences with tribes, it use to be better when they deal with their own way and medicine. Thought the clock is ticking, as it is known that when a tribe is discovered and get contact to the "modern" world it loses its languages and freedom to live as they use to. Sadly, but that is why some projects try to discover them from the helicopter and make sure they don't get contact with us. Otherwise the end of a language and culture arrises.

on the way to the tribe...

Anyway I had the luck to visit them and bring them some gifts, it was interesting but also something with a doubt as what we bring is to show respect and help but in the same time you know that our food for them is not healthy at the end. So my hope to make a god impression but also to make them understand that I respect them is what I leave with them. Thought we made pictures I will not show them to you, as I think it is better to let them be unknown in that case.

Now the way went on to Satun and my next hotel and in the late afternoon we went on to a festival wish took place and we eat, talked and I saw some new food but cannot really tell you what it is. It was sweet and some of it also had a bit pepper taste.
The hotel itself was small but very nice and as it is often here, poor and not so poor live next door. And a tourist can very much experience the very poor from his window. The typical separation from poor and rich as we know them from Europe is very much less to find in Thailand. Although it is rising and you'll find areas with big walls and security around new houses just like you know it from the USA.
So the last pictures are showing the party and the living.