2 Day Trip to Kanchanaburi

Sue: We had cabin fever after staying in Bangkok unexpectantly for soooo long, so decided to book an overnight trip to Kanchanaburi which is a 2 hour drive north of Bangkok.

The first stop was a memorial garden for the many soldiers who died in World War 2 on the River Kwai, most were British, although some American, Australians and Danish too.
It was a beautiful garden with rows upon rows of plaques in the grass with Soldiers names, regiments and loving words from their families. They were mostly aged mid 20-30's and we noticed a lot of men were from the Manchester Regiment.

We then went to the Bridge on the River Kwai, it was amazing to stand there and think of all the Prisoner of Wars building it and how they must have suffered at that time.

In the evening we stayed overnight in an Elephant Camp and we slept in tin huts by the River Kwai. It was basically bamboo floating on the water and you could see the river through the floorboards! We didnt sleep that well as there were so many noises from the wildlife!

Next morning we visited a museum all about the River Kwai and walked down Hellfire Pass to see where the soldiers were instructed to make a clearing of the rock so they could build a railway track between Thailand and Burma for supplies. They had hammers and chisels and some explosives to do this. Thousands of men died there due to being overworked, underfed, malnutrition and disease.
They even took people from hospital to work on the site when they needed extra manpower to complete it within 18 months, when engineers had said it would take over 4 years to build.

After that we then did some Elephant Trekking which was fantastic! Our elephant was called Sandy and was 20 years old and our driver was 12 year old Uo. His father had bought him the elephant and he takes him home at night and Sandy sleeps under a tree!
Very gentle creature, at first it was a little unnerving when we were sat so high on him, but we soon relaxed and we had a trip into the Jungle! We each took turns moving from the seat on top to sit on Sandy's neck, which I wasnt sure about but Ou said it didnt bother him.

On return to camp we gave him a big reward of a bunch of bananas which he wolfed down. Probably needed all them for some more energy after carrying us!
He then did some tricks for us such as playing a mouth organ with his trunk and standing on 2 feet! Amazing!!

Later in the afternoon we went Bamboo rafting, not quite as exciting as we thought. We were led to believe it would be like white water rafting on individual rafts, but it was more like a floating bamboo sheet steered by a driver.....very sedate....both Gav & I volunteered to steer for a while and of course we headed for the sand banks not downstream!!

It was a brilliant two days away from the dirt and chaos of Bangkok and we are now keen to head for Cambodia

HOT OFF THE PRESS-TOMORROWS ROCHDALE OBSERVER

Published: 22nd September 2006
A military coup can’t spoil fun
THE first thing Gav Munro and his girlfriend did when they jetted off on a holiday of a lifetime was set up a blog to let friends and family know where they were.
On Wednesday Gav penned the following message: "So it’s week six and everything is fantastic. A few little things aren’t fantastic though...
"Like running out of suntan lotion, the odd cockroach – oh and being a couple of streets away from a military coup in Bangkok!"

Gav and Sue Holt, both 33 and from Rochdale, had taken six weeks off work to go backpacking around the world, starting in South East Asia. They arrived in the Thai capital Bangkok a few days ago and found a hostel in a favourite area for travellers as it has lots of cheap accommodation and food stands.
In his blog, Gav said: "Last night we heard a bit of a ‘commotion’, a good word I think, but put it down to fellow backpackers.
"Then a friend alerted us by text and we put the news on and there it was. We were in the middle of a miltary coup.
"We were supposed to be going up to Chiang Mai in the next few days to do some trekking, but that doesn’t look likely now – these Thai military coup organisers are really unthoughtful aren’t they?
"But we’re safe and that’s all that matters."
In a second blog, posted yesterday (Fri) as the Observer went to press, Gav wrote: "We’re still in Bangkok but thinking of leaving in the next few days to go west to Kanchanburi, which has no historical relevance, but it was where they shot all the outside film for Bridge on the River Kwai.
"Today in Bangkok we went to the King’s palace which is currently being guarded by about 10 tanks. But we got some good tourist photographs. The funny thing was it was the most polite coup in military history. The guards all have roses in their guns, they smile for pictures and when it was all over the army played a loop on TV channels apologising for any upset caused."
Earlier the couple had visited Phuket which was badly damaged in last year’s tsunami.
Sue said: "They are still rebuilding homes and it really hit home to us how much devastation was caused. They have built a memorial garden by the beach with plaques from families who lost loved ones. Now it’s a very peaceful and tranquil place to visit."
Gav and Sue plan to go on to China next month.
Dave Appleton
First published by the Rochdale Observer

JUST FOR THE RECORD!!

