E-tong Village: The Town of Mist All Year Round

E-Tong Village, Kanchanaburi

Eetong Village: A Year-Round Misty Paradise

Eetong Village, nestled amidst mountains and shrouded in mist, was once a thriving mining community. Its history is etched in the remnants of its tungsten and tin mines, now silenced by economic decline. Today, this small village nestled on the Thai-Myanmar border offers a glimpse into a unique cultural tapestry.

The predominantly Burmese population of Eetong continues to embrace their cultural heritage, creating a vibrant blend of traditions and customs.

I had the opportunity to visit Kanchanaburi again.
I stayed for 3 days and 2 nights to relax and unwind.
This time, I had the chance to visit Thong Pha Phum.
We came during the late rainy season and early winter.
The weather in the village was hot for a short while, but then it rained and became cold.

The journey is not difficult at all.
It's super easy!

DAY 1

05-10-2018

• We took a bus from Future Park to Kanchanaburi Bus Terminal. The ticket price was 130 THB (approximately 2.5 hours).
• We arrived at Kanchanaburi Bus Terminal after noon because we left very late (55555). So we had lunch. We remembered that the yellow bus to the surrounding villages leaves at 1:30 PM. We rushed to eat because we were afraid of missing it (but we didn't make it 555).

After much deliberation, I decided to head to Sangkhlaburi, even though it was unlikely that we would make it to the bus to E-Tong village in time. I had already been to Sangkhlaburi before, but I was determined to go again. I figured I would find a way to get there eventually. After all, I had already come this far! If there were no buses available, I could hitch a ride to the village or find a hotel nearby to stay in. Then, I could head up to the village in the morning.

We took a van from Kanchanaburi Bus Terminal to Thong Pha Phum Market. The ticket cost 115 THB and the journey took about 2.5 hours. Alternatively, there is a red bus that goes to the same destination but takes longer and costs 80 THB.

I arrived at Thong Pha Phum Market around 3 pm. I missed the bus, haha. The lady at the shop asked me where I was going. She said there were no more buses and that I would have to take a taxi. I agreed and ended up paying 1,500 THB for a taxi.

To catch the bus, it is recommended to be well-prepared. The fare for the yellow shared taxi to the village is 70 THB (approximately 3 hours for a distance of only 60 km, but it takes a long time due to the numerous curves). The road is full of S-curves, figure-8 curves, and other challenging turns.

The village shuttle bus runs at 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, and 13:30.

The driver took us on a thrilling ride. The road leading up was a mix of potholes, good stretches, and muddy sections. If you're driving yourself, be cautious. There are 399 curves ahead, so take it slow. 🍑 We only took 2.5 hours because the driver was skilled. He even found us a place to stay. We wanted to sleep in a tent, and he made it happen.

Upon reaching the village, our host dropped us off at the camping ground. We set up our tent in the helicopter landing zone, where only two or three other tents were pitched. The first night was quite lonely!
We agreed on a tent rental fee of 400 THB per night for a two-night stay. We also rented a motorbike from our host, who kindly offered a discount, bringing the total cost down to 1,000 THB. (If you don't want to camp and haven't booked accommodation, there are plenty of walk-in options available, with prices ranging from 800 to 1,000 THB.)
If you do choose to camp, there's no need to worry about showering, as there are shower rooms conveniently located near the school. The water tends to be a bit chilly, though.

After packing our belongings, we went downstairs to grab a bite to eat because we were starving. 555555
It was a typical Thai food stall, with reasonable prices. The owner, a lovely lady, served us delicious food. The restaurant is located next to Jeh Nee's shop.

This translates to: "That's how cute I am, I mean me, not the store. Hehe 😅"

Don't miss out! Adorable wooden boards for only 20 THB each.

Some of them we secretly read too 5555555 Some of them are very funny. They also complain a lot. I hope you won't be alone next time so you won't be lonely. Hehe 😂

They also sold oil lamps for 25 THB each, which we bought because there was no electricity upstairs. They also had candles, which I think were 20 THB per pack, but I don't remember the exact price.

The evening atmosphere is incredibly peaceful, making this village an ideal place to relax and unwind. Despite the influx of tourists, the tranquility remains undisturbed. We highly recommend this serene haven for a truly rejuvenating experience.

The first day ended with this picture. I bought something warm to eat and made myself feel better before taking a shower. Hahaha.

The place where we set up our tent is great. There are no insects, no mosquitoes, and no lights. 5555555555

DAY 2

October 10, 2018

The morning mist greeted us after a night of rain. We had planned to wake up at 5:00 am to watch the sunrise and meet with the uncle to pick up the car. However, the uncle ended up riding the car to our tent at 5:00 am instead.

The cold weather made it difficult to get out of bed and take a shower. It was so cool that we just washed our faces, brushed our teeth, and went out to eat. We'll take a shower later. We believe that if our hearts are clean, we don't need to shower!

Without further ado, my uncle brought the car and we rode up to the viewpoint at Khao Chang Suek. We had to go outside the village, following the signs. It was very easy to get there, but the road itself was not easy at all. It was both steep and rough, but there were also some good roads.

The view was so beautiful that I forgot to take a picture. It was truly breathtaking.

The translation is:

Amazing teleport! Teleported to Chok Kradin Waterfall. I wonder why it's called "Chok" though, haha. We rode our motorbike all the way here, following the signs. It wasn't difficult to find, but the road leading there was quite rough. The entrance fee to the waterfall is 20 THB per person, and there's also a parking fee. The fee varies depending on the vehicle type; cars have a different price than motorbikes. I can't remember the exact prices, haha.

The water was very cold, and the fat guy in the yellow shirt had a lot of fun.

The real thing is very beautiful, and the water is very clear.

Seeing the fat guy jump, I wanted to jump too. 55555555 My feet are numb now.

As I mentioned before, the warp is very powerful. I came back to take pictures and play in the village. It is very lush and green, and it is very comfortable to look at.

This night is not as lonely as the first night. The older brothers and uncles are very kind. They came to help set up the tent because the wind was blowing it away. 55555555

DAY 3

October 7, 2018

I don't want this day to come. I want to stay here longer.

Wash your face, wash your eyes, go down to find something to eat, come up to pack your things and then have to leave. Sob.

On the way back, I took a yellow car back for 70 THB. The scenery along the way was beautiful.

## Yellow shared taxis depart from the village to Thong Pha Phum Market. The earliest departures are at 6:30 AM, 7:30 AM, and 8:30 AM, depending on the number of tourists. It is recommended to inquire about the schedule again before returning to ensure availability.

Thank you for the new experiences.

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Expense Summary

• Bus: Future Park to Kanchanaburi Bus Terminal (130 THB one-way, 260 THB round-trip)
• Van: Kanchanaburi Bus Terminal to Thong Pha Phum Market (115 THB one-way, 230 THB round-trip)
• Chartered Car: Thong Pha Phum Market to E-Tong Village (750 THB per person)
• Tent Rental: 2 nights (400 THB per night, discounted to 700 THB total, 350 THB per person)
• Motorbike Rental: 1 day (300 THB per day, 150 THB per person)
• Food: Approximately 400 THB per person

The total cost is approximately 2,140 THB.