Upon our arrival to Kanchanaburi the evening of Red Vest Day, we learned that the boutique raft hotel we booked (and pre-paid for) was 60 km outside of town. It would take an hour to get there, cost 30 bucks one-way, and take us away from anything we wanted to do during our visit there. The decision was made to sleep in a 12-dollar hut in town while paying for a 70-dollar room elsewhere. I think our days of pre-paying for hotels are over. We also learned that wandering around at 11PM trying to make a decision on lodging and tripping over a curb with a 33-pound pack on is also to be avoided. I can now add a skinned knee to the list of typical childhood ailments I have become reacquainted with on this trip (ear infection, poison ivy, random puke-athon... Bring it on, pink eye!)
Kanchanaburi is notable for 2 things:
1) Bridge over the River Kwai. The bridge looks a lot like any railroad bridge. In fact, the locals had no idea what I was talking about when I drew a picture of a bridge and asked which way it was. However, the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre is the curent favorite for our coveted Best Museum award. We also visited the War Cemetery, where many Allied POWs who worked on the bridge are buried.
2) "Sex-pats." For those new to the term, these are skeevy white dudes who fly half-way around the world to get a date. They are everywhere. Example below.
Back in Bangkok today after our first train ride of the trip (3rd class, baby). Dhaval joins us tomorrow!
Melinda