Sue: Hi Guys
You probably wondered where I have been?? Now gotta beat my very own Gordon Burns to the Blog! Ha Ha! Its been good fun being famous for a day at least! Shame we are on the other side of the world as I would have milked it for as long as possible!!

Just for the record I am not 33!!! Gav reckons he said it so not as to cause any confusion to the journalist.....eh??? I dont think he wanted to admit his very old age alone if you ask me!

Also we are not trapped in a hostel, the wonderful press and their sense of making a gritty story!! Gotta love em!

Keep blogging, its great to hear from you all........if not we may not speak to you with us being so famous now!!

HOT OFF THE PRESS-TH'OWDUM CHRON

Couple caught up in Thailand coup Oldham Evening Chronicle - Friday, 22 September, 2006

Couple caught up in Thailand coup
A CHADDERTON couple are watching history unfold after becoming caught up in Thailand’s bloodless military coup.
Gavin Munro and Suzie Holt, of Broadway — who are six weeks into a six-month round-the-world holiday — initially thought fellow travellers were getting rowdy after hearing the noise in Bangkok from a backpackers’ hostel on Koh Sahn Road.They were shocked to see tanks and soldiers in the streets as the coup’s leader Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin moved his men in to oust absent prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The couple are now trapped in their hostel but say there has been no violence or panic so far.Gavin (33) said: “Soldiers with automatic rifles were slowing down cars and observing their contents through the window. Some roadblocks had big machine guns on tripods.“The locals are calling it a revolution, the officials a coup. The Thais are some of the friendliest people I’ve met and they’re all in favour of what happened, although are a little reluctant to talk about it.“Some seem a bit wary that if Thaksin comes back there may be trouble, but as yet there is no sign of any civil unrest. The only problem so far has been the conflicting advice that we get from the FCO and the Thai embassies in UK and Thai, which is a bit frustrating so we’re stuck here until we know it’s okay to move.”The coup, following months of growing tension after a controversial election, has been condemned internationally but welcomed by many Thais.Gavin says the Thai people have been impeccably polite with revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej apologising to tourists for the inconvenience. “That’s the thing with the land of smiles . . . even the military takeovers are done politely!” he joked.Gavin is a technical troubleshooter who has played in bands around Oldham for 15 years, including Lovechild and State of Confusion, while Suzie (33) is a recruitment consultant. Sue said 'Since the military coup I have had nowhere to plug my straighteners into' and Gavin remarked that he wished he had breathed in on the above picture and would like to reassure Chron readers that at the time the photo was taken, he had indeed ate 'All the pies'.

HOT OFF THE PRESS - POSTING FROM SUNNY MANCHESTER TO THE TRAVELLERS !

Thought we'd suprise you both with a surprise entry onto your blog.... Yes you were quite right you made it into print in todays Manny Evenin News, not front page but that would have required a government health warning informing people to beware of travellers with their heads on backwards ! ( Gav, should that backpack not be on your back ? or are you trying to get a feel for what it's like to be pregnant ?)

Hope you like the piccies , keep safe , have fun , love Lee n Caz.

Can anyone see a former PM anywhere?!!!?!!

Gav:We're still in Bangkok but thinking of leaving in the next few days to 'Go west' to Kanchanburi, which has no historical relevance but it was where they shot all the outside film for 'Bridge Over the River Kwai!!!!!!'
Then we're going to head East to Cambodia and Vietnam by dodgy train then to luxury of Hangzhou in China.
Only kidding, I'm gonna practice my best Alec Guiness impression and Sue is going to be the tortuous Thai general (typecast there then). We're gonna try some elephant trekking as well and should be a laugh. Here's some more photo's from today, we went to the Kings palace which is currently being guarded with about 10 tanks, got some good touristy pictures which we'll post soon.
Got shafted by a tuck tuck driver again!!!! had to threaten him with the tourist police!! Will blog more soon.Keep posting people, we need words of encouragement whilst we are in the midst of an incredibly dangerous bloody coup! No it's dead safe. The funny thing is, it was the most polite military coup in history. The guards all have roses in there guns, they smile for pictures and...............when it was all over the army played a loop on all the tv channels apologising for any upset caused!This is the land of smiles!
PS. Get that dodgy Thanksin back on a plane to face the music!!!!!!!!
GET THE M.E.N. TONIGHT PEOPLE!

