Day 2: Day Tour (Hot Spring, Emerald Pool, Blue Pool, Tiger Cave Temple, Elephant Trekking) and Dinner at The Hilltop Restaurant
As mentioned in previous post (Thailand Trip Day 1 post), we booked day tours at the airport. The first day tour that we joined was Emerald Pool Tour (THB900 per person). The tour picked us up at our hotel at 8.30am, so we have plenty of time to enjoy our breakfast. Breakfast at ibis style hotel is quite good! I enjoyed my breakfast with pool view for 3 days. Awesome!
Buffet breakfast with my cuppa daily caffeine dose. Perfect start!
Scenic pool view during breakfast. Awesome isn't it.
The van arrived at hotel lobby on time! So we started our journey to the first stop -- Hot Spring. So excited! Can't wait to try out natural hot spring at 38 degree celsius! The journey to hot spring from Ao Nang was about 1 hour.
Ta-daa!! We are at the hot spring waterfall already!
Group photo at the Hot Stream entrance.
This hot spring is located in the south of Krabi province in Klong Thom district, which is the nature's own hot-tub jacuzzis. The water here comes from thermal springs, originating deep underground in volcanic chambers. The running spring water is around 35 - 42 degree celsius. There are large man-made bathing pools available to accommodate increasing number of visitors. The mineral salts contained in the hot spring water are said to ease a number of ailments but those are unproven. (information obtained from yourkrabi)
Our tour guide suggested us to soak for only maximum 20 minutes as the heat may harm us, especially under El Nino hot weather.
Wefie while walking to the hot spring waterfall. 5-10 minutes walk is required before arriving at the beautiful natural hot spring. Look! We are so well-equipped to fight with the sun! XD
There There.... We are at the hot spring waterfall. Good thing about this hot spring is that it doesn't contain sulphur, so it doesn't stink like rotten eggs. XD
Only soak my legs here. Weather is too hot! I sweated so much after 15 minutes of photo sessions in the water.
After an hour of stay at Hot Spring, we got on the van and take another 15 minutes ride to Emerald Pool + Blue Pool. Emerald Pool ("Crystal Pool") is a large natural pool filled with pure spring water, where swimming is possible here. To reach the pool, we have to walk through trails through the Khao Nor Chu Chi forest (around 1.2km). If you want to visit the amazing Blue Pool, you will need to walk another 600m further upstream from the Emerald Pool. However, Blue Pool is surrounded by quicksand and it is hot, so no bathing is allowed.
At the entrance to the trail to emerald pool
We reached Emerald Pool first and decided to walk further to Blue Pool. Emerald pool is full of people and we couldn't really find a good photo spot. XD
Rest for a while before we proceed. Loving this shot - love the nature, I'm surrounded by trees.
And this is the amazing blue pool! =)
So beautiful! I was stunned at the beauty of blue pool.
Emerald Pool with lots of people swimming in there. They said april is low season.... So I can't imagine how pack it can be during peak season.
They gave us 90 minutes to explore Emerald Pool and Blue Pool so it was a bit rush as a lot of walking needed. After that, we gathered at a restaurant near the entrance for buffet lunch. It was really relaxing. After that, we proceed with the tour to Tiger Cave Temple.
Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Seua) is a famous meditation centre. The temple was founded in the late 1970s, by Abbot Luang Por Chamnean Srilasatheto who came here to meditate in a cave. Legend has it that a tiger entered the cave but did not harm him, thus the temple was created on this magical spot. The main boulevard is lined with monkeys (keep food and drink out of sight) and ends at a large statue of Guan Im. There is a 1260 stair climb leads to the famous mountain-top shrine, for a view that will take your breath away. (Information from yourkrabi)
There are no tiger at Tiger Cave Temple. So don't worry XD
Construction going on. No idea what temple is that.
This is the entrance to the miracle long staircase, where monkeys are everywhere, ever ready to attack you.
The steep and long staircase. I tried 50 steps and given up.
The staircase is just slightly less steep than the Angkor Wat staircase. I don't think I could walk my way down. Going up seems achievable but I am afraid of walking down the stairs. So..... I decided to join another friend, who decided not to go up. Another 2 friends walked their way up and managed to enjoy the scenic mountain view.
Guan Im Pagoda. After taking this photo, a monkey attacked my bag and grabbed my sunscreen. OH NO! Too fast! When I realized, it was few meters away from me already. They really can grab anything swiftly.
So, to wait for our friends, we decided to get some cold drinks to chill. Thai Milk Tea!
This stall's milk tea is just nice to look, too sweet to drink.
This stall's milk tea is just nice to look, too sweet to drink.
After that, we proceed to our last stop for elephant trekking. Due to personal issue (I love animals), a friend and I decided not to join elephant trekking. I watched the others while they went trekking and then watched baby elephant show.
Elephant trekking place
During baby elephant show, I was being attacked by baby elephant with its trunk for about 30-40 seconds. I screamed so loudly! It was such a disgusting experience, where it sniffed on my shoulder. Yuckssss...... Elephant babe, you are cute though, just too naughty.
Around 4pm, we ended our tour and they sent us back to hotel to clean up! Thank goodness! I get to clean myself up from elephant's smell. After that, we planned to go for dinner at the hilltop, a restaurant where a lot of tourists recommend. It was a Sunday and I didn't make any reservation. Called them up around 6pm to ask if I could have a table for 4 at 6.30pm. Thankfully, they still have seats for us and they arranged free Tuk-Tuk to pick us up from hotel. Great service!
For your information, you can make reservation via the website (click here). They reply their emails very quickly! This is a Thai restaurant with great view and they serve really good food!
The special seat! So romantic to dine here and watch sunset. Awww........
Group photo before the sky gets dark.
Loving this place with awesome view. Too bad we were here a little late.
5.30-6pm would be a better timing.
We ordered few dishes to share and it costs us around THB500 per person.
Seafood Tom Yum
Fried Morning Glory
Mango Salad with raw blue crab. Very special experience eating raw crab.
Gaeng Poo Bai Chaploo (Thai Southern Curry with Crab Meat and Local Herbs)
Food are really delicious here. We enjoyed the dinner a lot.
There is a live band performance too! Enjoyable environment.
After dinner, we went back to the hotel and rest. 2 of my friends slept early where me and another friend enjoyed a can of Chang Beer before sleep. Chang Beer is good! How can a trip goes without beer? =D
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