Phu Hin National Park

This weekend I finally made it up north, although not as far as Chiang Mai or any major cities. I spent time in the less-traveled province of Phitsanulok, in Phu Hin Rong National Park. Myself and three fine young gentlemen arrived at the gates of the park via truck bed (a preferred mode of travel in this country, trumped only by motorbike) on a temperate Saturday morning.


The moment I stepped off the truck (literally, within seconds), I was asked by some Thai people to pose for a photo. They asked me if I was famous, and I said “yes, movie star,” to which they replied “oooh!!” This definitely isn’t the first or the last time this sort of exchange will happen to me, but in this particular situation it highlighted the “Thainess” of our destination. We were definitely the only farangs in the entire park, but this time I actually enjoyed the treatment of my peculiarity. I felt like I was finally stepping outside of mainstream Thailand, and my distinction was met with smiles and wonder, rather than shouts or attempts the swindle me.

After setting up our tents, we quickly learned that we sorely needed a mode of transportation besides our legs. The park looked manageable on a map, but once we started walking I doubted whether we’d make the first trail before sunset. We eventually hitched a ride to the nearest hike loop, which featured other-worldly nodule rock formations at Lan Hin Pum and a cliff overlooking a breathtaking view of the misty park. The cliff was called Pha Chu Thong, and it was where communists who used to have a stronghold in this area flew their red flag after a victory. Now, of course, it sports a Thai flag.


That night an adventurous group of young Thai people invited us to join their campsite, where we exchanged drinks and language lessons. “Faen” refers to a boyfriend or girlfriend, and “mao” means drunk… yeah, we were really getting academic.

I’ve almost exclusively been to Thai beaches and cities, so being surrounded by greenery was a refreshing change. I don't necessarily believe in a Thoreau-level of necessity when it comes to spending time in the woods, but it was literally a breath of fresh air after the smog of my industrial town. I had to leave early Sunday morning in order to make it home in time, so the trip was painfully short. There are waterfalls and hikes waiting for me whenever I make it back…