Waterfalls, war and green curry
Trip Start
Nov 15, 2004
1
18
70
Trip End
Nov 10, 2005
Bangkok and Kanchanaburi, Thailand,
Thailand
Sunday, February 20, 2005
We had heard that entering Cambodia was often a nightmare - we did not expect leaving would be so difficult. Our bus left Battambang at 12pm and we were told, would arrive in Bangkok around 6pm. We figured that realistically meant around 7-8pm so we were pretty tired and irritated when we arrived at 10.30pm after queing in the tropical sun for hours (don't cross borders during Chinese new year and 'computer up-grades'). The situation was made more trying due to the numbers of que-jumpers.
It must have been our turn for experiencing delays (warm up for India perhaps?) as we found out the next day that an Indian public holiday would further delay us in getting our Indian visas. We also experienced the joys of changing flights - losing money in the process. With a flight to Kolkata booked and an Indian visa getting (hopefully) approved we headed to Kanchanaburi for some rest and good thai food
Erawan Falls
.Kanchanaburi
There is a fair bit to do and see in Kanchanaburi, including 9 national parks and 6 wildlife sanctuaries in the world heritage listed surrounds. With tour companies charging a fair bit to see things we decided to hire a car and do some independant exploring. It was great to be behind the wheel again after 3 months of not driving but our joy soon turned sour when the car broke down half way to our intended final destination!!! Thankfully it broke down in front of the museum we wanted to visit which also happened to be part of an army base, so within minutes the car was surrounded by 'mechanics' helping us out. The car eventually re-started but we had to head back to town after visiting the museum as we didn't trust the car to make it any further up hill.
The Hellfire Pass Museum was built by the Australian Government to commemorate the prisoners of war who served and died at the hands of the Japanese Imperial Army during WW2. The prisoners built a railway through Thailand into Burma at huge human cost. The huge pass in the picture was one of many dug through the cliffs by the prisoners with little mechanical assistance.
We visited two of the areas National Parks, Sok Yai and Erawan. Erawan is the most popular and best managed park we have been to in asia. You even have to pay a ten baht (30 cent) deposit just to take you water bottle in. Erawan boasts arguably South East Asia's most beautiful waterfall - seven teirs and 2000 metres long/high, with many swimming holes and hordes of hungry fish which nibble at any part of your body that remains still for the slightest moment
Fixing the car
.We also visited the 'tiger temple' where you can get up close and personal with tigers that are cared for by a group of monks. A little nerve racking at first but an experience we couldn't miss.
Heading back to Bangkok tomorrow to re-stock our medical supplies and enjoy a final curry or two (and banana pancakes for Kate :-)
Stay tuned for our first impressions of India - arrival time 12.05am Thursday morning!
Comments
tiger temple thailand
with regards to the notorious tiger temple in kanchanaburi thailand with complaints from tourists and volunteers about tigers being mistreated there care for the wild international (CWI) undertook an intensive two year investigation. The resulting CWI report reveals illegal wildlife trade, animal cruelty, false conservation claims and visitor safety risks at the temple. This issue also has widespread media reponse and attention with major tour operators in several countries taking the tiger temple of thier books and brochures.