Phu Chi Fa
Phu Chifa is located approx. 580 Km north of Bangkok, a few miles from the border with Laos, approx. 1780 meters above sea level. The trip to it is in itself a breathtaking sight. The road stretches around one mountain pass after another, and all the time you see a magnificent scenery that changes from jungle to cultivated fields. If you want to visit Phu Chifa and experience its magnificent scenery, you should also remember to visit the park area towards Laos. Here it is necessary to get up early to get the full experience. We get up at 05, and drive in a pickup or other powerful motor vehicle the last Km up to the park. The site is visited every weekend by a thousand, every day by several hundred. A New Year's Day counts several thousand - as the clip at the bottom of the page from Bangkok Post showed on January 3.
On the cliff that stretches over Laos you look down on a village that is hundreds of feet below you. It's Laos. Welcome to one of the northernmost points in Thailand. The best time for this visit is early in the morning, where you may be lucky to see a sunrise of the very rare. Of course, the inhabitants of the area have long discovered that there are many tourists here, both Thai and foreigners.
The children stand here in the hope of being photographed and maybe serving a couple of baths. It's a poor area, so make sure you have coins and small banknotes with. To you, few hundred bath means nothing, but for these poor mountain farmers there is a difference between life or death. I hear many say that if you do not give them anything at all, they will not be here at all, but take care of their school. Is that what you think, then stay home in your safe house and forget about Phu Chifa!
Access to the area is free, but just remember to have some bath ready for the many children raised from their sheltered bed at 5 in the morning ...
The trip up to the actual viewpoint is not too busy!
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Here's just another photo over Laos, the reason I came here.
2010
No matter where you look, you only see magnificent scenery.
2010
Same resort set up from the restaurant.
2010
My best choice of accommodation opportunity from the outside. Small simple rooms, with gas heating of the water.
2010
This room is located inside Phu Chi Fa, more central. The bed is reasonable, and as the building is brand new, the room appears much more friendly. There is a bathroom and toilet with hot water. My best choice.
2010
A room for rent close to Phu Chifa, nice and clean but not western standard.
2010
Down at the foot of the mountain there were 1-2 more hours left, even more children trying to sell a lot that you probably do not need. I found some great bookmarks in teak wood for a few dollars.
2010
Two children in their best national costume. The mother stood close.
2010
On the way down from the mountain you encounter such a group of children who have stayed on a cliff.
2010
And then one last look down the valley inside Laos where the village is awake.
2010
The boy is standing here playing a horn. In fact, it's a horn that is used at funerals, but as few tourists know it, yes, yet, he is able to earn a little for his family.
2010
My daughter here is seen with one of the many local children who have to get up early and raise money for the family.
2010
This is the viewpoint of Phu Chifa, overlooking Laos at 6 in the morning. The edge of the rock on the left is the highest point in the area, which is what we have come to see. A few years ago a person dropped from the rock. Ham could they pick up in Laos.
2010
Så er vi fremme ved parken. Det var bidende koldt, 12-15 grader, så det lunede med en kop kaffe. Andre solgte vanter, simple arbejdshandsker i thai-størrelse. Køb et par , og lad være med at brokke dig over at de er for små. Læg mærke til pigen der bærer på hendes baby bagpå, næppe over 16 år.
2010
Notice how all the stands are completely collapsed. It's nature.
2010
No matter where you look, you only see magnificent scenery.
2010
Everywhere in this small mountain village there are children, children whose descent is obviously from the north.
2010
To visit Phu Chifa it is necessary to stay overnight in the area. There is no 3 or 4 star hotel nearby, so you have to be satisfied with what you can get! There are possibilities for staying in tents, but there are few houses to be rented out. This room is located 1-2 Km from Phu Chifa. The bed is hard. However, there is a bath and toilet with hot water.
2010
On January 3, 2010, I saw this newspaper clip in Bangkok Post. This is how it looks like a New Year's Day early in the morning. It is not tourists but Thai people, and many have been driving hundreds of kilometers to see this.
2010
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