David and Natalya's One Year Trip Through Asia travel blog

Train Station enroute to the jungle

David on the train

Passing through the Thai country side

Natalya on the train at the Bridge over the river kwai

The death valley train

Kids on the train

Riding the rails through rural Thailand

The boat ride to our hut in the jungle

Spotting water buffalo as we cruise down river

The first sight of our hotel

The River Kwai Jungle Rafts

Our raft hotel room

Natalya relaxing in on the river

River Kwai Jungle Rafts

There might be no power and no running water but it is...

Mon Tribe performance

Elephants in the morining

Elephants visit at breakfast

David giving out pinapple

Natalya sitting on the dock in front of our room

David and Natalya Kayaking to the Buddha Cave on the river

Our Mon Tribe kayaking guide from Burma

Buddha Cave

Natalya at the Buddha Cave

Kids from the Mon tribe

Banana Tree

Pool at the Resotel

River Banks on the river kwai

A school where we donated books

Mon Tribe village house near the school

Mon Tribe Temple in the Forest

Kids playing soccer from the Mon Tribe

Out for a sunset Elephant Ride

Elephants at the Mon Village

Entertaining kids from the Mon tribe with magic tricks

Dinner on the river

Full moon on the River Kwai

Dinner at the Jungle Rafts by candle light

Nightly mon tribe performance

Kids from the Mon Tribe

Sunrise on the river kwai

The river is so peaceful in the morning

Natalya visits the elephants

Mon Hill tribe girls working at the Jungle Rafts

Mon Hill tribe girls working at the Jungle Rafts

Mon Hill tribe girls working at the Jungle Rafts

More magic tricks to entertain kids we met along the way

The river and the mountains of Burma in the distance

Watching the scenery on the train back to Bangkok

Local taking in the scenery on the train back to Bangkok

Monks riding the train the Bangkok

David at the famous River Kwai Bridge

David and Natalya on the River Kwai Bridge

Natalya on a very long truck ride back to Bangkok


December 14, 2005

River Kwai, Western Thailand

Natalya

I don't like to wear a watch on holidays. It is really amazing to allow yourself to wake up with a sun, eat when you are hungry and go to sleep when it gets dark.

We woke up this morning in a rustic cabin in Western Thailand to the gentle sound of a mountain river and the sound of the elephants in the distance. We walked over to the end of the dock and saw two elephants bathing in the river. Their mukuts (masters) stayed on their backs and the elephants were careful not to dunk them in the water when bathing. After a few minutes the elephants walked over to a bamboo bridge to feed on pinapple and watermelon skins. They were so gentle when grabbing bits of fruit with their trunks.

Right now I am relaxing in a hammock on our private balcony in a cabin floating on the river Kwai. The river is fast and its gentle sound is very relaxing. We are surrounded by thick Thai jungle and soaring high cliffs. A cool breeze, warm sun and the smell of fresh mountain air make this place serene and incredibly relaxing. All you can do is enjoy the moment, remember the days that past and dream of the days ahead.

A good book and a playlist will take you away while a quick glance at the river beside you or at the cliffs above you will bring you right back to this amazing paradise in Western Thailand.

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