Thailand

OK so this is my 3rd attempt to try to send a note. The last 2 days we spent at a beautiful resort in the jungle on the River Kwai- same one as the movie. I wrote 2 long descriptions of our really interesting days spent seeing the famous bridge and learning of the horros and atrocities perpetrated on the POWs by the Japanese. Tonight we are in Phitsanalok which is in the rice area. Much of today was spent riding on the bus stopping to see interesting things such as the Wat which was filled with columns of mirrors, including the floors and ceiling. Vegas has nothing on this place. The body of the abbot lays in state in a glass and gold case apparently not decomposing. A gold buddha is at the other end next to a skeleton. Cruising down a river on a rise barge we had lunch ,made with ingredients which we had to buy for ourselves in the local market using our limited Thai skills. Every meal consists of rice and meat and fruit and veggies stirred in. It is getting a little old to be honest. However it is good if a bit too spicy for me at times. Bert had to find a dentist this evening to replace a crown which had come off. That was a minor adventure but we found a dental clinic here in the city and they charged 300 baht- about 9 dollars to fix it.

The jungle surrounding the hotel that we stayed at on the Kwai River was another highlight. As night fell the sounds increased, gibbons, birds and some sort of insect made such a cacophony. It was great to just sit out on the room balcony and listen. The hills in the distance lit up with heat lightning and there was literally no evidence of anything manmade for miles. The river flowed right past the hotel. We had an hour long longboat ride from Hellfire pass- site of the infamous Thai Burma railroad - down river for 30 miles/ we passed huge bats, a 5 foot long monitor lizard sunning himself, beautifully colored birds and every kind of tree. There were a few areas where people live in floating shacks right on the water but for the most part it is totally unspoiled. This part of Thailand is quite beautiful- a marked contrast to Bangkok. Water buffalo stand in the rice paddies next to storks. Markets are set up everywhere selling every kind of food and trinkets. The people all smile and wave. Sawatdee-cha is the greeting. You fold your hands together as you say it.
I hope all is well at home. I miss you all and wish you were here to share this fabulous experience.