Two Regions – One Conclusion
It has taken me twelve days since arriving in Thailand to put together my first post, but it hasn’t been through a complete lack of want. A hectic schedule has seen myself and Wonderful Wi find very little time to ourselves in the way of quiet relaxation and a significant glitch towards uploading photos took me a good week to put right. During the mayhem, I decided a rest from blogging wasn’t such a bad idea.
Our holiday started with a four-day break in Kanchanaburi and a visit to the town’s historic War Cemetery and Memorial Museum as well as taking a train ride on the Thailand – Burma Death Railway and a walk onto the famous bridge over the River Kwai. We have also enjoyed the beautiful and refreshing Erawan Waterfalls, and on day three we took a tour out to the Tiger Temple situated 25 kilometres from Kanchanaburi town. I will leave those posts until my return to the UK as they deserve a lot of input and for once I have some decent quality photographs to accompany each story.
Sam’s Guesthouse was our residence while in Kanchanaburi, and at 800 baht a night we were most impressed with our choice of stay. Guesthouse owner Sam is a Thai national and speaks excellent English having spent ten years of his working life in America and is now the very proud owner of two more guesthouses, 3000 rai of land, 400 cattle and two light aircraft. One wealthy and pleasant man. Our room was on the edge of the River Kwai, and the plants, trees and water flowers were a sight to behold, but the noises that came from the water did make me wonder what was lurking under there.
On day five we took a minibus to Suvarnabhumi airport for our afternoon flight to Udon Thani. Still, first, we detoured and visited Bangkok’s Floating Market which is probably the most famous of all Thailand’s tourist attractions. I just loved the market colours, and it was an excellent photographic opportunity and the food music to young Wilai’s eyes and ears. Looking back Kanchanaburi and its warm-hearted people gave us a great start to our holiday and the floating market in Ratchaburi was a sight and experience to behold.
Udon Thani airport was a welcome sight. Car hire, 60 baht haircut, Tesco Lotus and home sweet home. Long live Noo. Our rabbit was dead. No apparent bite marks just a young heart that stopped beating from an over a zealous game from our two dogs Cola and Gaan. A quick count of my Oxo cubes and I realised Noo was buried under the village turf now, he hadn’t been garroted, potted and washed down with lao khao. God bless Noo. To shed a tear is the first water for your enemy to sail upon. Noo, stew, boohoo.
Our village home was bliss but only if you miss the fact that five days wasn’t enough. Great days with daily rides to Nong Khai, Udon Thani and wherever. Evenings are relaxing at home. Walk the dogs, a family barbecue and breathe in the still country life. Five wonderful days. A high five if I have ever seen one.
Today as I write this post in the ironically named President Hotel in Udon Thani, ironic in a country where the majeste law beats red for danger, and the colour of money is a clear Jaune, myself and Wilai must once again go our separate ways. We have tasted two very different regions in the Land of Smiles, but my conclusion of both Kanchanaburi and Udon Thani is its people love life and love to enhance the lives of others. One hell of a two week holiday for me that has furthered my adoration for Thailand and its beautiful people. Suvarnabhumi here I come.
Hi Martyn, I too love Kanchanaburi and I have to say that it takes some beating. As for the River Kwai-well having nearly drowned in it back in 2005 I don’t think I’ll be venturing too close when we head North for our hols!
I look forward to lots of interesting posts in the coming weeks.
Safe journey.
PS read your email re book!
.-= Mike´s last blog ..Ambergris Found in Phuket =-.
Sorry to hear the trip is over Martyn, I’m sure you are too.
I can’t wait to read about all your journeys. Have a safe trip back.
.-= Talen´s last blog ..Travel Insurance, Don’t Leave Home Without It! =-.
Martyn ,I am sorry your trip is over already and I am glad you had a great time , time flies when you are having fun and all to soon I’m sure for you it was time to go back to work ., but the bright side is that it want be to long before you will be able to have Thailand as your home base.
And for to save me I can’t figure out why we were not able to hook up while you were in Kanchanaburi , I was soooo looking foward to a visit with you and yours , anyway next time I hope . Again I’m glad you had a good time in our little corner of the world and hope you’ll come back soon. Malcolm
.-= malcolm´s last blog ..MY FIRST POST—IT’S BEEN FIVE YEARS NOW =-.
Glad to hear you enjoyed the trip, sir, shame it has to end this time around.
Love the Thai BBQ btw, has to be one of my personal faves though it becomes a challenge of endurance towards the end.
Look forward to more carefully spun tales from your trip very soon.
.-= Jon´s last blog ..Tragedy in Saraburi =-.
well however short and sweet the trip was iam sure you got the tonic you needed to survive a few more month’s in the uk buddy
Kanchanaburi is a good trip the actually changed the jeath museum there from death a few years back
the hell fire pass was really interesting with the modern museum to the mostly fallen auzzie and allied soldiers who dug that part of the railway
welcome back to the uk a.k.a la la land where to sell papers the sun know supports the Tories
The tiger in that picture appears to be roaming completely free! Yet there appear to be people walking all around. How does that work out?
http://www.andyewilliams.com/blog
.-= Andy´s last blog ..Did You Miss this at Nuit Blanche? Part II: The Unique Signature of Sunny Choi =-.
Mike I expected Kanchanaburi to be good but it was even better than I imagined, the locals were ultra friendly and the region had so many interesting things to do and see.
Talen the trip could have done with being at least a week longer but that wasn’t to be but Christmas will be hear before you know it and I’ll be back.
Malcolm I can now see where the passion within your blog comes from and the people were very much like the Isaan folks in the northeast. I wish I could have had longer in Kanchanaburi because there was more that I wanted to see, we have marked a return down for possibly next year but if not then definitely the year after.
Jon it’s a shame it has ended but work calls and that pays the bills and funds the trips. I left the BBQ to Wi and her cousins because with me sat there the conversation always centres around me and I wanted them to have a good natter for a few hours. They all had a great time.
John I do feel refreshed and ready to tackle work and overtime once more but that feeling I know won’t last too long. I didn’t make it to Ban Dung this time because on the morning we were going something cropped up and we had to head into Nong Khai, I’ll make it Christmas for sure.
Andy most of the tigers were chained to the ground and if you look closely at the shot you can see a chain leading from its neck. Rumours abound that the tigers are also heavily dosed up and hence why they appear in a sleepy state.