Yesterday during the afternoon I went with my wife and her mother to San Kampaeng Hot Springs. It was afternoon, and I had a cooler and a backpack with me. My wife yelled and pointed behind me and there was a yellow lipped green pit viper behind me on the cooler. He was up in striking position and I should have just stood still but it surprised me so I just jumped back. Surprised it didn't strike then. I took an umbrella and chased it away, but it did not leave quickly. Then it was off like a shot and went straight for this old lady. Never saw a snake move this fast. I chased it and swatted it with umbrella and it took off into the brush. Later while I was swimming my wife is sitting on a blanket doing crochet. The snake crawls right up onto her lap and raises its head as if to strike. She said she screamed and jumped up and it fell off, and still did not strike. This is odd as this species is very quick to bite. She had a hard time chasing it away with a stick. This was also strange as although they are aggressive when cornered they are generally nocturnal and althought hey live near human settlements they usually try to avoid people. Fortunately, thought they are venomous their bite is not usually fatal, but it is very painful and sometimes leads to necrosis. Anyway I tell this story as it was a pretty weird snake.
