Additional images at 11:05 AM.

Do not hurt yourself by not following your heart.

How wonderful it is to journey together. (How wonderful it is to live and travel with friends.)

How many tomorrows do we have left? How much time do we have?

The number of breaths we have left is unknown.

To think that following someone would lead to good results is a common misconception.

Live life to the fullest, pursuing your passions.

A life that is true to oneself, even if it is known to be bad.

But it's worth a try.

This trip was truly unforgettable, as it led me to a hidden gem rarely visited by tourists. The pristine nature left me in awe.

Mount Cho is located in Khao Yai National Park, in the area of Saraburi Province. It is a mountain with beautiful scenery, with a panoramic view of about 180 degrees from the viewpoint. From the viewpoint, you can see the green mountains of Nakhon Nayok and Saraburi provinces. This mountain is not well known to hikers, and it is usually used as a field training route for students of the "Jujom" course, which is a special forces course for the Royal Thai Army. The trail is not too difficult, but it is challenging enough to get your heart rate up. Those who are interested should prepare their bodies before going up. The journey starts from Khao Yai Unit 18 to the Trab Sawan Phlu Monastery, where we will start walking from here. The trail from the starting point, the first section is walking through dense forest, walking along the stream and crossing it back and forth for about 1-2 kilometers. The path is not steep. In the second section, we will stop and regroup at the last stream crossing point. Fill up your water bottles, as there will be no water until you reach the camp. Then, start pushing up the small hills for no more than a kilometer. You will start to see the "Khem" grass field. From the beginning of the "Khem" forest, the path will be steep. Keep pushing, walking and resting according to your strength. Choose the month of July because the "Khem" grass will not be higher than your waist. This will prevent you from getting too hot and allow you to enjoy the view to relieve your fatigue as you climb higher. There is nothing much to it, except for walking and resting until you reach the top of Mount Cho, which is the viewpoint. The distance to the top is approximately 4.3 kilometers, as estimated by eye. The time to climb up, at a slow pace, should not exceed 6 hours.

Stay tuned for our story and journey with friends.

This trip originated from a Facebook post by Mr. Krai on April 1, 2016. I happened to read it and found the topic interesting, as it was not a tour trip but a self-organized trip among friends. I contacted Mr. Krai to ask if I could join the trip (I requested to join several months in advance).

This trip would not have been possible without Khun Klai, who coordinated everything for us. We are very grateful for her assistance.

083-0116326 (Mr. Kai's number) This trip will cost no more than 1,000 baht, including round-trip transportation and all common pool management fees (excluding food expenses during the trip).
Mr. Kai, also known as George.

Drone teaser, press play now.

The group of four members consists of: P'Wut, Che, See Nam, and Lung Thong. The latter two, Che and See Nam, were invited at the last minute and both agreed to join.

The journey began with a bus ride from Kanchanaburi Province on July 8, 2016, at 4:30 PM. The fare was 240 baht.

Departing from Bangkok at 9:00 PM. Van fare is 100 baht.

Uncle Wut picked up P'Thong in Bangkok. Uncle Wut and P'Thong waited for Che and Sin Nam at the bus station before heading to the unit together. We estimated that we would arrive at the bus station at 10:30 PM, and as expected, Che and Sin Nam arrived around the same time. Once everyone was present, we traveled to the Khao Yai National Park Protection Unit (Kh.18) via Yo Reh.

We got lost and ended up driving to a nearby unit, so we had to turn around.

Upon arriving at the unit around one o'clock in the morning, I encountered Khun Klai and Khun Benz, who were already waiting. I greeted them.

After barely getting any sleep, I had to drag myself out of bed at 5 am to go hiking again.

7:00 AM: Wake up and prepare waterproof luggage and belongings.

Please take a picture with the sign at the unit. Otherwise, it will be difficult to prove that you were here.

The group had breakfast and waited for additional members to join in the morning. The trip had a total of 24 participants.

Breakfast is stir-fried basil with rice, lunch is sticky rice with fried chicken.

After finishing our meal, we will drive to the Traphang Svaay Plu Monastery, where we will begin our trek (approximately 20 km drive).

Upon arriving at the monastery, Ms. Wa (wearing a hat on the left), Ms. Bualoy (official), and Mr. ไกล convened a meeting.

The route requires careful planning and vigilance. It is crucial to stick together as a group due to the abundance of checkpoints (elephant checkpoints), which could lead to members getting lost.

