Ubon Ratchathani. Bike Tour of Seven Waterfalls.

[Chairman Mao]

While I was touring around Isaan on my bike, I spent a day touring around Ubon Ratchathani's waterfalls.



Some weren't on my maps or even on google maps, one amazing one. Bizarre really. So a GPS is very, very handy.

A bit more on Ubon Ratchathani here:

Ubon Ratchathani Province - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[nigelandjan]

any pics Mao ? or did you forget your camera ?

[Chairman Mao]

^ Nope.

That's it.

[Chairman Mao]

This popped up on the GPS as I was on my way from Sisaket province to Phu Chong - Na Yoi National Park.

Phu Chong - Na Yoi National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติภูจอง-นายอย) - The park covers a total area of 686 km2. Its boundary connects to Lao PDR and Cambodia in the area called the Emerald Triangle. Its attractions include.

It involved driving about 10 Km up a dirt track until I had to stop at these woods, and let the GPS guide me by foot through 1.6km of heavy forest.



Watching where you walk.








I was hot, tired, in dire need of another cup of coffee, but the sheer size of the waterfall made it all worth while.






Right then. 1.6 km back to the bike while trying not to be eaten by insects or locals.

[Necron99]

Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

This popped up on the GPS as I was on my way from Sisaket province to Phu Chong - Na Yoi National Park.

It involved driving about 10 Km up a dirt track until I had to stop at these woods, and let the GPS guide me by foot through 1.6km of heavy forest.



Watching where you walk.






I was hot, tired, in dire need of another cup of coffee, but the sheer size of the waterfall made it all worth while.






Right then. 1.6 km back to the bike while trying not to be eaten by insects or locals.

Stunning! I should have stopped there on my way back from Savannakhet.

[Chairman Mao]

A coffee and nice ride later it's Namtok Kaeng Lamduan.

Namtok Kaeng Lamduan (น้ำตกแก่งลำดวน) - The fall is situated in the compound of the Ubon Ratchathani Wildlife Reservation Promotion and Development Station. The waterfall runs over a rock terrace and through the shady forest of Lamduan trees.

This area seemed far less liable to eat you.





Some nice places to sit around and eat somtam in the area.




The Emerald Triangle.

So named after the Golden Triangle in the North in a bit to get tourists and their baht to the area.

Thailand and Laos tour to north east Thailand and southern Laos

[Chairman Mao]

Along into the nice National Park. Some nice riding roads here up and through the green jungle/forest and winding roads.

Phu Chong - Na Yoi National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติภูจอง-นายอย) - The park covers a total area of 686 km2. Its boundary connects to Lao PDR and Cambodia in the area called the Emerald Triangle. Its attractions include.

Namtok Huai Luang or Namtok Bak Teo (น้ำตกห้วยหลวง หรือ น้ำตกบักเตว) - Plunging down three steps from an elevation of 30 metres, the waterfall has a small pool with a white beach and turquoise coloured water.

Lots of info in the Visitor Center.



Such as flags of the waterfalls and activities.



The rafting sounds okay.

Phu Hin Dang (ภูหินด่าง) - The cliff-top viewpoint to witness the forest scenery of Lao PDR. and Cambodia. Its cliff is especially painted with natural bright hues. Geologists explain that dry weather millions of years ago catalyzed the mineral residues in the seawater and resulted this way.

I strolled over to the main waterfall.



Which was quite nice. Even had a little beach just out of shot. Probably nice to walk down and swim among all the plastic bags and crisp packets that are no doubt down there.

I jumped back on the bike and did a few Valentino Rossi's through the bends.

[palexxxx]

Thanks for your post. Wish I had of known about those waterfalls when I was there.

[benbaaa]

It really gets on my tits that visitors to these places think it's fine to drop their rubbish after they've admired the view.

Good thread so far, Mao.

[Necron99]

That one's nicer.
Did you meet the pine tree?

[Chairman Mao]

Namtok Huai Sai Yai or Kaeng I Khiao (น้ำตกห้วยทรายใหญ่ หรือ แก่งอีเขียว) - The waterfall is in the Buntharik - Khao Yot Mon Wildlife Sanctuary. The waterfall runs over the rock terrace among a shady environment.

Enjoying the roads and on the way to Namtok Huai Sai Yai, Ubon Ratchathani.



Somebody did a Cinderella and ended up hopping home.



This waterfall was actually coming out of the middle of a cliff.



The roar and sheer level of noise was something else.

These vines seemed to be holding up the rocks.

Which seemed a tad precarious to be honest.



Up on top of the cliff was this barren rock plateau that the water obviously runs over when in full flow.



When that happens I bet it's a tad dangerous to go out playing in it. Unless you can swim with snapped ankles and shin bones.

A nice woman was collecting crabs.



I didn't try to have sex with her.

That comes later in the tour.

On the way back up you can go along this tree-trunk.



Obviously us men just walk up it.



I had splinters in me boxer shorts and hands by the time I was across.

