0009 Bridge over the River Kwai

Tuesday 26^th Feb was a busy day with a planned outing to the Floating Markets, a visit to an Elephant village, going to the Bridge on the River Kwai, and lastly to the Tiger Temple at Kanchanburi.  A lot of driving to do, so we were up at 5.30 am, picked up by the bus downstairs at 6.30 am, and didn’t get back home until 7.30 pm that night.  But it was a wonderful day !!

It was about a 2 hour drive to the Floating Markets at Damnoen Saduak, and the 13 seater bus was NOT a very good one.  It was not too bad for the other 7 people, but as we were the last ones aboard, we got the very back seat, which was perched much higher than all the others, so we could hardly see out of the windows. Pretty firm seats in the back, too, and it wasn’t always the smoothest road, but hey ho……..   We were off on an adventure into the unknown – And as you know, I LIKE adventures !!

We stopped at a boat terminal a little away from the Floating Markets, and of course the first port of call was the toilets – 5 baht per person, toilet paper collected outside !!  Once that was taken care off, we were ushered into long tail boats - long narrow boats with a car engine in the back, virtually no exhaust, and a L-O-N-G propellor shaft out the back. But they are very narrow, so extremely unstable, and getting in the first time is a bit of a challenge !!

Once in, and all sitting line astern, it was off down the canals to the floating market. Once at the markets one has to get out of the motorised long tail boat and into a more suitable one for relaxed shopping, paddled by a local, and then off we went. 

Quite hilarious as the stall holders on the banks can reach out with their long hooked poles and pull you up to their stall - Even if you don;t want what they are selling !!!   But we soon got into the swing of things, and as you bumped and pushed your way through the crowded "streets", (keep your fingers inside the boat !!), we bought bbq chicken on stick, sticky rice, fresh mango and pomelo (a new favourite fruit for me !), and slowly munched our way through the market !!   Great fun.

After the Floating Market, we jumped back in the bus and after a short distance stopped again, this time at the Damnoen Saduak Elephant Village. We went off on elephants for a ride round the village, including through a deep water section where the elephants hade to raise their trunks like periscopes so they could keep breathing !

 After the ride, Sarah fed some of the elephants with Bananas before it was time to jump in the bus again for the long haul north to Kanchanaburi.   It was an hour until we stopped at a mostly tourist stop for a quick lunch of chicken cashew, sweet and sour chicken and veggies - Not exactly delicious, but it filled a hole !

After that it was another hour's drive up to Kanchanaburi where we stopped at the Bridge over the River Kwai and associated War Museum. 

Quite a moving museum with a lot of photos and models, and even the remainder of one part of a wooden bridge over the river.  The railway bridge is quite evocative, and makes one want to wander around and over the bridge and just soak up the atmosphere. 

Not long enough there, but thoroughly enjoyed seeing it.  At the end Sarah had to buy some long pants to cover her shorts for the Tiger Temple we were going to visit next, so we were in a shop looking for a suitable solution. Results can be seen in the photos - Thai wrap pants !

 

Quite hot by the time we got to the Tiger Temple in early afternoon, this is a wildlife sanctuary started with an injured jungle fowl given to a monk by a local villager, then peacocks came, followed by an injured wild boar.

Then deer came, and buffalo, and horses, all of which roamed free in the monastery grounds. The first tiger cub arrived in 1999, and was very sick after her mother was killed by poachers, and since then the Tiger Population has gradually increased both through breeding and injured animals being brought in, and today there are about 120.

Now they have an amazing facility where animals can be gently handled (although you are held quite firmly by  a guide, who also takes photos of you with your camera), and at the end of the day, for a fee that goes towards their upkeep, the public can also walk the tigers on a lead, and also take part in their evening exercise routine. 

We spent some time in with the tigers (who are fortunately well fed and drowsy in the afternoon heat !!) which was just such an amazing experience. Unfortunately our tour didn't leave us enough time to stay for the excercise routine, so that just means we will have to come back another time !!  We had to hurry back to the bus, where we had a 3 hour drive back to Bangkok.  But that passed pretty quickly as we chatted with Roman, the traveller from Swtizerland (who has previously ridden all over Australia on a motorbike), and the Canadian girls from Vancouver, all of whom were on their first trip to Thailand. Thanks for helping to make the journey home a lot shorter and more fun, guys, It was great meeting you and we hope that you all have a wonderful time in Thailand.

Even though we were all pretty exhausted by the time we got home, it was well worthwhile - especially the Floating Markets and the Tiger Temple - Won't forget them for a very long time.

Lots more pics of the day here :-  https://picasaweb.google.com/117739775480775657932/0009BridgeOverRiverKwai?authkey=Gv1sRgCJXvkt7ilNWjXw#