:: Theelosu . . . When I want to go, I have to go.::

Theelosu... When I want to go, I must go.

Have you ever listed your dream destinations? And have you ever thought that you would actually get to go there?

This is our second My Dream Destination, 'Tilosu'.

During the rainy season, there is probably no better place to visit than a waterfall. But why choose Thi Lo Su?

'Tilasoo' is accessible during most festivals, but we chose to visit during the rainy season for a reason everyone knows: 'abundant water'. More importantly, vehicles are prohibited during the rainy season, making hiking an exciting alternative. This was our initial plan before the trip. Finding information was not difficult, as there were many reviews available. The journey was also not challenging.

‘Tee Lor Su’ is located in Umphang, Tak Province. Traveling from Bangkok to Umphang is not difficult (by bus). Just take two buses. First, we need to buy a ticket from Bangkok to Mae Sot. We took the 4 pm bus and arrived in Mae Sot around 8 am. During our trip, it was the Asalha Puja and Buddhist Lent festival, so of course, there was traffic! The second bus is from Mae Sot Transportation to Umphang. Once we got off the bus, we saw a blue songthaew going to Mae Sot. It was an ordinary blue songthaew with a sign saying “Umphang” on the side. Some go to Tha Song Yang, so make sure to get on the one going to Umphang. The fare is 130 baht for a 3-hour journey. It’s super cheap, right? Yes, we have to take this songthaew for 3 hours to get to Umphang. As I said, it’s easy to travel with just two buses. The total travel time is approximately 11 hours!!!

The long car ride wasn't an issue for us (although frequent transfers were not ideal). We saw many things that city dwellers rarely experience. The initial part of the journey was on paved roads, gradually transitioning into winding paths that seemed to hug the mountainside. The cool, refreshing air and strong wind sent chills down our spines. The locals on the bus chatted amongst themselves, seemingly like old friends, despite having just met. At a rest stop, a young woman bought instant noodles and offered some to us, asking, "Would you like to share some?" It was a strange yet heartwarming experience, something we wouldn't encounter in the city. Later, the young woman disembarked at the Umphang Refugee Center, a haven for those seeking refuge from the Thai-Burmese border. Before leaving, she bowed and said, "Hello." It was a peculiar yet pleasant feeling. We believe her parents raised her well; she was a delightful young lady.

(Not the child in the picture)

After a long journey, we arrived at 'Kanyapak Resort' around 13:30. We stayed in the 'Rainbow House' which had no air conditioning, but the weather was cool and comfortable. We only needed to turn on the fan. After settling in and taking a shower, we talked to the owner, Mr. Arm, about our plans for the next day. We then had dinner and went to rest, preparing for our journey the next day. Mr. Arm provided us with a large plastic bag to pack only the essentials for our trip to the waterfall. Therefore, we didn't need to bring unnecessary items. Most importantly, there were porters available to help us carry our belongings.

On the morning of the 17th, we started our journey at 8:30 am. We took a car from the resort to the starting point for the rubber boat ride. There were five people in our boat: three crew members and two guides. I was traveling alone, so the resort arranged for me to join a couple on their honeymoon. The guides, who were either Burmese or Karen, spoke Thai and switched between Thai and Karen languages during the conversation.

The following are views along the way.

Shortly after setting sail, we encountered Snake Cave. Our boatman, who also served as our guide, provided us with insightful commentary throughout the journey.

Rainbow Waterfall, but we didn't see the rainbow because there wasn't much sun when we went. The boatman told us that it would be clearly visible around April. We felt a little disappointed that we didn't see it. He also said that this is the only place where it is a rainbow. But it was still beautiful in a different way. We like this picture the most.

After paddling for a while, we will come across a hot spring where we can relax and soak. There are also clean restrooms available.

After visiting the hot springs and using the restroom, we boarded a rubber raft and continued our journey.

The program includes a 3-hour rafting trip followed by a 3-hour hike. The hiking trail is a road suitable for vehicles, except during the rainy season when vehicles cannot access it. The terrain is a mix of flat sections, uphill climbs, and slight downhill slopes, making it manageable for most hikers.

Upon reaching the shore, we immediately embarked on a trek into the forest. The abundance of trees was a sight to behold, their lush foliage creating a refreshingly humid atmosphere.

This path is quite beautiful and easy to walk on, but be very careful of the mosquitoes. They will follow you relentlessly.

The terrain was challenging in some areas, but it was still an enjoyable experience. This was despite the fact that it had not rained for 2-3 days prior to our visit.

