Continuing from the previous episode, let's move on to part 2. What will happen? Without further ado, let's continue.

Continuing from the previous episode, we entered the town of Sangkhla Buri. We began to see the local people and young men and women of the district. Their attire was unusual, and the young people here were quite good-looking.

He's been secretly watching.

A young man from Sangkhla Buri

Upon arrival, we disembarked from the vehicle, filled with excitement. However, our excitement was surpassed by our partner, who immediately purchased local clothing for us to wear. The enthusiasm was palpable. This location offers locally hand-woven garments at affordable prices. If purchased at ground level, the prices would likely double or triple. Therefore, it is highly recommended to make a purchase here.

11:00 AM We have arrived at the Mon Bridge. Let's disguise ourselves as Burmese girls! Yay! The crowd here is just right, not too much or too little. This is unexpected from what we thought, because we thought there would be more people during the New Year. But no, the atmosphere is relaxed and chill. If you come early, you can catch the monks' alms on the Mon Bridge. But we didn't make it in time. Haha!

Upon reaching the Mon Bridge, you will encounter a diverse array of ethnicities, including Mon, Burmese, Karen, and Thai tourists, bustling about. Along the bridge, Mon women offer to apply thanaka paste, a traditional cosmetic, for a fee of your choosing. Thanaka is believed to cool the body temperature, providing relief from the sun's heat during extended periods outdoors.

The crowd was just right, not too big and not too small.

"Oh, where did our cameraman go? Haha, he even left the camera behind! Who's more excited, him or us? Anyway, the camera is with us now. Haha!"

Boat services are available to visit the submerged temple. The price is as shown in the picture. It is recommended to share the cost with other tourists.

The sun is scorching, but it's not hot. How is that possible?

It's hot, but I'm tough and won't complain.

This location offers child guides, who are local children who can provide information about the bridge, tourist attractions, and nearby accommodations. These young guides do not require high fees; you can contribute to their education as you see fit. Consider it a way to support the future generation.

This part is for our kids, haha.

Besides clothes and Pla Ha Yung, this place also offers a variety of souvenirs.

The majority are minerals and unusual gemstones, such as various colored stones.

Thank you to this man for bringing us new experiences, new impressions that we have never encountered before. The man who is everything, hehe. He is everything to you...

It's lunchtime! I'm so hungry! Since I'm here, I have to try the local food to get the full experience. So, I came to "Croissant Galia", which is not far from the Mon Bridge. This place offers local dishes such as Burmese Jungle Curry, Karen Curry, and Garlic-Fried Striped Snakehead Fish. I ordered all three. The Burmese Jungle Curry tastes similar to Japanese curry but is more sour and uses catfish as the main ingredient. The Karen Curry has a sour and salty taste and contains spices that I've never seen before. The Garlic-Fried Striped Snakehead Fish may not be as flavorful as the one from Uthai Thani, but overall, it's delicious and offers a unique taste that I've never experienced before.

After we had our fill, we continued our journey to Wat Wang Wiwekaram (Luang Pho Udom's temple). Here, the magnificent Buddha Gaya stupa stands tall.

The interior features a Burmese-style Buddha statue for worship and veneration.

The Greatness and Beauty of the Mahabodhi Stupa: A Reflection on Faith and Buddhist Flourishing

The Mahabodhi Stupa stands as a testament to the profound faith and flourishing of Buddhism. Its grandeur and beauty inspire reflection on the transformative power of belief. Faith, as exemplified by the construction of this magnificent structure, empowers individuals and communities to achieve remarkable feats. When driven by unwavering conviction, we possess the potential to shape our world and leave a lasting legacy.

