For college students like us, the only thing that can free us from the brutal final exams is "traveling". One of the group members asked, "Where should we go this summer vacation?" Fa, a member of the group, suggested, "Let's go to my house." Everyone in the group agreed to pin this location: Sangkhla Buri, Kanchanaburi. The group members agreed to go for 3 days and 2 nights with 1 backpack, 1 camera, and 6 other travel companions.

12/17/58

This morning it was time to travel. For this trip, we took the train (free train, lol) and got off at Kanchanaburi to take a van to Sangkhla. The group members met in front of the university to take a taxi to the "Thon Buri Train Station". We were going to take the 7:50 train, but on the way to Thon Buri Train Station, the taxi driver misunderstood and thought we were going to "Thon Buri BTS Station". There was also construction of a BTS station in the area, and the traffic was very bad. The stressful thing was that by the time the taxi driver realized he had taken us to the wrong place, we were already about 2 km away from Thon Buri Train Station. T^T So we decided to get off the taxi and immediately took a motorcycle. While riding the motorcycle, I almost got my leg run over several times. But I have to thank the motorcycle taxi driver for getting me here safely and on time. Thank you very much, motorcycle taxi driver! 5555 Finally, we arrived at Thon Buri Train Station safely. It's time to travel....

Tickets are ready, let's go!!!

Nowadays, our travel may be more convenient to the point that we may forget the way we used to travel. This train journey has allowed us to see many things on the train, the friendship of fellow travelers, the smiles of uncles and aunts who are traveling safely to their destinations, eating rice that is not wrapped in foam but wrapped in banana leaves instead. The happiness that we must experience once in our lives.

We arrived in Kanchanaburi at around 10.30 am. We got off at the "Saphan Kwai Yai" station and visited the Bridge over the River Kwai.

After eating and visiting the River Kwai Bridge, it's time to travel to Sangkhla Buri! This time, we have to take a van to the passenger transport station. At first, everyone thought it wouldn't take long to get to Sangkhla Buri, but after sitting for a while, it took 4 hours! My butt is so sore. But the view from Thong Pha Phum to Sangkhla Buri is beautiful all the way. If you go to Sangkhla Buri, don't forget to look at the scenery (don't fall asleep! 5555) It's really beautiful.

It is now 4:00 PM and I have arrived in Sangkhla Buri. Yay! It was a long journey from 7:50 AM to 4:00 PM, but it was totally worth it. My accommodation in Sangkhla Buri is "Pa Mit Samphan", a floating raft house on the river with a clear view of the Mon Bridge. It's beautiful and perfect. If you're still looking for accommodation for the New Year, check out Pa Mit Samphan. The accommodation is cheap, the food is delicious, the view is beautiful, and there are not many mosquitoes. At first, I thought there would be a lot of mosquitoes because it's by the river, but on the contrary, there are almost no mosquitoes at all.

December 18, 1958

Today is the second day of the trip. This morning everyone woke up at 5 am. Everyone agreed to go to the alms giving ceremony in the morning. The morning atmosphere in Sangkhla is quite good because it is surrounded by mountains. The morning air is especially cool. The sun is not working yet. 5555

Offerings for the monks are sold at the Mon Bridge. The wooden sticks are for sprinkling water, which looks stylish and beautiful. The Mon flowers used for offerings are not garlands, but rather wooden sticks with flowers inserted into them, which is another beautiful style.

After we finished offering food to the monks, we crossed the Mon Bridge to the Mon side.

On the Mon side, there are shops, but not as many as on the Thai side. The Mon side is more lively than the Thai side. If you want to buy clothes that the Mon or Burmese people wear, there are many shops in this area that sell them. There are many styles to choose from. If you come with a gang, it's a good idea to buy a set of clothes that the Mon or Burmese people wear. It's a cool style. This morning, I would like to leave my stomach at the porridge shop on the Mon side. This shop is crowded and delicious. The deep-fried dough sticks are free. They also sell Ovaltine, coffee, and tea.

A young Mon girl who helps her family earn income by selling flowers for alms in the Mon style.

Good morning from Sangkhla Buri. This morning's presentation at Sangkhla is sure to captivate anyone who attends. The morning atmosphere here is truly enchanting.

Today we have a plan to visit the 3 pagodas and cross over to Burma for a one-day trip. For this trip, we contacted Brother Mac. He provided excellent service, was friendly, and offered a reasonable price of 350 baht per person, including everything except food. We had to find our own food, but Brother Mac took us everywhere and to many places. It was very worthwhile. So let's see where he took us. 5555

We have arrived at the Three Pagodas Pass. Before entering Burma, we need to apply for permission to enter Burma first.

We are at the edge of Thailand. In a moment, we will cross the border to Burma. Let's see where we can go.

