The Hidden SECRET of Thailand’s GIANT Rock SNAKE
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- Following on from my incredible hike across Phu Langka mountain in Bueng Kan, North East Thailand I reach the Naga Cave ถ้ำนาคา complex, one of Thailand's newest and most secret tourist destinations to International tourists. It features a giant snakes head and body in rock and even has reptile like scales.
It's a beautiful destination and you have to earn the right to see it's wonders by undertaking a scenic hike through beautiful mountain scenery.
The local people revere Tham Nakha (Naga Cave) and associate it with ancient legends, but what is the hidden truth about Thailand's giant rock snake?
Here's a playlist of my popular videos about Thailand in the 80's and 90's
• Thailand in the 80’s
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Karl, I'm full of admiration and respect for these tortuous and difficult mountain hikes you bring to us here but what surpasses your endeavours is wondering how the hell the Thais got all the building materials up there to construct the retreats, monasteries and even the metal stairs here and there. In this case I'm wondering if construction materials would have been hoisted up the cliff face via that rock that juts out. Many thanks for showing us some of the natural wonders on this planet.
That's actually one of the comments I get the most often and I totally agree. It's a labour of love and dedication and when Temples are involved it's usually done for free or through donations. I really have no idea how the building materials were transported there, probably by hand. Cheers
I was there two and a half years ago and after seeing lots of Thai's praying and kneeling before this rock, I realised their religion/culture is still mostly based on an animistic belief system. You see it alot on jungle trails around the country with the most common example of worshipping the spirits of natural objects being the coloured cloth being tied around large trees. Thai Buddhism is greatly infused with this older belief system of animism/folk religion.
In many ways I think you were lucky to see it back then. it's less of an adventure now but the better infrastructure does help to make it accessible to more people. Yes, they are very spiritual people which sometimes challenges my cynical, Western views. regardless of my own views it is very colourful and interesting to observe and is part of what gives this part of the World it's unique character. Cheers
Thank you for bringing us to this amazing place! 👍
My pleasure, thank you
Good day Karl, May I know how do you go to the naka cave. What's the nearest airport?
Probably Nakhon Phanom airport. Fly there and rent a car or possibly from Udon Thani.
@@karlsthailand thanks my brother
Goes back to Noah’s flood
😂 Exactly. Cheers
Thanks for taking us along Karl🙏🏼 The views were awesome and I’m very impressed with your Thai language skills! Cannot wait to see your next adventure 😊
Glad you enjoyed it Marietta. It's a fascinating place, very revered by the Thais yet although the legends are ancient as a tourist destination it's all very new.
That looked a bit easier than the first part Karl, and nice to have some company, but I know you enjoy the challenge of the tougher hikes as well. Magnificent views there, looking across to Laos.. Where are you off to next?
Mark, I have so much editing to catch up on and I'm still recording new stuff. I have a run of stuff from the South coming up soon and there should be the recent collaboration(s) I did with Bangkok Pat coming up on his channel. Hope you are well, cheers
beautifully photographed.using your continued expertise in photograhy serves you well on youTube. the shots approaching the edge of a cliff took my breath away. having the monk in a scene was very calming, as if time stood still for you at that moment. well done, karl.
Thanks Donald. That Monk footage is a few years old but it was a magical moment for me, one of those times when forces conspire in your favour.
That looked breathtaking, you must be careful of that terrain✌🏿🍺
I'd done it twice before Paul, once solo but this was the first time where the rock was slippery. It made quite a difference I can tell you. Cheers
My wife and I have done a couple of your treks and we’ll probably follow you on this one. Her family are in Sachon Nackon so not so far away
I presume that you mean by the usual route set up for visitors? Please don't attempt the route I took up there without hiring a National Park ranger to escort you both. There's plenty in that area so it might be worth spending 3 or 4 days there. There's also the "Tham Nakhi" hike at Phu Langka NP as well as this one, "Tham Nakha" Have fun, cheers
Stunning informative as always happy new year , Sawadee Pee Mai Pee Karl
Cheers Morvee and sawatdee Pee Mai to you too
Great video as always Karl! Btw how did you learn Thai so good??
Hey Richardo--I'm sure Karl can answer himself but it you look at his channel you will see he has been here a long, long time
I decided to learn Thai after my second visit in 1988 and I can assure you it was a decision that has rewarded me for decades since. Thanks
That's it really, just the impetus to decide to learn many years ago and...time. Thanks
@@karlsthailand I need serious focus to learn the language. But I really want to learn it! Just need to find the right way! Cheers Karl!
Everyone learns differently. I did fine with books and cassette tapes but many prefer 1 to 1 with a teacher
thank y from Brasil 🙏
My pleasure. Thank you
Hi Karl , it was a couple of years ago we went no hand rails then . The group we where with where UA-cam people so we are on UA-cam 555 . A fantastic place to visit best no flip flops 555 .
You know Chris in some ways I preferred it in the first few months it was open. Which UA-cam video is it if you don't mind me asking?
@@karlsthailand Natasha Phothisung UA-cam.be/_pytxvZe2g , Nov 2021 .
05:34 I wish you had gotten a closeup of one of those pink flowers. What a gorgeous color!
Thanks Karl advice taken
Any time!
