Seventh Heaven

EPhu Lok temple is a mountain top Buddhist monastery set over seven floors of rickety wooden walkways. The seven floors represent the seven levels of enlightenment whereas the rickety wooden walkways and ridiculously steep steps I can only assume are to speed you on your way to your next life. 

Lucas pointed out as we approached that he had never been up a mountain without snow on it. Definitely no snow on this one. 

Seven of the group had decided to make the trip with Mr Chettu and his air con van and so at about 10am we were approaching the mountain, putting cricks in our necks and working out how much water we would need in this heat. 

Half way up we were all gasping for air and sweating profusely but admiring the views out over the rubber plantations and lakes from the first dodgy walkway. Well, I say all of us. Ralph rediscovered his vertigo so perhaps enjoyed the views a little less than the rest of us. 

Jo was keen to keep Lucas as close as possible. Possibly too close on one occasion as she turned around to find him and nearly knocked him flying over the hand rail. 

Finally we achieved our seventh level of enlightenment and paused for the obligatory photo before descending to a curious looking platform attached to a rock which was the home to a statue of the founding monk and a huge gecko. 

It's not really a tourist attraction Pho Lok. The monks don't want to be disturbed too much as they meditate. Hence I guess the walkways aren't really up to western Health and Safety standards. 

On the way home Mr Chettu found us a local restaurant. We paid for his meal and the drivers and left a tip of 70 baht which seemed to be enough to bring the waitress to tears. Perhaps some perspective is needed next time I'm bargaining hard to get another 20 baht off something. Does 40p matter that much to me ? 

In the evening I dished out the next information sheet revealing our destination for the next couple of days. Luang Prabang in Laos. Seemed to go down well with the group. Elephants, waterfalls and cookery seem to be high on the agenda. We chatted over the options over a few cold beers, dried broad beans and cashews. I tried to convince them to try my dried fish sticks but got little interest. Certainly less interest than Marc's new Thai baggies. He wanted to be discrete about them. Facebook dictated otherwise. 

So, a new country for me in the morning. Another land border crossing over the Friendship Bridge with 14 people of various nationalities. Could be a challenge.