Two Guys with Big Ears

Exploring the very Buddhist country of Thailand...
Just outside the southern city of Krabi Kim and I hiked up a hill, I think of it as a mountain, but that's only my point of view, to enjoy a wonderful vista of the land below, light some incense, relax, and take a few photos. There are various reports of the number of steps up the "hill." One stated it as 1270, another at 1293, and I counted 1285, depending upon what steps you take to the top, for there are technically three tops at the top. Several times we stopped on our way up this steep trek. Yes, there are stairs the entire way, however, each step can be up to a foot and a half high and only eight inches wide. Because of that sidestepping is in order and fortunately a handrail parallels the walk past every switchback the entire length up the hillside. At the top you can see rubber tree, banana tree, and a numerous amount of different species of palm plantations below stretching beyond the horizon. You cannot see it in the picture, though there are a few antennas up there and for good reason as it is one of the highest spots around. Even Buddhist Monks have to make money somehow. At the bottom were we in for a surprise. A group of monkeys were playing and grooming each other on the stoop of the fifteenth step. They approached and then mirrored us by stared right back with, I'm assuming, the same amount of amusement.