Kwai is heaven. Journey to the River Kwai.
I read about an excursion to the River Kwai and wanted to write it myself. Indeed, in my opinion, this is one of the best excursions, if there was an opportunity, it would be possible to immediately take vouchers for all the time there, but, of course, the sea is the sea.
Well, now about the tour - the most important thing, of course, is to choose a tour desk. We traveled by Pegasus, I immediately knew that they should not take excursions, the prices are very high, almost 2 times, hotels may be more comfortable, but who needs it for 1 night if you can live in a hotel right on the river. In general, looking for an excursion. The bureau chose "Captain Vrungel", which is on Jomtien, bargained and took vouchers for 2.700 baht. Per person 2 days and 1 night, half for a child (very cool, in others they didn’t make discounts for children, though I don’t know how in Coconut, it generally cost 2.600, but I found out too late). Yes, and we took an excursion along with the Erawan waterfall. They promised to pick us up at 4 am.
We got up early, went out into the street, and there were a lot of people there - and everyone was waiting for the bus - they were going to go to Kwai, 1 bus came up, not behind us, 2 - too, it was already 5 o'clock, they began to get nervous, along the way they met people who we also took vouchers at the Captain, we decided to wait a little longer and then call, but then a large bus drove up and we were placed on it, and a couple from Odessa, who also took vouchers in Vrungel, did not take, they said that the next bus would come for them - they were upset. I didn't see them again. I don't know if they left or not. OK. Further, we drove through Pattaya, took other tourists, thank God they also took our friends, especially since they brought a bottle of vodka. We left Pattaya, dozed off, woke us up in Bangkok, or rather when we passed it.
Stop at a gas station for breakfast - we opened our boxes (you need to order at the reception the day before), began to look at who had what, we turned out to be the most meager (buter, water, egg and something else, I don’t remember), but it was enough, especially with took fruits. Yes, I forgot to tell you, I was traveling with my wife and daughter, they sat down together, and I had to sit down with a guy who was sleeping at that moment, and he smelled terribly of fumes. Before breakfast, he tried to put everything on my hands, fought back as best he could - it was useless to wake him up. After breakfast, we went further, then the guides showed up, as it turned out, one was a Thai, in Russian it’s not boom boom, but our second is Alexander (jock), and then it started - verbal diarrhea, but everyone liked it. This Alexander turned out to be a fanatic of Southeast Asia, where he had not been. I won't tell, but it was great - I recommend it. Then we went to a teak furniture factory where they tried to sell us furniture.
The furniture is cool, but expensive, then we went to the village, which is located on the canals, as it turned out, these canals were made in ancient times in order to make it easier to attack the neighbors. There, we went boating, looked at how fruit trees grow, though they didn’t let us buy fruit, time was limited, but the nature is cool. Then we drove to the northwest, reached the hydroelectric power station, the road there became narrower, along the way we saw stones that they cut into various figures - these stones are sold to various parks, I saw them in Nong Nooch and the park of millions of stones. Then we were taken to a roadside cafe, where we were fed deliciously, for the first there was some kind of stew - delicious, I don’t know what it’s called, but definitely not Tom Yan, for the second rice with some kind of fish, some salads and snacks. Then we went to the Erawan waterfalls - a cool place, we could stay there for the whole day.
Erawan is a chain of waterfalls (there are 7 in total) very beautiful, located in the park, but they gave us only 2.5 hours, and we managed to climb only up to 3 waterfalls, we bought in all, in principle this was enough for us, some tried to see all 7 - then they had to wait on the bus, although they had to go. Moreover, in these very waterfalls there live fish that make peeling - an unforgettable feeling, especially when you swim and slow down somewhere - they are just like there - they pinch everywhere. Probably interesting to those who swam there without swimming trunks……. There are a lot of people there, especially the Chinese. The vegetation there is lush, all kinds of trees and shrubs, especially a lot of reeds. Then we went directly to Kwai, dropped us off in a park, I think it's called Sayok. There we boarded rafts that were tied to motor boats, we were taken to a waterfall on the river - it was most likely artificial, then they offered those who wished to put on vests and swim after the raft.
My wife and I left the child in the care of friends who were afraid to swim and dived themselves. The raft quickly retired around the bend of the river and we were left alone (other swimmers lagged behind us) having sailed some distance, I got tired and I suggested to my wife to get ashore, which we did, there was a magnificent beach, along which we went on foot, tried to enter into the jungle, but, to be honest, they got scared, trees were felled there, it was scary to step on something or someone barefoot naked. When the beach ended (and it was 300 meters long), we saw that the rest followed our example. We jumped into the water and swam further, we swam about a kilometer in total, then we saw houses on the water, moored to them - or rather, they caught us, because the current was tangible, and we swam with the flow. We were already waiting there. The time was around 7 pm. We were resettled - there were 3 of us, so they settled in a 5-bed room - a bunk.
