Kanchanaburi

---

We ditched the bright lights and raucoussness of Bangkok for the quieter, more rural and picturesque province of Kanchanaburi.

We found out about the public bus and headed for the station. It was a little primitive but all very well organised (considering British transport). Short as it may have been, (around 2 hrs) it felt quite nice to think it's the first journey organised all on our own!

We stayed in a little guest house down by the river Kwai- very reasonable compared to Bangkok prices and it also had a swimming pool.

Visited the War museum which was very moving and very informative. Also the memorial cemetary - Aus, Dutch and British servicemen. Met up with a nice couple that we ran into at various points throughout our journey and whiled away the hours with them.

The next day we were booked on a tour. In the morning we visited a waterfall (bit more of a trickle than a waterfall but beautiful nonetheless), then another war museum and then walked down one of the many trenches that the POWs dug out when laying the railway - Hellfire Pass. It was quite astounding how deep they were forced to mine considering the conditions.

After lunch we went elephant trekking (proper off road) and then bamboo rafting. Kelly was the passenger and i was meant to be captain. Now i know the stream is meant to be shallow but so shallow that the poor Thai man following along behind the raft has to keep pushing you out of the bedrock? Because for 80% of the 'peaceful' journey, that's exactly what happened. Kelly sat there like lady muck while i struggled with a big bamboo pole to keep us moving. They assured us that because of the extreme hot weather the water was low making it very shallow, but we were getting paranoid that us Westerners were a pair of fatties. I guess i should cut down on the Chang! Anyway, it made the experience more memorable!

Then to finish the day we travelled on the train (on the very railway built during the war) and then walked over the Kwai bridge (which was all a bit eerie). Met another really nice couple (James and Kim- both Londoners) and so spent the evening with them eating fine Thai food and drinking the unregulated Chang beer (apparently, because it's unregulated by the Govt, you could end up with a 5% alc bottle or anything upto a 9% bottle!) Planning to meet up with them both when we're back in Bangkok.

The next day was a mixture of chilling out by the pool and getting drenched whenever we left the guesthouse (Thai New Year lasts around 4-5 days!) but it was all good fun (good thing it's so hot, it's actually nice!) We then went for a nice relaxing (and often slightly painful) Thai massage. The first of many i'm sure. Left us feeling a little odd but you really feel the benefit the next day!

Anyway, i've been uploading photos to my online storage (which is taking an age) so no photos this time i'm afriad- but will upload a couple next time.

Hope you're all enjoying the trip so far. Next stop Bangkok for a day on the internet (hence me typing away furiously now) and then we're catching a flight to Hanoi. Catch up with you in Vietnam...!

---

Photos

Here's to us
Well deserved drinks with Kim and James after the 'show' in Bangkok

Comments

[Pat Tuohy]

pow camps
when you visit a place like that you realise how cruel humans can be .the cemetry is very humbling