In the early morning, we woke up about 5.00am then we had our bath and change to a suitable clothing.
When we walked out from our room, there was already a man from the Varni Homestay waited for us and he wanted us to follow him.
We think that he was helping us to lead us to the boat tour place. Thus we made our way to the area. There were already tourist were waiting there.
The man helped us to talk to the boatmen then we boarded to the sampan. With the slow paddles the boatman got us away from the shore into the deeper side of the lake.
Then the boatman only started the boat's engine and we headed out. It was still dark when the boatman paddled into the dark.
I heard that he was murmuring, and I guessed he was mentioning about the darkness that surrounded us which made him difficult to see in the dark.
After a few trying then we turned in to a narrow shallow patch where the thin reed grass covered a big section of the lake, which now looks more like a flooded football field.
The sun was just about to rise, tingeing the blue sky with a bit of red. Unfortunately for us the clouds were so think that we think that it would be difficult to see the sun rise on the day.
In between these reed grass are narrow channels on which the boat navigate to head further out.
Out here the water plants have grown taller; leafy reeds stick out a high as five feet above the water and lotus plants can be seen more often.
After coming out from the connecting water channel, immediately we saw a lot of Yors at the centre. This is portion of the lake where the famous Sri Pak Pra Resort is.
We saw the sun had risen, it was a golden yellow sun came out from the grey thick clouds.
The day now is brighter and we could see better. We were so happy that we able to see the sun rise.
After we spent sometime on the mouth of the river, the boatman took us back to the Thale Noi through the same waterway we came from.
There were more birds flying around as the sun rise. Then there were whole flocks of them wading in the water, some flying around. Their fluttering wings breaking the silence of the morning.
It's a beautiful scene, the sky tinged red by the rising sun heralds a new day, and more birds came swooping low all around us. It's a flurry of activity!
Every now and then larger birds of prey, soaring high above, dive down to prey on those birds feeding on the fishes. It's a vicious cycle of evolution!
The boatman took us further to the centre of the lake. It is the place of water lilies. There were not many but few only. I guess it is not the season of water lilies yet.
The blooms are so beautiful, tempting us with their brilliant colours, we could just reach out and pluck them. But we just take nothing but photos.
Suddenly our boatman cut the boats' engine and we glided onwards quietly. As we slowed down, the boatmen took out their oars and pedalled us forward.
We were now on a wider canal, the Ban Klang Canal which leads towards the elevated highway.
This highway run on stilt-looking piers for a distance of 6.5 kilometres above this marshy wetlands.
We were heading towards the centre taller span which bridges over the Ban Klang Canal. Beyond the bridge is Lake Thale Luang; both Thale Noi & Thale Luang are part of the Greater Songkhla Lake.
Just after the bridge, fishermen nets could be seen casting their fishing nets into the water, hoping to haul in a good harvest.
The bridge forms the extreme point of the Thale Noi Water Fowl Reserve, before it no fishing or hunting of birds are allowed; beyond it, it's a free for all.
This point is also the furthest point of our boat tour, it was time to turn back.
Tourists are not the only ones on boats in the water. Locals too use the waterways as a means of transport between the towns and villages.
As we headed back, we can see a family of water buffaloes walked pass far away. We do not have the opportunity to see the water buffaloes swim by.
As we neared the pier, one bird swooped in a low pass, tilting it's wings to one side, seemingly giving us a "Welcome back" greeting.
In the brighter morning, our boatman took us back to the shore and we can see clearly now.
We reached the jetty and have a one last shoot of photos at the Thale Noi before we headed back to our hotel.
It is indeed an unforgettable boat ride or boat tour for us as we have never have this experience before.
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