The most popular mountain for stargazing, camping, and bird watching is undoubtedly "Phu Soi Dao". It's a place that will leave you wanting more after just one visit.

Even though many things I expected here didn't turn out as I hoped, there were no stars filling the sky, no flowers blooming across the fields, it still gave me more experience than not starting the journey at all.

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The trip starts from Man Daeng Waterfall to Phu Soi Dao. You can see the old review at http://m.pantip.com/topic/35429316
Continuing from Phu Hin Rong Kla, we travel to Phu Soi Dao. Most people usually choose Phu Hin Rong Kla, Thap Berk, and Khao Kho because they are located nearby. It is more convenient to travel and there are many tourist attractions and places to stay.

However, I might be a workaholic or a psychopath, addicted to hardship, so I chose this path. Another reason is that I had already made an appointment with a friend on Pantip, and I didn't want to break my promise as a man.

From Phu Hin Rong Kla to Phu Soi Dao, the distance is over 150 kilometers, and it takes about 3 hours to drive. At first, I was wondering why it wouldn't take more than 2 hours, but the road is winding and follows the mountains, so you can't go very fast. However, the views along the way are enough to make you happy and relaxed.

We woke up early and packed our tents and belongings. We went to have breakfast and met the people who had gone waterfalling with us again. This time, we chatted for a while and lost track of time. By the time we left, it was already past 9 am.

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Around noon, we arrived at Phu Soi Dao National Park. We had lunch at the welfare shop and packed our bags again, taking only the essentials. We then contacted the staff to receive the rental form for the top. Here, the staff will give us a piece of paper to tick off what we want to rent while we are at the top, such as tents, sleeping bags, barbecue stoves, water tanks, etc. We will then pay for it at the bottom when we leave.

Once everything is settled, a wooden car will pick us up and take us to the mountain entrance, which is about 2-3 kilometers away.

Wow!! Using child labor to sell tickets, huh?

Okay, I'm ready. 6.5 kilometers to San Phu Soi Dao. Normally, most people take 4-6 hours. They usually start walking in the morning.

But now it's 13.49 at an altitude of 639 meters above sea level. If I don't hurry, it will definitely be dark. Because I'm still scared of hiking in the dark like yesterday at the Button Rock, I have to speed up my hike this time. A lot.

After walking for about a hundred or two hundred meters, you will reach Phusoidao Waterfall. Some people don't hike up the mountain but just come to play at the waterfall.

The first part of the walk was relatively easy, following the waterfall path until we reached the "Farewell Hill". This is where the steep climb begins. I put my camera away after taking this photo, as I wanted to get through the steep section before dark.

Phu Soi Dao has 5 hills: Sending Relatives Hill > Conquering the Hill > Pa Ko Hill > Tiger Hill > and the brutal Death Hill.

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Traveling steadily, looking for the kilometer marker for reassurance. I hardly took any breaks because there were quite a lot of insects. Whenever I stopped, they would swarm around me. Maybe it was because I hadn't showered? Haha (But the insects were still not as bad as Khao Luang in Sukhothai).

I walked past several groups of tourists, some of whom were trail running. It seemed like they were practicing before a competition.

During the rainy season, the forest is often so humid that mushrooms grow like this. I really want to pick some for dinner, but I don't know if they are edible.

Let's warp to the final hill, shall we? Along the way, I must admit that I didn't pay much attention to the scenery. I just used my body to feel the atmosphere around me. When I reached this point, I took a break and asked the porter which hill was Lan Son. He pointed over there. Wow, it looks high, doesn't it? With the remaining distance for this final stretch.

The Hill of Death!! As soon as I walked past it, I realized that the hell of death is not below as I had heard, but it must be climbed!! Step by step, the muscles began to tighten little by little. I could feel the force of gravity pulling on the backpack on my shoulders. The fatigue from walking more than 10 kilometers yesterday began to take its toll until I met this little guy.

Me: Oh, hey there! How old are you?

