Friday, January 18, 2008

Kayaking under the Bridge on the River Kwai


Kanchanaburi, Thailand, is home to many fine recreational opportunities, not the least of which includes kayaking.

I visited there a few years back with a group of friends, and found it was pretty easy to find a kayak outfitter who was willing to take me and my friends up the Kwai Noi River for a relaxing afternoon float trip. We passed right under the famous Bridge on the River Kwai.

Outside of Kanchanaburi town is Erawan Falls. It is a national park, with the main attraction being the seven-tier waterfall, which is a short trek. Another place worth visiting is Mueang Sing historical park, which is an ancient Khmer ruins.

One of the best ways to get to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok is by train. On another visit, I went by excursion train on a Saturday morning. At a rail intersection called Catfish Junction outside Bangkok, the train splits up, and one section goes down to the beach in Prachuap Kiri Khan, while the rest of the train continues on the Kanchanaburi.

Stops along the way include Phra Pathom Chedi in Nakhon Pathom, which at 127 meters is the highest chedi in the world.

The train that continues on to Kanchanaburi actually crosses the famous bridge, and proceeds down the Death Railway, offering some more fantastic views of the river, and resorts along the way. The terminus is Nam Tok Sai Yok Noi, which is a small waterfall and park.

On the way back on the train, there is another stop in Kanchanaburi town, with time for a visit to the War Cemetery, containing the gaves of many allied soldiers who died during World War II.

If you stay in Kanchanaburi, there are plenty of cheap guesthouses and restaurants serving banana pancakes.


(Photo credits: Permanent Scatterbrained, Yeowatzup)