This trip was planned just two days before the departure date due to an emergency. My friend's car was involved in an accident, forcing us to cancel our original trip. We had to come up with a new plan within one night, as we had already taken five days off work. We decided on Kanchanaburi, even though I had already been there twice. When my friends agreed, we packed our bags and hit the road. Due to the sudden change of plans, we didn't have a detailed itinerary, only a rough idea of what we wanted to do.

Kanchanaburi: A province brimming with natural attractions and historical significance. This marks my third visit since World War II, and I'm determined to explore every unvisited corner this time around. Let the adventure begin...

Day 0-1: Our journey began in Khon Kaen. After finishing work in the evening, we boarded a bus from Khon Kaen to Bangkok (ticket price: 487฿). The bus departed at 11:15 PM and arrived in Bangkok around 5:00 AM. From there, we took a van from Mo Chit to Kanchanaburi for 120฿. The van ride took approximately 2 hours, and we arrived in Kanchanaburi around 8:00 AM.

Upon arrival at the bus terminal, we needed to find transportation to our accommodation. We had hastily searched online while on the van, improvising as we went (a common practice in Isaan culture known as "Jup Jud"). We showed the driver the accommodation we had found online, and he took us there for a flat rate of 100 baht. Upon arrival, we contacted Warmwell Hostel, which had a room available for 690 baht per night. The kind staff even offered a discount, reducing the price to 650 baht. We are grateful for their hospitality.

After finding accommodation, I rented a car for 1,000 baht per day with a 3,000 baht deposit, excluding fuel costs. Once I had the car, I was free to explore! (However, I would advise that if you plan to rent a car, it is best to contact the rental agency directly to get a better price. Avoid letting the songthaew drivers take you to a rental agency, as they will charge you a commission. I learned this the hard way! However, I was able to negotiate the price down to 1,000 baht from 1,100 baht. If you contact the agency directly, you can get it for 900 baht.)

Let's go.

Taking the Train to the Waterfall: A Scenic Journey

This passage describes a train journey to a waterfall in Thailand. The author highlights the convenience and affordability of the trip, emphasizing the free train ride and the scenic views.

Here's a breakdown of the key points:

• Free Train Ride: The author emphasizes the free train ride, requiring only a citizen ID card. This makes the trip accessible and budget-friendly.
• Scenic Views: The author mentions the beautiful views along the train journey, suggesting it's a worthwhile experience.
• Time Consideration: The author acknowledges the time commitment involved in traveling from Bangkok, opting to board the train in Kanchanaburi to save time.
• Destination: The train's final stop is the waterfall station, offering convenient access to the natural attraction.

Upon arriving at Tham Krasae Station, everyone rushed to take photos at the designated spot, aptly named "The Reason for the Visit." The location boasts historical significance and scenic beauty. While most tourists disembark at this station, we opted to continue to the final stop, Namtok Station. A bus service is available for the return journey, or alternatively, passengers can wait for the train's return trip (the last train departs Namtok Station at 3:30 PM).

This is the first meal. The dishes ordered look like this: stir-fried sweet vegetables, mixed salad, fried banana fish, and a glass of lime soda to cool down in the heat. The total cost of this meal was 500 baht. Overall, it was a good experience.

After finishing lunch, we continued our journey by renting a car to Khao Kha Khad for a round-trip price of 600 ฿. At first, we were hesitant to go because we thought the price was quite expensive for two people. However, since we were already there, we decided to go for it. As soon as we got in the car, it started to rain. Hmm… I wonder if we made the right decision to rent a car for 600 ฿. Can someone please help us out?!

It took about 30 minutes to reach the destination. There is a museum to visit, and admission is free! Walking down the path for about 400 meters, you will reach the Khao Khad area. Along the way, you can take pictures. It is recommended to wear sneakers because the path below is mostly made of rocks. Wearing sandals might make it difficult to walk. Although the distance is 400 meters, the way there is not too bad. The way back, however, is tiring even though it is not very far. (Or am I just getting old?) Now I understand why there are chairs along the way. Let's rest for a bit!

After finishing our hike, we visited the museum for a while. As we were leaving, it started to rain! Luckily, before we arrived, my uncle had us switch to a sedan because he thought it might rain. If we had been in the pickup truck, we would have definitely gotten soaked. Then, my uncle dropped us off at the bus stop in front of Sai Yok Noi Waterfall (Note: We didn't stop at Sai Yok Noi Waterfall, they said there was no water, but if you're coming from Sai Yok Waterfall Station, there is a shuttle service for 20฿ per person). We waited for the red bus back to Kanchanaburi city for about 30 minutes. The bus arrived, probably the last one, around 4:30 PM. We took the bus and got off in front of the train station where we had parked our car. Then, we went back to our accommodation. My body needed some sleep. Z z z

Waking up at 8:30 PM, my stomach was already rumbling. I searched for nearby restaurants and found Loft, conveniently located by the River Kwai with a promising view. Following the GPS, I arrived and ordered a variety of dishes: stir-fried catfish in red curry, crispy morning glory salad, and black pepper chicken. While the menu names were more elaborate, I can't quite recall them now.

