A memorable trip to KHUN KON WATERFALLS in Chiang Rai, Thailand.........................

First week of July 2013; I was busy in handling the Mycology course paper to graduate students and participating in researches on micro-fungi with scholars at Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand.  I had just then completed one-month of stay since arrival and, on the week-end, my friend Samantha informed over phone that he and Mr. Michael Pilkington will be going to nearby Khun Kon Waterfalls on a mushroom collecting trip on Saturday, 6^th July 2013, and I could join them. Both of them are experts on mushrooms and a leisure trip with them will be a great learning, I thought.....!  For Samantha, study of mushrooms is his PhD programme. Michael is enjoying working with and photographing mushrooms in nature. If you want to know how much Michael enjoys mushrooms, please visit his website www.mycoimage.co.uk. Two of the research scholars at MFU, Ms. Chinthani and Mr. Dev, joined us. Both of them were interested to collect samples of unitunicate ascomycetous fungi for their researches.

Khun Kon Waterfalls is about 32 km south of Chiang Rai city. The road was very nice, well-asphalted all through except last 2 km. We left Mae Fah Luang University campus at 8:00 am and reached the site at 9:00 am. With enough parking place at Khun Kon, the last 2 km walking trail to the waterfalls was a cool exercise. Surrounded by high trees, bamboos, bananas, ferns and thick understoreys, the walking trail has serene, shady natural surroundings. It rained quite heavily when we were walking to the waterfalls. Unfortunately, I didn’t take my umbrella and had to take shelter for a lwhile under the foliage of a huge banana plant. The Khun Kon Waterfall is about 70 m high and being rainy season it was gorgeous and most scenic to watch. We collected many fungi, on the way. More than that, I watched the art of Michael’s mushroom photography. It was a long process. We saw a huge stink-horn fungus (Phallus sp). Michael mounted his camera on a tripod stand, adjacent to the mushroom, sharpened his focus and clicked several pictures. I too got a picture clicked, holding the fruit body of stink-horn fungus.

At several points, all along the walking track, forest department has placed waste-collecting bins. None throws the refuse outside. This is very important in nature reserves. The surroundings will be tidy and clean if we care and maintain the cleanliness. Nature is beautiful and pristine only if we preserve and protect it............!

 

D. Jayarama Bhat