Child: 11 years old

Me: Wow, who are you with? (Thinking to myself: She really is a hawker.)

Child: Parents (have already carried the pole in front)

Me: How many kilos are you? You're so tiny.

Boy: About 15 kilos, two rounds today.

Me: Hmm, do you want some water? I have some left over. (My younger sibling is resting and didn't bring a water bottle.)

Younger sibling: ........ (Silent, possibly out of respect)

Me: Here, have some (shoving it at him, but he takes several gulps, he must be really tired)

See you at the top, I'm going ahead.

The little boy was still able to carry heavy things up the stairs, and even twice in a row. What a boost of morale! Let's go!

Reaching the pine forest requires conquering several energy-sapping staircases.

The higher you climb, the more beautiful the scenery becomes. The wind blows cool air against your body, and it's just perfect. The feeling is amazing. As you continue walking, you get closer and closer to your destination. There are many people who are also making their way down, but most of them are porters. Everyone is encouraging you, saying that you're almost there, just a little further.

And finally, I arrived at the "Conqueror of the Pine Forest, Star Catcher" at 5:06 PM, at an altitude of 1533 meters above sea level. Why did it disappear by a hundred? Is the clock broken or has the sea level dropped?

From this sign, walk a little further and you will reach the camping ground. To join the members who walked ahead of me earlier this morning.

Members

After contacting the officer again, they arranged to rent equipment, water tanks, and barbecue grills. When they met their friends and gathered, they went to reserve the space in front of the thermometer, which later became known as the VIP Thermometer.

After setting up the tent, it was time for food. I have to thank the members who prepared so many different kinds of food. Otherwise, I would have only been able to eat instant noodles and ready-made meals, which taste terrible.

Our dinner menu today features instant noodles with canned fish, grilled chicken, sausages, and the highlight, grilled chicken feet with nails!!!

It was such a fun meal. Everyone came from different places and didn't know each other before, but it felt like we were close friends right away. We helped each other cook and eat, and we joked around. I brought the rice that came as a free gift from the Bangchak gas station, and I was in charge of cooking the rice. The first meal was a disaster, I was so embarrassed. The rice was hard, it was like eating rice husks. Haha, but everyone still ate it.

The funniest thing was the grilled chicken feet. My friend bought them but forgot to ask the seller to remove the nails. So, they were grilled with the nails on, some parts were burnt, some were raw, but we still ate them. We even shared some with the officers to show our kindness. But the officers said, "Hey, the nails are stuck in my throat!!!" 55555 Good interaction should have a memorable story, right!!

Bathing here is not connected to the bathroom. You have to rent a bucket and carry it to the bathroom to bathe. The water used is rainwater that is stored in a tank. If it runs out, you have to go and fetch water from the stream yourself. One bucket should be enough, otherwise you will have to go out and fetch more. Plan your shower well, or you will have to come out naked to fetch water.

Okay, it's best to take a shower while there's still light. Don't wait until it's dark, it will be difficult because there's no electricity, you have to use a flashlight and it's cold too. You won't dare to take a shower like me, haha. Dry cleaning on the second day.

As for drinking water, there will be filtered water provided, separate from the rainwater tank. You don't have to carry a lot if you're staying for several days or are worried about not having enough, unless you only drink mineral water, haha.

While I was cooking, the sun began to set, so I had to stop, grab my camera, and run out to take some pictures. At first, I wasn't going to go because I thought I could take pictures tomorrow, but when I looked from afar, the light was so beautiful that I couldn't resist, so I got these pictures.

The sky often changes color as the sun sets, creating a beautiful spectacle every time, even when obscured by clouds and mist.

Waving goodbye to the sun, we returned to cooking our food. The officers were kind enough to build a bonfire for us to keep warm. I told you our group was VIP. As the sky began to darken, fog descended over the entire campsite. A cold wind blew in, forcing us to put on our jackets. We sat in a circle, eating dinner and chatting into the night until we fell asleep, exhausted from the day's activities.

