A Young Woman Dressed for Adventure

A petite young woman with fair skin, standing about 160 centimeters tall, waits for me by the roadside in front of her house. She is dressed in a yellow T-shirt and a knee-length denim skirt, accessorized with a large flower headband, dangling earrings, and a small, cute red Kipling backpack.

Seeing her dressed so beautifully, I can't help but wonder, "Is this the wrong event?" After all, we're not going to the mall today; we're going on a rugged camping trip, complete with hiking and tent pitching.

It's a bit risky to take her on such a challenging adventure on our first outing together. But then again, maybe these hardships will bring us closer.

She seemed excited when I told her we were going to "Stonehenge," the enigmatic megalithic monument of humanity. But we're not going all the way to the Salisbury Plain in southern England. Instead, we're heading to Ban Tha Hin Ngom in Chaiyaphum Province, Thailand.

Yes, there's a Stonehenge here too!

A Bumpy Road to Adventure

My friend's family is joining us on this trip, making a total of three vehicles. The last 10 kilometers of the journey are on a compacted dirt road, which wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for the rain that's started to fall.

My friend's pickup truck leads the way effortlessly, while the other two cars, both sedans, struggle to keep up, making us wish we could hitch a ride in the back of the pickup.

The terrain gradually rises, and before we know it, the view on both sides of the road drops away, leaving us high above the surrounding landscape.

As I carefully navigate my car up the hill, I see my friend's car parked at the top of the next bend. Before I can even ask why they've stopped, the sight before me explains everything.

Five massive stone pillars, each about 12 meters tall, stand in a row, as if someone had deliberately placed them there.

No mistake! This is the "Stonehenge of Thailand", a natural sculpture that creates strangely shaped rocks.

The rock formations are composed of white sandstone, which is particularly striking when illuminated by sunlight, especially after rainfall.

The local residents have aptly named it "Mo Hin Khao," which translates to "White Rock Hill."

Some say it is a sacred place with mystical energy, where strange lights appear from the stones every full moon and eighth day of the lunar month.

Others say it is an ancient city. Whatever it is,

I can feel a certain energy from the five stone pillars in front of me.

It is a mysterious energy that can bring a smile to everyone's face.

Not far from the stone pillars, I found myself standing on the back of an elephant next to her. This area is called "Chedi-Elephant Herd Rocks," which are rocks that resemble their names, especially the Elephant Herd Rock, as if we were standing in the middle of a herd of elephants.

The first time we stood together for a photo was on the back of that elephant.

I was so embarrassed that my friend had to shout at me to move closer to her.

I still vividly remember these stories even though almost a decade has passed, because it was our first trip together.

However, today, "Mo Hin Khao" has changed dramatically. The last 10 kilometers of the dirt road have been replaced with a well-paved road.

There is a convenient parking lot, the surrounding landscape has been beautifully landscaped, and there are many amenities and people.

It makes me realize the value of the hardship of the journey.

The feeling of coming to Mo Hin Khao today is so different from the day before.

Or maybe it's because she's not here with me this time.

As I drove from Hin Khok Chang to the top of the mountain at "Pha Hua Nak", I couldn't help but think about the past.

I remember standing with you at the edge of the cliff, looking out at the land below. We were both wondering what the future would hold.

But today, I stand alone, gazing at the past, at the very spot where she once stood by my side.

Traveling teaches us to learn about each other, to learn about our differences, to learn to accept and forgive each other's individuality.

She has her own world, I have my own world. We can live our lives the way we like.

It doesn't matter if we have to do everything together, just find a common ground together.

It's time for me to go now. She's waiting for me at home.

The Path to Mo Hin Khao from Bangkok

From Bangkok, take Mittraphap Road (Highway 2) towards Saraburi and Nakhon Ratchasima.

After passing Lam Ta Khong, enter Sikhio District and turn left onto Highway 201 towards Chaiyaphum.

The total distance from Bangkok is approximately 340 kilometers, with a travel time of around 4 hours.

To reach Chaiyaphum, drive through the city center and take Highway 2051. Continue straight for about 20 kilometers.

You will find a three-way intersection before reaching the entrance to Tad Tone Waterfall. Turn left onto Highway 4017 and continue for about 11 kilometers.

At the next three-way intersection, turn left onto the minor highway and follow the signs for Mo Hin Khao. Drive for about 9 kilometers following the signs.

You will see Mo Hin Khao on your left-hand side. The road is paved all the way to the Pha Hua Nak viewpoint.

Follow other works of Ifind at http://bloggang.com/mainblog.php?id=ifind