Kanchanaburi Local Customs

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This War Cemetery is also known as the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. It is located opposite Kanchanaburi's Railway Station on Saengchootoe Road. It contains the remains of 6,982 Australian, Dutch and British war prisoners who lost their lives during the construction of the Death Railway.

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Song Kran Festival actually runs longer in Kanchanaburi than in other parts of Thailand. We arrived thinking that we had finally escaped being constanly drenched only to find out that it runs for 2 extra days with the final day being the biggest and the longest.

Unlike other cities, Kanchanaburi's Song Kran is pretty much confined to a couple of streets with the main street getting shut down on the last day from 10am through to midnight. The other days the water throwing only starts at midday and lasts until 6pm.

On the final day I decided to join in the fun so I became the only westerner in a bar filled with Thai people all getting into the water throwing with gusto. I was bought beers and food by the locals and was given my own water bucket to throw at passing cars. They all thought it was great that a westerner has joining them. The music was blaring, people were dancing, everyone had water and clay and it was basically the best fun of the holiday!!

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We happened to chance upon this ceremony in Kanchanaburi, which can only be described as a monk induction - the families were arriving with their sons, and they new young monks-to-be were having their heads shaved for the first time - and dressing in the saffron robes of the brotherhood.

Aware of the reverence with which religion and its rituals are regarded, we kept a discrete distance, and snapped a few equally discrete pics!

I was constanly impressed by the complete absence of graffiti in Thailand - this cactus at kanchanaburi was the only example of graffiti I saw during my first holiday there! And, it is clealry done by tourists - obviously needing a fix! This was near the restaurant we ate lunch at, along the River Kwai. It has little engravings and writings all over it!

...........................or are they best avoided?
The best place is along the main guest house road leading to the bridge, here they will gather at the local bars like "Bernes" and "No name bar" to drink, play pool etc..but it's easy to avoid all westerner's by going to the numerous Thai establishments. In other words : Kanch is big enough to be enjoyed by all without stepping on anyone's toes.

These 3 guys were so fun to watch as they all were trying to get on the bike and ride away but the bike was too big for them. It took them several tries to get up to speed without just falling over. If you learn a few fun phrases of Thai it will make experiences like this very special!!

There are alot of dogs roaming around. Just stay away when some of them will go on your way..as there are reports about those stray dogs that killed alot of young kids..But, it's not that big deal..give them a food then they'll go away!

Ah, okey...I think, most of those who have gone here knows about the life of the people that leaves along the river...Look at those small houses near the river..One local told me that most of the thai loves to live along the river..I think this tip is also in my Ayuthaya page..wherever you maybe around Thailand, you can see rivers..and the houses along the river..I even saw Karaoke Bars in the river..They're very happy to shout at us! Oh..Thai people..very friendly they are!