Skip to main content

Weekend Snapshot: Something Fishy

If you want something 'fishy,' Thailand's Namtophliu National Park in Chantaburi is the place to be. The stream is thickly populated with catfish. I can't believe how tame they are. They sense it when people approach, they come near where they know they are going to be admired, fed, or photographed:

They're not afraid of humans. No wonder my friend wants to pet them :-)
~ Crowd near the waterfall - feeding, swimming, chatting, some were just watching the activity, and I was wondering how to wade in without stepping on them because they swish through people's feet freely:
~ Friends throwing them a string beans party:
~ Delicate pink - I saw this while hiking deeper into the forest. It's growing on fissures between the rocks. Does anyone know the name of this flower?
~ A moss-covered chedi made from laterite, built to commemorate King Rama and Queen Sunantha's visit to the park in 1876. Queen Sunantha drowned when the royal boat capsized in the Chao Phrya river. A Wikipedia entry describes the drowning, "despite the presence of many onlookers, they were forbidden on pain of death to touch the queen - not even to save her life." There is a sign near this chedi that says do not stand near if you are not properly dressed. We took this shot using a Nokia phone from a distance:



This is one of the houses available for rent if you want to stay the night:

Needless to say we had so much fun. I honestly didn't want to go back to Bangkok right away. Next time I want to have a quiet weekend, breathe fresh air, or frolic with the fish again, I know where to go. Have a great week, everyone!

Comments

Ebie said…
What a lovely place to spend the weekend!
Willa said…
so, pwede ba silang hulihin at iihaw? :D , kidding aside, paano sila naging malapit sa tao?
Hazel said…
To Ebie, thanks for the visit. I'm going to your post in awhile.

To Willa, nope, hindi pwede hulihin and ihawin. Guards are everywhere hahah! Bags are also checked at the entrance for anything that might be harmful to them. Siguro sa katagalan na palaging pinapakain sila ng mga tao, nakaka-aliw kasi na lumalapit sa yo e, super sanay na sila.
khitara said…
Saya! Daming isda.. Hehe!
..xia,, said…
wow!a string beans party! the fishes had a fun party and so are the people around them. Cool photos!
Mirage said…
I'd bring a timba and catch as much as I can! hihi. Ayy bawal pala haha...buti walang tendency mangagat ano... otherwise hindi ako lulusong hehe. Have a nice week!
SandyCarlson said…
Interesting. That's an amazing story about the queen. I wonder what her thoughts were in that moment. Beautiful scenery.
Carver said…
That looks like a wonderful time. Amazing how free the fish are around the people. This was an interesting post and great shots.
Dora said…
Wa! So many fishes. So crowded.
Hazel said…
To Khitara, korek. talagang masaya :-)

To Xia, we brought them a huge bundle of string beans which i thought was too much. turned out it wasn't even enough. they kept coming back. matatakaw :-)

To Mirage, i got a nip from one of them which sent me squirting out of the water. i knew it was because they were feeding near my feet so napagkamalang sting bean ang paa ko hahaha...but i went back and sat on a rock in the middle of the water and that's where i had soooooo much fun with them.
Hazel said…
To SandyCarlson, i'm hypothesizing such a trajedy must have prompted the monarchy to review their laws on proximity allowed between royals and commoners. I read King Rama was grief-stricken. He built a pyramid as memorial to the queen. The pyramid is inside this park too.

To Carver, I was all fun and amazement during this weekend :-)

To Dora, it was a long weekend, the following Monday was a holiday, thus the crowd.
Lynn said…
Those fishes, they're vain, huh. :D
SASSY MOM said…
I also wondered the same. Panong di mo matatapakan yun. Glad to hear that you enjoyed your weekend.

Hope you can visit my WS here.
Hazel said…
To Lynn, you bet!

To Sassy Mom, they may be pampered but they do know how to give way for really curious human feet. yon nga lang mahirap lumakad sa tubig na nakabuntot sila :-)
Arlene said…
that's a great week-end activity, Zel! I thought the fish can be ordered to be cooked. :)

Happy Monday!
Black Cat said…
Thank you so much for the award. I feel so honoured!

