Bang Pae Waterfall Featuring Koy

© Travelers' Net
Text & Pictures by Michael Bjorklund

The Bang Pae Waterfall is a destination chosen mostly by the Thais as it seems. Very few of the farangs (Westerners) who come here for a holiday make it all the way here. And for good reasons. There's so much to see already and this is so far away. But those who do come here seem happy to have taken part of both the waterfall and the struggle to help the Gibbons. There are a few people selling refreshments and snacks but they are only catering for the Thais so if you're not fond of Thai foods and beverages, you might have a problem. On the other hand, this might be a good time to try it for the first time.

There is a path leading up towards the hill and the real waterfall but you don't have to walk far to see some moving water. It's also very popular to take a swim in the water but if you decide to try it, beware of the very slippery surface of the rocks while getting in and out of the water.

"Even in the high season, when it's usually very dry, the Waterfall in Bang Pae is full of water," says Koy. "And it's set in such lush surroundings that it really gives you the image of a tropical rainforest," she continues.

Gibbon Rehabilitation Project

Located at the Bang Pae Waterfall is the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project. It's not a petting zoo and the visitors don't get very close to the Gibbons. Which is part of the idea. There are always people standing by to answer your questions and they are all very well qualified to do so. Information about how Gibbons living in captivity are being treated makes it easy to donate a few of your hard-earned Baht.

"The Gibbons are treated well here" Koy mentions, "and you can see that the people who are taking care of them are professionals." After a short break she continues, "I just hope they can make a difference for these poor animals."

The setting is not the worst possible but to really get things moving in the cash box they would have to be closer to the real tourist areas. They claim that the location was selected with the Gibbons best interest in mind. Saving the Gibbons is not a commercial venture. It's a struggle to keep the Gibbon prosperous in Thailand. The Gibbons who meet the criteria and are accepted in to the rehabilitation project find themselves at Bang Pae first. If they graduate from there, they get to stay on an uninhabited island in Phang Nga. After that it's bye bye and hopefully they are able to get by on their own. When the Gibbons are released into the wild, they are of course still monitored in one way or another.