Before returning, we decided to try canoeing on the Songkhla River. We stopped by "P Guest House" to rent a canoe. When we carried the paddles down, we were very confident, thinking it would be easy and relaxing, just like the canoes we had paddled in the city park. However, when we reached the pier below, we were shocked because the boat was very large and heavy. The wind and waves were also very strong. We tried to put the boat in the water and paddle, but the boat almost capsized due to the strong waves. We almost died and became ghosts guarding the Songkhla River. We regained our composure and successfully paddled the boat back to shore. If you think you are strong, you should try canoeing here because it is really challenging. As for us, we will pass, haha.

Our time at Sangkhlaburi has come to an end. It's a pity, as we haven't had our fill yet. But we have to go back. We rode our motorbike back the same way we came. On the way back, we stopped to dip our feet in the water at Kering Kiew Waterfall for a while. Ah, how refreshing! We arrived back at our accommodation around seven o'clock in the evening. And then another night passed. It was the day we had the most fun traveling in our lives. It's midnight now. Happy New Year everyone!

January 1, 2018. Good morning! We woke up to celebrate the New Year by making merit. We bought a set of offerings prepared by the resort for the morning alms giving ceremony. The resort invited monks to come here early in the morning. May this be a good year for everyone.

In the morning, we traveled to Hin Dad Hot Spring. This natural hot spring offers various services, but it was quite crowded, so we could only watch from afar. Notably, it is only a few kilometers away from our resort.

Let's head back to the onsen at our resort for a more relaxing experience. It's less crowded, allowing for a more comfortable soak. However, remember not to soak for too long, as hot spring baths can elevate blood pressure. Prolonged immersion may lead to difficulty adjusting and potential dizziness.

It's time to go back. Bye-bye, Ban Krari Resort. We packed our things and set off on our journey back. And of course, we still have one main destination left, which is "Erawan Waterfall".

Leaving Nakhakirie Resort, we arrived at Erawan Waterfall around 3 pm. The sun was shining brightly, and the tourist crowd was quite lively, especially at the first four levels of the waterfall. The number of people thinned out significantly at the fifth level, which was our destination. By this time, I was feeling irritable and had trouble seeing clearly due to eye irritation, possibly caused by the chlorine in the swimming pool where we had gone swimming before returning. This significantly drained my energy.

Since we've come this far, let's go all the way. We've changed our clothes and are ready to play in the waterfall! Yay! Even if my vision is blurry, my heart still has you. Woohoo!

The Ambiance of the Waterfall

As we walked through the waterfall, the crystal-clear water sparkled before us. Schools of iridescent fish playfully swam in the cascading pools at every level, adding to the enchanting ambiance.

The fifth floor, "Unbearable," has arrived. There are still a lot of people, but not as many as the four floors we passed. The water is very clear. It's a pity that my boyfriend didn't bring a tripod, so I don't have any beautiful pictures to show off.

The charm of Erawan Waterfall lies in its abundance of small and large **pla puang** fish, visible at every level. These fish are native to the area and will nibble at your feet when you dip them in the water, creating a ticklish sensation. Some people enjoy this natural fish spa, while others may find it uncomfortable. For me, it was a delightful experience.

Stuck on the fifth floor, unable to descend or forget.

Our return journey began with a stop at the River Kwai Bridge, just as dusk settled in, casting a beautiful glow over the surroundings. We indulged in browsing through gems and souvenirs, losing track of time in the process. As fate would have it, my tendency to dawdle led to another consequence. We found ourselves racing back to Korat in the dead of night, only to have a tire puncture midway. Fortunately, the helpful staff at the PTT Gas Station in Ko Phang Phong Phet, Ayutthaya, and the kind tire repairman at the station came to our rescue. Our sincere gratitude goes out to them. Finally, we arrived safely back home in Korat.

A photo taken at 2:00 AM. I'm so sleepy, haha.

The journey, as depicted above, was both enjoyable and worthwhile. The value for money and the experiences gained were exceptional. We have gathered these experiences to prepare for our next adventure, and we will meet again on our next trip. Thank you to all the readers who have made it this far. See you on our next adventure!

In the end, what I want to tell everyone is that every journey has meaning. Collect experiences and good memories.

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