Kanchainburi is right up there with the most popular spots to visit in Thailand so this article is about a new way to visit kanchanaburi 'by mountain bike'. The cycling day trip is run by a small mountain bike company based in khaosan road Bangkok.
The trip started at 9.00am with a pick up at khaosan road. The heat smog and traffic of Bangkok can be a little off putting for anyone who is a cyclist but the trip organizers drive you further and further away from the hustle and bustle and as you look out of the car window you gradually see peaceful side of Thailand and its cycling potential. After a 2 hour journey we arrived at kanchanburi railway station with and old engine out and we could immediately began to see towns history. The tour guides off loaded the bikes from the van and armed with a bottle of water, a bicycle and a guide we headed out into the heat on the first leg of our trip. The first thing we noticed was the clean air which made the cycling easy and relaxing and after a few days in Bangkok it was like stepping out into anther world. We first rode through a short part of the town which is quite lively and littered with guest houses and restaurants. Bicycles and motorcycles seem to be the main source of transport for most of the locals who when they see you give a friendly smile an say "sawadee krup" which means hello in Thai.
After about a half a kilometer of riding through the busyish town we turned off left and almost instantly the busy scenery disappeared and we were on the quiet back roads. We rode over rivers and railway tracks and saw local Thai houses, people and plantations, the steady riding pace and frequent stops gave us some great photo opportunities as well.
Finally after a steep climb up a short road we arrived at a place called Kao Poon cave and temple. This cave isn't just a small cave like you usually see it's actually quite big and full of interesting Buddha statues, bats, stalagmites, stalactites and even some monks. The cool air inside the cave also made the 15 minutes we were in there very refreshing.
After the cave the guide took us to take some pictures of a breath taking view of the river Kwai. Then through the market and along the railway tracks to the Chung Kai cutting which was cut by hand by POWs during the Second World War. It's only when you get up close to the cutting that you realize what hard work it must have been to do something like this on such a big scale. Next we followed the guide along some country back roads heading for the river Kwai Bridge. When we first got to the bridge the first thing we noticed before we came around the corner was a strong smell. But the instant we got there we knew where it was coming from, an elephant. Huge elephants live near the bridge next to a souvenir market which sells Burmese's jewelry and accessories.
It was now time to cross the famous river Kwai Bridge, high up above the water walking along the train tracks with gaps on each side this isn't for someone whose scared of heights although its quite safe if your careful and if a train comes there's plenty of time to get out of the way and wait safely on one of the waiting areas.
After crossing the bridge we settled down in a floating restaurant under bridge for some delicious Thai food and then set off on the bikes. We rode back through the town and to the death railway museum which is full artifacts, models and stories from the Thai Burmer railway during ww2. After a quick cup of tea at the museum it was a short ride back to the car and we headed off to the famous Wang Pho Viaduct.
It took us just 45 minutes to get there and the short drive is well worth it, this place is picturesque and the size of the Viaduct is fascinating. It gave us a great opportunity for some photos especially when the train came past. It was now time to head home after along day. I would recommend this trip to anyone who wants to see most of popular places in kanchanaburi but by different means, bicycle. The guide (Pakkard) was excellent and did everything she could for us. We finished the day feeling good and happy to have done the trip.
Good companies to do this trip with are http://www.mountainbiketoursthailand.com or http://www.mthilltours.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Austin_Morgan
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