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After Phu Langka National Park in Bueng Kan Province announced the closure of the famous Naga Cave from May 1st to 31st (to allow nature to recover & repair the hiking trails), the beloved cave will officially reopen for visitors & tourists on June 1st, 2026.

Before Visiting Naga Cave:

Because the first day of opening usually attracts a large number of visitors, tourists should plan accordingly.

1. Advance reservations must be made through the application online & visitors per day are capped. Reservations can only be made according to the period specified by the Department of National Parks (it is recommended to check the remaining visitor capacity at the time of your planned visit).
2. Required documents: National ID card or Foreign Passport and proof of booking from the app.
3. Prepare yourself physically. The hiking distance is approximately 2 km (4 km round trip) and consists of steep stairs and natural terrain throughout. The average time is 4-5 hours. Ensure you get enough rest.
4. Dress code: Wear shoes with good grip (very important as the paths can be slippery at the beginning of the rainy season), breathable clothing, and gloves for holding onto handrails or ropes.
5. Besides drinking water for personal consumption, you can offer water at the altar of reverence (and then take it back to use as holy water or drink it yourself for good luck).
6. Prepare the prayers for worshipping the Naga King on your mobile phone to recite in prayer & meditation upon reaching Naga Cave (this is supposed to bring very good luck to the worshipper).

The multiday, 3-million baht tournament starts on May 20th at the Lotus Valley Golf Resort in Chachoengsao, Thailand.

>Police are investigating after a car hit and critically injured a woman before fleeing the scene and being found up the road in North Chicago late Saturday evening.

>The North Chicago Police Department, North Chicago Fire Department, Lake Bluff Fire Department and Waukegan Fire Department responded around 11:30 p.m. Saturday to Buckley Road and Green Bay Road in North Chicago for a report of a vehicle crash with injuries.

>Police officers and firefighter/paramedics arrived to find a pedestrian – a 26-year-old woman – lying in the roadway with severe injuries, North Chicago Assistant Police Chief Gary Lunn said.

>Paramedics rushed her to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville in critical condition.

>The car that hit the woman fled the scene.

>Witnesses described the car as a Volkswagen sedan, Lunn said.

>At around 11:50 p.m., Park City police officers found the Volkswagen Jetta at the entrance to the Greenbelt Forest Preserve across from the Greenbelt Cultural Center, which is about two miles north of where the crash occurred.

>“The vehicle was found to have damage consistent with striking a pedestrian and the driver admitted to leaving the scene of the crash,” Lunn said.

>The driver’s side windshield and the car’s hood were damaged.

>The Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) of Lake County was requested to investigate the crash.

>Police and MCAT investigators were processing evidence at Buckley Road and Green Bay Road and at the Greenbelt Forest Preserve entrance.

>It appeared the collision occurred in the westbound lanes of Buckley Road just west of Green Bay Road.

>A pair of shoes and a cup were left at the scene.

>The westbound lanes of Buckley Road at Green Bay Road were shut down for around three hours while investigators worked the scene.

>The Lake County Sheriff’s Auxiliary Deputy Unit assisted with traffic control.

>Ernie’s Wrecker Service responded to remove the Volkswagen.

>The crash remains under investigation by the North Chicago Police Department and MCAT.

>It’s currently unclear what charges may be filed against the driver of the Volkswagen.

>Set on a lush, tropical beach in Hua Hin – known as the Hamptons of Thailand – Chiva-Som was one of the country’s first wellness resorts when it opened in 1995. Since then, it has remained a top destination for those looking to relax and reset. The offerings include fitness programmes, treatments (a papaya body wrap does wonders) and organic fare that often uses produce grown on site. Of the 54 teak-and-bamboo-decorated guest rooms, the Leelawadee Suite is ideal for long stays, allowing ample time to root out any leftover tension with a Thai boxing class.

