Kanchanburi was so refreshing after Bangkok and we both realised how scynical the pair of us had become. We were so surprised with peoples genuine kindness and helpfulness it was so nice and made us think a lot differently about Thai people.

On the coach ride going there from bangkok we met a really nice couple who we eneded up spending all our time with. Shaun is a Kiwi and Nadine is Canadian and we should hopefully get to catch up with them again. The guesthouse we stayed in was so nice as it was just on the river and we had a little hut to ourselves with en suite...luxury after Bangkok! It was so funny seeing big house like boats being pulled along which were actully kareoke bars...the locals loved them but we didnt get a chance to go on one...I'm sure Nick is really gutted about that!

The first day we hired bikes and went to the War Museum which was just brilliant and really highlighted the whole story behind the Bridge over the River Kwai. What struck us was the treatment of the prisoners but not just the British, Dutch etc but also the Asians and how many more hundreds of Asians died than Europeans but these seemed to go unmentioned. Also how the Japanese tricked Indians nd Asians to go and work on false contracts and they ended up being treated worse than the POWs. You left feeling quite emotional and opposite the museum was the cemtry which spoke a thousand words in itself. We then cycled into the town and also along to Bridge. I didnt realise that the train track was still used and a train did come along but luckily we had just got off the bridge.

The next day we booked a tour through the nicest old man ever and we decided he was like a Thai Yoda! We went eleohant trekking which was cool. The best bit was after we had got off and as we waited for the bus we got to go near the elephants. There was a little baby boy who fell in love with me and wouldnt leave me alone. He was so cute and had baby tusks! He kept trying to kiss my face nd let me stroke and play with him. In the end I bouh him lots of bananas which he woolfed down! I wanted to take him home!

We then did some bamboo rafting and went to the most amazing waterfalls. Erawan Falls are made up of 7 falls in total and they were like something you could only imagine! It nearly killed me walking up to the top but it was worth it being able to jump into the cool water at the top. We then spent the next few hours walking down and swimming in the pools. What I didnt like though was that there were catfish in the pools and some were really big and they would come and suck on you which was horrible! You had to constantly keep moving to stop them! One pool we went to had natural slides which Nick, Shaun and Nadine loved and I just took the pics! The last stop of the trip was riding the death railway which was pretty cool.

On our last day in Kanchanburi we all went to a Tiger Temple which was pretty unreal and I had seen it on a documentary back home. The tigers werent as big as we thought thety would be but they were very intimidating all the same even if they were chained up! You got to touch them and have some pics with them. Then we watched them get walked back to there cages...it seemed the people got walked back not vice versa and if a tiger wanted to go for you it could easily! After the tigers were put back the funniest thing happened....the temple is not only a tiger sanctuary, it also has lots of other animals and it was a stampede when these were released. There were wild pigs, big horned cows, goats, peacocks etc. then the workers threw out lots of food from trucks and it was a feeding frenzy! At one point I turned round to find a massive horned cow right behind me trying to get past...needless to say I soon jumped out of his way! It was like a scene from Jumangi.

We then had to return to Bangkok to pick up our India Visas. We were both quite sad to leave the relaxed town of Kanchanaburi, but it definately gave us a taste for the real Asia and tonight we are getting an overnight train to Chiang Mai to do soem trekking and a cooking class!