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

^

I think the correct spelling is " Soppong. " Its half way round the Mae Hong Song loop out of Chiang Mai.

A very small Town with no Farang except John. He has been living there since 77 and has quite a unique set up with his Guest house.

Google it up and go stay a few nights. Bloody good it is.

Think I got some pics from the road trip, I'll see if I can find them.

^haha! I've never seen batshit..but I've been pooped on a few times by passing birds.

Originally Posted by terry57

Google it up and go stay a few nights. Bloody good it is. Think I got some pics from the road trip, I'll see if I can find them

Sounds great! I do like your travel threads too, Terry.

was up there last year and it is indeed a great find. John is a treat to talk with

I've been there three years ago, one of my best visit in Thaïland, I paid 550 bahts for 4 aduls and one children, and its worth it, more than certain visit I did in national park...

My pictures are not as good unfortunately:






Columns looking like mushrooms


"Hanuman", so the guide's said


"Crocodile"

"Frog"


Looks like a boob to me




Never seen this "leopard" design before


Old wood cofin, in the "ghost room", I was the only one who "dared" to visit it ...


The other end

Originally Posted by MissTraveller

^Sounds cool, Terry57. Where is Sopong anyway?

Soppong is 1 hour drive from Pai. Soppong is a small village. Pai is full of backpackers but at Soppong you won't see many bps because they are dumb khunts who walk around pai with their heads glued to the lp guide telling them which coffee shop to drink at.

Originally Posted by waradmiral

Soppong is 1 hour drive from Pai. Soppong is a small village. Pai is full of backpackers but at Soppong you won't see many bps because they are dumb khunts who walk around pai with their heads glued to the lp guide telling them which coffee shop to drink at.

Thanks..I'd like to check out Pai as well as I've never been. Soppong sounds better though and the caves look pretty cool.

Definitely bigger than Goatchurch or Sidcup Swallet but many similar in Sarawak and Sabah, I wonder why the best cave systems are all in the tropics? Perhaps thousands of years of monsoons help?

The Jenolan caves west of Sydney blew me away- must get around to doing some Thai speleology.

Pai is nothing special. Loads of backpackers who outnumber the locals. There is a resort which has baths linked to a hotspring. Tham Lot was the highlight for me. I spent about 1.5-2 hours in the cave. Best done with a car and the best car hire place in Chiang Mai is North Wheels.

North Wheels Chiang Mai Rent-A-Car : Explore The North On Your Own Wheels

I find CM boring and mega touristy but if you hire a car and get out into the countryside it's nice up north. The drive to Chiang Dao cave is good and that cave is worth a look. You have a cobra show and elephant camp on the way.

Also the drive to Phayao is scenic and that town is very Thai. Shitty hotels but nice town around a lake and there's a cool temple in the hills nearby.