Day 2: Due to the fatigue from yesterday's journey, we started our trip a little later at 9:30 am. After checking out, we continued our journey.

Our first stop today is the Bridge over the River Kwai, which is not far from our accommodation. This is our third visit, but our friends have never been here before, so we had to stop by. Otherwise, they would think we hadn't been here.

The next stop was the Allied War Cemetery, another historical site. When we arrived, it was still early in the morning, so there weren't many tourists around. It was just us, open and airy, taking a leisurely stroll and learning about history.

The next stop was the Kaset Village in Dan Makham Tia district, home to the giant rain tree, another place I had been eager to visit. I wanted to see for myself just how big it was. Following the GPS, it wasn't far from the city center. The roads were good, and the journey was comfortable, with trees lining the way, giving the impression of entering a forest. This inspired the name of the trip: "Exploring the Forests of Kanchanaburi." The giant rain tree is a must-see tourist attraction in Kanchanaburi due to its immense size. It's so big that it makes you exclaim, "Oh my God!" It's truly enormous! We took pictures until our hearts were content.

Next stop, the coffee shop. Based on my research, the closest coffee shop to our destination is "Baan Kaffee," conveniently located on the road to Trai Yok Noi Waterfall and Sangkhla Buri.

The order consisted of one slice of crepe cake, one cup of green tea, and one cup of coffee (totaling 200฿). The atmosphere inside the shop was very shady, with many trees. I liked it!

Just a few meters from the coffee shop, you will find Mallika R.E. 124, a place that takes you back in time with its atmosphere and attire. Since you're already here, you must stop by!

We purchased tickets and rented costumes for 350฿ per person. There are various ticket options available at different prices. We spent a considerable amount of time at Mallika City. After renting the costumes, we felt obligated to take full advantage of the photo opportunities. The location is expansive and offers numerous photogenic spots, making it ideal for photography enthusiasts. For those seeking a more comprehensive experience, there are options to watch a Khon performance and enjoy a traditional Thai dinner. This is suitable for individuals with ample time who desire a complete immersion in Thai culture.

We left Mallika City around 3:00 PM and drove along the Sai Yok Noi Waterfall Road. There was a right turn to Si Sawat District, leading to the Srinakarin Dam. Along the way, the rain kept stopping and starting, making us nervous about whether it would rain when we reached the dam. We prayed that it wouldn't rain the whole way. Around 4:00 PM, we arrived at the Srinakarin Dam. It wasn't raining yet, but worse, our camera battery was dead! Oh no! What to do now? We urgently needed to find a place to charge it, so we asked the staff at the tourist service center if we could charge our battery. They were very kind and let us charge it, even finding us a place to sit. They were so lovely!

While waiting for the rain to subside, we charged our batteries for almost an hour. We then thanked the owner and went outside to enjoy the fresh air and take in the beautiful scenery. (Please note that the dam crest is closed at 6:00 PM for safety reasons, as the road leading up to it involves a slight uphill climb. On the way up, a left turn leads to Erawan Waterfall, which we were unable to visit due to time constraints.)

The final stop of the day was The Forest Resort, a beautiful floating raft accommodation. The resort offers water activities and raft cruises at 3:30 PM. However, since we arrived late in the evening, we were unable to enjoy the water activities. Nevertheless, the ambiance was fantastic. The accommodation costs 1,000 baht per person per night and includes a buffet breakfast and dinner. Wi-Fi is only available at the check-in counter, not in the rooms. The rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a water heater, a fitness center, and a swimming pool.

Day 3: A bittersweet end

Waking up to the breathtaking view of the misty mountains, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at the thought of leaving. The thought of returning to the daily grind already had me feeling weary.

Before departing, we indulged in the resort's delicious breakfast buffet and checked out. As we set off for Kanchanaburi town, a minor inconvenience arose: a dead car battery. Apparently, in our haste to grab dinner the previous night, we had forgotten to turn off the headlights, draining the battery completely.

Fortunately, the resort owner kindly assisted us by calling someone to jump-start the car. (Many thanks to them!) Though it caused a slight delay, we considered it a valuable experience.

After expressing our gratitude to the kind people who helped us, we drove towards Kanchanaburi city with the windows down, enjoying the natural air conditioning. Fortunately, it was still early morning. To conserve the car's battery, we kept the engine running as restarting it could be difficult. We needed to let the battery charge for a while.

After returning the car, I safely took a van back to Bangkok from the bus terminal.

The trip ended abruptly and unexpectedly, just as it had begun.

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