Don't Pee Pee in the Waterfall
Trip Start
Sep 20, 2007
1
59
85
Trip End
Sep 20, 2008
Kanchanaburi,
Thailand
Friday, July 4, 2008
The Erawan Waterfalls
The Tiger Sanctuary
Our local guide Toni the Thai had been here previously and recommended it as good stop off. We were not to be disappointed. We could instantly see how relaxed and laidback the place was and the guesthouse where we stayed, Phom Penh, was better than expected. Four of us crammed into the one room but with the gale force air con it was all good (except for Clive and Conor underneath who paid the price)
The first day we decided to go to the Tiger Sanctuary which was supposedly an orphanage as such for tigers run by the local Buddhist monks
Kan1
. The tigers are extremely tame having been reared by the monks so it's possible to go up and pet them. Although they insist that the tigers weren't drugged and were happy etc something didn't feel right. With hundreds of people queuing up hours to get their photos taken, it seemed more like a money making scam. According to one of the American expats in the town the monks even went as far as shipping the tigers off in their old age up to China for skinning and to be eaten, wouldn't surprise me!The evening entertainment during this stay was the one and only Wimbledon tennis tournament. Fresh in our memories after last years trip to the venue itself, this was not to be missed. The final between Fed Ex and the Pirate Nadal will go down in infamy. Only problem was that due to a mixture of time difference and rain delay we thought the match was over and waited for the next days action...DUUHHHHHH, we missed the last session but have vowed to make up for it.
Next day Clive and Craig went on a bit of a sneaky day tour which included bamboo rafting, elephant trekking and a trip to the magnificent Erawan waterfalls. The Bamboo rafting was a bit of a copout but we did meet two Canadian teachers living in Bangkok who helped us get a few crucial sayings in Thai down (How much and That's way to expensive.
Kan2
. priceless info). The Elephant trekking was a good novelty but not to kind on the crown jewels by any means. It was impressive how high off the ground we were though and a few tricks and evasive maneuvers with Clive at the helm spiced things up.The waterfalls were the truly impressive. Stretching over a few kms these turquoise falls and pools were the perfect way to cool down in the midday heat. Our bubbly guide was a bit of craic too, her only advice being not to Pee Pee in the waterfall and to watch out for the kissing (felt more like biting) fish in the pools.. Kiss Kiss I Love You
The best waterfall was the last one which took a bit of a climb but was definitely worth it. The locals all seemed able to actually run up the waterfall so we gave it a go, no bother. Even joined in with a few locals sudding ourselves up. On the way back we told the Canadians they had to give the waterfall running a go.. whoopps, an hour later and soaked to the bone one of them was none to impressed after dropping her camera in the process. Ah well, must have been our superior fitness!!
Another relaxing night, the next day Craigo left again for Bangkok where he was meeting Anne and the rest of us got the bus southwards to the one and only islands of Phi Phi.