For those who are planning to cross the border to Myanmar, it is recommended to bring a hat, a cover-up, and black clothing. If you are a woman with long hair, it is advisable to tie it up. This is because the dust in Myanmar is very heavy, and the roads are still mostly dirt and gravel. The first place we visited in Myanmar was the Hundred Pillars Temple. This temple was built with 100 wooden pillars, or perhaps even more. It is said that this temple was built by Luang Pho Uttama, who came to build it in Myanmar.

The Burmese school uniform is as cute and tidy as the Thai one. They say that there are no canteens in Burmese schools, so we often see Burmese children walking home at lunchtime to eat at home. And in the afternoon, they will return to school. I understand why Burmese people are strong because they have to walk from home to school every day.

This is a statue of 250 monks, disciples of the Buddha. Burmese monks have eyebrows, unlike Thai Buddha statues which do not have eyebrows.

Next, we went to the "Golden Pagoda", which is a replica of the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon. It is very beautiful, but the Golden Pagoda is smaller than the real one.

After the Golden Pagoda, the next stop is "Wat Phra Non". This time I went to Wat Phra Non, I met the little monkey of the Burmese uncle who takes care of the temple. I went to sit and talk with the uncle. What is the name of this little monkey? The uncle told me that his name is "Ma Cho". In fact, the uncle wrote it in Burmese for me to see, but I don't know how to type in Burmese. 555

A little monkey named "Ma Cho"

The next station is Wat Tong Wai (Pu Kampaeng). This temple requires climbing 250 steps. It was very tiring to climb, but I must say it was worth the effort. The fatigue disappeared with the view I saw.

As you descend from above, below you will find a temple known as Wat Pu Kampaeng.

After visiting Wat Tong Wai (Pu Kampaeng), we decided to refuel with some food before continuing our journey. After a satisfying meal, we headed to the Burmese market. The Burmese market has everything from jewelry to snacks to clothing stores. However, we didn't spend much time browsing the market as we didn't plan on buying any souvenirs.

Have you ever been to a foreign country and tried a drink that you can't find at home? A drink that is unique to the country you're visiting, or a strange drink that isn't sold in your home country? On my recent trip to Burma, I decided to try these two cans of fruit juice. 5555 (If you're going to Burma, I recommend trying the lychee flavor, it's better than the orange flavor. 5555) These two cans were produced in Yangon.

After traveling in Burma, it's time to cross the border and come back to visit our home. While crossing the border, we met a little guy who sent us back to our country.

After crossing from Burma, we continued our journey to the "Glass Cave of Heaven's Blessing". In this cave, there are crystal formations that make the rocks sparkle. The locals call them "shooting stars" because they resemble stars. It's truly beautiful.

During the cave tour, our group of 7 was led by a guide named "Toon Toon Oo," a young Mon boy. Toon Toon Oo's parents are also Mon. He expertly guided us through the cave and was always smiling. If you visit the Cave of Heavenly Inspiration, be sure to say hello to Toon Toon Oo.

After exiting the cave, the next stop was "Songkaria Waterfall". This place has the coolest and strongest waterfall, perfect for playing in the water. 555 There is also a restaurant here. If you want to relax and chill, you can order food and sit and eat while playing in the water.

After playing at the waterfall for a while, we had to continue our journey to... Mon. The last 2 places we will visit are temples in Mon. The first temple we visited was

"It is said that if you come to Sangkhla Buri and do not pay respects to this temple, it is as if you have not arrived in Sangkhla Buri. This is the temple of Luang Pho Uttama."

And finally, the last stop of this trip is the "Phutta Kaya Pagoda", which was built to enshrine the right-hand finger bone relic of the Lord Buddha. It is the size of a grain of rice and is a place of worship for the Mon people. When I went to the Phutta Kaya Pagoda, it was under renovation, so I only got a few beautiful pictures to share. It's a pity, I'll have to go again next time. 555

After paying our respects at the Mahabodhi Temple, it was time to return to our accommodation. Throughout the day's journey, we gained a wealth of knowledge. We learned about the lifestyles and cultures of the Burmese and Mon people, who were incredibly kind and helpful. It was truly a day well spent. (If anyone is interested in taking a similar one-day trip, feel free to message me for details.)

After a delicious dinner, we decided to take a stroll across the Mon Bridge at night. We stopped for a cup of hot green tea and sent some postcards back home.

The charm of the Mon Bridge at night, a charm that many people may not encounter in the morning, a charm that those who do not look closely will not see: "The smile from the Mon Bridge..."

A beginner's attempt at photographing stars. Due to not bringing a tripod and the bright lights of Sankhla, the number of stars captured was limited. Only a few are visible.

12/19/58

The last day in Sangkhlaburi, I must say I didn't want to leave. So this morning I woke up extra early to capture the atmosphere of Sangkhlaburi as much as possible. We woke up at 4:30 am and were greeted by the mist floating above the water's surface. The cold wind hitting our bodies at 4:30 am was something else. My mother always tells me, "The early bird gets the worm." I think it's absolutely true. Good morning, Sangkhlaburi.

