d_holmie, cheekiness from the Gulf of Thailand:
Koh Phangan's real Full Moon Party 🌝
Apologies. it's been a long time coming. Should've at least tried to share a couple of photo's, but seem to have been caught up in something.
Anyway upcoming a hybrid mix of photo's and topical items from the i-net.
Starting off with a news item from earlier this year (Cambodia Daily, Jan. 13) on the Kbal Chhay waterfall located near the booming sea side resort of Sihanoukville:
'Like many land disputes in Cambodia, the trouble at Kbal Chhay started when talk of evictions grew louder, turning years of uncertain claims into pressing fears about the future.
The Preah Sihanouk provincial government, bursting with development plans, see the hundreds of families living in the area as a hindrance. The reservoir behind the waterfall is the sole source of clean water to hundreds of thousands of residents and tourists in Sihanoukville.
...
Hai Bun Vannak, Preah Sihanouk’s deputy governor, said the people who lived at Kbal Chhay were just newcomers who bought the land to sell it on for a profit.
“They came and negotiated for it, person to person, even though we informed them that Kbal Chhay was a protected area,” he said. “They know that it is an area of land dispute, and state land under environmental protection.”
...
“There is information going around now that the state will give land to a private company, a Chinese company, when the people go.”
True or not, the rumor was often repeated around the area—by people in town, by women tending the bathrooms near the waterfall—as news spread that authorities were projecting tourist increases and signing agreements with Chinese hoteliers'
'Almost all of more than 100 families still living on disputed land near Sihanoukville’s Kbal Chhay waterfall were finally cleared out from the site on Tuesday morning by state security forces, who proceeded to tear down many of families’ crude houses'.
🍻🇰🇭 #kbalchhay #waterfall #Sihanoukville #cambodia
Tripadvisor doesn't mention any recent impediments to a visit here, though many a waterfall seeker comments on the touristy atmosphere.
Little news from Indonesia, just the prints:
waterfall nymphs @chiarahardy @isabellakefgen #kantolampowaterfall
Btw, why are nearly all Indonesian waterfall shots by foreigners of waterfalls on Bali?
Blue
From Laos, the national newspaper focuses on the potential of waterfalls and water related recreation to fulfill the needs of tourists.
First of all the Vientiane Times has an article (Jan. 23) on northern province of Oudomxai and the tourism figures. It mentions:
'Last year, about 215,000 foreigners visited the province and mostly went to Nam Kat waterfall, Chom Ong cave, Singkham Buddha temple, and the provincial capital, Xay district'.
The Nam Kat waterfall used to be a slice of heaven. Now a resort has been built in the valley entrance called Namkat Yorapa. Though the slice of heaven maybe it's not, but it's still very close to this, as witnessed by tripadvisor advisories.
Intriguing is that with the resort around the corner hardly anyone dives into the falls any more. With some exceptions:
been chasing dem waterfalls lately 🏊🏼
Travelfish have updated their entire entry on southern Tad Lo waterfalls (Jan. 29):
Bañito con elefantes #Laos
In the process of cleaning up it's act (we're talking about Vangvieng), the Vientiane Times (May 13) notes:
'Vangvieng district in Vientiane province is hoping to attract even more tourists by preparing two new swimming areas in sections of a broad stream.
Authorities hope they will soon be ready for full public use, a district tourism official said.
Head of the Tourism Management Unit of the Information, Culture and Tourism Office in Vangvieng district, Mr Duangdala Phuangchanla, told Vientiane Times on Wednesday the new areas have been designated Blue Lagoon 2 and 3. The operators of these sites are in the process of submitting documents to the office in preparation for an official opening.
Both of these swimming areas, which are situated in streams that flow off the hills, are temporarily open to the public. Our office has checked them out and we think they are well managed and comply with the regulations. So I don’t think there will be any problem giving permission for them to operate as official tourist sites,” he said.
Mr Duangdala said the two areas were on the far side of the Xong River from Vangvieng town centre and entailed a journey of about 10km. They are on the same side of the river as Phoukham cave, where Blue Lagoon 1 is situated, in Nathong village. The road from the river to the cave has now been asphalted.
