(Fast) three days in Kanchanburi with Erawan National Park

After some initial difficulties upon arrival, things turned out quite brilliantly in Kanchanaburi. However, there was a bit of confusion for me at first, as the booked pool was no longer available due to a change in ownership. Hmm, it would have been nice to have that option given the temperatures. But I already had the key (see picture), so there was no turning back. I was on a relaxed vacation, so I didn't want to explain to the property manager about the right to a refund... The check-in was somewhat successful, and I quickly set off on a tour to explore my new surroundings. First, I walked to the historic bridge on the River Kwai, known from the famous film. Right next to the bridge, there is the Guan Yin Temple. There, I felt a bit like I was at a colorful fair, not only because of the vibrant decor but also due to the techno background music from the opposite bank, where young people were enjoying swimming. Unlike the bridge, I was almost alone in the temple. Afterwards, I walked back over the bridge and immediately headed to the World War II Museum, which particularly focuses on the victims among the prisoners of war during the construction of the Thailand-Burma railway and their history. Very interesting, but when placed in the broader context of World War II, there were occasional 'inaccuracies' that caught the attention of the common European... The exhibition was embedded in a temple area with various displays. The arrangement and the shifts in content were somewhat unusual...

On the way back, I treated myself to a delicious dinner, and while enjoying a tasty beer, I struck up a conversation with a Canadian who first talked to me about his holiday experiences and later shared more with me. The evening passed quite pleasantly. The street of my hostel is lined with many small bars—some with live music—and exudes a very nice atmosphere overall. I already knew that I would likely spend the upcoming evenings wandering around here...

On my first full day in Kanchanburi, I took it easy and tossed out my original plan to visit Erawan National Park. Everything took a bit longer for me in the morning... Though I got up relatively early, I first wandered around in search of breakfast, unable to make a quick decision. I eventually found something delicious and settled in comfortably for a while... Now, I wanted to quickly get some cash. However, 'quickly' turned out to be relative, as the first four ATMs refused to dispense any money. Hmm, was there something wrong with my card? Had there perhaps been too many unusual transactions from the Far East in the meantime? I started feeling a bit uneasy, but after all, it worked out. The fifth ATM finally dispensed the local currency. However, it was already almost 11:00 AM, 35 degrees heat, so I postponed my further travel plans for today until tomorrow... I strolled through the streets, looking for things to discover and observe... Afterward, I went on a museum tour regarding the local history of World War II and visited the very well-designed 'Death Railway Museum,' which captivated me for almost three hours. I then continued to the 'War Cemetery' to commemorate the prisoners of war who died during the railway's construction; particularly from the Netherlands and Great Britain... After that, I wandered further and stumbled upon a local cemetery. Very interesting and dignified... Of course, I couldn't miss out on visiting a temple complex during my further walk. The colorful design here is truly impressive. On the way back, I leisurely walked along the River Kwai, quenching my thirst while enjoying a romantic view 😊... In the evening, I swung into a nice pizzeria at still 30 degrees, initially glancing at the big TV showing winter sports (very surreal) and then enjoyed my Italian dinner with delicious chilled Chang after a while of my stomach growling... Precisely at 8:00 PM local time, I had finished my meal and followed the Dynamo boys against Cottbus thanks to unlicensed Magenta Sports... Some habits are hard to shake even in the Far East... 😅

After I switched bars at halftime and saw the Dynamo boys squander their victory (1:1), I roamed through some local spots and finally landed in a small but cool rocking bar... There was a local old-school metalhead sitting quite alone with his guitar. We chatted a bit, and then he played what I wished for; the evening went by quite quickly...

The plan to wake up at 7:00 AM this morning was subsequently scrapped. I set out for breakfast only after my morning routine at around 10:00 AM. I doddled a bit and found something nice; well-fed and caffeinated, I then made my way straight to a scooter rental. I snagged the last hot seat, and off I went on a wild ride. The speedometer wasn't working, and a yellow light was constantly flashing, but the friendly rental lady said that was no problem... Since my Garmin watch was working again this morning, having the speedometer wasn't an issue, as my watch could give me my speed accurately... So I revved off after packing a towel and swim shorts. The nearly 65 kilometers to Erawan National Park, past barracks, lakes, and picturesque landscapes, flew by despite the incredible heat. However, as I slowly approached my destination, I began to notice a stronger smell of burning. And indeed, it seemed that the surrounding forest was visibly on fire. Since everyone there seemingly didn't see it as a bigger problem anymore, I continued the last kilometers to the national park anyway. My yellow racer held up well despite 35 degrees and almost hit 80 km/h with the tailwind, but everything was rattling so much that the normal travel speed was rather around 55 to 60 km/h; furthermore, my stylish helmet was more for sun protection than safety... Once I arrived at Erawan National Park, I rented the mandatory life vest and walked the path to the seven waterfalls. The plan was to walk everything first and then jump into the water. I arrived at the highest 7th waterfall at 3:15 PM and jumped into the refreshing water; it felt fantastic given the temperatures. And boom, out of nowhere, the whistle of the local park ranger in military uniform sounded, reminding everyone to head back, as the park closes at 4:30 PM. So, I packed up again and hiked back, encountering a monkey along the way that didn't seem bothered by my presence and arrived on time at the 2nd waterfall, where I could jump into the water one more time before the whistle blew there as well... After changing back, I hopped onto my hot yellow oven and zipped back the 65 km to my place in Kanchanaburi, where a refreshing treat awaited me in the refrigerator... And now I'm back on my pub street, sitting in a nice spot, and waiting for my evening meal... On my way here from my accommodation, I passed several pubs, and quite often my phone connected to the respective Wi-Fi... I guess I've truly arrived here...