The room is super, though it was hot at night - there were only fans - but exotic. In the evening, we were given a buffet right on the rafts - super, given that we had a bottle of vodka, the fish in the river was keshila. Some tried to catch her for bread - to no avail. There was a pool right there in which they swam all evening, ordering beer at the bar (the price is expensive Chang - 100 baht 0.3 l. ), you had to take it with you. Who wanted to do a massage - there were special places and specially trained people 300 baht. 1 hour. They went to bed at one o'clock in the morning. We woke up at 7 in the morning, they fed us again, put us on rafts and set off, it was a pity to leave - the place is super, a mountain river, but warm, I live in Altai, we also have a mountain river Katun, but it is cold, there is warm and air envelops you, as if you were under a blanket. Relax is complete. In the evening you dip your feet into the water, shine a lantern, and there the fish are immeasurably, it becomes even creepy - suddenly someone bites.
They also scared me with crocodiles and snakes, but I did not see them. They also told a story about the American military, who during the Vietnam War caught a three-meter snake fish (I don’t remember the name), they showed us a photo, it was impressive. Then they put us back on the buses and went to the radon baths - to be honest, I didn’t like it there, only 3 small baths with different temperatures, some very warm, I would say hot, a cool river runs nearby, but the people are dark. I injured my leg there - I stepped on a sharp stone. Nearby there is a market where they sell various honey. Drugs, fruits, ice cream and all sorts of little things. They were there for about an hour. Then we were taken to ride elephants - it was super, a specially designated place where various performances are held, then they ride elephants with a bench attached to their backs - uncomfortable, but cool.
Along the way, the elephant is led into the water in the river, he collects water and waters you with their trunk. They take pictures of you along the way, and then they sell a photo framed by their elephant droppings - I think it costs 150 baht. Particularly interesting is the representation of small elephants who drink milk from a bottle, step on lying people and kiss you with their trunks. Yes, they also sell delicious ice cream for only 10 baht. (1 bab. - 1 rub. ) Then we went to a store where they sold various teas and all kinds of medicine, we tried teas, I didn’t really like it, but I quenched my thirst, because I was still a little sick with a hangover, then they took me to a store where bought various smelly ointments (red and green balms for melancholy. They didn’t help me) and my wife bought something else, I gave her money and left it there, and I myself looked after a shop where they sold wine and beer (they let me taste it before selling), there I met my neighbor, who noticed him (the store) before anyone else and did not go to drink tea.
There I bought wine (very sweet) and beer (Chang is the best). Having stocked up on all this, we got on the bus, my wife sorted out medicines and teas, and my friend and I liquor, as it turned out, he stocked up thoroughly - he bought 0.7 liters. Roma San Som (the best rum). Then we went towards Bangkok, on the way we had to visit a doctor (I forgot his name, but the name is interesting). Along the way, we were shown the film The Bridge on the River Kwai. Under this movie we sentenced beer and wine. We reached the “Road of Death” - this is a railway that was built by captured Chinese during the Second World War, the evil Japanese did not let them rest and exploited until they gave up - the road through the jungle - impressed - the Japanese know how to build not only cars. Well, this is a digression. There we were fed lunch - quite tolerable, considering the drunk. We visited the local market, and they are everywhere, bought T-shirts for 100 baht, took pictures and went along the road of death into the jungle.
True, they didn’t go far, since they began to call us, it turns out that the tour was over, and we wanted to reach the bridge over the River Kwai, which the British bombed during the Second World War. The road stands on piles that breathe with the palm of your hand, it was creepy, but where ours did not disappear. Everywhere. The Kwai River flows nearby - a cool area, through the mountains of Myanmar, with which they periodically fight. Yes, we also visited a cave temple there, where the Buddha is located inside. By the way, their religion is cool, but not for us. Then we got on the bus, opened the rum and went to the doctor. Having reached the doctor, I realized that I was already ready to receive treatment in full. Alexander gave us the Central Administration, what should be bought from the doctor - the business is put on a grand scale - a large tent, where various herbal medicines are displayed. We could not resist - we bought something like an asterisk, cough grass (it turned out to be very helpful - you drink for a day and the cough goes away - it costs only 50 baht.