The initial segment of the route winds through dense forest.

Hike along a gentle stream for approximately 1-2 kilometers.

The trail is easy to get lost on if you stray from your group and lack tracking skills.

There are many beautiful orange mushrooms along the way. (More pictures to come)

The path is sometimes clear, sometimes unclear.

Occasionally diving into the thicket

Crossed the stream again.

Once again, in this image, they are walking astray. Brother Wut leads the way back to the old path in a short time after the footprints disappear.

Can you please tell me where the big brother's checkpoint is around here?

This stream will be the lunch break point on the way back.

He's at ease.

Hanging instant noodles for lunch on the way back.

Rest assured, keep moving forward.

Explore the surroundings, learn to track, observe leaves, grass, and various mushrooms.

The path may be challenging, but the scenic beauty of the route more than compensates for it.

Teamwork thrives on mutual support.

The scenery along the way is truly breathtaking, making the walk a joy.

I'm very sleepy, let's take a break.

Taking a dip in the water helps cool down.

This is Uncle Thong, we have hiked together many times. We seem to have similar personalities, so we might hike together until we die.

The road is just like in the movie.

The slope is getting steeper.

The forest boasts a diverse array of exotic trees, including the elusive wild jackfruit.

Why are you all piled up here? I guess the view must be beautiful.

The forest is less dense these days.

The monsoon season is about to begin.

The steep incline continues onto the grassy knoll, making for a long and challenging climb.

With each step, I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders.

Lying in wait for prey

Are you tired? See for yourself. Sister Bualoy takes very good care of us. I'll stop by for a chat when I have time.

At this point, I was walking alone when I encountered Ms. Faeng and her two friends. Ms. Faeng was struggling to walk and began to slide down a steep slope. She was unable to get up, so I had to run down to help her. I lifted her up and supported her as we continued walking.

Exhausted, Khun Faeng could no longer walk. We helped by carrying her backpack. The remaining distance was approximately 700 meters, and the path was very steep. We were unable to take photos, so the remaining photos are courtesy of our companions in the group (Lung Thong, Sky Blue), comrades of the jungle.

After receiving the backpack, he became indifferent and walked away quickly.

I encountered two women sitting in a bamboo grove while hiking. I politely excused myself and continued ahead, successfully reaching the summit. Exhausted, I immediately dropped my backpack.

After placing my backpack, I immediately began exploring. The photos I posted are mostly unedited due to time constraints.

Gazing at the view from that spot for a long time.

This lotus flower image is titled "Different Hearts".

Tired of taking pictures, let's go back to camp.

Upon our return, we found everyone had already set up their hammocks and tents. We had been too busy having fun.

Central Camp

Chefs prepare food.

Some cook rice.

Water Task Group

Armed Opposition Group

Apologies for the blurry image.

To share a chicken with one's sworn brother

Uncle Thong must have thought that you wouldn't share anything at all, right?

The individual is experiencing frequent muscle cramps, even during日常活动 such as eating.

(However, is it necessary to perform CPR?)

Images of the nocturnal sky

In the morning, prepare food and eat breakfast.

Let's make breakfast.

Some people went out to take pictures in the morning. I woke up late at 8:00 am and missed the chance to take pictures. Haha.

Aerial view from a drone

Take a picture before going down the mountain.

As the time came, they gradually descended from the mountain. The descent did not take long, but caution was advised due to the steep and slippery path.

After descending from Khao Chok Kalp to the unit, everyone chatted until ten o'clock in the evening before dispersing. Everyone arrived home safely.

While traveling, do not focus solely on the destination, neglecting the beauty of the journey. Travel is an opportunity to collect experiences, not conquer.

Joy surrounds us.

The joy of the journey.

This allows us to avoid waiting for the most perfect happiness.

We are happy in life all the time.

We find joy in every breath we take.

Every day of my life is filled with joy.

Exceeding expectations for complete well-being in the future.

On our way back, we collected garbage with the help of Uncle Thong and Brother Wut. For those who enjoy nature trips, please help collect the garbage you bring down. Do not leave foreign objects in the forest so that future generations who visit will have a pleasant view. Please note that our trip was one of the first. Regarding parking and using the temple grounds, officials now enter from another route, avoiding the monastery road. We believe that the access route will be adjusted in the future. This is a matter for the officials in charge. Thank you for all your feedback. We will inform the officials to find a suitable access route and parking area.