Do you know that in southern Thailand, there is a huge lake the size of Penang island? The lake is so big that the Thais call it Thale Noi, which means "Little Sea". It is located in Phattalung near to Songkhla and not very far from Hatyai.
Thale Noi is not just an ordinary lake. What makes it so special is that it teems with different types of waterlilies and lotus plants. Thale Noi is also a waterfowl sanctuary. It is a place where migratory birds can come to roost.
I have the opportunity to explore Thale Noi on a Beautiful Planet tour. You can visit Thale Noi on Beautiful Planet's
Trang-Krabi by Road 4D3N Tour. We were in one van. We arrived at Thale Noi in the morning part of the day. The sun was already shining brightly.
By the banks of Thale Noi are sampans which we book to take us on a ride around the lake. The lake it so big that it stretches all the way to the horizon. The entire Penang Island can fit into it. I have never seen anything quite like it.
We boarded the sampan and opened our umbrellas, as the sun was getting hot. Thankfully, as we moved in the water, there was a breeze, and so it really felt good.
Here and there we can see birds flying in the sky and skimming near the water surface. There are also marsh hens and other birds of the partridge family. I suppose they lay their eggs among the undergrowth.
The lake is serene as we glided by. Behind us, our boatman moved us about using a long pole. The boat also has a motor which he uses when we get to open water. The water surface is often as still as glass, and broken only by the occasional ripple of the breeze, or when our sampan pass by.
There are tens of thousands of water lilies at Thale Noi. You look one way, and you see an entire sea of water lilies. You have to see it yourself to appreciate the number. They are of different species, and never really mix together - perhaps they were grown, I don't know. At one section of the lake, it was all pink water lilies, at another section, it's all white water lilies, and at another, it's all lotuses floating in the water. Inside the water itself, which is crystal clear, I can see lake weeds growing abundantly.
Our trip around Thale Noi took about one or two hours. I took lots of photographs which I am showing you on this page. Isn't it fun? Thale Noi is a really wonderful experience. You can visit it when you join the tours by Beautiful Planet. Be sure to ask for it when you contact Beautiful Planet!
