Wandergliding: The Train to Kanchanaburi

October 20^th, 2024

Checking out of my hotel around noon, I took the metro followed by a short walk to the Thonburi station. There were a few other tourists on the platform, probably also heading to Kanchanaburi, a bit of tourist spot. The train arrived half an hour early and I decided to hop on board and wait. Even though it’s not a busy line, I wanted to be able to pick a good seat. It was quite an old school type train with open windows and bench seats that did have a bit of padding, but they were uncomfortable. I thought it was interesting that the last car was designated for handicapped people and monks, similar to the priority seats on the subway.

Thonburi train station:

That blue house is right across from the station...good thing it isn't a super busy train station.

A retro kind of train car.

The "special" car:

We left on time and passed a number of slum houses that bordered the right side of the tracks. Whenever you think you’re having a bad day, you just have to think of the living conditions that people like this have to endure.

It was nice to get out into the green countryside, away from the hustle and bustle of a city of 11 million people.

We arrived in Kanchanaburi, a small city of 25,000 people around 4:30. I started to disembark from the train but was told by a platform attendant to get back on. I did recall reading that there were a couple of stops in Kanchanaburi and even though I was only 2.5 kilometres from my accommodation, I assumed he was right. And right he was. The next stop brought me within a kilometre of the Bamboo House Resort. It’s funny in that I didn’t clue in that I was 100 meters from the infamous “Bridge over the River Kwai” until the following day.

I was pleased with my choice of accommodations. The lady at reception who seemed to be the owner (I think her name was Sai but I could have gotten that slightly wrong) was super friendly and helpful. My little hut was better than expected, complete with air conditioning which definitely helps to give you a good night’s sleep.

My hut:

The view of the River Kwai from my hut:

A hut where you could eat some food, have a drink and just hang out. I never actually used it. There were no chairs or tables, just pillows on the floor which I don't find comfortable after a short while.

Oh yeah, this is relaxing...

After settling in, I headed out for some dinner and tried to organize the following day. Sai had suggested a tour agency called “Good Times” (sounds promising). I found the place but the guy said there was a minimum of 4 people required for the tour and a couple had just cancelled so I was out of luck. Technically it is near the end of the low season and still quiet tourist-wise, but I found it surprising that I couldn’t find anyone who wanted to take my money. Oh well, I’ll see what I can figure out in the morning. The main thing that I wanted to visit was the Hellfire Pass, an incredibly difficult and costly train pass (in terms of human lives lost) that allied prisoners of war built in 1943. I’ll see what I can figure out in the morning.

Drunk for 10 baht! That's $0.40. I decided to pass...too expensive (in how you will feel in the morning...).