Kanchanaburi, Erawan Falls, Thailand

THIS IS MY 300th POST!!!!!!!!!!

For a long weekend, I met up with one of my new friends I met traveling in Indonesia. We met in Bangkok and then took the train from Thornburi train station at 7:50 A.M. for 100 baht. We arrived in Kanchanaburi at 11 A.M. and went searching for a scooter to rent. After that, we drove for an hour to the Erawan waterfalls. A short hike through the jungle and we saw the first level. There are seven.

We hiked all the way to the top. The water was cold and full of the fish used in pedicure tanks. Some were actually quite large and all nibbled at my feet. Monkeys came swinging down to steal our things, but I kept them out of their reach.

Unfortunately, our fun was cut short by a giant rainstorm. The lovely warm day now felt freezing. I shivered the whole way down to the parking lot. We had to wait for the rain to subside before we could go anywhere. After my friend bought towels and dry shirts, I felt much better.

After it stopped raining, we jumped back on the scooter and drove back to Kanchanaburi. Our last stop before dark was the bridge over the river Kwai. It was built during world war two by prisoners of the Japanese. It connected Thailand to the Death Railway in Burma, named for how many people died during its construction.

Exhausted, we dropped off the bike, hailed a tuk-tuk to the bus station, and found a spot in a van to take us back to Bangkok.

Taling Chan Floating Market, Bangkok, Thailand

While in Bangkok, I wanted to see a floating market, but one that was more authentic and not swarming with tourists. My friend and I decided to visit the Taling Chan Floating Market. At around 8 A.M., we took the BTS to the Woing stop. From there we took a taxi for around 120 baht.

The entrance to the market is lined with sellers peddling all kinds of foods and trinkets. After walking down the long lane of vendors, we walked onto the docks to see the floating markets. Women sat in boats with colorful produce, some had food cooking on a little fire burning in the boat. Tables sat in the middle of the docks and boys ran up and down from the boats to serve people the fresh food.

        

After sampling a few dishes, we joined a boat tour of canals for 100 baht. The tour stopped at a small village with a pretty temple, orchid farm, and a catfish feeding spot.

The village is built on the water of the canal. Most houses are on stilts.

                 

 Hundreds of fish made large splashes as they fought for food.
After this, we made a stop for a Thai snack of sticky rice and beans cooked inside of bamboo. A man cut the bamboo open with a machete.

When we returned, we easily hailed a cab to take us back into the city.

Koh Samed or Samet, Thailand

I love my life. After a wonderful holiday in Europe, I had a week to visit my Geordie bestie. She was my roommate and Spain and now she lives in Thailand. It was great to see her again.

After a quick reunion, we were on a three hour bus ride, heading 200km southeast of Bangkok. We jumped on a short ferry ride on the Gulf of Thailand to arrive at the island of Koh Samet. I was pretty happy to leave behind the garbage ridden coastline for the beautiful island.

Koh Samet is the driest spot in Thailand, even during the rainy season. It’s a small island surrounded by turquoise waters and white sandy beaches. Dirt roads with patches of paved areas circle the island. Speeding trucks with tourists loaded in the back, fly around curves to deliver their fares. 

 

Koh Samet is not as built up as other Thai islands. Locals use it as a get away along with the tourists. It still has lots of rustic charm. I suppose one reason for this is that overnight stays were restricted until 1981. It was named a national park in the same year. The secret is out though because new construction is everywhere. There are even a few 7Elevens. Koh Samet will be very different in a few years. 

The Island used to be a home to pirates and was the setting for the famous Thai poem Phra Aphai Mani. Statues of the characters, a flute-playing prince, a mermaid, and a scary female giant emerging from the sea, can be found around the island. The main character, Aphai Mani, is a prince who is exiled to an undersea kingdom ruled by a female giant. The giant changes into a beautiful woman to fool Aphai Mani into falling in love with her. He discovers her trickery and escapes with the help of a mermaid. They hide on the Magic Crystal Island (Ko Samet) and fall in love.

The female giant statue is huge and is the first thing to greet you after stepping off the ferry. She looks angry and beckons you towards the ocean.

We found a little bungalow and wasted no time in getting to the beach.

After a year in Taiwan, I felt a bit naked in the bikini. Got over that real quick though.

At night, we had dinner on the beach and watched fire shows.

After enjoying the nightlife of the island, we came across some freshly paved road.

We made our mark.

Advice: A bungalow with air conditioning can go for 1200 Baht a night (we talked them down to 900).