Some piccies from yesterday

20/09/2006Gav: '..we've just been for a nosey around town to see what all the fuss is about. Most of the major roads have got armed military road blocks set up on them. We went to the government building where there were quite a lot of soldiers, most of them enjoying the attention of getting there photos taken! Most of the worlds press are camped outside of the government building.
21/09/2006 Gav: The word on the street now is that the military are going to seize control until they organise proper democratic elections (maybe another 12
months), but there is concern that there may be trouble when and if the former PM comes back-so we're going to get out soon and make our way to Cambodia, a military dictatorship-(God I love these oppressive regimes!) and then through to Vietnam and eventually arriving at my brothers in China for around the 10th of next month. Gotta go and get more pics!!!!!

We're in Bangkok! The country is in a 'State of Emergency' but.....We're Safe!

Gav: so it's week six I think and everythings FANTASTIC, a few little things aren't so fantastic though. Like running out of sun tan lotion.....the odd cockroach....oh and being a couple of streets away from a military coup in Bangkok. We're staying in the Kho Sahn Road area in a hostel. We heard a bit of 'commotion' (good word) earlier on in the night but put it down to fellow backpackers, Phil alerted us by text and we put the news on and there it was! So all we know at the mo is what we're seeing on bbc online news, where we've been told to stay put. We were supposed to be going up to Chiang Mai in the next few days to do some trekking but that don't look likely now (these Thai military coup organisers are really unthoughful aren't they?). So again we're Safe and well and we'll be keeping you all posted on whats happening. Don't worry!!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/5361516.stm

NB the arch on picture three is a couple of hundred yards away from us and I can see it from the roof where I am now!

PS I am now going back to our room to try to learn that great Macca song 'Pipes of Peace' so then in the morning I can go to the government building with my guitar and try and bring some resolution to this situation...........(altogether now) 'Play the pipes of peace.....play the pipes of peeeeeeaaaaaccccccee'

GAVs FIRST GIG........well sort of!

Gav: Just about to leave Phi Phi, which is.....sorry for

keep repeating this........beautiful. Our last night in Phuket Town was amazing. Our new best Thai mates let me do a mini gig at their bar. It was funny cos I didn't know the chords to some of the songs they were requesting, but we got by, and unfortunately had to forsake my usual impeccable taste for something more audience friendly (The Scorpions-'Wind of Change!!!Probably the worst bit of Euro Rock available in the East. Musos please forgive me!- I did draw the line at Hero by Enrique ok?) But it was a top laugh and we all had a good sing song. I had been messing about trying to write a song in Thai, but it was a tricky so I just put the only Thai words I know to the melody of Hey Jude to see if I could raise a giggle and it worked, from memory it went:

'Kor Toht?-Sawadi Khrap-

Sai Bai Dai Mai- pom Farang,

Pom Jonn- Tao Rai?-

Toa Rai Kai Mai Dai wai khrap?- Pom Bai.............'

(yada yada yada!) but translated it went (sing in head to the tune of 'Hey Jude' please-ok after three...)

'Excuse Me-Hello to you'

'How are you now?- I'm foreign- a poor foreigner'

' How much? Is that the lowest price?'

' I love it here- Can I have it much cheaper?'

What do you think? No? Well it had them rolling about here I'll tell you. I might work on this idea of being Thailands version of Richard Digence?Who knows!!!!

Anyhow the night was tremendous with everyone getting up singing and dancing until we were falling asleep. In typical Thai tradition the bar owner was that tired he was almost horizontal, but he didn't say anything and even gave us a lift back to our hostel in his jeep don't worry mum, he wasn't drinking on religious grounds so he was ok! We're being treated unbelievably well by the Thais and we're going to miss the islands. Anyhow, gotta go folks, get posting people!

