Bangkok to Kanchanaburi
Door: Claudia
Blijf op de hoogte en volg Claudia
23 Januari 2005 | Thailand, Bangkok
Bangkok, Wednesday 19-01-2005
It's not even 8 o'clock when I step out on the street and that's nice, because it gives me a whole new look on Khaosan Road. It's relatively quiet. Shops are still closed, just a few restaurants are open for breakfast, there are some tuk tuks and taxis and the odd traveller finding his or her way, but that's it.
The plan was to walk to the National Museum, but that's not that easy. According to my map it's really nearby, but after failing to find the amulet market yesterday, I've started to doubt my mapreading abbilities. When I come to this massive, complicated roundabout, connected on one side with the highway and on the other on a Champs Elysee like street, I wonder if I should risk my life crossing it. While I'm considering the pros and cons, someone asks me what I'm looking for. According to him there is no point going there, because it's only open during weekends. Not taking his word for it, I get a tuk tuk to cross this mad junction and arrive in time to join the free guided tour.
Why do people say the Thai are so friendly, when all they do is try to get into your wallet and tell you untruths (won't call them lies....yet). Is it me? Is it Bangkok?
Anyway, the museum is wonderfull, especially the voluntary guide. She gives us so much information, it will certainly help me to appreciate all the wats, arts and culture a lot better. My curiosity on Bhuddism awakened, I buy a book in the museumshop: 'The things Buddha taught', I find a bench at Bangkoks Hyde park (a big square with the Grand Palace on one site and this crazy roundabout on the other), stretch out, pretend I don't hear the continous stream of traffic and start reading.
Nam Tok (Kanchanaburi), Thursday 20-01-2005
Maybe the day didn't o exactly according to plan, but in the end I have no complains.
At 6.50 I'm ready at the leavingpoint to Kanchanaburi. So far so good. When the minibus is full we set off......all the way to Kanchanaburi. I was expecting to go by train, but he, as long as we get there. I'm a bit worried that I'm the only one that brought all his luggage and not just a small bag like the others. Did they put me in the right minibus?
We arrive at the Second world war cemetry, the same one I've already seen in 2003, so I take the opportunity to ask the local guide what the deal is. I am in the right bus, thank God and he more or less explains me what is going to happen today, but he does not know what's going on the next 2 days.
The day passes by in total confusion. We get on trains we didn't expect to, we change minibusses, drivers and guides and we lose fellow travellers who we meet again later on. But by the end of the day, I've seen the Bridge over the river Kwai, the Second world war museum (the most random museum I've ever seen. A collection of photographs, weapons, typewriters, stories and miss Thai dresses), had a train ride and saw a waterfall. Finally the day ends at, how cool, Somnuk Elephant camp. I must admit, I was a bit apprehensive on arrival, realizing I had to stay in this remote place, together with the elephants en mahoods (elephant drivers), but that's gone as soon as I enter my hut. It's a desent size hut on a raft on the river, with 2 beds, a shower and a washbowl. Really luxurious after my experience in Bangkok. And the view ! Plus no traffic. Just peace and quiet, just what the doctor ordered.
It's not even 8 o'clock when I step out on the street and that's nice, because it gives me a whole new look on Khaosan Road. It's relatively quiet. Shops are still closed, just a few restaurants are open for breakfast, there are some tuk tuks and taxis and the odd traveller finding his or her way, but that's it.
The plan was to walk to the National Museum, but that's not that easy. According to my map it's really nearby, but after failing to find the amulet market yesterday, I've started to doubt my mapreading abbilities. When I come to this massive, complicated roundabout, connected on one side with the highway and on the other on a Champs Elysee like street, I wonder if I should risk my life crossing it. While I'm considering the pros and cons, someone asks me what I'm looking for. According to him there is no point going there, because it's only open during weekends. Not taking his word for it, I get a tuk tuk to cross this mad junction and arrive in time to join the free guided tour.
Why do people say the Thai are so friendly, when all they do is try to get into your wallet and tell you untruths (won't call them lies....yet). Is it me? Is it Bangkok?
Anyway, the museum is wonderfull, especially the voluntary guide. She gives us so much information, it will certainly help me to appreciate all the wats, arts and culture a lot better. My curiosity on Bhuddism awakened, I buy a book in the museumshop: 'The things Buddha taught', I find a bench at Bangkoks Hyde park (a big square with the Grand Palace on one site and this crazy roundabout on the other), stretch out, pretend I don't hear the continous stream of traffic and start reading.
Nam Tok (Kanchanaburi), Thursday 20-01-2005
Maybe the day didn't o exactly according to plan, but in the end I have no complains.
At 6.50 I'm ready at the leavingpoint to Kanchanaburi. So far so good. When the minibus is full we set off......all the way to Kanchanaburi. I was expecting to go by train, but he, as long as we get there. I'm a bit worried that I'm the only one that brought all his luggage and not just a small bag like the others. Did they put me in the right minibus?
We arrive at the Second world war cemetry, the same one I've already seen in 2003, so I take the opportunity to ask the local guide what the deal is. I am in the right bus, thank God and he more or less explains me what is going to happen today, but he does not know what's going on the next 2 days.
The day passes by in total confusion. We get on trains we didn't expect to, we change minibusses, drivers and guides and we lose fellow travellers who we meet again later on. But by the end of the day, I've seen the Bridge over the river Kwai, the Second world war museum (the most random museum I've ever seen. A collection of photographs, weapons, typewriters, stories and miss Thai dresses), had a train ride and saw a waterfall. Finally the day ends at, how cool, Somnuk Elephant camp. I must admit, I was a bit apprehensive on arrival, realizing I had to stay in this remote place, together with the elephants en mahoods (elephant drivers), but that's gone as soon as I enter my hut. It's a desent size hut on a raft on the river, with 2 beds, a shower and a washbowl. Really luxurious after my experience in Bangkok. And the view ! Plus no traffic. Just peace and quiet, just what the doctor ordered.
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Je kunt nu ook Smileys gebruiken. Via de toolbar, toetsenbord of door eerst : te typen en dan een woord bijvoorbeeld :smiley
