Just another summary what we have been doing the past days. Basically we are again in Kanchanaburi and have been up north to Sangklaburi for two nights. We went there for an elephant trip. The girls really had been looking forward to that trip. They have been talking about it since they knew we were going to ride elephants. On our way we had a small stop at a hot water spring. That was real nice. There also where Thai woman who really adore Silke and Fardau. This time Fardau was the lucky one to be pampered by a Thai women, usually it is Silke. I think Silke is getting sick and tired of it and she starts doing the same to the Thai what they do to her, it is funny to see that happening. At the hot springs someone turned on the shower, the rain season started, two days earlier than we had anticipated. We had a bit of luck sine the rain season just starts whit a few small showers but after one day it hits off and it doesn't stop pouring until ....

They trip to the elephants went in a long tail boat with a huge engine making a lot of noise. The one we were in stopped on the middle of the lake, the boat driver had pushed his long tail too deep in the water and it had some dirt on it. After removing it we continued for about a minute and then we stopped again. Solving this problem took hammering, dismantling and what not. But this time the boat didn't stop after one minute. We visited and under water temple and then went up to the river, upstream. And then the engine stopped again ... PANIC ... we game close to the banks ... I grappled some roots (no snake) ... the driver pulled the boat all the way to the banks and thigh us firmly. We were 'save'. After 5 or 10 minutes the cavalry arrived and we hopped over to the other boat. This is how we finally reached the starting point of the elephant trip. Folkert I and Fardau sat on one elephant and Susan, Jesse and Silke on another. It was a bit scary when we crossed the river, first of all the step down made us bent forward and felt like almost gliding off. In the water the elephant was leaning into the stream and we on top of him where leaning with him. I was pretty sure the elephant was stronger than the water, but Folkert on the other hand wasn't so sure. Half way the ride it started raining again and it did not stop. At the end of the trip we were at the bank of the river again. There where bamboo boats waiting for us. We made sure it was save for Silke and Fardau to join the trip. Just in case they got scary they could sit in the long tail boat that went with us. Now Silke, me and Folkert on one boat, Silke is a hand full and Susan had her share during the elephant trip. The boat-driver knew what he was doing and kept us constantly away from the more rough parts so we easily floated back to where we started the elephant trip. Silke wanted to stand up as well and at an easy part I held her arms and she felt how hard it was and sat down again. At the end she and also Folkert where happy to feel land under their feet.

The next day we drove back to kanchanaburi and stopped at the hellfire pass museum. This is a museum about the railroad construction from Bangkok to Burma through the Thai mountains. This railroad built during WW II, was 415 Km long and built in 20 months with the labour of 200,000 Asian workers and POW, less that 50% of the workers that started survived. One of the difficult passes was the hellfire pass, which was cutting through a mountain practically by hand. The Japanese needed the railroad in order to supply their troops in Burma, as the supply via the sea was not completely in their hands. They used the railroad a lot and finally had to use it to flee out of Burma.

In Kanchanaburi we decided to go the barber and get a haircut. First we went into a drag queens owned shop but finally ended up in a local barber shop. One for man only and one for woman only. Not only can you get a haircut you can also get your ear hairs pealed out and wax your face. Just a simple haircut was one dollar (35 Bath). At the resort Susan and the boys took another massage and I tried to get the girls asleep.

The blue team is on the move on Monday leaving Thailand to go to Malaysia. The first five days at a tropical island with nothing to do, we need a few days relaxing after the first week in Thailand. This traveling around helped us with getting our organization up and running. It takes us about 30 minutes to get packed and be ready to move. It helps that we (read Susan) have well organized where to put what. It helps when you are looking for socks and it also helps with packing. During flight days the six of use wear a blue shirt.

Greetings Jan