Kayaking Trip to Bor Thor

After a long and productive first week of lesson planning the GVI Expedition Members went to explore one of the local wonders of Ao Luk by kayak. The tributary systems, just five minutes away from base, a series of brackish waterways weaving their way in and out of the dramatic limestone karst landscape, provide an ideal and rare habitat for over thirty different species of mangrove trees, and also for a variety of fauna, including kingfisher birds and incredibly odd, sort-of-salamander-looking amphibians called mud skippers. The half salt, half fresh-water tributaries are also ideal environments for oyster and prawn farmers.

Along the waterways tucked into the sides of the mountains are the Bor Thor caves, famous for their 3,000 year-old cave paintings, in particular the painting of the big-headed ghost. There are also several partially submerged caves with spectacular stalactite and stalagmite formations, many of them still ‘live,’ dripping and growing at a rate of 3mm per twenty years during the rainy season. At every turn, Man, the group’s guide, pointed towards an anthropomorphic rock (here’s one that looks like a mermaid, here’s one that looks like a praying man with a pointy beard). The group was guided through a cave to an enclosed lagoon, where rare bird species tend to nest, but unfortunately did not have any lucky sightings.

After the two hour paddling tour, the hungry group was greeted by at least two GVI students (Sun and Amin, both in level 1, and currently working as tour guides at the caves), and then enjoyed a riverside seafood feast on a floating restaurant.

Kayaking Trip to Bor Thor