I loved seeing more photos of the park and the fish. A friend had fish in a pond in her garden and one of them was a very tame catfish who would eat out of your hand. Awesome!

How sad about Queen Sunantha.
cheery said…
mareng blogger, great to read about our enchanting chantaburi adventure--you tell a story just like it happened, so much fun!
i'm gonna tell the whole gang (the chanta crowd)to visit this site soon, so they too can reminisce that terrific weekend amidst nature.
Hazel said…
To Arlene, now I'm beginning to think I should have titled this post "For Your Eyes Only :-)
Hazel said…
To Black Cat, it's my second time to hear of a tame catfish. maybe they really are the kind that are easily domesticated.

yeah, the queen - sentimental, her story was.

I'm honored and glad that you accepted the award. Thank you.
Hazel said…
To Cheery, let's go back there one of these days, mareng :-)
cpsanti said…
love love eating catfish, but i wouldn't want to be in a pool full of them ;-) nice pics though
Beth said…
wow, i love to pet them too! pero dun lang sa area na yana ha? I don't want them sa house, parang di ko yata kaya! :)

Popular posts from this blog

Thirteen 13-word Quotes

1. I may be wrong , but I have never found deserting friends conciliates enemies. Margot Asquith , British Political Hostess (1864-1945) 2. Man's love is of man's life a thing apart; Girls aren't like that Kingsley Amis , English novelist and poet (1922-1995) "A Book Idyll" ~ see possible origin, also a 13- word quote: M an's love is of man's life a thing apart, 'Tis woman's whole existence Lord Byron (1788-1824) 3. An autobiography is an obituary in serial form with the last instalment missing. Quentin Crisp , English writer The Naked Civil Servant (1968) 4. Happy the hare at morning for she cannot read the hunter's waking thoughts. W.H. Auden , English poet (1907-73) Dog Beneath the Skin 5. Kissenger brought peace to Vietnam the same way Napoleon brought peace to Europe. (by losing) Joseph Heller, American novelist (1923- ) 6. Guns aren't lawful; Nooses give; Gas smells awful; You might as well live. Dorothy Parker ,...

A little boy's tiara

It's a week abundant with life's little pleasures, and I'm enjoying such a great Friday mood with the FFF ladies over at Susanne's Living to Tell the Story . If you are dropping by from Mommy Moments, please scroll down a bit; thank you. Now the highlights of my week -- 1. Birthday dinner at Cabbages and Condoms . A friend put up with my fondness for dining out and exploring restaurants. C & C supports social development programs of the PDA, an organization that complements the Thai government's effort to promote family planning. 2. Cafe de Tu . We took the sky train to get to a posh mall for dessert. There's a lovely ambience for a slice of chocolate banana cake and a long glass of iced lemon tea. It was sheer relaxation verbalizing ephemeral wishes. From the high ceiling pretty lamps cast off a warm, soft glow making the place conducive for twilight dreams. 3. Work over lunch at Fuji . Now comes a hard, raw bit. I had to carry work to one lunch bu...

Newborn Days and Foggy Mornings

Friday's Fave Five: Foggy Mornings (Please scroll down for Mommy Moments) i. Refund . The business office refunded my visa problem expenses. I had to pay the fine but they took care of everything else which was a pleasant surprise as I didn't expect them to and I already conditioned my mind to face a few deprivations. A colleague who is privy to the vice president told me, "They refunded you because they need you." I don't know whether I should believe it. Foreign employees are sometimes treated like necessary evil around here. But well, it's the refund that's the fave. ii. Foggy mornings . I counted two early mornings of fog. I could not see buildings 2 minute-walk away. The illusion of cold made me smile. iii. Bible Heroes , Ceejay's new DVD interest. He never wanted to watch it when he was 3. I'm glad he's back to christian stuff. For now it's goodbye, Buddhism. iv. Phone conversation with Mama . Mozart's (on left side...