This is getting out of hand. This is hilarious.

As we continued our walk, the number of crew members accompanying us dwindled from three to one. It turned out they were a couple, and they wanted some alone time. We are grateful for the opportunity to join them, even if it meant they couldn't fully enjoy their romantic moment.

After nearly 12 kilometers and 3 hours, we finally arrived.

The Um Phang Wildlife Sanctuary is an open area with a grassy field suitable for camping. There are multiple restrooms for both men and women, located at two different points. The restrooms near the entrance are older and dirtier, while those further up the path are less frequented and relatively clean and new. These newer restrooms have flush toilets. The sanctuary has designated hours for electricity, which I believe are from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM. After these hours, the area becomes dark, except for the administrative office which remains lit.

Our dinner was prepared by the resort's chef, who cooked delicious and flavorful dishes. The highlight was the resort's chili paste, which was so good that we each had two servings. After dinner, we retired to our tents to prepare for the next day.

This is a tent from another resort, but Kanyaphak will set up a canvas tent for me, and it will be a private tent for each person. In the early evening, the weather was not cool, it was a bit hot, and there was not much wind. We went to bed for a while, and the weather started to get cold, and we felt a little cold. We were about to fall asleep comfortably, but there was a snoring sound. Zzzzz . . 5555555555

The morning had arrived, and no one needed to be woken up as they had not slept all night. Everyone went to wash their faces and brush their teeth before gathering at the dining table for breakfast. Our breakfast consisted of rice porridge.

If you finish setting up your tent quickly, you can go to Tee Lor Su Waterfall. Wait, what? Does that mean we have to walk again? Yes! From where we set up our tent, it's another 1.5 kilometers. Not far compared to what we walked yesterday, haha!

The path is easy to walk. I like this tree. It has a hole.

I'll sneak a picture of my travel companion.

The path to the waterfall is like this: it's an easy walk, but be careful not to slip, as it's covered in green moss and algae. It's a good idea to bring a walking stick for support.

As we continued our journey, the boatman suddenly stopped and gazed in a specific direction. Initially, I assumed he was waiting for us, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover that he wanted us to witness a breathtaking sight. This hidden gem surpassed the beauty of the rainbow waterfall by far. If you encounter this spectacle, be sure to capture it in a photograph, as the sunlight may fade on the descent, obscuring the magnificent rainbow.

The closer we got, the louder the sound of the waterfall became. Villagers told us that "Tee Lor Su" means "loud waterfall" or "big waterfall" in the Karen language. The louder the sound, the more excited we became. And finally, we arrived. . . .

The actual scenery is much more beautiful than this, but our photography skills are not up to par. The waterfall cascades down in tiers, with an abundance of water flowing like a curtain. In addition to the main waterfall, there are smaller ones where you can climb and play. The forest is incredibly lush, with green moss and a variety of dense trees. Remarkably, there is no litter present. We even saw a couple taking pre-wedding photos, demonstrating their dedication.

It was time for us to return, and we walked back the same way. However, the return journey seemed more relaxed, perhaps because we knew what to expect and what challenges lay ahead. Our porter, Brother Lookha, informed us that we would stop for lunch after crossing a specific point. We continued walking without waiting for each other, as the path was clear and there was no risk of getting lost unless we strayed off course. During our return, we encountered friends from another resort, and after talking to them, we realized that our resort was the best. The porters took excellent care of us. As we chatted and walked, we reached the designated lunch spot.

I love it. Who would have thought that one day we would be sitting on the ground eating like this? I love it.

What's on the menu? Anyone know? 55555

After finishing our lunch, we continued walking. We walked for a while and got a little lost because there was a fork in the road. We followed the others and eventually made it out. Yay!

The meeting point for the rubber boats is at each resort. Whoever arrives first gets to rest first. While waiting, the staff inflated the rubber boats. They said that the return trip on the rubber boat would not be long, about 2 hours, and then we would arrive. We intended to sleep because we were very sleepy. 5555555555

As we sailed back, we encountered a group of villagers fishing and camping overnight. As seen in the picture, there were children and adults. At certain points where the boat passed, they would cast their fishing lines near trees protruding from the water and later return to collect their catch. One of the villagers caught a large fish, which they prepared for a meal. I couldn't identify the fish species (haha). In some sections, there were rapids with strong currents, requiring caution. Wearing a life jacket is highly recommended, as the boatman who was rowing for us fell into the water during the rapids and went under the boat. When he resurfaced, his side was scraped. This is a safety precaution that should not be overlooked.