>Prachuap Port in Bang Saphan is being positioned as a key logistics hub for the Gulf of Thailand economy, following a visit by senior officials and transport representatives on 13 May.

>Dr Royl Chitradon, Secretary-General of the Hydro-Informatics Institute Foundation under Royal Patronage, led a delegation to Berth C at Prachuap Port Co., Ltd. in Bang Saphan District. The visit took place at 2pm and focused on the port’s role in supporting water-based logistics, heavy cargo transport and regional economic development.

>The delegation included Nimit Wongjinda, Bang Saphan District Chief, heads of government agencies, and officials from the State Railway of Thailand. The group visited the port to study its operations and discuss how water transport infrastructure could be developed to support Thailand’s wider logistics network.

>Experts from the Sahaviriya Steel Group welcomed the delegation and gave a technical briefing on the port’s operations and future potential.

>Discussions focused on increasing cargo-handling capacity, improving regional logistics links and strengthening the port’s role as a strategic transport point for heavy cargo and industrial raw materials. Future port development plans were also discussed.

>Prachuap Port is one of the province’s most important pieces of industrial infrastructure. The privately operated commercial port supports the movement of goods linked to the integrated steel industry in Bang Saphan, while also handling general cargo for import and export.

>Its location on the Gulf of Thailand gives it a strategic role in serving the lower central region and upper southern provinces. Officials said the port’s ability to handle general cargo vessels efficiently makes it an important part of the region’s logistics system.

>The visit also highlighted the potential for stronger links between sea transport and rail infrastructure, particularly as Thailand continues to look at ways to reduce logistics costs and improve the movement of goods between regions.

>Prachuap Port is regarded as one of the most modern deep-sea port facilities on the Gulf of Thailand coast. Its future development is expected to focus on expanding capacity, supporting industrial transport and improving logistics connections across the region.

If you're looking for a less touristy destination with breathtaking views in Nakhon Ratchasima province, you absolutely must visit the Khon Buri district. Located near the Wat Khao Chom Thong temple is a spectacular natural heart-shaped gorge. There are about 600 steps to climb, but it's absolutely worth it. At the top, in addition to a statue and a footprint of the Buddha in a super spiritual atmosphere, you can enjoy an incredible panoramic view of the Mun Bon Dam. Have any of you been there or know the area?

EDIT: Thank you all so much for all the feedback I’m overwhelmed by all the kindness and comments on this post!

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No good cheesesteaks in Boulder so I did something about it.

>Kaeng Krachan National Park has shared rare footage of two black leopards displaying natural behaviour near a road inside the park, in what officials described as an unusual sighting.

>The video was recorded by Thai tourists travelling along a route in the national park and was released by Mongkol Chaipakdee, Chief of Kaeng Krachan National Park, on 9 May.

>The footage shows two large black leopards near the roadside, where they were seen playing and displaying mating behaviour. The sighting attracted attention because black leopards are rarely seen at close range in the wild.

>Mr Mongkol said the incident was considered highly unusual, as black leopards are normally cautious animals that tend to stay deep inside forest areas and avoid people.

>He said the fact that the animals appeared near a road and continued to behave naturally could be viewed as a sign that wildlife in the park feels safe and is not being heavily disturbed by human activity.

>“This behaviour reflects the success of Kaeng Krachan National Park’s management as a World Heritage area,” Mr Mongkol said.

>He said park officials have worked to maintain a balance between tourism and conservation, allowing wildlife to move through the area with confidence while still protecting the natural environment.

>The sighting also comes as Kaeng Krachan continues to be regarded as one of Thailand’s most important forest areas for wildlife. The park is part of the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021.

>Park officials said the sighting should also serve as a reminder for visitors to behave responsibly while travelling through the area.

>The national park has asked tourists to follow park regulations, especially by keeping within speed limits and avoiding loud noise that may disturb wildlife.

>Officials said such cooperation is important to help preserve a safe environment for rare species and to support conservation efforts inside Kaeng Krachan National Park.