Gav

PS: Mum: You'll now be pleased to know that I'm now not drinking-on religious grounds...............but when I'm not in a temple, I'm getting bladdered!

PPS Musos I did do 'Hit me Baby One more time'................. Forgive me?!'

Koh Phi Phi or Pee Pee!

Sue: We arrived here yesterday, a small island near Phuket. again it has lovely beaches and really friendly and smiley locals!

On the flip side there are still reminders about the Tsunami Disaster as they were hit very badly here, they are still rebuilding homes and accomodation on the island and it really hit home to us the devastion that it had caused and how the people survived when they had lost everything.
They have built a memorial garden by the beach with plaques from families who have lost their loved ones and they have made it a very peaceful and tranquil place to visit.

On the bright side of things we have just been on a boat trip today which was fantastic!
There were 7 stops around the island where we did kayaking, snorkelling and visited Monkey Island where they were swinging from the trees above us!
The snorkelling was the best ever, the fish came right up to our masks and we saw many types of fish, all brilliant colours, shapes and sizes!
The locals say this island is in the Top 10 places for diving as you are guaranteed to see some amazing stuff, they even have a ship wreck for you to explore!
This text colour was indeed the true colour of the sea today...just so you can imagine being here!!

MOre Phuket pics

Gav: We arrived in Phuket a couple of Days ago and are staying Phuket Town with the locals! We found a great backpackers place to stay which costs next to nothing and doesn't have cockroaches (only the odd lizard!). We're hanging out at a local cafe which is a bit of a retreat for local Thai musicians, which is great!!!! The owner took us around the island yesterday and showed us all the beaches on the west coast which were breathtaking. The colours of everything are tremendous. The sun set's about 6.30 so we saw the whole process from about 4 different places. We went to Patong beach which was hit pretty badly in the Tsunami (20-30 metres high the guide told us) and it's strange to see the dramatic warning signs on the serene beaches, it kind of reminds you of the whole thing. Pretty moving stuff! We were also taking to a food market last night after the tour, which was a totally Thai event! Two big stalls surrounded by tables and chairs and you picked all the food you wanted raw and then the waiter brought you a fondu thing for the table and then it's cooked in front of you (yes Mum-I can cook!!!). The food was ace and it was all you could eat for 89 baht (1 british pound and twenty uk pence). so we stuffed our faces and then walked home to get a bit of exercise. Moving on soon to Phi Phi Island and then back on the mainland to Krabi and up to Bangkok. we'll keep you posted.
PS. Don , you only beat me at pool cos I couldn't hold the cue straight for laughing!Looking into getting a flight from you to BKK? any ideas ?

We would like to introduce ....Miss Yoko MeeLovulontam

OK HERE SHE IS ......OUR NEW FRIEND MISSSS YOKO LOVYOOLONTAM

Gav: 'Greetings all, hope you are well. Just to let you know that we're having a great time here in Chewang on Koh Samui, there are so many great restaurants and clubs it's impossible to choose. But last night we ventured away from the centre to meet some of real Thai natives. We stumbled across a cabaret bar with lots of girls done up to the hilt so we decided to go in. Then we watched them perform some great songs by ABBA, Shirley Bassey and musical numbers too. They were very friendly. One of the girls even came up to us after the show to sit with us and she asked us if we enjoyed it. She was very pretty. She was called Yoko. We're very friendly with Yoko now and she with us, she's even asked us if she can come back to England with us. What Joy! But she has no passport so she want's us to say she's our mum. Anyway we see a lot of her now , she's always around at our apartment. Today she even came to the beach with us. We like Yoko. She's got a great figure for a girl even though she has quite large hands. She doesn't pay for many drinks on the beach, Sue said it's because she has no money, but I think she's cheeky because I'm sure I saw a wallet tucked down the front of her Bikini shorts today!

OK, OK heres the deal, these ladyboys show's are as camp as christmas but a good laugh, but it was strange to see that their were western men going in on there own, then they sit down to watch the show and a chick-chap from the bar sits down next to them, it's really funny because the LB will order them both drinks with the view to geting him drunk and then at the end the bill is horrendous! Thank the lord for Suzie! There's no way I'd have gone in one of these places on my own. The toilet in the bar doubled up as their changing room and when I could wait no longer I walked in like Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver! But all was well and was the quickest visit to the little boys room I have ever made!