"This morning, I asked Jade to wait for the sunrise. We said goodbye to the rest of the group because everyone was going to offer food to the monks in the morning. There was no objection, only "Take care of yourself and call me when you're done." After saying goodbye to everyone, I walked down the Mon Bridge to the raft below to wait for the sunrise. While I was waiting, I felt discouraged and tired because I was afraid that the sun would rise too late."

After waiting for about half an hour, I started to wonder if I would see it at all. The fog was thick in Sankhla this morning, and I was afraid I wouldn't see the sunrise. But as the orange color started to become clearer, I started to feel more hopeful.

The sun has risen!

After a long wait, the sun finally appeared. It was worth the long wait. The fatigue and frustration that I had felt vanished with the passing of the night. It was time for the sun to do its job.

After taking pictures of the sunrise to their heart's content, the gang members started calling to ask if they had taken any pictures yet (the timing of the call was perfect, lol). So they crossed the Mon Bridge to meet their friends on the Mon side. While walking to the Mon side, they heard the sound of children singing loudly and dancing with cute gestures. The children were opening their hats to receive donations for the "Baan Sai Rueng Learning Center". If anyone goes to Sangkhla Buri and meets the children, please don't forget to donate.

Besides children coming to perform for money, the Mon Bridge also has many vendors selling their wares, such as flowers and brooms.

The view of the Mon Bridge from the Mon side is beautiful in its own way. No matter which angle you look at it from, the Mon Bridge remains beautiful.

After crossing to the Mon side and meeting all the members, everyone told us the plan for today before returning was to take a boat trip to the temple in the middle of the water. It can be said that it is a must-visit spot for tourists who come to Sangkhla Buri. If you don't come, you'll miss it 555 This time, we took a boat with the raft where we stayed. The boat is a large boat that can accommodate 7 people. The price is 600 baht.

The first temple we visited was a temple in the middle of the water called "Wat Si Suwannaram". It is the first temple in Sangkhla Buri. You can walk down to see it during April.

I came across the Buddhist Chedi, so I took a picture from a distance, which was beautiful in a different way. After a short boat ride, I arrived at the second temple, "Wat Somdet". As I was about to walk up, I met three children, so I took a picture of them for you. 555

After paying respects, we are ready to travel to the last temple and the last attraction of Sangkhla Buri, "Wat Wang Wiwekaram Old" (the underwater temple).

As the boat docked, two young boys ran over to help tie it to the pier. They then offered to help us ashore, saying, "Would you like us to be your tour guides?" Everyone answered in unison, "Yes!" Before the boys could become our guides, we needed to know their names. So we asked them, "What are your names?" "My name is Suchat," one replied. "And I'm Kumphai," said the other. After introducing themselves, the boys began their duties as guides. Suchat explained that before entering the temple, we had to touch the church and make three requests. The first request was for permission to enter the church. The second and third requests could be for anything we desired. Only then could we enter the church.

Once everyone had entered the church, the tiny guide began to explain to the aunties, oops! I mean the older sisters, that the walls they saw used to be adorned with 2,500 Buddha statues. However, over time, they began to fall out of the walls.

The young guide began his duties. Previously, there was a turtle, but it was dug up and moved, so a bowl was brought in instead. If you throw a coin into it, your wish will be granted. However, if you miss, you will donate the coin to the temple. You can throw no more than 3 coins.

After paying respects to the Buddha statue, we walked out of the temple and stood talking to Suchat and Kumphai. I learned that Suchat is a Mon child, but he has Thai citizenship because his mother is Thai and his father is Mon. He dreams of becoming a photographer. I hope his dream comes true. If you visit the underwater temple, don't forget to say hello to these two talented young men.

*The person on the left is "Suchart" and the person on the right is "Kumphai"*

After saying goodbye to Suchat and Kumphai, it was time to return to our accommodation to head home. This marked the end of our 3-day, 2-night trip to Sangkhla Buri.

This trip to Sangkhla Buri was like recharging my batteries, like giving me the energy to do so much more. For me, reviewing isn't just about recommending tourist spots, but about sharing the feelings I get from people I don't even know, sharing the feelings I have to experience for myself. If you still haven't decided where to go this New Year, I recommend Sangkhla Buri. It might just be the perfect choice for you. And you'll want to leave your heart in Sangkhla...

Thank you to all the Thai, Burmese, and Mon people who were friendly and kind to the 7 children.
Thank you to my 7 friends who took care of each other throughout the journey (Fah, Gam, Tangmo, B, Ya, Pimp).
Thank you for everything that made the 3 days and 2 nights in Sangkhlaburi so enjoyable.
Thank you to everyone who read this review. If you have been there, please come back and tell us about it. Let's share our feelings.

This is Brother Mack's number: 082-2339590. If you are interested in a one-day trip to Burma, please call and inquire.