The highlight here is stargazing at night. I wanted to take pictures of the stars, but I couldn't see any because the sky was cloudy. It's because we came during the rainy season. I can only hope that tomorrow I will have the chance to see the stars and the famous view of Phu Soi Dao.

Tomorrow still holds stories for us, even though two members had to say goodbye earlier in the morning. Good night, wake up to the morning with fog swirling around you. I wish every morning could be like this.

Take a deep breath and fill your lungs. In the city, we probably won't find anything like this. Sooooooooooooooooo.

Today we will travel to see the beauty around this field, but the army must march on its stomach. We had a simple breakfast of porridge and instant noodles. Two friends had to go back down this morning. It's a real shame. After we were full, we packed our things and set off. We started walking past the officers' booths to the back where the stream was.

It's late now, the sun is out but the fog hasn't cleared yet. It looks good with these pine trees.

Just a short walk away, you'll find the Thai-Lao border marker. With just one step, you can cross the border without needing a passport.

Try shooting with a GoPro.

I couldn't go in too deep, so I turned back for fear of being captured by the enemy. Hmm.

Continue walking through the pine forest, taking it easy.

Take photos and have fun without getting bored.

Until I came across a small path leading up the mountain, I decided to explore it a bit. At this point, the weather was great. Even though the sun was starting to feel a bit hot, the air that blew across the mountaintop made me feel pleasantly cold and refreshed.

The view from up here is amazing, you can see everything!

Behind that is the peak of two thousand and one (2,102 meters above sea level).

I sat there, enjoying the view for quite a while.

After walking down from the top, we continued walking to the sunset viewpoint.

Turning back, you will see the peak of two thousand and one standing tall there. Below is the tent site. When we get here, we have almost walked a full circle.

Along the way we walked today, there were many spots with beautiful flowers. However, since it's not yet the peak blooming season this month, there weren't many to be seen. It might be better to come during the late rainy season, around October to November, to see them in full bloom.

The star of Phu Soi Dao is this one, the Cobra Lily, or the Queen of Phu Soi Dao itself.

We circled back to find something to eat for lunch, took a nap, and rested for a while before continuing our journey to Sai Tip Waterfall. The sun was out in the afternoon, so it was time to take a shower after dry cleaning for more than two days (actually, I used wet wipes to clean myself).

Switching to flip-flops because we'll definitely be wading through the waterfall. Walking a short distance from the tent site, you'll find the entrance to Sai Thib Waterfall.

As you walk in, you will find a steep downhill path leading to the waterfall. Judging from the direction, it seems to be coming from the stream where we took a bath. When you reach the stream, turn left and you will see the waterfall. At first, I thought, "Is that all? Why does it look so small?" (I didn't look to the right at first).

Oh, on the way here today, you might have to be careful of bees, or you might get stung like me, two spots. Why didn't anyone else get stung?

I walked back out with a little disappointment. Oh, there's a way to go. With the message "Beware of the steep slope!! It's also slippery because I'm wearing flip-flops."

In reality, Sai Thib Waterfall should have several levels, as there is an endless descent. Could this be the waterfall that stretches down to the stream below?

Maple also has it.

After leaving a Snickers bar out in the sun until it melted, you should soak it in cold water for a bit.

If you want to play in the water here, you can do it, but look carefully. In case someone is bathing in the upstream, hehe.

After taking photos until the battery was about to run out, it was time to walk back. This time it was uphill again, whew, it was tiring.

It's late afternoon, let's go back and prepare food. Today will be a big meal because I asked the officer to buy two kilos of pork for grilling. But the officer hasn't come up yet, so all I can do is cook rice and wait.

It's getting cooler, let's go watch the sunset.

Two thousand and one

What I really missed on this trip was not doing enough research beforehand. I didn't realize that to reach the 2,100-meter peak, you have to wait until the rainy season is over. The path is brutal, slippery, and very steep.

The distance is only 2-3 kilometers, but it takes several hours to travel. You need an officer to guide you, use safety equipment, and climb ropes at some points. Therefore, during this rainy season, officials do not allow you to go up Y-Y #crying very hard.

