TonyT's third Thailand blog:
September to October 2015.
Page 4
KANCHANABURI and the RIVER KWAI (continued)
WEDNESDAY 9th (continued): On getting back to Konchanaburi at around 5:30pm we caught a motorbike taxi back to our room for a shower and a change of clothes. That done, dropped some clothes off at the laundry up the road and then I suffered a 40 minute wait in a salon whilst Madam had her hair done. I was tempted to wait-out at the bar over the road but thought better of it.
After the salon it was another taxi, this time it was a motorbike and side-car; the side-car being decked out with seating for about 4 people; interesting!
We opted to dine in the decent restaurant where we enjoyed a couple of beers the evening before right at the waters-edge of the River Kwai. Actually, the restaurant was FLOATING on the river. Truly excellent Thai cuisine; very very good and very romantic for my lovely Thai wife and me.
Same taxi man turned up at the time we agreed and we were off to a bar for a night-cap; just the one and then back to the apartment.
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TOP LEFT: Aom at a local salon; keeping me away from the bar
TOP RIGHT: Bananas growing inside the restaurant we opted to dine therin.
SECOND: Scanning the large menu.
THIRD: Waitress was very patient whilst Madam decided what to order... then ordered too much.
FOURTH: My Chang being expertly decanted by a genuine Chang lady. What a service
FIFTH: I had to pour the second beer myself! No Chang lady this time.
SIXTH: We really did have a huge but very very delicious meal. All that on the table set me back well under £20 ($30 or 1100 Baht). The pictures do NOT show the starters we had.
BOTTOM: All gone! So full dessert was out of the question! Thai food at its best and plenty of it.
Here's a short movie clip of two of Kanchanaburi's taxi services:-
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Kanchanaburi taxis; a 125cc bike with a sidecar with seating for 4.
THURSDAY 10th: Decided on renting out a couple of push bikes from Chi (owner of Bure Homestead). 24 hours for 50 Baht each (<£1). After breakfast we were off trundling along the Kanchanaburi side roads towards the War Cemetery. Mainly flat roads which was good as the heat and especially the humidity was well up today. Bit of rain from time to time too.
Arrived at the war graves site and took some time to ponder about all those lives lost; some soldiers were 21-23 years old when they were either killed or persecuted to death by the Japanese whilst constructing the "Death Railway".
Left the bikes chained up by the cemetery gates and walked over to the Konchanaburi Museum. Lots of relics from when the Japanese were here in WW2 and lots of horrible pictures of the prisoners. Very interesting nonetheless.
After the museum we cycled down the full length of the town towards the Kwai where another less cared-for museum was. The heat & humidity now was getting to me a bit; very uncomfortable. We then wandered around an arcade of stall selling mainly local jewellery which Aom took a fancy to. Took some time out to enjoy a choc Magnum Classic then headed back for a beer nearer our residence.
Later in the evening we caught a bike-and-sidecar taxi to the floating restaurant on the river. As last time, the food was excellent.
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TOP: In the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery.
CENTRE LEFT: Ready to leave the cemetery on our bikes.
CENTRE RIGHT: Statue depicting the misery of POW's working the railway in the War Museum at Kanchanaburi.
BOTTOM LEFT: Model of The "Flying Kampong" in the museum; a Japanese truck which ran on rails and roads. Photo of the real thing on Page 2.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Aom on her bike.
