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Published: October 26th 2006
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Kanchanaburi
Blue Star - Our Tree House After grudgingly leaving the gorgeous beach in Haad Yoa we foolishly started another long journey to our next destination Kanchanaburi pronounced gan-cha-na-buri. We spent four hours on the ferry to Surat Thani and a night bus to Bangkok arriving at 5 in the morning. We then somehow managed to get herded onto a local bus which took us to Kanchanaburi taking bloody hours as they have bus boys who hang out of the door grabbing every unsuspecting soul who might be wanting a bus in the same direction and flinging them on fitting them into any available space. We finally arrived at 10am exhusted but excited about where we were staying. We went to a hostel called the Blue Star. It had wooden huts a bit like tree houses over the river Kwai. We didnt do much the first day so we just wandered around the city and visited the war cemetry. When we finally dragged our weary arses to bed i noticed some horrible looking black bugs squirming all over my sheets. Overacting i immediately thought bed bugs, when i was offered to have my bed swept and new sheets put on i was not having any of it and
asked for a new room. She really didnt understand my panicking and looked at me like i was a silly english fool. We had booked a tour the following day it was just us and two american ladies who were really nice. We first went to a waterfall which was cool but didnt really stay there long we did however try grapefruit with chilli sugar which was suprisingly pretty tasty. Next was a hot spring. Sam and one of the american ladies were being modest and didnt want to go in the water where as me and the other lady jumped straight in. First we had to wash in the river which was bloody cold and then we could go in one of the hot springs. Not knowing i chose the one which was 40c i was suprised my body didnt go into shock. In the afternoon we went to the hellfire pass memorial museum and took a small trek along the railway. Just for those who dont know in the second world war the Japanese decided to construct a railway from Bampong in Thailand into Burma in order to move weapons easier. To do this they caputured or bribed
approximately 250,000 Asian labourers and over 60,000 Australian, British, Dutch and American prisoners of war. Due to the conditions that they were under and the Japenese mistreating them it is believed 90,000 peopled died. We then went on the train and travelled over the Bridge on the River Kwai and then visitied it after.
We only had two nights in Kanchanaburi and then made our way to Chang Mai. The next day we got mini bus to Bangkok which we were supposed to be dropped off on Khao san Road but we think the driver was playing dumb and tried to kick us out on the outskirts of Bangkok luckily some of the other people in the mini bus told him where to go. We managed to make our way to Khao san Road but then were unsure where a coach was supposed to collect us as the road is pretty much pedestrianised. I tried to call the travel agent that we bought the ticket from. I managed to understand one thing of the converstaion and that was to look up and look for a hotel. Luckily when our two hours of waiting had passed we saw other people
Kanchanaburi
Buddhist Shrine at the waterfall with huge backpacks also hanging around looking slightly bewildered and lost. We finally got onto a bus which looked like it had seen better days even though we thought that we had paid for a VIP ticket. After breaking down several times we reached Chang Mai at 6 in the morning and made our way to the banana guest house. Its very basic but very cheap so cant complain. People have scribbled there appreciation on the walls throughout the hostel but we cant help but think if we are staying at the same hostel that they are talking about. As soon as we had put our bags down a guy who worked at the hostel started to pester us about taking his tours and still is. We discovered that the prices were rather pricey in our joint, so we were traters and booked elsewhere.
The tour guide was a Thai version of Del boy. We were whisked off to our first destination of the day an orchid and butterfly farm Sam and I werent that impressed. We then went to visit four tribal villages. Sam and I seemed to be the only people that felt slightly strange like we
Kanchanaburi
Offering at Buddhsit shrine were treating the people like they were a freak show or animals in a zoo. To make us feel better we bought some of the jelewery that they were selling. At several of the villages they got the very young children to pretty much hang on to your leg trying to sell you bracellets and pestered you until you gave in, it looked like shaun of the dead with them all chasing after you like zombies. At one point Sam looked petrified like they were going to rip our heads off and eat our brains. After lunch we went to a cool cave which the monks have converted into a buddhist temple. The last stop of the day was the Long Neck and Big Ear Tribes. This was the only tribe i really wanted to see. Not like all the others they actually wore there tribal dress all the time where as we could see the other tribes western clothes under there robes. It was like Del boy had called in advance and told them that we were coming and to quickly chuck on the outfits. The woman of the Long Neck tribe were very pretty they have the bronze
Kanchanaburi
A closer shot just to gross you all out chain attached to the necks and legs at a very young age. It is an illusuion which makes the neck longer but it is still very impressive as the neckpeice is so heavy. The big ear tribe again have the gold chains around their legs but instead of the chain around their neck they stretch their ears. Similar to mine but on a much bigger scale, i think my family would kill me if i came home with massive ear lobes that i could fit my fist through.
We have two days of chilling now until we catch the slow boat to Loas. I think Gin and Tonic and reading our books is the answer.
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Mum/Jackie
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Wish I was there too!!!!
you girls are looking great!!!!Like Auntie Jane would love to drop everything and be there...except for the bugs sounds fantabulous!!