kanchanaburi

left chiang mai the day after our trip to the northern-most part of thailand. we secured to sleeper berths on the 3:40pm train to bangkok. we walked to the station, and for once the train left on time. it was an emotional goodbye to chiang mai. we had been staying in a room in the back of a restaurant, but it had begun to feel like home. we had become confortable there. we had become familiar there. i'll miss our restaurant in daret's hotel.

the trip back to bangkok was more comfortable then its predecessor. we both slept a little in our bunks, and played cards in mine. when we reached bangkok at 6am the next morning we found out that there was no connection from hua lampong station. tired, we cabbed it to wei yai station in thornburi (on the other side of the river of kings). it was cool to see the city wake up, even if the cabbie tried to rip us off. luckily, when we reached the station we found out that a train to kanchanaburi left at 10:30am. we were exhausted and both of us tried to sleep hugging our bags for the 3 hour trip. we only had 3rd class seats so it wasn't the most confortable, but the view was great. to the west of bangkok is a lot more agriculture, and the climate seems drier (like in 'zona). it kind of reminded me of taking a train to the old west. 120km nw of bangkok and we were there after about 18hrs of travel.

we spent the first half day getting orientated with the town and walking around trying to get a feel for the guesthouses. we got a great spot overlooking the kwai river, and lyds bartered with them over the price. the place is pretty nice, and we are paying the lowest amount yet per night. we also have a semi-private balcony overlooking the river. we napped the rest of the day while waiting for the guesthouse manager to fix the lock on our balcony.

the next day we saw the kanchanaburi war cemetary. it is the final resting place of 6,800 pows from england, australia, india and holland. the grounds were immaculately kept, and it was a little emotional to read the epitaphs of 20-somethings described as mom or dad's "pal." after we walked the grounds (and i could have read all of the markers if there was time) we visited the thailand-burma railway centre. it was a great museum that did not pull any punches regarding the japanese brutality to their prisoners. lastly we walked the 5km from the town to the rebuilt bridge. we were allowed to walk across it to the other side and back. you can still see where the original wooden bridge was located about 100m downstream. on the way back across the bridge we learned that it is still active as we had to wait on an platform to the side for a train to pass. on a sad side note: the us submarine watch that i bought in chiang mai and was very fond of died the other day. we had only been together about 48hrs. as it was a submarine watch, and with where we were visiting, i commited it to the bottom of the kwai river from the bridge. it was a small ceremony. 5km walk back to the guesthouse and we caught a great sunset from our balcony.

up at 7am this morning to travel by songtao to the famous floating market at damnoen saduak, ratchaburi (40 mins south of nakhon pathom). once there we got our own longboat to ferry us around the market. it was an asian version of venice, if venice is dirty and sells photo albumns, ninja stars, purses and postcards). then we visited a art exhibit on teak work and then took the 1.5hr trip back to kanchanaburi.

this town is so quiet, and there are great deals here as the history only appeals to a limted number of tourists.

tomorrow we are headed back to bangkok for a few days and then we move on the hong kong.

p.s. dad - i have finished "my wicked, wicked ways." it was a great read. now i am on to a copy of "high fidelity" that i picked up.