DAY 7 - 21 SEPT 2010 - WATERFALLS & SAFARI

After traipsing round the travel shops searching for a one day tour of Erawan Falls and the Safari Park we were beginning to think we weren't going to be able to visit both places. Then we got lucky and were offered exactly what we wanted as a group of Israeli couples had chartered a bus and it just so happened to have two spare seats.We were warned that they are 'noisy, always late, smoke lots' but for the price and opportunity we weren't going to complain.

So we set off around 8am for the Erawan National Park. Feeling slightly out of place as the bus was filled with loud Israeli pop music, we sat at the back and listened to our ipods. The park wasn't far away so on arrival Sean and I set off determined to reach the top - No. 7 (the waterfall is 1500m in height and separated into 7 tiers, each increasingly more difficult to reach). Feeling full of energy we past one, two and three with ease, four became a bit more difficult but being young and fit of course we managed! The route from six to seven proved a little more challenging and once again there is a funny story to tell about me, although I wasn't laughing at the time. There didn't seem to be a pathway anymore so we were clambering over rocks half my height and walking along the water edge. With about 50m to go, and after avoiding getting wet so far, I slipped into a pool of water! Sean turned round and just laughed whilst I sat there! However, now that my shoes were now soaked through it was nice and easy to get to the top as I could just walk through the water. We were the first people of the day to each the top, but it wasn't long before we were joined by trekkers of all nationalities jumping into the falls. We wanted to save our swim until we were back near the bottom, so we headed back down to number two for a swim.

On the way back down we past a couple in their 70s with no sweat running down their faces at all, and around 100 school kids running up the falls. Maybe our achievement wasn't as great as we first thought. All excited we quickly got into the pool only for me to let out a scream and get everyones attention - the fish were all nibbling at my legs, an odd feeling. Sean was a bit wierded out by this so had a quick dip and got out. 6ft 2 and beaten by fish!

After our dip we carried on heading down the falls and came across some monkeys. Some other tourists were having a picnic and the cheeky monkeys kept stealing their food, common sense would tell you to move away from the area, but no they sat there having their lunch taken from infront of their eyes.

In the afternoon we got back on the party bus and made our way to the safari park. First up was a crocodile show, which was, for want of a better word, sh*t. No death rolls, no detached limbs, not even a close call or two (be honest, this is what most people secrectly hope for at a crocodile show), the only ones more bored than the audience were the crocodiles themselves! The elephant show was a lot better, mind you there was a dude giving a wall a second coat of emulsion just round the corner and watching that dry was a lot better. The elephants were incredibly well trained, walking around on 2 feet, performing handstands, playing golf and generally urinating on anything and everything.

Next up was the main event, the big draw of the park, the chance to have a photo taken with the tigers. We pulled up next to some wooden huts where a huge tiger and it's little 9-month-old cub were sitting in the shade with the keepers. One at a time we were invited to lay down with the tigers and snap a picture. It's difficult to pose when the entire time there's a nagging voice in the back of your head telling you that these animals could rip your face off (this is what Janine tells me, obviously my thoughts were mainly 'when do i get to wrestle with this bad-boy'). It was an amazing experience to be up close with the tigers and get to touch them and not just peer at them through a fence. We were both a little worried, as is the case in many animal parks in Asia, that the condition of animals like this would be poor, but the tigers seemed well looked after and content, lazing in the shade and being fed often (there have been times when i would swap with them!)

The final step on the tour of the park was a slightly odd safari bus ride through different animal habitats. The highlight definitely being the giraffe's, who invade the bus through the windows in search of the food we had to offer. Check out the pics for some hilarious images of a slightly scared and uncomfortable Janine being ganged up on by 3 giraffes, her solution was to throw her bucket of food on the chair in a skillful 'bait and switch' manouevre.

NOTE: Pics to follow once we get a decent connection

DAY 8 - 22 SEPT 2010 - NOT A LOT

We said goodbye to Kanchanaburi and made our way north to Ayuthaya. Getting to the bus station was interesting. As is always the case, when you need a taxi there are none to be found, so 4 of us ended up riding on the sidecar of one of the scooter taxi's with our backpacks piled on top, an amusing sight for the locals!

The journey to Ayuthaya involved 2 buses, the first being some sort of crazy disco bus, kitted out with speakers, neon lights and a leather 'VIP' area at the back (which we snapped up obviously) and the second being very basic. 3 and a half hours and 120B later we arrived and settled in to 'Tony's Place', a big guesthouse in the main backpacker area of town. Tony's assistant did a decent job of flogging us a boat trip and the night-bus to Chiang-Mai (less money and less time than the sleeper train plus air-con and a movie apparently, whether that is worth the lack of bed remains to be seen).

Ayuthaya is a sort-of inland island, surrounded on all sides by rivers, cutting off the main part of the town. 20 minutes after checking in we were on a boat making our way around the island to visit some of the Buddhist temples that the town is famous for.

The day ended with us laying around on floor cushions, bedouin style in the main communal area of the guesthouse, drinking and chatting with friends and locals till late, starting to feel more like backpackers than tourists.

DAY 9 - 23 SEPT 2010 - CYCLING AND TEMPLES

We checked out and rented out some bicycles for the day. At 60p each we thought it would be the best and quickest way to see the city. We set off in the blazing sunshine and first had to navigate our way around the raod system. That proved interesting when there are 4 lanes on either side, nowhere to cross over and no such thing as 'giving way' in the Thai culture. As in most places in Asia they tend to use their horn instead of indicators which was a sign for us to get the hell out of the way.

We visited the first temple, some of the Ayuthaya ruins and already started to get a little 'templed out'. The ruins are amazing but when its 35 degrees plus and you've seen a few already it makes you a little less enthusiastic. We then went onto a 'newer' looking temple to see a huge 40ft Buddha, followed by a walk around a market which sold a lot of dried fish (not the nicest smell). We had to seek shade after that so chilled out for a bit and watched the locals feed some huge fish and turtles in what was called the 'ancient pool'. Some of them were as big as me.

We thought we'd get away from the main area after this and had a peaceful ride out to the floating market, only to find that it is only open on weekend. Why didn't the bloody signs tell us this?! Still, it was a good ride, and good exercise in the blazing sunshine.

That brings us up to date once again, and we are now chilling out before catching the night bus to Chiang Mai.

Happy reading!