Koh Samui is fantastic, some people say it's like Blackpool, but EVERYONE loves Blackpool!!!!It's cheap if you know where to look ( we got Chicken and rice at a food market on the outskirts for 60p!), there are dodgy copies of everything from DVD to clothes (yes Frank I'll try and bring you a dodgy England Chav cap back!). The people are great, mostly from peasant families from the mainland and here to make some money to send home. I'm reading a book on Buddism at the mo, seeing as 98% of Thais are Buddists, and it's interesting to see how they think, they're really peaceful and calm and hate aggression of any kind, I'm learning to complain with a smile and it's great cos they smile back, it's like Gav: (chuckling) 'This food is too expensive, tastes like rabbit droppings and is colder than an ice cube!' Waiter:(laughing) 'Well you go somewhere else you lunatic!.......ITS AMAZING!!!! My bro was telling us that this place has become over comercialised in the last few years, so we think it's now time to leave The Blackpool of Thailand for the mainland, calling at Phuket (for a couple of days) then back to Bangkok to sort out visas for Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam and possibly Laos, so will post more soon!

Mum and Dad: I can't believe you posted a blog on here, the oldies are catching up with this technology thing! Missing you bothx
Donster: Great to see you my friend and brother, Can't wait to get to China and whoop yo ass at Triv. Oh by the way everyone 'DON GOT BEAT AT POOL BY A THAI GIRL.....WHO WAS 4 FOOT 3!!!!!!'
Fi: Hope Minorca was good, did you do any forward rolls on the beach-to get a space for your towel?!!!!Give kids a big hug and throw them in the air from me!!!(don't forget to catch them!!!!!hey....boom boom, thankyouverymuch!)
Phil and Doreen: 'Hope you're well, thanks for sorting out the car, I owe you a barrel of John Smiths!'
Chev: 'Your advice and help has been legendary. Cheers mate (will try and bring you a ladyboy back-'you've got big flapping hands')
Lee and Caz: 'A million thanks for this blog thing!!! It's amazing!!!!! Thanks for the piccies of Beatlesweek they were ace, my replacement had neither my looks, playing ability or modesty........I shall return and conquer!!!!We're missing you guys! I hope Lee's doing a good job of the tiling!'
RICK: 'what did you think of the guitarist girl, balancing trick? I think Jonesy should learn it.'
TONY: ' I think we could get some gig's here- I'm trying to sort some out at the moment, we'd have to be a Peters and Lee tribute act, so I've bought the sunglasses and booked you in for the operation in Bangkok, hope this is ok?

EVERYONE ELSE: KEEP POSTINGGotta go,
LOVE ALL THE PEOPLE(except the ladyboys)!!!!!

7th September....Last Day in Samui

Sue: We have recently said goodbye to Don (Gavs Brother) and his close friend Alex who came over to see us for a few days. They really did make a good couple!!!! We had a fantastic laugh with them and was sad to see them go but will be meeting Don again in China in a few weeks! Also hoping to meet up with Alex soon too!

We had lots of drunken nights which inevitably ended in the Lucky Lucky Girl Bars! I was seriously outnumbered!
At different times I was married to all them when they needed to be rescued! These girls shout from the bar to attract you in, Great for us beakies to just people watch. All the old guys with comb overs being chatted up by the stunning thai 20 year olds! Funny Funny!

They also encouraged you to play pool with them, which at first the boys were very keen to do....until they realised these girls play every day and are wicked players and beat them hands down every time! Of course they kept trying as they didnt want to be beaten by a woman!

We also managed with the hangovers to hire some bikes and a jeep to drive around the island to see some of the tourist attractions.

We saw a mummified monk who had been stored in a glass cabinet in a meditation position in which he died in over 20 years ago, he was there dressed in his orange robe and Raybans on!
Also went to a crocodile and snake farm.....the guy was putting his head in their mouths! Great to watch, proper Steve Irwin style (sad news about him)

Then we went to the snake farm and put a great big one around our necks!
Saw a few monkeys too, wasnt sure when I looked at Gav if I had brought one home by mistake!

Off to Phuket next for a couple of days, wanting to see where the Tsunami hit at its worst and how they have recovered from this and then we will head up North to Bangkok.