Small Vacation from Bangkok

My favorite point of the trip was the Thai massage at the resort that we stayed at. Plus after spending three weeks sleeping on a couch in the apartment in Bangkok, I got a room to myself. Many students were ordering drinks by the pool and working on their tan. Besides the resort, we saw the historical Bridge, took a long boat tour, met many mini-monks, and spent one day hiking up to the waterfalls.

Quick Tips:

If you have the time, stop by and see the beauty of the place.

Best Way To Get Around:

Our group had to hire a tour bus because we had so many people. We traveled from Bangkok and it didn't take that long. I know that there is a bus that takes you to the town, I believe that I heard that the train isn't as frequent and a little farther from the town. When you go to the Bridge over the River Kwai, I would suggest you go on a long boat tour. Well worth the money to see the floating restaurants, the small islands around the area, and to do some hiking.

We didn't expect to be staying at such a nice resort but I guess that the school got a good deal on a group rate. All our rooms were around the pool area which was nice. If you wanted a better view you could get a room over looking the river or even get a Raftel, which is a floating room. All the rooms came with a/c, two beds, a bathroom with shower and western hotel, and even flip-flops to wear. Plus, they had a little mini-bar that was expensive but in most Thai hotels you get one or two free bottles of water. (But only the water is free, don't take the bottle or they will charge you.)

The pool was very nice and open until wee hours of the evening. They had a bar close to the pool and then a restaurant inside the lobby area. When we arrived they had some red fruit punch waiting for us and we were greeted by a giant bird. The bird was very funny, he would hop everywhere and leave little trails of poop all over the lobby. Be careful, he is particilar about who he likes and will snap at you if you scare him.

Now back to the facilities, they have a nice pool, a jungle view restaurant (although their food isn't the best), a traditional Mon dance performance, and a new jungle water park. The grounds are beautiful to walk through. One morning I took a nice walk around, I had a couple of kids that befriended me and took me on a tour.

We booked their excursion on the river raft to ride the elephants. They took us in several groups as four people to a raft were guided down the river. I felt bad for the little man driving our raft as it sort of had some weight to carry. My friend Liz, stepped up to the plate and tried to guide us. We had mini races down the river until we came to the spot to ride the elephants. Broken up into two groups, each elephant carried two people. Liz and I were the leaders of the pack with our elephant. Through the jungle we manuevered, although these large animals do have a mind of their own and when they see a yummy branch nothing is going to stop them from having a mid-day snack. Our elephant was sixteen years old and she was very stubborn. For a couple more baht, we purchased some bananas for our elephant and thanked her for a job well done.

I haven't gotten to the best part of the resort -- that would be the Thai massage. In a small peaceful room, you change into white pj's and close your eyes as your muscles are worked. I had a massage at Wat Po in Bangkok and that was nice. A massage at this resort was WONDERFUL. Make an appointment in the morning and don't miss out.

It is a pretty good hike up to see the seven levels of falls through the park. If you just want to float and dip in the water then you can stay on the lower levels or if you are in for a hike and a beautiful view then head up to the top. I was surprised at the amount of people and most of them were locals. Many people bring their children and spend the afternoon swimming. The trails weave in and out of the many creeks, pools, and smaller falls alongside the water. You can stop at many place if you want to swim in a more private area.

Wear good shoes, your bathing suit, and some good insect repelent. I hiked all the way up the top and was very tired but knew it was well worth it for the view. Plus, when I got hot I would take a break and hop in the water. Speaking for water, the park is very good about trying to stop littering so they will not allow you to bring water bottles as you hike. If you really need the water then I would suggest that you hide it in your backpack before you start the climb up the footpath.

*If you are a student bring your id because you will get a discount into the park. The prices have gone up and it is worth the savings.*