PHOTO ESSAY
Embracing the Beauty of the Last Light of the Day
A stunning sunset documented from a viewpoint overlooking the mountains covered in virgin forest
It seems as life around you slows down. When you’re watching a sunset somewhere in nature you forget about everything else. The entire focus lies on the setting sun. You soak in the sounds of the forest. You hear the birds singing and frogs croaking while looking straight ahead.
I love pressing that pause button. Whenever I can, I do take the time to watch a sunset. Those moments are always memorable. I recharge my batteries and smile more after watching the sun set behind the horizon.
Today was our first day in the park. We arrived just before lunch and got one of these lovely bungalows because the rooms were booked out. We didn’t think this place would have been fully booked as remote as it is. We also tried to book in advance but even with Thai friends calling for us, we were told we cannot book online or on the phone.
However, these bungalows looked cute as well and we knew we’d only go in, to sleep. The bungalow has the size of one mattress. Enough for one night.
We found this viewpoint just a few meters from our accommodation and had planned to watch the sunset over there before we went on the afternoon hike.
The only restaurant in the park closed at 5 pm, so we had quite an early dinner but it allowed us to be back at the viewpoint to watch the sunset above the mountains.
There was a small shelter with benches and we had it all to ourselves. Hard to imagine knowing all their rooms were fully booked but we enjoyed having the property to ourselves.
Just around the time the sun was disappearing, a group of Thai tourists came by to take a few pictures. But they stayed for less than half an hour and we were all on our own again.
We spent hours looking at the horizon, listening to the birds, and chatting the night away. Every now and then I would take a picture with my camera. Or was placed into the focus like below.
The view across the forest was spectacular. Together with the last light of the day, it created a stunning scene.
The sun wasn’t close to the horizon yet when we could make out some haze in the sky. We were wondering if the sun would burn through the layers of haze but realized soon she didn’t have the strength (anymore).
The sun started to disappear about 20 minutes before actual sunset time. And the sun disappeared from somewhere halfway up in the sky. It was a weird sight but in the end, it just added uniqueness to the scene.
No two sunsets are the same.
Having experimented with my husband’s iPhone and its camera features, I decided to try out the panoramic function. I rarely ever use it even though I like those kinds of scenic pictures.
Even long after the silhouette of the sun disappeared, we could still see the painted sky.
It started getting cold. Really cold. And it all happened real quick. We had put on our long pants already and were wearing the only hoodie we had with us. We didn’t come to Thailand with many warm clothes. But we’re enjoying not sweating for once.
The first stars did appear in the sky and I wanted to capture some night sky pictures above these mountains but it was getting too cold. Like an unbearable cold. Around 10°C-type of cold.
My husband didn’t want to believe me when I said it would be cold where we were going and didn’t think it was necessary to take something as warm as a hoodie with him.
Well, he got learned the better. It’s only our second night up in the north of the country and he is already getting cold despite the warm hoodie. But I must admit, I knew the temperatures were lower here compared to the south, but I didn’t expect them to drop that much.
Here we are. In Thailand. Wearing a hoodie and long pants while shivering at sunset. But we’re loving it.
“Sunsets are proof that endings can often be beautiful too.” — Beau Taplin
More about our adventures in Thailand’s North:
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