Blue Lagoon 2 is some distance from Phoukham cave and is located in Naleng village, while Blue Lagoon 3 is further away still and can be found in Naxay village.
...
Vangvieng district also has two waterfalls that it believes could draw visitors this rainy season. One waterfall is called Keangyui and is situated in Naduang village while the other is named Namtheam and is in Pakpok village'.
White
🌏Langkawi "waterfall" swims. The waterfall was non existent but the pool was stunning!🌏 #Langkawi #Malaysia #travel #getoutstayout #waterfall #chasingwaterfalls #travelstoke
Malaysia is yet again void of any updates. Above our sole Malaysia contribution, below a double from the Philippines.
Caught in her natural habitat & then she grew a tail ⚓️
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#mermaid #life #chasingwaterfalls #whitebum #secluded #naturalhabitat #magical #clearascrystal #travelgram #asia #Philippines #bestdays #travel #smilegram #happygirl #damaganfalls #bohol #loveofmylife #onewithnature #epicday #buck #birthdaysuit #adventuretime #allthetime #discover #scootscoot #islandlife #naturebound #soul
familiasemfronteiras at Tumalog Falls- Oslob, Cebu
[#Philipinnes ] Se vocês poderiam estar num lugar, agora. Qual seria ? Eu, voltaria nesse paraíso, nesse país que adorei conhecer: as Filipinas 🇫🇷 Si vous pouviez être dans un endroit, maintenant, lequel serait-il ? Moi, je retournerais dans ce pays incroyable que j'ai adore connaître: les Philippines
Swell
In the northern Thai province of Lampang authorities have closed access to the a popular waterfall. The Bangkok Post (May 17):
'National park authorities have closed access to Chae Son waterfall after heavy rain and runoff made the area too dangerous for visitors. The popular mineral hot springs at the national park are not affected and remain open. Pichai Watchawongpaiboon, chief of Chae Son national park in Muang district, said heavy rain fell on the mountainous catchment area supplying water to Chae Son waterfall early on Wednesday. The runoff had swollen the streams and river feeding the waterfall'.
Day 22. Approx. 1800km. Last night in Thailand.
The photo was taken a few days ago. We decided to take a much needed rest day from the bike. We ended up hiring out scooters and riding out to a waterfall. Felt so good to get out of the ride, eat, sleep routine and do something spontaneous :) Spent the afternoon swimming, laughing, climbing rocks and playing in the multiple waterfalls.
And the best bit was that there was no one else really there so @riotsforanimals and I did it naked :) Seriously might have to go live in a nudist colony haha. The more time I spend naked the more natural it feels and the less natural it is to wear clothes.
#bikesandbabes #biketour #nature #travel #cycling #vegan #freethenip #fuckclothes
More news from Thailand, mostly closures. The Bangkok Post (May 31):
'The road to the popular Thi Lo Su waterfall in Umphang district will be closed from June 1 to Oct 31 for public safety and to allow regeneration during the wet season'.
'Tourists can look – but not swim – at a famous series of cascading waterfalls in northern-central Thailand, national park officials said Thursday.
As rains lashed Thailand and rivers swelled, waterfalls such as the Kaeng Sopha and Poi Waterfalls in the Thung Salaeng National Park went from dry season trickle to full-on cascade.
Tourists, however, have been warned not to take a dip lest they be swept away'.
Still by far my favorite waterfall around home, especially during the rainy day when nobody is around and it is super moist 😏😏😏 #waterfall #phuket #outdoorsy #moistcrew #supermoist #skinnydip
The Nation (Jun. 2) has an add on:
'The local authorities are improving a railway bridge in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand to act as a new tourist attraction.
Currently, the Wang Nen Waterfall is usually packed with tourists, especially during the summer.
This bridge is known as “Sapaan Dam” by the locals and literally translates to the black bridge. It is meant to attract tourists here instead due to the overwhelming crowd at the waterfall'.
Over to Vietnam. VNexpress.net (Jun. 4) has 10 national waterfalls to beat the summer heat. The following doesn't make this list, but a nice way to finish this blog entry.
Water me baby #lougiastravels #skinnydip #halshere
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