From Bangkok we headed west to Kanchanaburi on a 2 day trip. First stop was the bridge on the river Kwai made famous by the film..hmm, now what was it called, oh yes, "The Bridge on the River Kwai". The bridge itself is quite ordinary but the history is extraordinary. Over 100,000 people lost their lives building what is know as the Death Railway. During WWII the Japanese wanted to build this track from Myanmar to Bangkok to aid in the transportation of military supplies. They used the Allied POW's as slave labour. We also visited a nearby cemetery and saw the names of countless young men who never returned home. The inscriptions on the headstones were made by parents who never saw their sons again.
After lunch we visited The Tiger Temple (Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yannasampanno). This is a working monastery that doubles up as a wildlife sanctuary where the monks care for wild pigs, peacocks, buffalo's, cows, horses, wild goats, and of course tigers. It was amazing to be brought around their enclosure and to be able to place your hand on their belly and feel them breathing. My advice, get in quick before they maim somebody and the authorities shut the place down. Spoilsports. Next it was onto the tiger cubs where again, who could resist patting these playful little creatures.
After dinner it was a quick boat ride up the river to our accommodation for the night. Our rooms were right on the river and by our best estimation were also right in the middle of nowhere. We had a good night though drinking too much beer and chatting with the others on our tour. The following morning feeling a little the worse for wear we visited the Erawan National Park home to the seven tiered Erawan Falls. It was a really nice spot and plenty of the locals were to be seen sporting picnic baskets. This was the second place we had our photograph surreptitiously taken only to later see our ugly mugs plastered across a souvenir plate. Only 100 baht. I don't know the Thai for "no gracias"...but I wish I did.
Erawan Waterfalls
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