Climbers' Mecca

Sikhs go to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India.  Muslims go to Mecca.  If there was a similar destination you had to pick for those that make sport climbing their way of life, you would choose Karbi, Thailand.  It only takes a first glimpse at the overhanging limestone stalactites jetting out of the clear aqua blue waters of the Andaman Sea to realize, this is truly a climbers paradise.  Four straight days of rain didn’t break our spirits and when the sun finally peeked its head out we joined the rest of the climbing community in celebrating its arrival.  The fear of not climbing for five years quickly subsided and the in the moment, meditative state while moving along these perfect rock faces was true wonderful.  For some they may be so lucky to actually start here- like Edward and Elise, our Russian Couchsurfing host, who we got to take out for their first time ever climbing- what naturals.  Or the real naturals, the monkeys who jump on tree limbs behind you or climb on the rocks right beside you in order to make fun that you need a rope, shoes, and harness.  A climbers paradise indeed!