Tiger Temple? Um, are those real....?
Hey guys! Been a little while since I posted, so thought I might include a lil' update for ya'll to read. Oh and if you're looking for a continuation of the Freedom & Democracy story, forget it, I lost interest already ;) Suffice it to say that I got internet. Then it broke. For like a week. Then I jiggled some cables, and it started working again. I feel like this story is pretty much analogous to life in Thailand. No matter if you're talking about transportation, shopping, bargaining, the weather, services or electricity, things are unpredictable, unreliable and have a habit of kicking you in the teeth when you least expect it. Then again, sometimes all it takes is a little jiggling to fix things ;)
Anyways, hmmm, what else is new...last weekend I spent a couple of days in Katchanaburi with some friends. We stayed about five minutes away from the famous "Death Railway" and the Bridge over the River Kwai from the movie--beautiful scenery, and a pretty crazy history. Anyways, we checked into a lovely guesthouse called the Sugar Cane guesthouse, very quiet, beautiful location and a great (and cheap) little resteraunt overlooking the River Kwai. We arrived at around 2PM on Sunday afternoon, and shortly after took off for the fabled "Tiger Temple" of Katchanaburi, about 45 minutes away by song-taeow (basically a pick-up truck converted into a taxi). The Tiger Temple is exactly what it sounds like, a Buddhist monestary in the midst of a refugee for all sorts of abandoned or injured animals, including a group of tigers. Tourists are taken down to a canyon where the tigers excercise from 3:30 to 5:30, and can then have pictures taken while touching, sitting and walking with the tigers! It was a little touristy, but still very cool--especially when they brought the cubs out for playtime. I have some great photos and an awesome video of the cubs playing--unfortunately I'm having a difficult time uploading right now cause the internet is so crappy here; however, rest assured I will continue to attempt to provide you all with photo evidence.
Anyways, the next day saw us getting up bright and early (8:30AM...yuck!) to visit Erawin National Park and waterfalls. This place was indescribably beautiful--the most incredible waterfalls I have been to yet. There were 7 tiers, and you could swim at pretty much every level (we did, believe me ;). There were also rock waterslide to go down, and cliffs to jump off--in each pool, the water was crystal clear, and schools of curious fish swam around nibbling at toes and legs--please note that this is more then a little surprising when it first happens. At the 7th level--the very top--the waterfall climbs up the mountain to it's source. There is a sign that says "Danger No Climbing" so obviously Sebastian (my german friend) and I had to investigate. We proceeded to climb up some cliffs to get to the very top of the spring, where we swam through a waterfall into a crazy cave! There was a deep pool that went back maybe 10 or 15 meters into the side of the mountain, again with clear water and stalactites hanging over head. This was one of the coolest things I have ever seen or done--swimming through this crushing waterfall at the top of a mountain in the middle of the jungle, to reach a beautiful and untouched cave with an underground pool. Obviously we couldn't take our cameras up--needed both hands for climbing--but i have some good waterfall pics nonetheless, which i will try to upload eventually. Phew. Just telling you about this has worn me out. Pretty incredible, anyways ;).
So yeah, that's all the news for now, I hope everyone at home is doing well, i could use a few more emails friends *ahem*. Or add me on Skype and we will chat. And above all else, know that if you read this blog and don't at least post a "Hi Rob" in the comments, you will be horribly cursed for the remainder of your sad, pathetic life. Which won't be too long! Bwahahaha!!!
Just kidding, hahahaha. But seriously. Post or die.
Anyways, hmmm, what else is new...last weekend I spent a couple of days in Katchanaburi with some friends. We stayed about five minutes away from the famous "Death Railway" and the Bridge over the River Kwai from the movie--beautiful scenery, and a pretty crazy history. Anyways, we checked into a lovely guesthouse called the Sugar Cane guesthouse, very quiet, beautiful location and a great (and cheap) little resteraunt overlooking the River Kwai. We arrived at around 2PM on Sunday afternoon, and shortly after took off for the fabled "Tiger Temple" of Katchanaburi, about 45 minutes away by song-taeow (basically a pick-up truck converted into a taxi). The Tiger Temple is exactly what it sounds like, a Buddhist monestary in the midst of a refugee for all sorts of abandoned or injured animals, including a group of tigers. Tourists are taken down to a canyon where the tigers excercise from 3:30 to 5:30, and can then have pictures taken while touching, sitting and walking with the tigers! It was a little touristy, but still very cool--especially when they brought the cubs out for playtime. I have some great photos and an awesome video of the cubs playing--unfortunately I'm having a difficult time uploading right now cause the internet is so crappy here; however, rest assured I will continue to attempt to provide you all with photo evidence.
Anyways, the next day saw us getting up bright and early (8:30AM...yuck!) to visit Erawin National Park and waterfalls. This place was indescribably beautiful--the most incredible waterfalls I have been to yet. There were 7 tiers, and you could swim at pretty much every level (we did, believe me ;). There were also rock waterslide to go down, and cliffs to jump off--in each pool, the water was crystal clear, and schools of curious fish swam around nibbling at toes and legs--please note that this is more then a little surprising when it first happens. At the 7th level--the very top--the waterfall climbs up the mountain to it's source. There is a sign that says "Danger No Climbing" so obviously Sebastian (my german friend) and I had to investigate. We proceeded to climb up some cliffs to get to the very top of the spring, where we swam through a waterfall into a crazy cave! There was a deep pool that went back maybe 10 or 15 meters into the side of the mountain, again with clear water and stalactites hanging over head. This was one of the coolest things I have ever seen or done--swimming through this crushing waterfall at the top of a mountain in the middle of the jungle, to reach a beautiful and untouched cave with an underground pool. Obviously we couldn't take our cameras up--needed both hands for climbing--but i have some good waterfall pics nonetheless, which i will try to upload eventually. Phew. Just telling you about this has worn me out. Pretty incredible, anyways ;).
So yeah, that's all the news for now, I hope everyone at home is doing well, i could use a few more emails friends *ahem*. Or add me on Skype and we will chat. And above all else, know that if you read this blog and don't at least post a "Hi Rob" in the comments, you will be horribly cursed for the remainder of your sad, pathetic life. Which won't be too long! Bwahahaha!!!
Just kidding, hahahaha. But seriously. Post or die.
posted by Rob at 9:36 PM
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