Ratchaprapa or Chiew Larn Dam of Thailand’s Surat Thani Province owns a breathtaking landscape of limestone karst hills shooting up above the emerald green water which has gained it a reputation rivaling China’s Guilin and Vietnam’s Halong Bay. But being much smaller in scale and more difficult to travel to has kept it off the tourist’s radar. The dam offers a few choices of secluded raft resorts, eco-activities, and is such a perfect holiday hideaway surrounded by nature and peace.
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| A view from the dam's wall |
Ratchaprapa Dam, built in a part of Khao Sok National Park, which is one of the world’s oldest rainforest, closes off the Pasaeng river, creating a 185 square kilometre lake. It has been a main source of power generating in the south of Thailand for nearly 30 years. The emerald green color of the water is the result of the sunlight reflecting off the algae underneath it. The surrounding 165 karsts hills were the tips of the mountains themselves before the dam was built. The limestone karsts are the deposits from 280 million years ago which began to form as the marine life established a long coral reef that stretches from China, passing Halong Bay via the south of Thailand to Sarawak State of Borneo Island. Hidden in these hills are beautiful caves, wild animals such as hogs, gaurs and various types of birds, all foraging at dawn and twilight.
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The peaceful raft house is a destination in itself,
offering accommodation and boat trips to trek and watch wildlife in the nearby
hills. Their 11 houses offer 3 luxurious room types: Deluxe, Family, and Villa,
with full amenities with fans or
air-conditioning, perfect choices for families, friends, and couples. Ours was
a Deluxe room, good for 4 persons.
Then we left the wildlife watching area and headed to the Coral Cave. On the way, we stopped by a fishermen’s raft house. Their fish farm nurtures various kinds of species caught from the lake, to be delivered to the nearby raft resorts and markets on the shore. The man said they only caught medium sized fish, allowing the young ones to grow and the old ones to breed in nature.
The trip to the cave was a little more adventurous. Coral Cave is located in a lagoon, and the only way to reach it is by foot, taking 45 minutes, then by a bamboo raft.
There are 2 things that give it the name ‘Coral Cave. This cave, like other limestone karsts in the area, is the result of deposits of marine life established on a coral reef over 250 million years ago, leaving various types of fossils, such as of giant clams, which can be seen on the cave walls today. Then, it is the shapes of the stalagmite and stalactite themselves that look that corals. The cave is not lit and a guiding service from a raft driver is essential.
Passing one hall to another, we had a great time guessing what the stalagmites and stalactites looked like. We had an owl, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, a potter, women faces, elephant heads, among others. One important thing to keep in mind when visiting a cave is not to touch the stalagmites and stalactites. The damages can not be repaired.
Ratchaprapa Dam is an amazing place of unrivaled landscapes and a prefect holiday hideaway. It is 20 kilometers away from Surat Thani Airport which connects to Bangkok by Nok Air 5 flights a day.
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| 500 Rai Raft House |
There
is neither phone signal nor internet connection here. When there is no phone
call to worry about, it is so easy to hear the sound of nature and gaze lazily
onto the rippling water. But for the more active ones, there are kayaks. The food served here tasted fabulous and the atmosphere only
elevated it.
On the next day, we woke up to the misty morning.
Today, lined up for us was wildlife
watching and the Coral Cave, 2 out of the several activities in the area our
raft house offers.
The first place we stopped was where we could spot
hornbills. Next was the gibbons. According to the guide, the species
inhabiting this place is the white-handed gibbons which have white
faces, hands and feet, with the fur ranging from cream to black. We didn’t see one. But we could hear there were plenty in
the canopy.
Then we left the wildlife watching area and headed to the Coral Cave. On the way, we stopped by a fishermen’s raft house. Their fish farm nurtures various kinds of species caught from the lake, to be delivered to the nearby raft resorts and markets on the shore. The man said they only caught medium sized fish, allowing the young ones to grow and the old ones to breed in nature.
The trip to the cave was a little more adventurous. Coral Cave is located in a lagoon, and the only way to reach it is by foot, taking 45 minutes, then by a bamboo raft.
There are 2 things that give it the name ‘Coral Cave. This cave, like other limestone karsts in the area, is the result of deposits of marine life established on a coral reef over 250 million years ago, leaving various types of fossils, such as of giant clams, which can be seen on the cave walls today. Then, it is the shapes of the stalagmite and stalactite themselves that look that corals. The cave is not lit and a guiding service from a raft driver is essential.
Passing one hall to another, we had a great time guessing what the stalagmites and stalactites looked like. We had an owl, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, a potter, women faces, elephant heads, among others. One important thing to keep in mind when visiting a cave is not to touch the stalagmites and stalactites. The damages can not be repaired.
Ratchaprapa Dam is an amazing place of unrivaled landscapes and a prefect holiday hideaway. It is 20 kilometers away from Surat Thani Airport which connects to Bangkok by Nok Air 5 flights a day.
Watch the story's video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUGSxqnCwzI
See more images of the story: http://www.flickr.com/photos/92886568@N08/sets/72157639959757345/
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