20 May

Up at 07h30, we packed the last few things, grabbed the suit and headed for a taxi, along the way we met our old driver. Initially we thought this was to our advantage but he informed every driver we asked to take us to TIT how long he had waited for us, in the end we took a taxi with a meter just to get away. Leannne got quite worked up about the fact that we had paid the driver extra the day before because he had taken us around the whole day, and now today, it blows up in our face!! They just don't see it the same way as us…

Our first stop was TIT. Refund in hand we left for the tailor's shop where we met the tailor, voiced our dissatisfaction but being informed that no refund would be given. (We had anticipated that). Deciding to go another route we described our concerns with the coat requesting him to make alterations. Leanne was still very skeptical after she had explained everything she wanted altered but there was nothing more to be said. We informed the tailor that we would leave the guesthouse at 12h and if he could not finish the alterations before then, he should post it for us to South Africa.

Making a final stop at Khao San to purchase Nero V9 and Pinnacle Video editing from a vendor for R60, before collecting all that we needed to post back to RSA. At the post office we pack the boxes, write the addresses and pay the fee, returning with hope that the coat would have been delivered. We wait till 12h30 before deciding to go, hoping that he will post it.

At the bus station we get on the wrong bus, its no 30, but it's a smaller green bus and after 15 minutes of trying to communicate with them with no one being able to help us, we get off. We hop on another bus, the number not being the same as what the receptionist told us but the driver assuring us that they go to the Southern bus station. Yet again we are encircled by people none of which understand nor can speak English. Driving out of the city now, knowing if we get off we would not be able to cross the 6 lane traffic filled highway to return to our origin and get the right bus, so we just prayed that by some miracle we would end up at the right station.

We continue to try and communicate just to gain some certainty as to whether the bus goes to the South Bus Station, the only station in Bangkok were busses depart for Kanchanaburi. One young guy tries to communicate back not being able to give us any certainty as to whether the bus goes to the SBS nor being able to indicate on the map that we are heading in the right direction. He however assures me that he can help, we're however skeptical as this usually means they take you to the closest mini bus taxi who charges you a fortune and pays them a finders fee. Arriving at what looks like a mall we are less than convinced but decided to follow him. Inside he leads us to a ticket office which sells tickets to Kanchanaburi! And he didn't ask for anything! The next bus leaving in 10 minutes time, we couldn't have been blessed more. This was total grace in our mindset after trying in vain for so long to find our way with no certainty, with frequent prayers by both of us that we would find the way we merely had to believe.

On the bus we headed to Kanchanaburi with snacks in hand. So worn out by the active day both fell into sleep for a significant part of the 3 hour trip. Upon our arrival we got a map from the bus station and gathered some intel from other tourists before getting the cheapest transport to our destination or close to it - a bus filled with school children, in the end 4 times cheaper than the sangwa.

Along the way we met some Americans who informed us that they were staying at Pong Phen guest house, which was a little more expensive than some of the others around but had a POOL! We headed straight for it, had a look and put down our bags. Very tired and dirty we first headed for a swim - the water was just the right temperature - not to hot or cold. Returning to the restaurant for dinner and catching up with diary entries and reading.