From Chiang Rai e took an early morning bus back to Chiang Mai and spent a few hours relaxing – lunch followed by a foot massage! At 5pm our taxi ’songteaw’ took us to the train station for an overnight train towards Bangkok, getting off at Ayuttayah at 4am. However, 2 of our party failed to show up for the train (2 Ozzie blokes over 45, both with a heavy drink problem and severe lack of charm) and we went without them – no great loss! Pizza on the train and general merriement including a trip to the disco car and some silliness before bed at 11pm. In Ayuttayah we had breakfast by the river and took a songteaw tour of some of the main temples an ruins in this old city dating from the 15th century and before when it was Thailand’s capital. Plenty of photos later, it was time for a longer trip to Kanchanaburri, the location of the famous Bridge over the River Kwai. Arriving at sunset, we were taken in rickshaws to the war cemetary and then to the bridge itself. The sun set behind the famous arches and I was amazed to be able to walk along the tracks – with no barriers to prevent you from stepping over the edge. It was magic to walk the bridge albeit with the other tourists. The area has inevitably become a tourist trap with every business calling itself ‘River Kwai’ or ‘ Bridge’ from massages, bars and gift shops to restuarants floating with lanterns on the water. As we left a lively market was warming up, but it was time for our rickshaw guys to get us back to the Apple Guesthouse for dinner.
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