Thailand: Wonders of the underworld, 'cave cathedrals' in all their ancient glory

[StrontiumDog]

Wonders of the underworld: Explorer captures 'cave cathedrals' in all their ancient glory

By Phil Vinter

PUBLISHED: 10:54 GMT, 21 August 2012 | UPDATED: 11:56 GMT, 21 August 2012

At first glance they don't look real, made in a Hollywood studio perhaps.

But these breathtakingly beautiful photographs are actually from Thailand and they give a glimpse into the staggering other world just beneath the Earth's surface.

Taken by experienced Australian cave explorer John Spies the images highlight the incredible intricacy and colour of strange structures created over millions of years by water slowly dripping through limestone rock.

Some of the scenes captured by the subterranean snapper illustrate the sheer size of the caverns which can contain vast pools of water, high-rise columns and smooth rock domes.


John Spies explores the Tham Lod cave in Pang Mapha, Thailand. It is one of hundreds of caves located in this region and those visiting before sunset can watch the birds entering and the bats exiting in their millions


As the light changes the water and rock formations in the Tham Lod cave take on different hues. There are thousands of fish in the cool underground water


Rays of light flood a large natural entrance to this cave in the northern district of Pang Mapha in Thailand. A small figure peers out from the rocky dim world


Cave explorer David Pierce examines a 21.4metre high column which dwarfs over him at Tham Lod cave in Pang Mapha, Thailand


A majestic view of Tham Lum Khao Ngu (Snake Mountain cave) which houses the world's tallest cave column a monolith that stretches to a staggering 62metres. the downward falling stalactites take on a striking orange colour

The hundreds of stalactites draping from the roof are reminiscent of church organ pipes and when coupled with the huge echoey spaces it is no surprise that the caves have been labelled cathedrals.

The formations are so large that Mr Spies and other explorers face a difficult scramble to achieve their goal of reaching deeper into the cavernous depths.

From the 200-foot world’s highest cave column that is Tham Lum Khao Ngu, known as Snake Mountain cave, in central Thailand to exploring underground rivers draped with impressive rock formations in Pang Mapha to the north of the country these shots show the very best of the nation’s underworld wonders.

In over 30 years as an underground explorer Mr Spies has visited 85 caves in which he has discovered incredible formations, documented prehistoric cave art, ancient underworld burial grounds, Buddhist temples and strange eyeless forms of life.

He says 'I have discovered lots of unexplored caves.

'This includes some of the longest and best decorated in Thailand.

'I have found a new species and genus of cave fish called the angel fish and I have been involved with Thai and foreign archaeologists documenting and recording scores of sites.'

John has discovered caves where no human had visited before and his expertise in the field led him to work with Sir David Attenborough on his acclaimed Planet Earth BBC television series.


John Spies in the midst of the rising white columns and falling stalactites at the Tham Lod in Pang Mapha, Thailand


Dave Pierce photographed at the entrance chamber of Tham Nam Lang in Pang Mapha, Thailand.


John Spies photographed at the entrance chamber of Tham Susa, a filming site for BBC's Planet Earth sequence in Pang Mapha, Thailand


Cave adventurer Ian Robinson is silhouetted in the dim light as he examines the Tham Pha Puak, White Cliff Cave in Pang Mapha, Thailand


Beautiful blue and green-tinged stalactites hang in the dark recesses of natural caves in Pang Mapha, Thailand


Vulcanites, the relatively rare formations of floating calcite rafts photographed in Tham Pha Mon cave in Pang Mapha, Thailand


Shan Man Ong, standing on the bamboo raft explores the downstream entrance of Tham Lod cave in Pang Mapha, Thailand


Suphaporn Singnakphum examines the decorated chamber in Tham Fossil cave in Pang Mapha, Thailand


Shan Man Ong, standing on a bamboo raft, explores the downstream entrance of Tham Lod cave in Pang Mapha, Thailand


Dave Pierce examines the crisp lines of the flowstone at Tham Pha Mon cave in Pang Mapha, Thailand


Intrepid adventurer David Pierce sits back in wonder to take in the Tham Mae Lana, flowstone in the main stream passage in Pang Mapha, Thailand


It may resemble a wasps nest but this is a rock formation called a cave pendulite hanging in Tham Pha Mon cave in Pang Mapha, Thailand


Oolites or cave pearls are sedimentary rocks formed from ooids, spherical grains composed of concentric layers. These were photographed in a cave in Pang Mapha, Thailand


Kerry Hamilton climbs a cave rope attached to bamboo scaffolding to scale the inner waterfall of Tham Susa in Pang Mapha, Thailand


Ian Robinson explores the Tham Pha Puak (White Cliff) Cave in Pang Mapha, Thailand

Read more: Wonders of the underworld: Explorer captures ¿cave cathedrals¿ in all their ancient glory | Mail Online

[Neo]

Bat shit.. lots of it

[misskit]

Not one somtam or souvenir stand down there. Its really Thailand?

[Neep]

Lovely pics, thanks for posting.

[Latindancer]

Thanks, StrontiumDog ! FANTASTIC photos ! A real visual treat.

[wkb global]

Amazing to see, thanks

[Albert Shagnastier]

Looks well worth a visit.

[kingwilly]

Awesome pics and amazing photography, thanks for posting.

[LukDod]

Thanks, StrontiumDog...
Next time I bike up north to visit my friends at the Golden Triangle Riders, I'll also include a trip the Mae Hong Song as well as a visit to those spectacular caves.

[StrontiumDog]

^ Welcome all. Thanks for the thanks.

Awesome photos. I have to visit it!

[Lantern]

Thanks for taking the time to post those great pics.

[Thetyim]

In over 30 years as an underground explorer Mr Spies has

never learnt the difference between Oolite and a Pisoid

[misskit]

^ How big are those stones?

[Umbuku]

Beautiful.

On my to see list.

[pescator]

Absolutely stunning photos.

[Rural Surin]

Quite spectacular!
Thanks for the show, SD.

[Takeovers]

Beautiful. Love it.

[Bangyai]

Great photos. Talk about unseen Thailand !

[carlspencer]

Those are some bloody amazing photos! Just when I thought I was running out of places to see in Thailand. Thanks!

[Aberlour]

Amazing!! Great post. Cheer SD.

[waradmiral]

Great shots. I went to Tham lot a few years back and loved it. Snake mtn cave looks even better.

[MissTraveller]

Wow, I'm heading there. Great pics too.
I saw some really cool caves when I was on Halong Bay.

[terry57]

I met John Spiers In 1987 at his guest house in Sopong in North Thailand.

He married a Thai trekking guide and still lives there today, I dropped in to his Guest house this year on a road trip after all those years.

Just opposite his Guesthouse are many caves where he conducts guided tours, bloody beautiful country.

Go check it out.

[MissTraveller]

^Sounds cool, Terry57. Where is Sopong anyway?

[FlyFree]

Only came across this thread now. Thanks SD.