One of the attractions of the park is a dawn view where you look over surrounding mountains surrounded by mist. Opinions probably differ whether this is worth getting up at 0445 to experience; my opinion was that it wasn’t; but we did anyway. While the rest of the gang tucked into pork congee soup, I stuck to my vegetarian credentials thanks to yoghurt, muesli and blueberries that I had carefully transported from home; what a star.
Then it was into the back of a truck for the long drive to the top of the park, and a chance to discover just how many bugs are up and about and committing suicide against your face in the pre-dawn light.
The view from the top was not as misty as it should have been and we were left to wander around with a vague feeling of disappointment; lifted slightly by the arrival of a troop of monkeys that swung through the trees with considerable crashing and general exuberance; pausing only briefly to check us out.
Later on in the day, as we drove through the park camp, we came upon a much less spirited specimen; cuddled up to a ranger and looking sad. He had been stolen as a baby from a forest and put up for sale at Chatuchak market where some idiot had bought him as a pet; only to discover that monkeys are not pets. The unfortunate creature had then been dumped in the park where, due to a complete lack of wild monkey social skills, he had been attacked by the wild monkeys and sought refuge with the rangers who were now caring for him.
May all those involved in the unpleasant transactions suffer an unpleasant death.
Comments 🔗
2013-06-06| Kevin Moore saysSad monkey says it all, poor little critter has had it’s life screwed up so some thoughtless bastard could make a few baht. As for the idiot who bought then dumped the poor thing hopefully they’ll find themselves in a similar situation as the monkey.
2013-06-07| Pete saysPoor thing is looking sad because you called it a monkey. That’s a Gibbon, and (s)he is an ape. I agree with your last sentence though.