The start of the adventure
Bangkok and The Bridge Over the River Kwai
Wednesday 6th December 2023
The journey started from leaving our home in Long Bennington. The taxi arrived to take us to the Nottingham bus station, it had been snowing and it was cold. Oh, to get away from this awful weather for two months. We arrived at Nottingham bus station in good time to catch the bus to Heathrow airport. All was well until we reached Milton Keynes when the driver refused to drive the bus any further. The reason being there was no heating working so all us passengers were feeling the cold and more importantly the de-misters on his front windscreen were broken. With the cold wet weather, because generally in the UK snow turns to rain which equals slush. After waiting well over an hour, the replacement bus arrived, we were ok as we had booked a hotel to stay in that evening in case of such eventuality but some of the passengers were panicking as their flights were the same day.
The flight to Bangkok via Abuja Dhabi was uneventful and we were excited to arrive at our first destination. We had a taxi to take us to the hotel, it was evening, and we were wary after our travel. After check-in and getting sorted it was time to go to bed to enable us to be fresh and energised for the first day of site seeing.
We took a taxi to the Central Pier with the intention of getting a hop on hop off ferry. Alas it was the Kings birthday and the ferry had to stop running for a couple of hours. We took a tuk tuk and went to a couple of recommended stores, yes you guess right, one being a tailors shop and one a souvenir shop that also sold jewellery. After being measured and ordering a tailored suit for myself and shirts for my hubby, Phil we moved on to the second shop where wow and behold were some very nice sapphire earrings, yes that wonderful husband of mine treated me to them. Time to get back to the ferry, the King would have left the city and the ferries back to doing their job. As the lovely man suggested we stayed on the ferry to the last pier, taking in the sites on route. Disembarking we strolled, as we were busy looking at the map a local lady approached and was so helpful. She recommended going to the Mountain Temple. We were both hungry and she also suggested a good local restaurant for lunch. She spoke to a tuk tuk driver explaining where to take us and off we went.
We ate noodles in the restaurant which cost all of THB260 equivalent to £6 for the both of us, we can live with that…. Our wonderful tuk tuk driver dropped us off near the pier so we could get our hop on hop of ferry. We decided to jump off at the Iconsiam Mall to look at the Christmas lights and decorations. What a surprise within 5 minutes of arriving they started a water and light show to music. It truly took your breath away, the water fountains spurting 30 feet into the sky dancing to the music. The lights creating hands and Michael Jackson images along with an abundance of patterns. What a treat, I thought Thailand didn’t celebrate Christmas, it was extremely festive here with Christmas trees etc.
We caught the last ferry back to Central Pier and stopped for dinner, which was delicious, Pad Thai. Onward to the hotel and drinks at a bar near the hotel which also supported live music a nightcap at the hotel and crashed out to sleep. What a start to our adventures.
Day 2
Thursday 7th December 2023
Today’s trip was to the famous Damnoen Saduak floating market. We booked the taxi driver we had the previous day. The first stop was the Railway market. It was busy when we arrived crammed with stalls at the edge of the rail lines and people buying everything from spices to fish to clothes. The atmosphere was electrifying lots of chatter and bartering going on. We sat at a small café as close to the lines that you could get, the whistle went, and the stall owners wound their awnings in bringing anything that sat on the rails safely on the side. Then it happened the train slowly made its way between the market stalls. It was so close to you as it passed, no health and safety here. We ate chicken pieces for breakfast with sweet coffee while watching the train and the excitement of the tourists.
Time to move onto the floating market. We hired a boat with its skipper and sailed along the canals taking in the views and watching out for crocodiles. Passing by the static stalls on the side of the canals while the food vendors manoeuvred their boats full of fruit and snacks through the canals hoping for sales. I suppose with over 3000 stalls they have plenty of competition. If a vendor either on the boats or on the static market stalls caught your eye, they would hook the boat close using a pole and try a hard sell. All good fun and harmless. We stopped to watch them make sugar and sugar sweets. The challenge of getting on and off the low boats was amusing, I must go to more Pilates when I get home. The final stop on the market was a temple after which the skipper put his foot down and the boat sped along to the exit point. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience of the markets and highly recommend. Our taxi was waiting for us, and we gratefully started our journey back to the hotel both tired and hot.
TIP: Beware they may try to over charge at the floating market. We didn’t have time to get tickets prior to going and had to barter them down from 4000bht to 3000bht for both of us. This was for a private long boat to take us round the canals and market. If you only want the boat to take you around part of the market, then you can get a boat off the jetty in the middle of the market which is much cheaper.
We arrived back at the hotel, rested and freshened up then off to the tailors for the first fittings of the suit and shirts. Shirt and jacket fine trousers too tight….. We then strolled to find somewhere to eat only to find ourselves in the red-light district! Oh, which way should we look! I understand it’s their way of life but when you see girls that look younger than your granddaughter, I do feel concern. We tactfully exited the area to find a small night market where we sat and ate Pad Thai.
Day 3
Up bright and breezy, excited to see what Bangkok offers today. After breakfast we made our way to the pier, we were to get a long boat to the Grand Palace. Today was site seeing day and we were both in awe of this amazing Palace. Mind you we had to purchase elephant pants and a top with sleeves before we would be allowed in. As we were already in the palace grounds, we had no choice but to purchase from a vendor already in the grounds. Needless to say, we paid above the going rate.
