Phu Pha Phor........Google Map From Nong Hin we head west along local road 3029 where the road becomes a scenic route. The well-known attraction that Katoon remembers is off along a turning to the right but we press on to another signposted attraction that seems to have developed quite recently as Katoon is not familiar with it. There, a few kilometres further on is a car park with the usual food vendors but with an unusual form of transport waiting for customers. The vehicles are tractors without trailers that are fitted front and back with enough seats for about six passengers. There is a booking system at a booth and the going rate for this service is 60 baht per person, a deal too good to turn down.

Sitting in the front pair of seats we head off into the hills but quite what I’m expecting I don’t really know. Turning onto a dirt road the tractor chugs along and soon reaches a gradient. Its slow going but soon the views of surrounding hills develop. Then there is a view point clearly laid out for visitors, eager to alight to take the customary photos. As our transport continues we see there are other stops, the last being a parking lot for tractors. It’s the end of the line for machines but visitors still have two feet and for the convenience a staircase has been build from earth and bamboo. With the air still cool I’m game to see where it leads. The climb takes about 10 minutes through bamboo thickets then when these end I know we’re near the summit of the hill. In fact I should call it a mountain since the views from the top are spectacular indeed. Looking south, Phu Kradung can be clearly seen while to the northwest is a conical mountain known as Fuji. You can immediately see why. Beyond that is Phu Luang, a high range and national park. Quite honestly these locations just get better and better. This outstanding excursion has made my day whatever else happens. Arriving back at the car park, it’s time for lunch, a simple affair but cheap.

Hin Pha Ngam (Khunming)........Google Map It’s now time to turn back and head for the more familiar site in this area known as Khunming. You can be forgiven for confusing this with Kunming in China because there are clear similarities. Jagged karst rock stacks rise out of the valley like sentinels from a pre-historic age. Again there is a car park and transport more familiar in rural Thailand, a two wheeled motor attached to a trailer. Again there is a booking system but I’m unable to establish a fare since we form a group of four. Either way it’s not expensive. This contraption again chugs up a dirt road and into a parking area just a kilometre or so away. Here again there is a climb but up a metal staircase rising steeply through the forest. Initially I’m apprehensive since there are 150 steps, basically 12 stories but all I can say is that at the top is a viewing platform above the tree tops and jagged peaks again with splendid views. More amazing photo opportunities present themselves. This only adds to spectacle I found here today......more.

Welcome home........It’s time to reach our final destination for the time being and that effectively means I end my tour blog for today. Katoon will be returning home for a visit meaning the rest of the day is taken up with shopping, introductions, too many questions and general gossip which I need not go into here. Reaching the residence at dusk my only concern is the lack of an internet connection but I’m prepared for it having secured a mobile data package. That should enable me to use tethering to connect my PC to my mobile device. Next Page