There are many butterfly groves where butterflies are not afraid of people.

Upon reaching the shore, we waited for a car to take us back to the resort. We chatted with the driver the whole way. He told us that the next day we would visit Doi Huamod (known as Khao Hualam in the central region) and stop by Kru San's house, which we didn't know what it was at first. I'll explain later.

The next morning, we woke up early to visit Doi Huamod to watch the sunrise. This mountain is located near our accommodation, and we took a short ride from the hotel followed by a brief walk to reach the summit.

After watching the sunrise, we went to Kru San's house, a souvenir shop with postcards and a coffee shop in front. We brought money to write postcards to our friends, but... the shop was closed. 😂 Since it was closed, we went back to the resort to rest for a bit. In the afternoon, we took a songthaew from the resort to Mae Sot bus station.

At noon, we went out to eat and waited for the car to pick us up. However, no matter how long we waited, the car never came. Uncle Sak, who had called to book the car for us, was surprised to see us still there. He explained that there were no more car trips available after 1 pm.

Uncle Sak: Come on! The car hasn't picked you up yet? It's past noon.

We haven't seen any cars yet. (Damn it! Will I be able to go back?)

Uncle Sak: Are you working today? Are you working tomorrow?

We will do it tomorrow. We will start working on it as soon as tomorrow arrives.

Uncle Sak: Alright! Uncle booked a car for you to the destination. But why didn't it pick you up?

- Uncle Sak called the local shared taxi stand and found out that the person he had contacted had passed us on to someone else to pick us up. However, that person forgot to pick us up. -

Uncle Sak: I'll take you myself (after consulting with the resort).

She: It's quite far.

Uncle Sak: I don't have a car anymore, so you'll have to hitchhike if you want to go.

We: Okay, let's go then.

Uncle Sak: (After a moment of silence) You... Are you one of the 18 Crowns?

I am from Samut Prakan. You can trust me.

Uncle Sak: It's still stuck in Bangkok anyway.

We: 55555 Should I be afraid of my uncle instead?

Uncle Sak: I'll pick up my girlfriend at home first. Let her ride with us so I'll have someone to talk to on the way back. What time does the car leave?

We: 8 pm

Uncle Sak: It won't be long. We'll definitely make it.

We: May I stop by Teacher Sun's house?

Uncle Sak: Sure, I'll take you around. My house is right behind Teacher Sun's house.

You're welcome.

Baan Kru San is a souvenir shop where you can purchase a certificate of conquering the 1,219 curves of Thi Lo Su Waterfall for 20 baht. We will need a moment to write a postcard and buy some souvenirs to bring home.

After we finished shopping, Uncle Sak picked up his girlfriend at home. - - Uncle Pin, Uncle Sak's girlfriend, is a nurse who seems kind. She brought a Pomeranian dog for us to play with while we waited. - -

On the way back, the three of us chatted the whole time. From what I heard, my aunt's family had been cheated by someone in the past, so they had always been wary. She told me about her family, which was warm and happy. My two aunts were very lovely, and they teased each other while sharing their memories. It was cute when they got embarrassed.

We exchanged Line and phone numbers. My aunt told me to call her next time I come and that I could stay at her house so I wouldn't have to pay for accommodation. We could then rent a car together to go sightseeing. We also chatted on Line before she dropped me off at the Mae Sot Transportation Center. My aunt took me to dinner at the Mae Sot Night Market before I got on the bus, and she drove me back to drop me off. During the almost three-hour journey back, I didn't want to return to Bangkok. I felt that I had never met such kind people in Bangkok. This place is very livable. They helped and advised me throughout my trip. If anyone is afraid of traveling alone, try this trip. It's true that it's far, but it's easy to travel, the weather is good, and the people here are very friendly.

:: Here is the information for booking your car and accommodation. ::

Website for booking bus tickets: http://www.pns-allthai.com/pns_bs/index.php

Website for accommodation and trips to Tee Lor Su Waterfall: http://www.kanyapaktour.com

Tel: 081-972-7973 (Contact: Mr. Arm)

Expenses:

:: Bus fare from Mo Chit 2 to Mae Sot Bus Terminal (round trip) 628 baht

The fare for a songthaew is 130 baht per trip (round trip = 260).

:: Accommodation and tour packages (Please inquire directly with the accommodation.)

Personal expenses: 1,000 baht

:: Miscellaneous ::