[Chairman Mao]

So along to Tat Ton Waterfall to make some friends.



Off the main road and down a little track to a few houses and then:





There was a little shop/hut staffed by a lovely young woman and a couple of kids running around.



The kids went off adventuring so I was left with the nice young lady who was nice and flirty and seemed a bit bored all by herself.

I tried to have sex with her by saying that I'm a trained Masseur and we should pop into one of the houses and I'd help her relax.

She didn't like that idea very much so off I went.


The next place I went to was pretty amazing.

[nigelandjan]

Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

I was hot, tired, in dire need of another cup of coffee, but the sheer size of the waterfall made it all worth while.

Hope you enjoyed paying double to see that one mate

Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

Somebody did a Cinderella and ended up hopping home.

I recon he did ,, especially after depositing a " richard ' that size before moving on .


Fab pics BTW mate ,, jealous of the scenery ,, beats looking at cold mud all day anyday

[Chairman Mao]

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

Hope you enjoyed paying double to see that one mate

Haha, actually I did pay 1 baht to see any of them.

Just after leaving the above Tat Ton Waterfall, I went to go into Keang Tana National Park and a ranger pulled me over at the entrance. First he 20b as I had all my gear on he though I was Thai, when he saw I was a Westerner he said 100b, where u from? I pulled out my license and said I'm from Bangkok (in Thai), he looked at my 5 year Driving License, handed it back and said 100b.

I laughed, gave a look in to the park and said 'No. But thank you very much' His face dropped and looked shocked as I slowly turned around and left.

After the next Waterfall there was a back way into the NP that was unmanned. I liked the idea of going in that way then passing him on the way out and giving him a big salute.

[Chairman Mao]

Now this one was pretty amazing and certainly surprising.

It showed up on my GPS, isn't on any of my maps, and isn't even on Google Maps.

I had to use the co-ordinates from the GPS to find where it is on G.Maps.



Namtok Rak Sai, Khaeng Tana National Park, Ubon Ratchathani.

Namtok Rak Sai Nature Trail (เส้นทางศึกษาธรรมชาติน้ำตกรากไทร) - The trail lines the cliff by the Mun River, 500 metres from the park’s headquarters. It runs by the cliff for 1 km. through various kinds of flora, such as lichen, moss, and fern, Tham Phra and Namtok Rak Sai.

Pass the Bi-Coloured River:



After some beautiful bike riding you end up at a nice temple, and signs to go down along a big cliff to Namtok Rak Sai.

Hike through these nice rocks for about 1 km.



Then you come to a big opening with a waterfall dropping over a big rock lip, under which has been decked out like a temple.







In the deepest part with the waterfall dropping over it.





The Emerald Buddha.



He was a bit too big to fit in my backpack so I left him where he was.

Did cop a feel off these though.





Holding up the rocks in case they fall.



After that nice surprise it was almost 2 hour soapy massage time.

But first there was Namtok Sae Hua Meao to ride through.

[Necron99]

^ wow out of ammo.
no road access to that one?

[Chairman Mao]

I'm afraid you'll have to walk about a Km through very nice rocks etc.

There's virtually nothing about it on the net, it's not on any maps, and isn't even on Google Maps. I had to use my co-ordinates from the GPS to find it on there.

The green arrow is the temple that you park at. I presume the little lake above it is where you trek to.

Map of Rak Sai Waterfall, Ubon Ratchathani.

[Necron99]

Explains the lack of rubbish then

[Chairman Mao]

On the road, and about 15km off the main road, along a nice riding road we get to Namtok Sae Hua Maeo.



Wide and flat and quite alien-esque.



Baked mud with crab holes?









Quite a nice place to relax and have a picnic. Even has a beach.



Ride back to base, then Soapy, pizza and beer time.

[terry57]

Another interesting thread Mao. Cheers.

The great thing about the GPS is that it gives me the freedom to venture deep from the main road without fear of getting lost.

The GPS will always bring one back to a main road.

Bloody brilliant they are.

[Chairman Mao]

^ Yup. I think they're great when in a new town and want some food. Just click the food button and it gives you the name and description of the closest 50 restaurants. Same with gas stations. Same with Hotels. Same with Historical Sites. Same with Natural Landscapes such as waterfalls, national parks, or anything else worth seeing. Just click the 'Go' button and it will take you exactly there.

You begin to wonder how one ever toured without it.

[Satonic]

Lovely pics Mao... Being in Bangkok, in front of a laptop with the aircon on most of the day I sometimes forget where I'm living and just how beautiful this place can be. Has some of the best riding roads too

Cheers for taking the time to post.

[Rural Surin]

Nice slides, CM.
Well done!

[sabang]

Very nice- having lived here in remote Ubon for about 4 years, and never having seen a single waterfall, I'm enjoying this.

[Dillinger]

Nice thread Mao

Wheres the rest of your hiking buddies ?

Mao putting the rambling back into scrambling