Tuesday, January 06, 2009
I am in Kanchanaburi now, and it is really hot here. I decided to come here for a lesson trip on the history of World War 2 in Thailand.
It was a 12.5hr bus journey from Hatyai to Bangkok. And I had to sleep/sit next to a male teenager which was awkward but well I wanted cheap so I get cheap. Managed to catch a few winks only on the bus as it was so hard falling asleep when the road is bumpy and dehydration really keeps you awake (didn't wanna drink too much water lest i hafta pee).
When I finally reached the sacred land of the bus terminal, I swear my ass was praising his holy name. Then I had to purchase my ticket to Kanchanaburi which left me feeling lost as I wandered all around the bus station at 5 in the morning.
When I finally got onto the bus to K, the weirdest thing happened. I was just finish saying a short prayer for safe journey when suddenly BANG! the bus hit the taxi in front. God is quite a joker.
I am staying at a backpackers guesthouse called Blue Star Guesthouse, which is a really lovely place to stay. Plus it was cheap, only 150baht a night, which is about S$6.20. My own room with my own toilet, but only cold water so I was freezing. But this guesthouse had a restaurant that served cheap vegetarian food, so it was 30-40baht for sweet and sour Tofu with rice, or vegetarian pad thai.
The death railway. It is quite a tourist haven, swarmed with tourist, touts and taxi drivers. Like flies. As I stood there contemplating crossing (or not), my brain began to taunt me. I looked at the water, and decided what the heck I came all the way here and it ain't no time to be a chicken after 12.5+3hrs of bus ride.
As I crossed I kept telling myself not to look down, lest I fall or trip and embarrass myself in front of some hot caucasian ladies. I gripped my water bottle so tight and began marching onwards, on a bridge that was incorrectly named bridge over river kwai as the water below wasn't the river kwai. Yes, dumb government official.
Since I am a lone traveller, I decided that it would be more fun in taking pictures of Patrick representing me, then straining my hand trying to capture my own face. And look retarded while doing that.
There are different streets on the road with very interesting names like Singapore Road. It was to represent the different countries that the prisoners of war came from.
I visted the Jeath Museum, which didn't allow me to take pictures, but basically it contained pictures and paintings and newspaper clippings of the POW and their life in the concentration camp and building the railway that linked Thailand to Burma and India. Taken by the POW while they were in camp, it shows the horrific things the Japanese soldiers did to the Australian, American and many other soldiers.
Now that I am done visiting the tourist attractions of K, I am bored outta my mind here. I am staying in a 150B per night room which is ok, at least it comes with a bathroom. For 150B (~$6), one cannot complain.
The best part so far of my trip is riding a motorbike. Ok, I don't actually ride it (I am just a pillion rider). But I get to do it without a helmet! Liberating as the wind blows.