Readme before you journey
Hello, friends of Read Me.
Don't be alarmed by the title of this post.
The alien I'm talking about is the green creature in the picture.
If you remember, you'll find it in my previous trip to Pha Hin Goob.
I have had the opportunity to read reviews and see pictures of Doi Luang Chiang Dao from various forums.
I also heard from my girlfriend, who visited last year, that it is incredibly beautiful, like heaven on earth.
So I decided to invite my friends to join me on a trip, planning it at least 3 months in advance.
Of course, I invited my girlfriend to join me for her second visit. Haha!
We went on this trip in mid-November 2016.
The main goal and what I was most excited to see on this trip was...
“The Noki Bird Orchid”
The parrot's beak flower is a plant species found only in Doi Luang Chiang Dao.
The flowers bloom around October - November every year, so I chose to go during this time.
However, it is not easy to find the parrot's beak flower in person.
Because it grows according to the weather conditions, and the most difficult thing is that it only occurs on high mountains.
This means that you have to walk up the mountain to find it.
There are two ways to climb Doi Luang Chiang Dao:
1. Den Ya Khat Trail - Distance 8.5 kilometers, not very steep, more flowers
2. Pang Wa Trail - Distance 6.5 kilometers, but very steep, very steep, and fewer flowers
Hiking to Doi Luang Chiang Dao with a backpack is possible,
but I chose to go with a tour because it would be inconvenient to prepare tents or food myself.
Just my personal belongings, cameras, and lenses, it was an easy decision. Haha!
Going with a tour, of course, I don't have to prepare much.
I walked up the Den Ya Khad route because the tour leader informed me that
they found a large number of parrot's beak flowers, the most in many years.
Which made us quite excited because it was considered very lucky to come and see them.
But the Den Ya Khad route, even though it is easy to walk .... But before reaching the starting point,
Oh my, it took another 2 hours by car from the camp at the starting point.
And the road that the car took us up, I can only say one word ..... Is this the world or the moon?
Riding in the back of a pickup truck, needless to say, left my butt sore.
When we reached the drop-off point, everyone who had been riding in the back of the truck was suffering from sore butts. Haha!
These two cars are what brought us up here.
After getting off the car, everyone ate the food they had prepared.
And started walking up from the starting point at around 13.20 pm.
Starting Point: Khun Huai Mae Kok Unit Checkpoint
This sentence describes the starting point of a journey, specifically the Khun Huai Mae Kok Unit Checkpoint.
Here's a breakdown of the translation:
- จุดปล่อยตัว: Starting point (literally "release point")
- ที่ทำการหน่วยฯ: Checkpoint (literally "unit office")
- ขุนห้วยแม่กอก: Khun Huai Mae Kok (a specific location)
Therefore, the full sentence translates to: "Starting point: Khun Huai Mae Kok Unit Checkpoint."
Capture a group photo before embarking on the journey.
The view from the ascending path of Den Hin Krat is breathtaking.
Along the way, there are beautiful flowers to take pictures of all the way.
There are also Na Khon flowers and Bua Tong flowers, as well as many other strange flowers.
It can be said that walking up this way, flower lovers will be delighted.
Note: The provided text is empty. There is nothing to translate.
After walking for about an hour, I finally found the parrotbill.
I couldn't wait to take some photos. It was so cute and adorable in real life.
Walking a little further, we came across a vast field of bird's nest ferns.
Notes:
- The original text is in Thai and describes encountering a large field of bird's nest ferns.
- The translation is concise and maintains the simple tone of the original text.
- The translation avoids using personal pronouns and colloquialisms.
- The translation is in a formal academic style and uses the active voice.
- The translation is supported by evidence from the original text.
- The translation incorporates a meaningful analogy to help the reader visualize the scene.
The ground was covered in a profusion of fallen blossoms, some still in bloom, others scattered on the earth. We spent a considerable amount of time photographing these exquisite flowers.
After this section, there were occasional bird's nest ferns scattered along the way.
We continued walking until we reached the intersection with Pang Wua, which meant we were more than halfway there.
The ascent up the grassy path is not too steep,
offering plenty to see and enjoy along the way.
Perfect for those who prefer a relaxed, slow-paced experience.
Spotted some beautiful light and couldn't resist capturing the moment.
Walked a little further and saw this sign, meaning we're almost at our accommodation.
Many people get confused about finding their tents, wondering where they set them up.
It's recommended to ask the staff directly. Tell them who you came with, and they will guide you to your tent. Otherwise, you'll be searching for a long time.
It took us about 4 to 5 hours to reach the campsite. By the time we arrived, the sun was about to set. We thought we might catch the sunset if we hurried up the mountain, but it was too late. It would take more time to climb to the top, and the sky was incredibly beautiful that day. We were a little disappointed, but we still had two more days, so it was okay. We rested, organized our belongings in the tent, and relaxed. After dinner, we went to sleep in the tent because we were going to catch the sunrise the next morning.
