Kanchanaburi is on the river Kwai and next day we were driven to the start of our raft trip. The rafts are quite large, comprising a dining and sitting raft and a sleeping raft joined together, all towed by a small but powerful launch. We were towed downstream to visit three temples, Wat Thames Sues, Wat Thames Khao Noi and the Wat Ban Tham. All very different according to variations in religion.

 

Sleeping and eating on the raft. At night the mattresses are enclosed by mosquito nets and the side flaps are rolled down.

We were pleased not to be reliant on the anchor and much knotted warp overnight.

More temples.

Lunch and supper were served on board and there was time for swimming in the afternoon and karaoke after supper. (Difficult to get out of the karaoke when there are only seven in the group and a very persuasive leader.) We spent the night on board moored up at the side of the river.
Second full day in Kanchanaburi started with a visit to the war cemetery and the Death Railway museum this being on the line of the Burma railroad and just downstream of the Kwai bridge. The railroad was needed by the Japanese to supply their army in Burma, an incredible engineering feat but at such a cost of human slave labour. The railway now finishes at the Kwai bridge as it would be uneconomical to run it any further.

 

War graves and the Bridge over the River Kwai.

We visited the bridge and then the Erawan National park and waterfall. Erawan was the three headed elephant that carried the god Indra, and the topmost waterfall is said to resemble Erawan, I think it would need a lot more water flow than we had. It was a good leg stretch going up to the top, seventh fall and you could swim in the pools at falls two, three, five and seven. Two three and five required a buoyancy aid to be worn!

One of the seven falls in Erawan National Park

Back at the hotel we all took the opportunity to do our laundry at the local laundrette, necessary when you pack light for a hot country.
From Kanchanaburi we moved on to Ayutthaya the capital of Thailand, then Siam, from 14th to 18th centuries with its ancient temple remains and headless Buddha’s. The city was razed to the ground by the Burmese army in 1767 and never rebuilt but remains as an extensive archaeological site.

Ayutthaya ruins, most of the plaster that once covered these brick ruins has gone along with the gold covering. Bricks from here were taken to build the city wall in Bangkok the next capital.

After visiting the ruins, we caught the overnight train to Chiang Mai where we had two free days to enjoy activities and explore the city. We started with a bicycle tour in the country just outside the city. This 21km ride took us through small roads and tracks past temples and around paddy fields. Our guide Giphtzy kept us well informed on all we saw. We were lucky to be the only ones booked on the tour so had her full attention. This tour finished with a very tasty lunch.

 

Paddy fields on the cycle tour, old city gate. Seeking out herbs on Sarah's cookery class and curry ingredients

On the second day Sarah attended a cookery course while Phil explored the old city and Chinatown. We ate in the night market each evening. A hectic and lively area but as we tend to be early birds we didn't go to the Thai boxing or Ladyboy cabaret.

The hectic eating area in Chiang Mai night market.

Continuing to travel north the next day we were on the local 3-hour coach trip to Chiang Rai.