TIP for many temples you must be covered below the knees and shoulders covered. Buy some elephant pants from one of the markets and a thin short or long-sleeved cover up before you start your site seeing tours. My advice would be to keep them in your handbag/backpack when going out, you never know when they will be needed. Not the best look but most wear them so no one takes any notice.
We took a tuk tuk for THB200 to show us some of the sites around Bangkok to see some of the temples including Mountain Temple which houses a large gold Buddha, this temple is less touristy but still worth a visit. We spoke to a lovely gentleman who was waiting for his daughter. He advised that Bangkok was the cheapest for buying souvenirs and jewellery. What he did explain was that the best buys are sapphire, rubies and gold as they mine them in Thailand, but diamonds, emeralds and opals were imported and therefore more expensive. Maybe not so interesting for you guys reading this but certainly useful for anyone wanting to take back a gem. We then went to another temple which was tranquil and peaceful, the Buddha blessed us sprinkling water over us and chanting. Feeling relaxed and calm we lit some josh sticks in memory of both sets of parents and my Stepdaughter whom we sadly lost. Ouch……… I burnt my arm on a joss stick, was that my mum sending me a message!
HOTEL : montien riverside hotel, bangkok –
5-star hotel, highly recommend, the rooms are beautiful, very clean. Provide shower gel, shampoo, conditioner etc. The staff are wonderful and so helpful. We paid December 2023, THB 9100 for 4 nights in a deluxe double room.
Bridge over the River Kwai
Day 4
Up bright and breezy to start the real tour, we were collected from the hotel by the taxi at 5.30am, early start for me, to take us to the train station. We were off to Kanchanaburi to the bridge over the River Kwai. Our first experience on a Thai train so we didn’t know what to expect. I bought the tickets to Kanchanaburi, all of THB100 each for second class (there were no first-class carriages as these are usually sleeper carriages on the overnight train.). Time to spare and the husband was keen to have breakfast, something I’m not bothered about. Outside the station was a good market and Phil chose his rice dish and I had fresh pineapple. Not quite Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but beggars can’t always be choosers. Time to board the train armed with 2 X 20kg suitcases and 2 medium backpacks, the poor guards looked in exasperation but with a smile on their faces helped us on board with the luggage. Phew, thank goodness for kindness. I was pleasantly surprised; the train was comfortable and the people so friendly. We didn’t need to worry about food vendors were hopping on and off the train at various stops selling sticky rice, pad Thai, donuts, drinks etc.
TIP: You can purchase the train ticket at the station for THB100 but try and get to the station early. As soon as the ticket office opens everyone clambers to get their ticket. The other option is to buy online via the state Thailand Railway.
We arrived at our destination and booked into our hotel, our next home for the next 3 nights. After checking into the hotel, we were keen to see the Bridge over the River Kwai which turned out to be just a 5-minute walk from our hotel. We walked along the bridge to the side where there are restaurants, coffee bars, market and some shops. We sat and had a drink at the restaurant overlooking the river and the bridge. We strolled back to the hotel after examining the bridge and taking it all in. Moving out of the way when a train was due. That evening the hotel was offering a buffet on their pontoon which also overlooked the bridge, we thought this would be a good option. The grounds of the hotel are beautiful and relaxing so a good option after the long journey from the UK and the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. Off to dinner we trudged, showered and clean clothes. Unbeknown to us this evening was a re-enactment of the bombing of the bridge. From the hotel we were able to watch the fireworks, hear the planes and bombing. We had great views of the train as it made its way across the bridge and the fog and fire effects. What a surprise and unexpected show.
Day 5
Today we planned to take the train to the death railway. We bought tickets from the small train ticket office over the bridge and near the rail tracks. It cost THB200 return trip and what an experience for THB200. The train took around one hour. A pleasant journey as it travelled through rural areas. There was the amusement of the sellers walking up and down the train selling drinks, sticky rice, doughnuts and much more. Wow did we really go over the rickety wooden bridge on this train! What an experience but at the same time it hit you and a stream of sadness got hold. How could there be such cruelty. To even think that human beings could cut into a rock and create a bridge as such, the number of deaths just building the construction is unthinkable as well as the treatment of the POW, how lucky are we not to have witnessed such cruelty. We walked over the wooden bridge to a small cave believed to have been used as a campsite for the Japanese. Certainly, a sobering trip but one worth doing.
On returning to the hotel, we relaxed and then went for dinner at the restaurant overlooking the river followed by a wander through the night market.
Day 6
Today we decided to visit the war museum, again a sombre moment, followed by a trip to the memorial park. All interesting and poignant but now time to go back have lunch and enjoy the town. We ate dinner in the hotel restaurant, which was average, and relaxed for the evening.
HOTEL : Felix river kwai resort, bridge over the river kwai
4 star hotel, highly recommend, the rooms are very clean. Provide shower gel, shampoo, conditioner etc. The staff are wonderful and so helpful. Our room had a balcony overlooking the garden. The hotel also sports a swimming pool. We paid December 2023, THB 6,738 for 3 nights in a superior double room with garden view.
Elle Je` Travel 