Day 220 Mar 12 2015 Nong Thale Thailand

observation tower at Emerald Pool Park

is it Tarzan or an ape?

thinking about nothing!

Hot Stream pool

relaxing at Hot Spring Waterfall 

Day 220  Mar 12  2015  Nong Thale Thailand

We visited 2 sites today, the first being Emerald Pool which is advertised as being a “pool with clear green water containing hot natural mineral water which is believed ideal for good skin and health”..  When we got there we found a place crowded with lots of tourists and nationals.  The water was a murky greenish color definitely not clear green.  Isabel jumped in but David looked at it and put his shirt back on.  I told Isabel to get out and we left to walk the trails in the nature reserve.  We saw no animals but discovered what we can only assume was an observation tower.  The tower was abandon but had no signs saying do not climb, so up David and I went.  The last stair of the last set of stairs to the top floor was missing as was the hand rail.  The hand rail had rusted away as we assumed did the top step.  I made sure David stepped close to the pipe so he did not put much torque on the weld as it did not look very secure.  Once we were at the top the view was good and we got some nice pictures.  On the way out of the park we saw some locals swimming in the crystal clear river right next to the park entrance.  The kids and I joined them so we actually got to swim at the Emerald Pool Park, not in the emerald swill hole but in a nice clear river. The next stop was at the “Hot Spring Waterfall” which is a waterfall fed by hot springs.  The water which is between 40 and 42 deg C has worn natural bathtubs into the waterfall making it a great place to have a relaxing soak.  The kids went swimming in the river below the falls where the hot water meets the cold.  David said one half his body was hot and the other half cold giving him a weird sensation.  This is the first time I have been in thermal water and found the experience very neat.  If it had just been a warm pool it would probably not have impressed me so much but a hot waterfall; that is just cool.