Incredible weekend that started out with a feast of a Korean Barbeque (little bit like a fondue with hot coals on the table and a soup bowel on the coals) and ended with a South African braai complete with toasties done on the fire by "Braaimeester" Pete. Met an elephant in the parking lot after dinner on Friday evening that played the harmonica. Tickled his trunk while we fed him sugar cane. Such incredible animals that have literally been put out of commission by the government in favour of modern farming machinery. Tragically, these powerful creatures are now burdens to their owners who can do little with them except use them as a tourist attraction. But even denied of their local purpose, these magnificent animals continue to instill a sense of awe. Absolute power under absolute control. Smaller than the African elephant with piercing black and yellow eyes, the feeling of their wrinkly skin, tough as leather, is difficult to forget.
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| Harmonica playing elephant! |
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| Korean BBQ |
Woke up early on Saturday morning, packed a picnic and headed out on the scooters to nearby Tadtone Waterfall. An incredibly beautiful waterfall, surrounded by jungle and filled with butterflies of all shapes and sizes. Blood red splashes across ebony wings, golden yellow dots flitting across your vision and striking turquoise glowing at your feet. These fairy wings were everywhere and landed on us throughout the morning as we swam in the pools and lay in the shade. Spent the morning there, exploring the river and its banks and sneaking as close as we dared to the 5m high fall. Got a big skrik when we saw a fish try to dart its way up. Tried our best to avoid the "Slippering Ruote" as Gandalf led us across the river with his bamboo staff (thanks, Pete) :) Met some of the locals, and not so locals ( far too many old men with very young looking Thai wives and children), and watched them all as they watched us. Thailand continues to be a land of contradictions with a number of ladyboys flitting around, but everyone swimming fully clothed. (Bikinis got a little bit too much attention here!).
All in all an amazing day. A good dose of vitamin D and a swim at last! Spent the rest of the evening doing some research on diving in Borneo and watching Pete dance around the room with nerves as SA nearly got pipped at the post by England in the rugby.
All in all an amazing day. A good dose of vitamin D and a swim at last! Spent the rest of the evening doing some research on diving in Borneo and watching Pete dance around the room with nerves as SA nearly got pipped at the post by England in the rugby.
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| One of the many unique spellings of Tat Tone Waterfall |
Sounds like you guys are having a blast, fun weekend. And I can totally see Pete dancing around the room while watching the rugby, we were doing the same thing at Ellis Park :)
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