Tree Tops River Huts, Khao Son, Day 2

It is a lovely, early morning, as we wake to the sound of the jungle around us. We don't hang about today though, as we are planning on doing the jungle trail, and we have read that it is going to be a pretty long trek.
We quickly get dressed and ready, before setting off, making sure our bags are loaded with water and snacks for the way. As we pay the entrance fee and sign ourselves in, it initially seems rather easy. The trail is more of a road then a trek through the jungle, and as we wander on and see the gibbons in the trees on the side of us, it seems all too easy. The first two sights are just off the road, and like all the stops, they are sections of the river where you can sit and either look at a waterfall or take a dip in the water. They are lovely little stops to get a bit of a break from the Sun and get a breeze from the water. We sit on a rock and take in the surroundings. It is lovely and quiet, with nothing but the sound of the river in our ears.
We decided not to get a guide as we have an app on our phone with the maps on, but it is handy to follow some couples who have paid, and we do that as we go down to the next stop, and find a cool little spot to again sit and take a breather.
Around 3km down the trail, we realise why people have said it is hard. An angry monkey who is eventually scared off with a slingshot guards the way to the jungle. We see a few people turn round, but we plod on, determined to reach the end. Within a few minutes we are in deep jungle, climbing paths that are just rocks, or climbing over giant tree roots. The trail goes up and down, which burns the legs, and the heat seems to ramp up considerably as the jungle gets thicker around us. At times it is rather worrying, as we know the abundance of spiders and snakes that live here, and wild elephants according to some very daunting signs. Monkeys snap branches all around us, and a wild boar scurries off as we approach which leaves us a bit scared. We keep taking it stop by stop, and each one is great to see, and also great to escape from the close proximity of the jungle for a few minutes. Soon enough we realise we have been trekking for around 4 hours, which only leaves us 3 hours to get back before the 4.30 deadline (for safety reasons).
We only have one more waterfall to go see, and we are tempted to go the extra mile to reach it, but in the end our brains overrule, and tell us to head back. The walk back seems just as hard as the walk there, and the heat seems to get more and more unbearable. We still use the river stops as a source of cool air, and amy takes a dip in the river to cool down. We also see a very big lizard lounging on a rock that is very cool. It has been a very long journey though and we are drenched in sweat and ready to get back to the hotel. Half way back we stop for a coke and a pineapple, which gives us just enough energy to make our way back, weary legged and absolutely knackered.
Back at the room, we rest the legs that have just walked over 25,000 steps according to Amy's app, and the thought of using them again today seems pretty scary. Amy though, is determined I should try a Thai massage at least once while I am out here, and tonight seems like a good time to do it. We head out before eating, and head to a massage place we saw last night.
To say I am worried is an understatement, as I am bent in hundreds of different ways, and muscles I never knew I had are pulled and pressed in a very painful manner. To be honest, after an initial ten minutes of worry, it does becoming relaxing, apart from when she is pressing deep down into my calves. There are a few moments when I have to grip tightly onto the mat so I don't omit a small scream, which would be very embarrassing as Amy is laying silently, almost asleep, on the bed next to me.
The hour quickly passes, and after it my muscles feel a lot more relaxed then they did as I stepped in. We stop for food in the same place as last night. The massage has left us both feeling very relaxed, and the food is as good as usual. The walk from earlier seems a long time ago now. It will be very interesting to see how our legs feel in the morning as we make the long journey to Ko Samui!Read more