1. THAILAND

A visit split in two. The Dogs and Kanchanaburi, bookended by Bangkok.

The Dogs
'Getting away from it all' could best sum up our 12 days spent minding our friend's 7 (seven) dogs in Lang Suan. We had visited previously and roughly knew what we were letting ourselves in for, but it was a very different routine. Basically getting up at 5.30am to prepare food, then walk the dogs along the beach. Back to feed them while making sure we hadn't lost anyone along the way. Repeat the process late afternoon and fall asleep by 9pm. An afternoon 'siesta' was perfectly in order, so as the dogs slept, so did we. 
The change of lifestyle also included 'going' vegetarian, drinking coconut water and having no internet for 9 days. No TV also, so no news, while the sound of mobile phones ringing was not missed at all. It wasn't all peace and quiet though, due to next door's rooster and the occasional dog barking at some passing animal plus the evenings had the full orchestra of frogs and cicadas playing in the garden. It was idyllic and the slow pace wonderful and we really enjoyed all the dogs and their funny ways and different characters.
We had taken over the minding from Birgit who had lovingly cared for them for two weeks. Housekeepers Chu and Te Win had been around to assist us also. When our friends Colin and Kyoko returned we spent four days catching up and then catching our breath as the NE winds blew in and the bay and beach became a wilder place for a time.

Beach walking: (left to right) Pink, Beer, Margaret, Gogo, Chu, Chip, Psy and Nut.

Having hatched a cunning plan to not return on the train all the way to Bangkok, but overnight in Nakhon Pathom, we arrived in the middle of some local festival (the Buddhist Phra Pathommachedi Festival) and on leaving the next day managed to jump on the wrong train. Briefly finding ourselves travelling back to Lang Suan until being advised by our fellow passengers to change at Nong Pladuk Junction to the correct train for Kanchanaburi. This diversion proved interesting as Nong Pladuk was the starting station for the Thai-Burma Railway in 1942 and was full of interesting old equipment.

Kanchanaburi

Krathongs at the ready. (Eiad, 2nd left)

Loy Krathong - festival of lights - was taking place while we were here and while rather low-key due the recent cremation of Thailand's beloved King Bhumibol we were lucky enough to be invited to join in by our guesthouse owner Eiad, who spoke perfect English having lived in Oxford for many years, and who made us our own Krathong to float on the river.

The main reason for our visit was to see the Bridge over the River Kwai, experience Hellfire Pass and ride the train from Namtok to Kanchanaburi via the Wampo Viaduct. The excellent memorial and walk through Hellfire Pass along the actual cuttings made by the POWs and Asian labourers in building the Death Railway was sobering and moving. 
The train journey was very popular and we inadvertently sat on the wrong side of the train and missed the best views. TIP: Sit on the West side is best.
Another day was spent clambering up the Erawan Falls, which rise some seven levels in spectacular fashion and are very busy on a weekend. (Entrance fee to the park was only 100 baht (£2.25), but a more blatant 300 baht for foreigners). 

The excellent Blue-Jeans band

A final evening in Kanchanaburi was had in the Blue-Jeans bar listening to a Thai band play western rock music, really rather well.




….And then


Our final days in Thailand included weather watching as news of a major storm reached us heading straight for where we were heading in Vietnam.  >>> cont. here