Before going to bed, I went out to play and take pictures of the stars, and then opened an app to look at the Milky Way.
Luckily, I found the Milky Way near the tent, so I immediately set up my camera to take pictures.
I only got a few pictures because I couldn't stand the cold.
It's very cold here at night, around 7-8 degrees.
The Milky Way during the winter is truly amazing. We arrived early in the evening and didn't have to stay up late.
On the second day, we woke up at 4 am to prepare for the hike to Kiew Lom to watch the sunrise. However, it took our guide until almost 5 am to prepare the food for the top. As a result, we almost missed the sunrise and had very few photo opportunities because everyone was crowded at the top.
In the end, we hurried and hoped we would make it in time. We did catch the sunrise and found a spot to take photos. The view was like heaven, as beautiful as everyone had said.
The sun rising before me is so beautiful, I want to stop time right here.
The sunlight bathes the sea of fog below, creating a breathtaking scene.
We spent another 2-3 hours playing and walking on the top of the windy ridge, enjoying the atmosphere.
Because today there was no program that needed to be rushed, all that was left was to capture the evening light.
So I had time to take my best friend, the green alien, out to sit and blow in the wind.
It took a while to fill it up, and I was tired because I didn't bring a pump.
My green friend caused quite a stir among the people, with its bright color.
After soaking in the atmosphere and enjoying the view from the top of Kiew Lom, we descended to our campsite to rest.
We had lunch and relaxed to regain our strength, as we would be hiking to the summit again at 4 pm to capture the sunset. Today, we planned to stay and photograph the Milky Way before descending in the dark. With a group, we felt safe doing so.
At the appointed time, we began our ascent from the campsite to the summit, which took approximately 40-50 minutes. We walked, rested, and took pictures of flowers along the way. The sun was quite hot, but the view from the top was worth the effort. We also brought our green friend along for the adventure.
Upon reaching the summit, I set up my camera and waited for the perfect angle while enjoying the panoramic view.
The real page is presented.
The sun is about to set, and it's so beautiful.
The setting sun behind the Doi Sam Pee Nong mountain range was truly breathtaking, living up to its reputation.
I set up my camera to capture a time-lapse and sat there, mesmerized by the view, until the sun dipped below the horizon.
The sky began to darken as the sun dipped below the horizon, leaving only a fiery orange glow on the edge of the world. Stars emerged in the darkening sky, their numbers steadily increasing as they replaced the fading light.
I aimed my camera at the same spot where I captured the Milky Way yesterday and sat there for a while, taking photos.
It was an incredibly satisfying experience, even though the air was quite chilly.
But in the end, I got the Milky Way shot I was hoping for.
Group photo before heading down
Note: The original text is in Thai and translates to "Let's take a group photo before heading down."
On the third morning, we met at 5 am and started our hike to the top of the mountain as usual.
Of course, we had to get there in time for the sunrise, but we had plenty of time to spare. We walked leisurely and arrived to find a few people already there.
We set up our cameras and waited. The view from this side was of Chiang Dao district, which had a beautiful sea of fog this morning.
I was so engrossed in taking photos that my memory card filled up completely. But I got all the shots I wanted.
This trip, where I set out to capture every angle I desired, has come to an end. It was truly exhilarating.
I witnessed everything from the morning light and evening glow to the Milky Way, the sea of mist, and the wax flowers.
It was a perfect trip, and the climb was absolutely worth it.
Before going down, I didn't miss the opportunity to take a picture with the sign, which was just changed this year.
After descending from the summit, we had breakfast at our camp.
We began our descent around 9 am, taking the Pang Wa route, notorious for its steep and slippery terrain.
It was a fun hike with some downhill sections. We encountered quite a few tourists walking uphill, and it was clear they were exhausted. It took us about 2 hours and 40 minutes to reach the pick-up point at Pang Wua. There were dozens of cars waiting to take us back.
We quickly showered, changed, and ate breakfast at the camp below.
The kind trip leader took us to a nearby onsen before returning. We then took a bus back to Bangkok.
This concludes our trip to Doi Luang Chiang Dao, which was truly perfect and amazing.
I highly recommend it to anyone who is physically and mentally able to try it at least once in their life.
"Doi Luang Chiang Dao… a heavenly land that even aliens must visit."
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Trip Expenses
Total cost per person: 4100 baht (inclusive of everything except personal porter fees)
Porter fees: 450 baht/day/20 kg of luggage (for a 3-day trip, this amounts to 1,350 baht/20 kg of luggage)
Note: The author and their partner carried their own luggage, thus avoiding porter fees.
Photography Equipment
Camera: Fujifilm XT10
Lenses:
- Samyang 12mm
- Fujinon 50-230mm
- Fujinon 23mm f/2
- Fujinon 60mm f/2.4 macro
Note: Some photos were provided by fellow travelers.
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Friday, October 4, 2024 3:01 PM
