DAY 3

Reasonable night sleep but still waking up about 5 each morning which is way too early. When I went out to breakfast I saw that it had been raining overnight but didnt hear it at all.  Was a bit humid but by the time we had finished breakfast and on the coach at 8, not too bad at all. First stop was to a railway stop which is very popular marking a key section of the Thailand Burma railway that crosses the River Kwai at Kanchanaburi. Our timing was so good that we even got to see the Orient Express train which had travelled up from Bangkok.  It was full of rich Americans and English apparently. Once that train moved on we got a chance to walk a section of the actual bridge.  I felt like Alec Guinness and if I could have whistled better I would have done. So I simply started it off and then the rest of my kittens joined in.  You know the tune, the one made famous in the film, Bridge over the River kwai.  I have no idea of the name of the tune other than knowing some of the words that are not very flattering to Adolf Hitler. Whistling or humming loudly takes away the need to remember the words.
Back on the coach and then we head to the Allied War Cemetery which is superbly maintained by the locals.  Not a weed in sight and the grass maincured to an inch of its existence.  Very emotional experience once again, then we walked across the road to the Death Rail memorial museum which was equally as humbling and sad. Back on the coach and then we head to the local railway station where we once again see the Orient Express train and even had to walk through it to get to the other train track where our local train was which took us on an almost 2 hour ride through the countryside, shadowing where much of the original track would have been.  When we got to one of the spots where sheer cliff face had been cut away high alongside the River Kwai, the train actually slows right down for photos.  Just breath taking and all those other mixed emotions swirling around at the sheer feat of human endurance required to build that track.
At Wang Pho we get off the train and a very short walk down the street to our luncheon stop where we are once again treated to a fabulous buffet where they had the absolute best banana fritter EVER!!! They were so good, I had 4 of them!!!
Waddled back on the coach and then headed our jouney back to our hotel but with one stop at a lovely local waterfall at Saiyoke. There were kids everywhere splashing about in the waters which were grey from all the silt they had stirred up, but each child was having a ball and it was good to be amongst so many locals all having a great time.  Back on the coach and then back to our hotel about 3.30.  I had hoped to be able to book in for a massage at the local spa but they were booked out so I took myself down to the pool and had a very refreshing dip instead.  The pool area is huge and lots of little islands in it with lush vegetation.  the water was simply perfect. There were only two other kittens in the pool so dont know what the rest of my little herd were up to. Hopefully they were resting up for this evening as we are heading out to an unknown destination for dinner.  All are agreed that so far the holiday just keeps getting better and better so I am really chuffed that it is all going so well.  Frugal continues to be a bit bothersome as she is so damn serious all the time and when someone tells a little anecdote she counters with facts and figures.  She is clearly very well read and astute re history and politics, but on holiday, that is as useful as taking condoms to a convention for nuns... No one wants to know about them.  I've also told her that she has to stop hogging the front seat of the coach which she has done every day so far.  None of the others have spoken up about it and wont ask her to move but I have no such inhibitions or reservations... well, there's a surprise... NOT...
So I have time now after my swim to start today's blog and as it also happens to be scotch o'clock I'm imbibing in a wee tipple at the same time.
Now back from dinner which was a delicious Thai banquet at a fabulous floating restaurant right alongside the bridge over the River Kwai.  Exceptional.  We had quite a few laughs between us too over lots of silly little things, so that tells me how well the kittens are getting along being very comfortable with each other.  Even my kitten who was grumpy pre-tour about getting the dates wrong was having a good laugh and even had us laughing at a couple of things she came out with. a fun ending to another great day. It had been raining steadily by early evening but stopped entirely by the time we had dinner.  it has cooled things down beautifully and hopefully means we are in for another fine day tomorrow.  We have about 500 km to cover tomorrow so will be a long touring day.  Bags out by 6 so time for me to sign off for now.  Sleep beckons.