day two (halloween)

Erawin water fall (I think tier 7)
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Thanks to the time change I cannot sleep in past 5am here.  I am up about an hour before the dawn breaks.  :(

We had planned a day tour that would pick us up from our guest house.  Our first stop was Erawan national park where we had a couple hours to hike and swim the 7-tired Erawan waterfalls.  It was the clear blue rainforest waterfalls I always wanted to experience once in my life.  It was hot and humid and I pour sweat.  I didn't feel tired so much as hot.  Thank goodness for working out! When we met back up at the location we were suppose to, they had a lunch included.  A cold bottle of water was waiting to shortly be served with a plate of fresh fruit.  We had different options to order from and I ordered some chicken soup.  It was really good after that invigorating workout and swim time.  We ate with two guys visiting from Japan who spoke a little English (better than my Japanese anyway).  They made us some oragami (sp?) birds.

Hellfire pass
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From lunch we visited a place called Hellsfire Pass (a memorial museum and site wher you see the remains of the original track throught the famed Konyu Railway cutting).  Mom, if you want to look up some history, this was really neat.  Just an FYI, I have great pictures!

The Krasae Cave/Death Railway was next.  It was a shorter visit, but beatiful scenery.  Pretty much all the scenery here is beautiful.  There was a little market of bags, jewelry, tee-shirts, ect.

Kwai bridge back then
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On this same railway (it was right next to the cave) we got onto a train that was so packed we had to stand in the isle.  It wasn't that bad though.  The window areas were open and the nature view was great.  I so happen to be standing next to another group's guide and had some questions.  We kept continually seeing fields of something planted, but I didn't know what.  It turned out to be tappioca.  Jema had a great point though: there doesn't seem to be any tappioca products offered anywhere.

Kwai bridge now
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Our last stop was the River Kwai Bridge.  The history is a bit unknown to me.  Jema gave me a short review from a book she once read.  In my even shorter review of what she told me:  There was a captain who wasn't Japanese who convinced him to be in charge of the construction of this bridge and later it got bombed).

There are dogs everywhere!  I love it b/c now I am finally getting to love a dog whereever I go.  Dogs and cats roam the streets.  Often you will see them laying along the road.  Most all dogs are friendly, in fact, to see one that is not so much is strange.  While we were visiting the River Kwai Bridge this little deer colored dog bounded up to me barking away.  I think it was the loose pants that got him going.  Once he got up to me he stopped and was probably disappointed.  Nonetheless, a strange dog hightailing for you isn't the best feeling.  The fight or flight mode kicks in.

The cold shower that our guest house offers was great after a day of sweating - not so much at 6am.  Dinner was at a nice Indian restaurant where I had my coconut milk in a coconut shell.

We went out for oil massages after that.  It was my first and probably my last.  Although, after we were done I had the giggles and it was very hard to wait until we were outside.  Good memory, not the best experience.

A tour was booked for tomorrow, but stay tuned to find out what it is. . .