It's a long one, Karl. I noticed all these little hang-over rocks that are good for photos are being closed nationwide. Dragon Crest Mountain in Krabi has barbwire there with a sign saying a 2,000 baht fine for ignoring the warning. It is a common thing around Thailand for some reason.
'Safety' to the detriment o fun and adventure does seem to be the trend recently. I guess the NP supervisors are just scared of being held responsible if any bad happens. Cheers
When I get to Thailand I want you to be my tourist guide to all those wonderful pla ces most tourist don't dare to go. Thanks for sharing.Beautiful job. Happy travels and stay safe. God bless you👍🏿.
Thanks very much. I do get asked about accompanying people on trips more often these days.
Enjoyed this cliffhanger episode, _with_ banisters & people, as much as the others. You gotta be in good shape.
Cheers Serge. Staying in good shape takes work but it does have its rewards.
History Histology ua-cam.com/video/TQ-w1jh44iE/v-deo.html
That's an interesting perspective, the rocks really do look like reptile scales and it's amazing how geology can look similar to biology. I loved your tiger video having been in the lucky position of having seen tigers in the wild here many years ago. I have a few tiger related videos where I tell of my own encounters and interview others about their experience with them but you have to go back a long way on my video list. Cheers
@@karlsthailand I saw your vid in KY, I saw my first tiger on my very first trip to KY about 28 years ago. I think best chance of seeing a tiger these days is at Pangsida National Park, Sra Keaw. May be should plan a trip together one day.
@@karlsthailand my friend in Spain (video) we often correspond, if we go to Kanchanaburi, there is the Erawan 33 heads, all the trabacular bone can be found, can see all the holes of blood vessels, now broken up and the iron blood makes the land fertile. Earth has been mined by ancient miners, like in Avatar movie, using electricity to breakaway the silica layer, then mine, you can see the discarded mounds everywhere, like the chocolate hills in Philippines. ua-cam.com/video/wfrKqGuOhgQ/v-deo.html
great clips iv;e been to many great places all over thailand but still haven;t manages to find a hike, preferably long distance and perhaps following a ridge instead of climbing steep mountains. homesick for peak district
Look for my video just over a year ago called Scary Hike In Kanchanaburi, Thailand. It might be just what you are looking for. Cheers
Yout movies are the most sincere adoration of lovely Thai people and their wonderful kingdom! Thank you, Buddha bless you!
Thanks so much for that compliment, it's good to know that my videos are perceived in a positive light.
As usual Karl---Excellent reporting from a gem in NE Thailand. Thanks
My pleasure, thank you
Fantastic footage Karl! The steps you descended at the end I remember as the dodgiest frame I had ever ascended back in 2017 with my wife and a ranger. We went back last year but were not allowed up as they had not renovated it then. Can’t wait to go back, the hike was definitely a challenge!!
Every time I have been up and down the route (5 times) has been different for various reasons. 2017 was before the real opening to tourists so I can only imagine how precarious it would have been. Cheers
Fabulous video and scenery. It's interesting looking at the comparisons of the paths - routes , you deserved a Leo after that slog 15 km in the heart and parts slippery underfoot , thanks.for.posting , take care see you around 😊
Glad you enjoyed it Glyn. I wish I could tell you that I did enjoy a Leo afterwards but the truth is that a friend collected me from the other side of the mountain and we drove non-stop to Ubon Ratchathani lol. Cheers
great go karl ! , good to know you have multiple spirit guides on these nature adventures , Naga heads on your side.. peace out...🙏🏼
Thanks so much. Spirit guides? I'd never thought of it like that but quite like the sound of it considering some of the places I go to.
Thank you Karl i really enjoyed this video part 2, if only the lovely thai ladys you spoke to knew what effort you put in on your way up on the harder route, thanks again.
Glad you enjoyed it. I wasn't expecting any kudos from them tbh but the thought that they had no idea did amuse me for some reason.
That was a long haul that mate...deffo for the dry season too.
Brilliant 👍
You got it Ant, it's actually very enjoyable when it's dry. hope you are well
Karl, this was a wonderful video. Thank you for sharing your adventures with us
My Pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it and thank you
AMAZING KARL xxx
I have so many places to visit when I finally move to Thailand 👍🙏
You should! There's so much to see, I'm still finding places and never get bored of returning to my favourites, cheers
Great vid Karl, fantastic views, i really enjoyed.
Cheers Cliff, it was a real adventure what with the extended hike and that and it's incredible to see the reverence the Thais attach to the place too
Great vlog that photo with the monk is one of the best photos such a great shot enjoy the vlog
Cheers Brett. Yes I love that picture perhaps even more for the way it happened than the way it turned out. Hope you are well
This is crazy!!! Another amazing trip Karl!
Glad you enjoyed it Mark. It’s a great hike even if you just take the standard tourist trail
Nice one karl,,i always thought the picture with the monk was made up😮,,But now i know the story, Brilliant 👍😎
Wow, it never crossed my mind that people may have thought it was photoshopped lol. But I guess these days it's hard to know . Truth is it was pure good fortune and opportunism, as soon as I saw the Monk next in the queue I knew it was great photo opportunity and he was more than happy to oblige. Cheers
@@karlsthailand fantastic, i like the photo even more now👍👍
Great views thanks Karl
Glad you enjoyed it Darren. Cheers
Fantastic again Karl
Glad you enjoyed it and thank you