Camping Stories

[Tippaporn]

Reading a thread enquiring about camping supplies and such I began reminiscing about all of my delightful and memorable camping trips taken around Thailand. Hey, possibly a great thread, I thought. Not sure how many campers there are out there but it would be a good excuse to relate some of my camping adventures.

So here we go (though this is more of a reprint from my response to the enquiry thread).

One of my favorite camping grounds is in Tat Mok National Park, just on the outskirts and to the east of Petchabun. From the valley floor it's about a 10KM drive straight up the mountainside following alongside a creek running between the mountains. An absolutely awesome scenic drive.

What I like about this park is that the camping grounds are small, sheltered from the road by a natural berm, grassy, and you can park your vehicle right at your site. Another huge benefit is the creek bordering the campground opposite the berm. A great way to cool off during the days and afford the kids some swimming. I've camped there thrice, all on holidays when other National Parks are overflowing, yet this one never seems to fill up at all.

Here's some pics.

The campfire pictured above was built by me. For some reason we had a small pile of pebble stone on our site. Being on the edge of the campground with forest bordering it I noticed a huge pile of freshly cut timbers. Laying on the ground near the pile of stones was a 4-foot length of split bamboo. My mind instantaneously put the ingredients together and the light bulb quickly went off.

Using one end of the bamboo I dug out a fire pit and then used it to grade the pebble stone. I found more than enough pieces of logs that seemed, amazingly, to be cut expressly for my purpose of building seating more than halfway around the fire. Shorter pieces lended themselves perfectly for small 'coffee' tables at the ends of each length of seating. I finished up by building a classic log cabin fire and setting up the glasses, booze and even a trash bag pinned to a stake. Now there was little to do but wait in anticipation of nightfall.

Needless to say that when the sun went down and the chill air began to shiver the bones I lit up the fire which then attracted most of the other campers. A party to remember!!! Come 2 AM or thereabouts my wife decided to do a little kung fishing in the creek, inviting me to come along. It was absolutely hilarious to see her out there fishing in the dark with no jacket or equipment other than her bare hands. Amazing, I thought, especially considering her intolerance for the cold.

There's nothing quite like camping in Thailand!

Edited March 19, 2006 by Tippaporn

[Tippaporn]

I can't believe this topic has received 36 hits and no replies!! There must be some campers out there! This is leading me to believe that farang do not come to Thailand for wholesome activities.

[donna]

I used to camp in Ang Thong Marine Park. We used to camp on Koh Saam Sao. Was beautiful. There is a ranger station there and the last ranger I got to know was a lovely man who lived there with his wife. They would know when I was coming in advance and would always have raw prawns for me to eat when we arrived.

I always hated sleeping in tents, so I bought myself a hammock complete with mozzie net which was great. I would wake up in the morning and have the most magnificent views.

During the day we would take out the longtail boat and fish for barracuda. Often we would head up to Koh Nippon and gather sea urchins to take back to the island and eat (one of the most horrid things I have ever put in my mouth I have to add). The snorkeling there was great.

I have many fond memories of those trips and would love to do them again.

But a friend of mine has just bought an old fishing boat. She and her husband are planning on doing island hopping camping trips in the Krabi and surrounding areas. Lucky for me, I get to do the exploratory trip with them, and we are planning on heading down to Satun, island hopping all the way down. I cant wait.

[girlx]

i would love to hear more- i heard for instance there is good camping in ang thong marine park near samui/phangan, where they provide equipment at the campsites. anyone have info on that?

(edit: donna we posted simultaneously... can you tell me where you went and how you got there? what is the set up at the campsites? thx!)

Edited March 20, 2006 by girlx

[skylar]

I don't like camping anymore. My sister and I went on a school-led 3-day camping trip up Mount Baw Baw (Victoria, Australia), and it was a nightmare.

While we were pitching our tent, one of the tent sticks broke. Also, there wasn't any flat land, so we had to set up the tent on the side of a hill. As it was April, it was chilly during the day, but the temperature went below zero at night. We woke up at several intervals each night, and as my sister and I were hugging each other with our teeth chattering from the cold, she managed to tell me that she hated me.

I burnt my hand on our little cooking saucepan one night, and I unexpectedly threw our dinner away into a bush due to the shock.

Also, one of the students broke the orange poo shovel while digging a hole for her number two. Because of this, the next night a student stepped in an uncovered number two and managed to smear it all over the inside of her tent.

