Grab your brake!" Coach Jaab screams, but of course he's too late. I hear a crash as another ATV bangs into ours.
It's just another day for novice drivers of allterrain vehicles on their way to the waterfall in Phang Nga's Tone Pariwat Wildlife Sanctuary. Beginners routinely hit the accelerator when they should be squeezing the brake.
The single track to Tone Pariwat Waterfall actually isn't all that difficult - an hour's bumping along - but most visitors are new to ATVs and rarely get beyond the Klong Song Praek River, the coach says. Speedometer needles are lucky to see 20km.
All of this, needless to say, is tremendous fun, especially when someone musters the nerve to show off, running counter to Jaab's creed: "No racing, no drifting, no donuts." His other universally ignored rule is "always keep five metres between your ATV and the next".
There are other ways to explore the sanctuary, including yearround whitewater rafting.
Sawatdichai Manabanyong of Phuket Sealand says the challenge reaches Level 4 here in rainy season (Level 6 being the riskiest). But at the sanctuary's privately owned reservoirs, the operators keep the rafting excitement to Level 2 or 3. Once the rafts are afloat, water is released so the river current picks up.
Then there is trekking and elephant riding. You can try everything in the course of one hilarious day. Just don't try pulling a donut on an elephant.
XTRA
Extreme effort
Phuket Sealand offers a oneday package: five different activities with a Thai lunch and rides to and from your hotel. It costs Bt6,500, Bt1,000 less for children.
Several other companies offer packages. Check out www.phangngarafting.com.
