The next morning, after an American breakfast (don’t ask) it was a 2 hour drive north-ish to Erawan Waterfall. On the way we passed rock 'nurseries' with some of the best shaped rocks we’ve ever seen for gardens - there are rocks and there are rocks, but these were ROCKS . A bit big for our luggage, but just right for a medium sized shipping container.
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| Erawan National Park |
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| Erawan Waterfall - Postcard |
Anyway the waterfalls were good, and at the main swimming hole, #2 of a total of 7 pools, we swam with the fishes.
You had to swim, because if you stopped, even for a few seconds, they’d start nibbling you! Not aggressively, but certainly disconcertingly.
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| Sign at the entrance |
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| Frances under the Erawan Waterfall |
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| A Tarzan-like figure at the pool |
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| Photo shows the size of the pool |
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| Simone and Rachel |
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| Simone, Charlotte, Rachel & Frances |
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| Local guide and Simone |
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| The fish were certainly visible |
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| Swimming lessons were not wasted |
Lunch was nearby at a selection of small eateries and the food was fine. Unfortunately e made the mistake of sitting downwind of the kitchens. You know how when fresh chilli hits hot oil, it releases all the volatile substances that irritate you eyes, nose and throat? Well, we got a fairly strong reminder. The Russians meanwhile were hoeing into what looked more like a banquet. It seemed that it was still a little less than they required, so they also bought extra snacks to eat in the van during the next leg of the tour.
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| A special train that crosses the bridge |
This brought us back to Kanchanaburi. We walked across the bridge over the River Kwai - at a time that the train was not crossing of course. We understand that still has much of the original 'fabric'.
Kanchanaburi is where the Japanese forces made their base for the push into Burma and India in WWII and where many of the prisoners and forced labourers who died are buried.
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| The railway station |
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| One of the original engines |
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| Simone crossing the bridge |
We also visited the War Museum and Kanchanaburi War Cemetery which were both quite moving.
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| Kanchanaburi War Cemetery |
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| Our local guide was great |
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| Kanchanaburi War Cemetery |
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Our microbus and one of the Russian
passengers in Kanchanaburi |
Our tour complete, we then headed off for a 4 hour drive back to Pattaya and Jomtien - less the 3 Fins who were staying on. By this time no-one was looking forward to the trip - the Russians has re-provisioned themselves and were prepared for a long trip.
We did stop on the way back for some relief and refreshment but it was still a very l..o..n..g trip.
By the time we arrived home, Frances' back was aching so much that she could hardly walk inside, and I felt seasick from the bouncy minvan. The girls headed straight to bed. Did we mention that that the main driver had a habit of pressing and lifting the accelerator pedal that produced a constant see-saw effect.
