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Published: December 4th 2006
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We had no time to mope about leaving Laos for the last time as we had to head to Surin, North East Thailand, for the annual elephant round-up. After a brief and unmemorable over-nighter in Ubon Ratchathani, spent at the local night markets eating food, we arrived in Surin. The elephant round-up is hugely popular with tourists from all over Thailand, as well as the rest of the world so we had rang in advance to book our accommodation. Suffice to say, when we arrived they had no idea we were coming, although they had a free room anyway. Infact it was not a 'free' room, but a room priced at double the usual rate for the festival, a fact they seemed particularly pleased to keep telling us!
The next 2 days were surreal; elephants were everywhere! People riding elephants often out-numbered cars on the road (see pic) and every 10 meters held an opportunity to feed an elephant for 10 Baht (20p). The festival has been running for over 50 years and offers elephant performances, sales and rides in equal measure. The main show was spectacular with elephants painting pictures, throwing darts at balloons, kneeling, standing on 2 legs,
running and dressing up for battle re-enactments (see pics). The show is a major social event with huge markets surrounding the stadium.
After the show we went for a fantastic meal and watched the Fulham Vs Man City game in a huge open air bar with a giant screen, both being equally disturbed with elephants marching past and continually trumpeting. As a break from the pachyderms G went for a round of golf (green fees, club hire, caddy- all less than 10 pounds). It turns out this was no break from strange occurrences as the course was in the middle of an army barracks. Regiments of armed soldiers marched past, easily within hooking or slicing distance!
We then returned to Bangkok for our first taste of the Koh San Road. It reminded us of a busy East End market, and not just because most of Dagenham's population was present. This is the most touristy place we have visited so far. Thailand has a far more developed tourist industry than the rest of SE Asia and Bangkok is the hub of travel for the rest of the country. Hundreds of market stalls couldn't hide the ominous McDonalds, Burger King
and Subway signs dominating the strip (see pic).
While in Bangkok we visited the golden mountain, with superb views of Bangkok and revealing the thousands of temples so well hidden by Bangkok's advancement as a developed capital city (see pic). As well as many other local places of interest. G had another suit and 2 fitted shirts made (one shirt we are still waiting to arrive as we speak) and we finished our christmas shopping at the Pad Pong markets, an area which also houses the strip shows and bars for which Bangkok is infamous. After a 3 hour shopping expedition Nat suggested that G go to a bar for a beer while she finished the shopping, Upon her return the following exchange occurred:
Nat - 'Why are you sitting right at the bar beneath the dancers?'
G - 'I couldn't find another seat'
Nat - looks behind to see many free seats at the back of the bar 'there are loads of seats back there'.
G - 'No, you didn't let me finish, I couldn't find another seat closer to the bar'.
Nat - 'Why is one of the dancers sitting next to you. I leave you
alone for 5 mins and your chatting up men.'
G - Notices big feet of dancer - 'Oh'
We left Bangkok for Katchanaburi on a 3 hour bus ride. Katchanaburi is excellent and it is a shame we only had 1 night there. We spent a few hours at the Bridge over the River Kwai (see pic) and associated museum. For those who have not seen the Alec Guiness classic, the Bridge, was built by the Japanese to transport ammunition in order to expand the war to British-colonised, India. Thousands of allied POW's were killed in the terrible conditions offered in the building of the "Death" Railway. Those who survived were used as human shields to protect the bridge from allied bombing campaigns. This was not an effective ploy as whilst carrying out orders allied pilots killed thousands of their own men as well as destroying the bridge. It was all too depressing for G who tried to end it all (see pic).
We also visited a tiger temple. This has been set up by Monks who have raised orphaned tiger cubs to be so placid that you can stroke them (see pics). There was also a free
range farm on the site, with many pigs, deer and buffalo, it took us a while to realise all animals here would make good tiger food!
Finally we visited a spectacular 7-tiered waterfall with stunning photo ops and excellent swimming (See pics). The fish in the swimming areas were huge (up to 10 lbs) and liked to 'nibble' your feet. It was quite a walk up to the top, 7th tier (2kms) but well worth it. The 65km ride to the falls was also impressive passing superb forest and a huge dam.
Next stop, South Thailand and it's world famous beaches.
For more pictures click
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Chris
non-member comment
You didn't call?
Hey guys, You were in my "hometown" and didn't let me know? I would have come and met up with you and shown you some of the "real" Bangkok, beyond Khao Sarn Rd.