" Wooden bridge, Dan Chedi, Noen Sam Phap, heritage of Tung Yai, Thai, Karen, Raman.

A myriad of natural wonders pay homage to Luang Pu Uttama, the revered monk of Sangkhlaburi, a border town in the westernmost region.

"Sangkhla Buri"

One day, I asked myself where I wanted to go. While I was searching for information, I came across a post by a woman (I apologize that I can't remember the name of the post). This inspired me to visit Sangkhla Buri District in Kanchanaburi Province. Unfortunately, I lost the photos I took, but I still have the album on Facebook. My first visit was in 2014, when the Mon Bridge was still broken. I returned in 2015 after the bridge was repaired by the military. I packed my backpack and set off.

The train departs from Thon Buri Railway Station and arrives at Nam Tok at 07:50 - 12:35. If you arrive early, you can explore the nearby market for food and enjoy a morning coffee.

Thai trains, whether they arrive on time or not, are often discussed. In our opinion, they are generally punctual these days. However, free trains still have to give way to higher-class trains. We enjoy riding trains, even though they can be draining. It's like getting a new toy, haha. The wooden seats are stylish, even if they cause backaches. The second-class air-conditioned carriages are comfortable, with plush seats. Sleeping in a private first-class cabin is incredibly comfortable. The second-class air-conditioned carriages are the best, with their cool air. Oh, and the dining car is amazing. Okay, I'm getting off topic now!

The scenery along the way was filled with elderly passengers, both men and women, who boarded and disembarked at various stops.

Many people disembark at this station, which is located near the Bridge over the River Kwai.

The Death Railway, Tham Krasae: If you sit on the right side, you will see a cliff. If you sit on the left side, you will see a river view.

Upon arriving at the waterfall station, we hopped on a local shared taxi for 10 baht to the bus stop near the waterfall. There was a 7-Eleven and some shops nearby. We arrived just a tad too late, as the last bus to Sangkhla had just departed. Luckily, a group of people who had also missed the bus were walking by. A local resident with a motorcycle sidecar offered to follow the tour bus. Imagine the five of us, four from the group and one of us, crammed into the sidecar as it struggled to climb the hills. It was a hilarious and thrilling ride, and we eventually caught up with the bus as it stopped to pick up passengers ahead. We were so grateful to the kind local who refused any payment, saying he was happy we were visiting. We cheered with a loud "12 123 12 12 1! Hooray!" The bus fare was 123 baht. The ride was like a wild amusement park ride, with us clinging to the seats and armrests the whole time. By the time we reached Sangkhla, it was almost evening. We took a motorbike taxi for 20 baht to our accommodation. We hadn't booked a place to stay, as the accommodation didn't accept reservations, and we were hoping for a vacancy. Thankfully, there was still room available at "Cheun Jai House."

Pineapple fried rice 55 baht, super delicious

Chuen Jai House, a home away from home. The owner, Mr. Ton, invited us to see the room first, but we were already determined and wouldn't change our minds. We quickly agreed and entered the room to leave our bags and ask for information. We then walked to the Mon Bridge, also known as the U-Thong Memorial Bridge. At that time, the bridge was broken due to flash floods, and the sky was starting to get dark. There was a small bar-like shop near the bridge, so we stopped for a drink. The cool breeze and the setting sun created a peaceful atmosphere. As we walked back, it was getting dark, and we were a little scared, but there was nothing to worry about. When we arrived at the accommodation, we had dinner. The accommodation also sells food, and everything was delicious. We sat down to write and asked for beer. Mr. Ton kindly lent us a motorbike to buy beer at 7-Eleven. We couldn't miss the good atmosphere. After that, we sat with Mr. Ton and the others, and it went on for a long time. (Mr. Ton, if you have the chance to read this, I want to tell you that I will never forget that night. There are no words better than "Thank you".) And of course, we sat there until almost morning, so we didn't wake up to offer food to the monks.

A new day dawns. Today, we will rent a motorbike to explore different places, as we discussed last night, walking is not an option, no matter how much we love it.

This temple is a must-see for anyone visiting Sangkhlaburi. We were particularly drawn to its unique appearance, which seemed to be a blend of different architectural styles. If anyone knows more about the temple's history or design, please share your insights.

Mahabodhi Temple

This temple enshrines the sacred right thumb bone relic of the Lord Buddha, brought to Thailand by Luang Pho Uttama from Sri Lanka.

Wat Wang Wiwek Karam Mai

Located near the Mahabodhi Temple, commonly known as "Wat Luang Pho Uttama" by locals, it served as the residence of Luang Pho Uttama.

After that, we rode our motorbikes to the Three Pagodas Pass. However, along the way, we passed the Songkhla River, where we stopped for lunch and to rest before continuing our journey.

Riding a motorcycle, I arrived at the Three Pagodas Pass.

Today, we can cross the border to Burma using only our ID cards. The border is open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The crossing fee is 40 baht. Once we cross, we can hire a motorcycle taxi on the other side to take us around. I don't remember the exact price, but it should be around 300-500 baht. It's best to negotiate the price beforehand.

Pagoda of Phaya Tong Su, Myanmar

Hundred-Pillared Temple

Along the way

We no longer remember the name of the place.

And lastly,

After finishing, cross back to drive to the Mon Bridge to watch the sunset.

That's all for today.

The next morning, we met our boat driver at 6 or 7 am to visit the submerged temple. We then returned to return the motorbike and refuel.

Prepare to wait for the bus.

Approximate cost:

Accommodation 1000 baht for 2 nights

The fare for a songthaew from the train station to the bus station is 10 baht.

Bus fare from the bus station to Sangkhla Buri is 123 baht.

The fare to the accommodation is 20 baht.

Motorcycle rental fee 200 baht

The cost of fuel is 90 baht.

Boat fare to the sunken temple: 250 baht.

The bus fare back to Bangkok is 223 baht.

The border crossing fee to Burma is 40 baht.

The total cost was 1,956 baht, excluding food. This was our second trip to Sangkhlaburi in 2015. We traveled by train again, this time with a foreign friend. We learned that foreigners pay 100 baht for train tickets, while Thai citizens travel for free. As usual, we took a songthaew to the bus stop for Sangkhlaburi, but we missed the bus again. We took a "หวานเย็น" (sweet and cold) car to Thong Pha Phum for 80 baht, then a van to Sangkhlaburi for another 80 baht. We arrived in Sangkhlaburi at 7 pm. This is another option if the train arrives late. We stayed at the same place, Chuen Jai House, and enjoyed a homemade pizza upon arrival.

The Mon Bridge is now complete.

The Mahabodhi Temple today

There was a traditional event, but we can't remember it anymore.

This time we bought a package deal. They have a tour package for 3 temples and another one that I can't remember.

The first place they said someone had dived down to see the temple. If it were us, we would also say it was creepy.

The second place.

The third place is the submerged temple. This time, the water has risen, and we chose to go in the evening. No matter how many times we go, it gets more and more beautiful. It's beautiful no matter when you come.

Sangkhlaburi, a place that never fails to impress, offers a unique and breathtaking experience with each visit. The recent heavy rainfall transformed the landscape, creating stunning reflections of the city lights that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.