Rainforest Resort

Our plans to visit Wat Pha Sorn Kaew were curbed by the rain, and we had neglected to lunch, so we turned around. We left Route 12 in the pitter-patter of light rain, sailing once more across the smooth highway. The roads in Thailand aren't normally very well maintained, so this was a rare treat. I was content to stop at any old place along the road that served Thai food, but Fairy had something specific in mind, so we ignored our hunger and drove on.

As we passed the waterfall again she started to slow down and we pulled into a parking lot of the Rain Forest Resort, a beautiful lodge on the Khek riverbank.

If you ever get a chance, it's worth checking out. It's a luxury resort next to the Kangsong waterfall, surrounded by the lush Thai tropical rainforest of the Thung Salaeng Luang National Park. The pampered cottages are sprawled out between each other, nestled discreetly in the forest in perfect harmony with nature. The distance between them offers a sense of privacy and solitude. We wandered down through the resort and came to the river, where we settled in an open-air sala.

Upon request the staff appeared, bearing beer and exquisite club sandwiches. We were hungry, but both of us looked in shock at the sheer size of the portions on the plate in front of us.

We languidly lazed about on this Sunday in the sala, talking, eating, drinking, soothed by the soft, sensual sounds of the river running over rocks. It was tranquil, and it made me hate Bangkok. I did not want to leave this place. If this was what Phitsanulok had to offer, I never wanted to leave. I thought back to a line from a song by Mark Lanegan & Isobel Campbell, "You can't stay, but you'll never leave..." and realised this was exactly how I felt about both Phitsanulok, and the little fairy lying beside me.

The sun began to set and we made our way back to the car, briefly stopping by the aviary as we awaited the bill- they keep a few macaws and pheasants in there.

The town is only a fourty minute drive away, and soon we were at our hotel. The time we had together was growing short, so we spent the rest of it lazing about, simply enjoying each others company.

She left around 11pm and went back to her mother's house, called me once she got into bed to say goodnight.

"Can you tell me a bed-time story?"