No more for me, thanks.

[zzap]

Well, the only time I have camped in Thailand was for new year at Pha Chu, Nan National park. I posted a report with pics in the travel forum.

I recommend it, but then, I like to have some comforts, such as bathrooms and restaurant near by. Apparently it is really quiet outside popular Thai holidays, but one of my inlaws who works there can still make some pretty decent Thai food for you.

She'll even let you borrow the bbq to grill your own...

[Tippaporn]

I don't like camping anymore. My sister and I went on a school-led 3-day camping trip up Mount Baw Baw (Victoria, Australia), and it was a nightmare.

While we were pitching our tent, one of the tent sticks broke. Also, there wasn't any flat land, so we had to set up the tent on the side of a hill. As it was April, it was chilly during the day, but the temperature went below zero at night. We woke up at several intervals each night, and as my sister and I were hugging each other with our teeth chattering from the cold, she managed to tell me that she hated me.

I burnt my hand on our little cooking saucepan one night, and I unexpectedly threw our dinner away into a bush due to the shock.

Also, one of the students broke the orange poo shovel while digging a hole for her number two. Because of this, the next night a student stepped in an uncovered number two and managed to smear it all over the inside of her tent.

No more for me, thanks.

Now that's a funny camping misadventure, skylar. You should have joined the Boy Scouts.

[donna]

Girlx - you should contact Seaflower Bungalows, near the Pirate Bar on the West coast. They arrange fantastic trips out there. The guys are great boat drivers, organised, and do great food. They have tents, hammocks, everything you need.

[Patex]

I survived Doi Angkaan (4 degrees Celsius). And Pu Kradueng, 3 times.

When we went to Pu Kradueng for the first time we made the mistake and rent one of the "Wooden tents" the temperature was only measurable in cm... something about 2...

[astral]

I wondered if this thread should be in the Gay Section.

Edited March 25, 2006 by astral

[skylar]

Now that's a funny camping misadventure, skylar. You should have joined the Boy Scouts.

Hmm, after reading numerous articles about Thai kids who mysteriously disappeared during their scouting trips, I'm glad I didn't have the opportunity to join

[magic]

Mount Pinos, California, USA.

Camped there a few times with frineds in about 8 feet of snow, freezing cold, drank all day & night, huge campfire, hiked around. Will dop again when I visit..

[Tippaporn]

One of the major differences between camping with Thais and the folks back in the States is the chow. We'll stop at the nearest local market to our intended campsite and fill dam_n near half the bed of my pick up with food. Once at the site no sooner are the tents set up when everyone, and I mean everyone (except me of course) starts cooking something or other.

Rather than the simplistic and easy to prepare weenies and baked beans you're faced with an entire selection of goodies; from grilled fish and rice to soups to somtam to grilled meats, vegetable dishes, boiled eggs and omeletes, on and on and on.

At least I can help with mess cleanup and am grateful to contribute. But no sooner have you finished eating when the ritual begins anew. Constant eating (and drinking).

Edited March 25, 2006 by Tippaporn

[thaibebop]

Never went camping. The used to be a joke that went around for awhile when I was a kid about camping. You'd ask someone if they went camping with a friend or two and they woke up in the morning tied to a tree stump covered in vasoline and bleeding from the backend would they tell anyone?

Hopefully they would say no. Then you ask if they want to go camping.

I know, bad joke, but it was a kids joke.

[cm das]

I used to camp all the time in the states - in the appalachians & the rockies. The only camping I've done in los was at phu chee fah in chiang rai. As it was a weekend & a full moon too, the place was very crowded but although i usually like a quiet, secluded camping experience, it was kind of fun. There was sort of a festival atmosphere - everybody was drinking, eating, sitting around the fire, etc. The highlight though was sunrise from the peak. If you've never been, go check it out! In the cool season the sun rises over a sea of clouds blanketing laos. It was incredible & not at all spoiled by the fact that there were several hundred people there with me to watch it. In fact, everyone was remarkably quiet. And very few farang were there - I'd guess less than 10.

[wilko]

I've not camped in Thailand although I'm quite interested in the idea. However I've left all my eqipment in Oz and Europe and looking at what's available here I'm not very impressed. Has anyone found a good supplier of campinng equipment in Chonburi area?

I can import from Oz but it seems a little expensive, unless others need stuff too!