River Kwai, Thailand
Trip Start
Nov 03, 2002
1
14
32
Trip End
Dec 02, 2002
River Kwai, Thailand
Saturday, November 16, 2002
We then walked up to the H'Mong village and visited a buddhist temple, then walked through the fields and jungle to their local school. We stopped for a few photos with the kids - they were very fascinating to watch while they were reciting their lessons for the day. It was a one-shack school-house. Photographed them while writing their language on the chalkboard for Andrew's friend Xang back in Phoenix. Walked past the same elephants - four of them this time - and bought bunches of bananas to feed them.
Back down to the river, back on the longboats to the Kaeng Lawa Cave. Was hot and humid as we walked past the only home in the area - with a Harley in front (in the middle of the jungle?) and 5 or 6 bichon frise dogs. Definitely reminded me of Lily back at home!
The caves were nice, but slippery - we only went about 10 or so minutes in before a lot of the others gave up and went back. I hung out for a while longer then caught up with the rest of the group. Back on the boat, to the vans, then to the Yok Yai waterfalls... very beautiful with many travertine pools, rock wasn't slippery at all. A group of boys came up to me and asked a bunch of questions in English and asked me to write all of the answers down. Bought fried taro root strips.
Van to the train station, hopped on the local train for 50 miles - as the train approached a million kids got off - must be their school bus or something. Had the train practically to ourselves. Got to hang outside the train and take pictures while over the river or on really tall bridges. We paused at significant spots - a cave where the POWs hid from the Japanese, the rock passage "hellfire pass" where the POWs were forced to cut, by hand, a long passage for the train through solid rock. Called Hellfire because at night it was lit with nothing but thousands of candle lanterns.... they thought it looked like hell. As the train approached the bridge over the River Kwai, it stopped then started slowly and we traveled over the original spans, the replacement spans where the Americans bombed the bridge just 27 days after its completion, and then the original spans again. Got out of the train, walked to the bridge past the original locomotives and construction cars. Thousands and thousands of people in a festival atmosphere - this is the time of the year for the annual light and sound spectacular, which we won't be staying for... 20 minutes here was too much time.
On the van again to Bangkok - took forever, terrible traffic and lots of smog. Instantly went to the train station (our free afternoon in Bangkok had disappeared!) got some quick food and sent everyone some emails (remember the "gotta catch a train email"?) and boarded the train. Whoa - this was supposed to be first class, but we were in this huge long car with bunks and little curtains. At least our car was a/c - but still - this is no way to travel. Spent a little time in the bar car with others before returning to sleep.
