This year the rainy season in Thailand is coming on time. The rain came early in May, which is normal. While I was writing this article, it was raining heavily due to Tropical Strom Sonca. Many provinces in Northeastern Thailand were facing flood conditions.
The last three decades we have heard a lot about greenhouse effects, climate change, and global warming which seriously impact our planet today. We have to realize that climate change is causing severe drought and flooding in some areas of the world more than ever before. This environment crisis is impacting us more severely with each passing year. Global warming has introduced us to new scientific terminology: CFC, el nina, la nino, methane, fossil energy just to name a few. Everyone needs to be informed about climate change, because every single human on earth will feel the effects of this crisis. The lastest terrible signal of the global warming was the breaking off of the large Larsen C Ice Shelf from Antarctica.
It’s hard to accept that there are people who believe that these environment impacts are just a normal cycle of our blue planet. Do you agree with this theory?
In 2012, the year the film The Day After Tomorrow was made, there was the worst flooding in Thailand’s history. The flooding was a wake up call for the people of Thailand, because we realized that environment impacts of the world had not been given proper attention. In Thailand, we lack effective knowledge of water management, and we have ignored the devastating effects of deforestation. At this point, our country is in a cycle of serious flooding in the rainy season and drought during the dry season.
A year after the 2012 flooding in Thailand, the government and the politicians forced the irrigation officers who were responsible for the water quantity to drain the water from the dams without knowledge of the people of Thailand. Of course, after the water was lost, we were faced with an unprecedented drought crisis in the Northern and Central Thailand.
The last five years has helped us to realize the impact global warming has had on our environment. There are many controversial environmental issues in Thai society: deforestation, dam construction in watershed areas, sustainable water management, and coastal erosion. If you have visited Thailand recently, you can see the walls on the banks of the main rivers in many provinces, which had never happened before.
This is one of a sample of the wall on the bank of the Chao Phraya River. This building is isolated behind the wall.
And this one is the same.
Now I lead you to my real story of the Saiyok Noi Waterfall. It is a small waterfall on the roadside, the national highway no.323, Kanchanaburi Province. I used to tell the story of the Kanchanaburi Province and the Saiyok Noi Waterfall for an example in https://hiwaymap.wordpress.com/2017/04/11/kanchanaburi-wonderful-destination-near-bangkok/
In the western and the northern sections of the Kanchanaburi Province is the Tanao Si Mountains Range, which had an abundance of tropical forest. There are two large dams in the Kanchanaburi. Vajiralongkorn Dam in the Thong Pha Phum District, and the Srinagarindra Dam in the Si Sawat District. These two dams have never had any problem with the water management. These two dams are used as power plants and also for irrigation. The Vajiralongkorn Dam is situated at the head of the Khwae Noi River. The Sri Nagarindra Dam is situated near the headwaters of the Khwae Yai River.
Vajiralongkorn Dam, Thong Pha Phum District
Srinagarindra Dam, Si Sawat District
The Saiyok Noi Waterfall is on a small hill between the Khwae Noi River and the Khwae Yai River. The water from this waterfall flows to the Khwae Noi River, about 3 kms. The plants around the area of the waterfall are green all year round.
Tanao Si Mountains is in front of the Saiyok Noi Waterfall.
Last year, I visited the Saiyok Noi waterfall on two different occasions. The first time was in August during the rainy season, and it was so green in the Kanchanaburi. As I mentioned before, the Kanchanaburi uses very good water management. I had never visited the Saiyok Noi Waterfall before. It was my first time on the 12th of August 2016. I went back from the River Kwai Resotel Resort Kanchanaburi, and it rained slightly. The weather was so fine. So I decided to visit the Saiyok Noi Waterfall before heading to Bangkok.
The Khwae Noi River, the pier of the River Kwai Resotel Resort Kanchanaburi
There is comfortable park at the Saiyok Noi Waterfall lot and some souvenir shops. Most of souvenir shops sell some snacks. I would highly recommend the taro and banana treat! A very tasty, snack indeed!
The delicious snacks, Crispy banana, Crispy sweet potato, Crispy taro
The snack, sweet tamarind
On the path to the waterfall, there are some large trees, which shadow the route beautifully. I walked around the forest trail that circles the area. It is a perfect recreational place. There is an old locomotive situated at the Saiyok Noi Waterfall, because it used to be the Namtok Railway Station,. On a short trail to the waterfall, I saw some bamboos which some patterns. When I looked them closely I just know those bamboos are the guestbook!
An old locomotive at the Saiyok Noi Waterfall
The trail to the Saiyok Noi Waterfall last year, 12nd, August 2016, It was so green.
The trail to the Saiyok Noi Waterfall last year, 12nd, August 2016, It was so green.
I felt something was strange when I could not hear the waterfall. It was a quiet waterfall. I tried to think of the pictures of the Saiyok Noi Waterfall, which I have seen before. Yes, it was appearing in front of me now. The pattern of the rock is the same in the pictures but without water! I was so surprised. The forest around that area was so green, but the waterfall was waterless. The rainy season begins in May until late October and it was now the beginning of November.
The Saiyok Noi Waterfall last year, 12 nd , August 2016, but it was so green.
I have since heard about two waterfalls in Kanchanaburi that also lacked of water. One was the Huai Mae Khamin Waterfall, a large beautiful waterfall on the left edge of the Sri Nagarindra Dam. I was so sad about these. Climate changes has had a terrible effect on the waterfalls in forests of Western Thailand. How could it happened?
Two months later, I visited the Saiyok Noi Waterfall again. It was in 14th, October 2016. It had rained continously for a month. I wanted to know if the waterfall was still dry or if it was flowing beautifully. When I saw it, I was once again disappointed. It was still dry in the middle of the green forest. The waterfall just looked humid but without water. Luckily, after a few more weeks passed by, I was told the water as had returned.
The Saiyok Noi Waterfall last year, 14th, October 2016, but it was so green.
This year on May 2017, the rain began on time, as it should be. The rainfall was sufficient for irrigation and power plants this year. I was back to visit the Saiyok Noi Waterfall on 11th, July 2017. Yes, it was once again a real waterfall. Now the Saiyok Noi Warerfall has water. The day I visited was early in the rainy season, and I hoped that the fall would contain beautiful water as it had been in the pictures soon! I talked to the officers there, and they told me that they have a plan to manage the waterfall in the dry season by controlling the water flowing from the dams. I don’t like this management. What do you think? Do you like a fake waterfall?
The trail to the Saiyok Noi Waterfall , 11st, July 2017
The Saiyok Noi Waterfall , 11st, July 2017
The trees in the waterfall recreational area
Thank you for Mr.Micheal Joseph Piere
Everyone!!! Who gets a plan to visits Thailand and requires a traveling plans, please send text to me on Contact. I will give you a traveling plan and a free copy of Tout Thai Hi-Way Map 77 Provinces!!!
When the waterfall without water! Saiyok Noi Waterfall This year the rainy season in Thailand is coming on time. The rain came early in May, which is normal.
