Well we've had an interesting few days….

We decided to visit Kanchanaburi on a 3 day, 2 night trip and I can only describe it as organised chaos! We should have realised before we went as when D went to the travel office to jot down the itinerary the lady in the office told him that he musn't write it down as it could change - mmmm!

It started off OK we were picked up by minibus from our accommodation and taken straight to the war graves cemetary at Kanchanaburi - it was very moving and a few tears were shed. We were then taken to the famous Bridge over the River Kwai - again quite moving - and ushered into a museum which was absolutely rubbish - it was like they had just bought heaps of bycicles and written 'Japanese' in English on the side - have to say we were not entirely convinced on their authenticity!

We were then taken to the actual railway and travelled on a train across death valley (take a look at the photos - you'll see D crazily hanging out of the open door on the train to take photos!) When waiting for the train, on a platform in the blistering heat in the middle of the jungle you can't help but stand and look at the railway and imagine the pain and suffering that went into it's creation.

Our accommodation was effectively a floating hotel - it appeared to be run by a mad (drunk!!) old lady who loved to dance and sing. It was just so noisy - they had a huge TV which was constantly on and played, on a loop, Live Earth and Live Aid (the second one). There also seemed to be more staff than guests. Whenever a longtail boat went past the whole place bobbed up and down because of the wave it created.

Our issue with the trip was that we had paid a set amount for an itinerary and yet everything we were offered to do appeared to cost yet more money!!! We caved in to 2 of the items so were up early one morning to bathe elephants and then went to some waterfalls later in the day. We refused to go to the 'Tiger Temple' however - this was going to cost us yet more money and neither of us had any desire to have our photo taken with a drugged tiger. When we told them this they just took us back to our accommodation and left us - so that was that!

The one thing that I was particularly looking forward to was the official 'Death Valley Museum' which was part of our paid for itinerary.So we arrive, jump off the minibus and the driver tells us that the museum is closed and that we have an hour before we must go back for lunch - an hour to do what precisely - watch the chap painting the entrance? Within 20 mins we were back in the bus and not happy! There is a 15km walk to death valley itself there but there was no way we could have got there and back in an hour!!!

Have to say though that the whole trip was brightened up by the fantastic people that we met - people from Australia, Kenya, Khazaksthan, Denmark, Poland and of course the UK. Had a bit of a late one on the second night which involved a bit of karaoke, a bit of dancing and a swede who offended everyone and then fell into the water!