Ko Rok in the Deep Sea
Passing Ko Lanta to
the border of Trang province is the location of Ko
Rok. This is part of the Mu Ko Lanta National Park.
This island is more beautiful and serene among all
the islands and bays mentioned earlier. The only building
on the island is an office of the protection unit
of Mu Ko Lanta Natinal Park. The water here is crystal
green and the beach is covered with a slope of white
clear delicate sand.
 Ko
Rok comprise 2 parts : Ko Rok Nai (the inner one)
and Ko Rok Nok (the outer one) with a division of
a 400 metres wide watercourse between them. The water
here is very clear and is over 10 metres deep. There
are many fish as well as coral reefs. Everyday, speedboats
bring tourists from Ko Lanta Yai to dive for coral
here and return in the afternoon.
Creatures that are
found in abundance here are hermit crab of both a
large size like a coconut as well as small ones. Monitor
lizards and Kai crabs, which makes a loud noise in
the night.
A well-known tourist
point is Ao Man Trai : To go there, one has to walk
along the beach in front ok Ko Rok for about 1 kilometres
and walk into the island for 200 metres. There one
would witness a large Banyan tree with a big and shady
spreading canopy with a hanging roof like a curtain,
though it looks mysterious, it is very beautiful.
|
The
last lowland evergreen forest |
Khao No
Chu Chi Forest in Klong Thom district is a tropical evergreen
forest of high fertility in Thailand. It is the last forest
of its kind located on the low plains of the south at
present. Khao No Chu Chi is the highest peak in the area
that is shaped like a head of a kind of beetle found in
the area called "Duang Chi Chi "
 Khao
No Chu Chi Forest, hence, is of high value and significance
for various reasons. It is a forested area that provides
shelter for 4 out of 15 kinds of endangered species in
Thailand e.g. goral, marble cat, tapir and Gurney's Pitta,
which the local people in Krabi and Trang call this bird
as "Nok Ten Hua Prae" or "Nok Ten Si".
It is a low plains forest, maybe the last one of its kind
in the south of Thailand. This type of forest is very
important for the existence of the world's rare bird like
Gurney's Pitta.
To explore the forest with
pleasure and knowledge, visitors should contact the nature
guidebook at Na Jo Lift or Thung Tiaw Nature Trail from
the office of Khao Pra-Bang Kram Wildlife sanctuary. There
is an asphalt-paved road to the office. There are some
rest areas on the way; a hot waterfalls which is 70 metres
off the road. From here, the hot springs flow parallel
with the mountain through the different levels of slope
of the earth's surface in a number of cascades till mixing
with the cold water in Klong Thom. Before flowing into
the canal, it flows in some small falls with its hot water.
Another attraction is Morakot
(Emerald) Pond. There are two ways to reach this crystal
clear water pond. Each way takes a bit over a kilometre.
If you choose the old route, you would see various kinds
of colourful birds and butterflies, especially the Gurney's
Pitta that may jump or fly across the road close to you.
Another way is a new way that TAT has made. This way has
a nature study trail and information signs along the route
on the edge of the Peat Swamp forest. There are beautiful
clusters of sugar palm and fan palm, which are the identity
of the low plains evergreen forest and beautiful flowered
plants.
For trekking lovers, there
is a smaller Morakot Pond or 'Nhum Pud' on the hill not
far away, which is quite easy and takes a short way to
walk. The colour of the water here is a mixture of bright
green and blue sky. Though it is a small pond, it is about
6-7 metres in depth. Its surrounding environment is beautiful,
serene and suitable for real relaxation among nature.
|
|
|
|
