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Ratanakiri |
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Day 1 : "Elephant trek!" it sounded so interesting immediately I decided to go waterfall on elephant. And then my first day of Ratanakiri was started. 1 hour later I was on elephant-back to Ka Tieng waterfall through rubber forest.
I rode on this elephant You know elephant back is very high therefore my eye was higher and another view opened out before me. I felt I came to greatness. But there was one problem about this elephant. He often stopped and ate grass of wayside, didn't walk directly. I guess he was so hungry.
At first we passed through rubber plantation. People notch bark and put small vessels under each tree. As I never saw how to gather of rubber before tap work was very interesting sight for me. 1-hour later we wade across a stream, and then elephant stopped and sat down on his heels. Here we were Ka Tieng waterfall! Notes : Ratanak hotel offers motorbikes for US$15 a day with driver, 4WD pick-up for US$35 a day with driver; elephants trek for US$10 per hour. I decided to look around Ratanakiri by motorbikes. |
No one in here, only the sound of fall was heard. For a quite long time I stared suddenly I felt fear like swallowing up in the forest. Although guide said "You can swim in the basin." I couldn't. |
After visiting Ka Tieng waterfall we went to the other side of the town to volcanic crater-lake Yeak Lom located 5km southeast from Ban Lung. Turn right at the hill tribe monument circle and run about 1.5km, we reached entrance gate of the Lake. For our foreigner entrance fee was US$1 at that time.
Guidebook said "The Lake formed by volcanic eruption almost 700,000 years ago with 47m depths and 800m diameters and walking path of 2,500m around the Lake." Approach there wooden deck with swimmers caught my eye. As I came with imagined of mysterious tranquil atmosphere, I was little bit disappointed at hum of voices like a resort.
So we walked along the lakeside path for about 10 minutes to second deck in front of small Crafts Museum and handicraft shop. In stillness three boys were fishing. Although device was simple the fish took the bait as fast as they could get the hook into the water. It was amazing! Provided that fishing permission only for inhabitants of the area. Don't forget this. 
Beautiful quiet Yeak Lom Lake from the second deck Local people believe spiritual creatures live in the water and the forest of this area, so that they have been protected here for cut tree and for disordered developing. |
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