Super Most Grand Waterfall of the World
Today Bryson and I arrived on Island #2, Koh Samui. It's a pinch smaller than Koh Chang, but much more congested. In some ways, it's like a Bangkok with palm trees, although the ever-presence of the sea tones things down a notch. The topography is vastly different as well: instead of overpowering rainforesty cliffs, it's flatter, with more of a Caribbean feel. The majority of development has been crowded along the coastline, as usually the case, and there's still a good deal of woodsy hills and hinterland in the middle of the island.
After settling in our spectacular Lamai beachfront bungalow, fifteen yards from the luminous waves for four hundred and fifty baht, or about eleven dollars, we rented another motorbike and set off to find Chaweng, a more tourist-oriented town. Our mothers will be glad to know we were two of the very small handful of people actually wearing helmets (apple-red ones, to be precise). The roads, especially around the ferry and anywhere in Bangkok, simply exude treachery, and every time I see a helmet-less child wedged in front of her mother on a motorbike seat, I feel my womb pain in protest.
We ended up going the wrong direction, but when we saw a turnoff supposedly leading to a waterfall, we decided to be impulsive and ventured inland. After sputtering up a windy road we reached a gravel parking lot, and after paying twenty baht were motioned to a trail leading downhill and into the trees.
I was expecting a two-minute descent. But the trail turned out to be a convoluted treasure map, taking us deep into the soggy jungle. Following sporadic signs and a cheerful length of rope, we rock hopped and mud-slid, climbed over roots and dodged low branches, all in cheap Old Navy flip flops. Every time we reached a waterfall, we'd find a sign, announcing, "Bigger Waterfall, 10m", with "m" meaning minutes, as we came to learn. Then the next would say, "Bigger Waterfall, 15m". Eventually we came accross one that said, "Giant Waterfall, 20." They was endless, like those stackable Russian dolls. I wouldn't have been surprised if the signs had continued, "Super Grandest Waterfall of the World, 45m" and "Most Spectacular Universe-sized Waterfall of God, 2h".
Some of the boulders we scaled were slippery with moss, and a couple bits of trail were rather steep, but overall it was a worthy journey. Everything was damp and beautiful. I also came to realize, for future reference, that I am a bottom-hiker. That means, whenever my next move is questionable, I slide along on my bottom.
Today Bryson and I arrived on Island #2, Koh Samui. It's a pinch smaller than Koh Chang, but much more congested. In some ways, it's like a Bangkok with palm trees, although the ever-presence of the sea tones things down a notch. The topography is vastly different as well: instead of overpowering rainforesty cliffs, it's flatter, with more of a Caribbean feel. The majority of development has been crowded along the coastline, as usually the case, and there's still a good deal of woodsy hills and hinterland in the middle of the island.
After settling in our spectacular Lamai beachfront bungalow, fifteen yards from the luminous waves for four hundred and fifty baht, or about eleven dollars, we rented another motorbike and set off to find Chaweng, a more tourist-oriented town. Our mothers will be glad to know we were two of the very small handful of people actually wearing helmets (apple-red ones, to be precise). The roads, especially around the ferry and anywhere in Bangkok, simply exude treachery, and every time I see a helmet-less child wedged in front of her mother on a motorbike seat, I feel my womb pain in protest.
We ended up going the wrong direction, but when we saw a turnoff supposedly leading to a waterfall, we decided to be impulsive and ventured inland. After sputtering up a windy road we reached a gravel parking lot, and after paying twenty baht were motioned to a trail leading downhill and into the trees.
I was expecting a two-minute descent. But the trail turned out to be a convoluted treasure map, taking us deep into the soggy jungle. Following sporadic signs and a cheerful length of rope, we rock hopped and mud-slid, climbed over roots and dodged low branches, all in cheap Old Navy flip flops. Every time we reached a waterfall, we'd find a sign, announcing, "Bigger Waterfall, 10m", with "m" meaning minutes, as we came to learn. Then the next would say, "Bigger Waterfall, 15m". Eventually we came accross one that said, "Giant Waterfall, 20." They was endless, like those stackable Russian dolls. I wouldn't have been surprised if the signs had continued, "Super Grandest Waterfall of the World, 45m" and "Most Spectacular Universe-sized Waterfall of God, 2h".
Some of the boulders we scaled were slippery with moss, and a couple bits of trail were rather steep, but overall it was a worthy journey. Everything was damp and beautiful. I also came to realize, for future reference, that I am a bottom-hiker. That means, whenever my next move is questionable, I slide along on my bottom.
posted by Kirsten Hubbard at 7:24 AM
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