As I waited for the sun to set,

Turning back, I couldn't take my eyes off what I saw in front of me. I fell in love instantly.

As the sunlight paints the sky, casting its rays across the moon, the mist creeps over the mountains...

Turning back, the sun had already set below the horizon, but it still shone with golden light.

Many people often wonder why they have to travel so far. What is the point?

These images may be one of the answers for travelers, but you will never know their meaning unless you see them with your own eyes or feel them with every molecule of your body. The beauty of photographs can never be compared to the experience of touching them yourself.

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At this point, both camera batteries were dead. I was a bit down for a while -_-" Let's go back to the tent.

We walked back to wait for Moo at the booth. The officials sat and talked for a while. Then, the many vendors that people had been waiting for arrived with bags full of supplies!!

While waiting for the pork to marinate, we built a fire and chatted with the park ranger about the hike to the 2,100-meter peak. The more we heard, the more excited we became. We were determined to make the climb, but it wouldn't be open until the end of October. November might be a better time to go, as the flowers would be in full bloom. Just thinking about the rhododendrons and maples in all their glory made us giddy with anticipation.

From my conversations with many officers in many places, I feel that the officers here are more friendly than anywhere else. Everyone is really kind. Some even shared herbal water with me to try. Hehe, I can't remember the name of the water, but it sounds familiar. Something like "floating star water," maybe? It's like white liquor, but the smell is much lighter. It also makes you feel hot, which is great for keeping warm in the cold. Hehe.

Tourists from different places sat and talked together here, in front of the bonfire.

My friends came to get me because I was too busy gossiping and didn't help with the cooking lol 55 I was really enjoying myself sipping beer by the fire.

Tonight's dinner, besides the grilled pork we made, there was also papaya salad, northern-style minced meat salad, and many other dishes that people shared with our group. We have to thank the members of our group, it must be the charm of the ladies that made our group become the VIP on the thermometer screen.

In addition, there are also officials who come to take care of the firewood and sit and chat. Where else would it be so ordinary?

After we were full, we decided to do some activities on the last night. We played cards, and the punishment was to drink water. We drank until we had to pee, but the bathroom was a bit far and dark, and it was cold. So, no one wanted to go. In the end, we had to walk there together. Haha.

The rain started to drizzle, the stars and moon were not visible, even the moon was only faintly visible. After we went to sleep for a while, the rain became heavier and the wind blew very hard. The tent was almost blown away. Will we survive? The tent is already small. But in the end, I fell asleep.

When I woke up, it was already morning. It turned out that all the female members were gathered in the same tent because the water had flooded their tents. I lost one camera. T_T I can only hope that it will come back to life.

This morning, after we finished eating, we packed our things and walked down the mountain, retracing our steps. Let's go!

This is a must-visit spot because it offers a fantastic feeling. The cool air and the vast mountain views are simply breathtaking.

They walked down slowly, chatting and gossiping happily, complaining sometimes, cracking jokes sometimes. There were even some funny slips and slides along the way.

Along the way, there were actually a variety of trees on both sides of the road.

As we came across the stream, it felt like a sign that we were almost there. On the way down, my friends and I made good time, reaching the bottom in just over three hours.

Take a picture of this sign to remind yourself to come back and conquer the two thousand and one peak, the fourth highest mountain in Siam.

Journey through the five hills

The heroes pondered at the pine clearing.

The hill sends relatives, the hill conquers the immortals, and learns from oneself.

One must persevere despite physical and mental exhaustion.

The forested hill continues to the tiger hill.

The clear path, is it not the tiger's domain?

But she is the queen of the forest.

Beautiful, fresh, bright, elegant, and delightful.

The last hill called death

The steep cliff is breathtaking.

Even though this time is near the end

I will fight to the death to reach the star-picking field.

The beautiful cockscomb flower in the pine garden

Like a person who loves the mountains

A promise in my heart to come back

Once again, conquering the two thousand peaks...