Three of us and one of them, angels (The rainy season is really peaceful).

"The rain has arrived, let's go on a trip," my travel-loving junior invited. "Where should we go?" I replied casually. "How about Khao Thewada? I haven't been there yet," he suggested. And of course, I agreed. I had heard its reputation for a long time. I had planned to go many times, but until this year, I had still not kept my promise to visit. With the start of the rainy season, it was finally the right time.

For those unfamiliar with national parks, let me clarify that Khao Thewada is the highest peak in Phu Toei National Park, standing at 1,123 meters above sea level. Located in Dan Chang District, Suphan Buri Province, this forest connects to Huai Kha Khaeng, forming the westernmost part of Thailand's vast forest complex.

The journey to this destination requires a sturdy vehicle, as small cars are not suitable. The site is accessible year-round. Visitors can camp overnight at the ranger station at the foot of the mountain and then hike 800 meters without luggage to reach the summit.

The first phone call to the park revealed that the price for a chartered vehicle with a park ranger was 2,000 baht roundtrip, with a meeting point at the park headquarters. If we were using a pickup truck, we could drive it ourselves and wouldn't need a four-wheel drive. We decided to take our own pickup truck. The next day, we called again to confirm, and the park ranger told us that if we were driving ourselves, we didn't need to come to the headquarters and could go directly to the Ta Phin Kwi Ranger Station.

It was time to set off. Three of us left Bangkok in the late morning and approached the national park. "Let's go straight to Ta Phin Kwi, no need to go to the park headquarters, it's a different way," I said, based on the information provided by the park officials. "But I read a review that said to go to the headquarters, brother," my junior and the car owner replied.

Okay, let's head to the office first. We can discuss the rest later.

At 2:25 PM, the car screeched to a halt at the entrance of Ranger Station 1. The road leading to the park headquarters was muddy and difficult to navigate, according to the ranger. He suggested backtracking 5-6 kilometers, where a sign would indicate a turnoff for Khao Thewada. This route would be easier to ascend.

Ping pong, it seems I've won this round (laughs...)

The easiest way to reach Khao Thewa is via Ban Rai District, Uthai Thani. From there, follow the signs to Dan Chang, Suphan Buri. The gravel road leading up the mountain is approximately 15 kilometers long and takes about an hour to navigate. During the rainy season, the road can be challenging, but a standard pickup truck should be sufficient.

16:20 Arrival at Ta Phin Kii Ranger Unit

Upon arrival at the Ta Phin Kii Ranger Unit, located just before entering the Ta Phin Kii village, we were greeted by friendly staff who ensured the area's orderliness. A small selection of basic necessities, such as eggs and instant noodles, was available for purchase. Most importantly, this is where visitors pay the park entrance fees: 20 baht for adults, 30 baht for four-wheeled vehicles, and 30 baht per person per night for camping.

The spacious campsite offered decent views, surrounded by a village and agricultural land. Several local dogs with pleading eyes lingered around, hoping for food and companionship. The peak of Mount Thewada loomed in the distance. We quickly set up our tents, fearing the impending rain. Thankfully, only three tents occupied the vast space, ensuring a peaceful and private stay.

Green, yellow, and red, these three colors are truly a Buddha's robe (lol...)

The restrooms are plentiful and adequately clean.

However, there is no phone signal. I don't know if other carriers have signal, but AIS has been completely blind since entering the gravel road not long ago. There will be a little signal again when you go up to the top of the mountain.

"Hey… 15 degrees already? No, officer, it hasn't been changed since winter."

We relaxed and enjoyed a simple meal we had prepared, surrounded by a peaceful silence that we cherished.

This pineapple was secretly cut from a local farmer's field. No... I found it on the way up. A farmer's truck dropped one. Now I'm a thief, huh?

As dusk settled, casting long shadows across the campsite, we noticed a faint glimmering in the distance. As our eyes adjusted to the fading light, we realized it was a swarm of fireflies, their tiny bodies illuminating the night sky. Starting with just a few scattered individuals, the swarm grew rapidly, with dozens of fireflies congregating in the trees near our tents. We attempted to capture their ethereal beauty with our cameras, but the fleeting nature of their light made it a challenging task.

We went to bed early tonight because there were no stars to see. The sky was overcast with thick clouds, and more importantly, there was no phone signal, so we couldn't use the internet (haha...). I woke up once around midnight and opened the tent to see that the white mist was everywhere. I secretly smiled and went back to sleep, thinking that I would have a chance to see the sea of mist in the morning. But when I woke up again at around 3:45 am, the mist had disappeared. Where did it all go?

Only this remained... I screamed and shouted to my friend, "Hey, elephants!" This is another time I saw the Milky Way with my naked eyes, and it was so beautiful.

After enjoying the Milky Way, it was time to tackle the challenge of Mount Thevada. The officials had informed us the previous evening to drive into the village, where there would be a house to leave our car at the start of the trail. However, in the darkness, the signs were difficult to see... We got lost, of course, and had to ask the locals who were out tapping rubber trees for directions a couple of times before we finally reached our destination.

If you arrive early, you can explore the road by car.

Once we were on the right path, we started immediately. We had already wasted time on the Milky Way and getting lost. At first, we walked through pineapple fields and rubber plantations belonging to local villagers. After a while, we came across a sign telling us to turn right. That was the real starting point.

The trail ascends 800 meters in the style of a mountain climb. The path is well-defined, making it easy to navigate without getting lost. As the sky begins to brighten, we reach the pagoda, marking our arrival at the summit of Mount Thewada. The entire journey takes 45 minutes.

Upon reaching my destination, I realized that the trees completely blocked the sunrise this month.

The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.

Although the sunrise was not visible, the mist was impressive, not quite a sea of fog, but still quite beautiful. I couldn't stop taking pictures.

From the viewpoint, we could barely see our three-person Booda Bells tent and the surrounding area of Ban Ta Phin Kyi.

“Why isn't this on the list of mountain peaks conquered by the forest page?” I asked my junior friend. “It's easy, isn't it? Cars can get there, and it's just a short walk up. Plus, it's empty,” one of the younger students replied. “The same goes for Doi Phakhampok. Cars can get there, and it's just as empty,” I countered, referring to Doi Phakhampok in Chiang Mai.

"No worries if no one includes it on their list, I'll add it to mine," I declared to myself. The view from Yod Khao Thep today was truly breathtaking, making it a place worth visiting at least once.

After spending the night on the mountaintop until nearly seven in the morning, we began our descent. Only with the light of dawn did we realize the steepness of the climb we had undertaken.

This is the point where we conquer the summit.

If you are driving, you can park your car at the sign. This is the first section of the trail, starting from the house where you can leave your car for a fee of 20 baht. However, on weekdays during the rainy season, there is usually no one there to collect the fee.

Upon returning to the campsite, we cooked and ate, packed our belongings, bathed, and bid a simple farewell to Khao Tewada. It was a trip that involved changing sleeping quarters, walking routes, and scenic viewpoints, all of which were incredibly enjoyable. We will definitely return to visit Khao Tewada again in the future.

Note: In addition to the aforementioned attractions, the Ta-Pien area boasts numerous waterfalls and caves worth exploring. Visitors can also immerse themselves in the local Karen people's way of life. However, due to time constraints, we will skip these attractions for now. For adventurous travelers, the park offers a nature trail from the lower Ta-Pien Ki waterfall to the campsite. The cost for a guide is 600 baht. If transportation is required, a round-trip from the park can be arranged for 2,000 baht. For inquiries, please contact the park at 035446237 or 0819342240.

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