Photos still to come. I have the MAP page working a little bit. Arrived in Sangkhlaburi last night. I’m starting to get the sensation of being very far away–this is the end of the road, the last town on a highway before the border crossing into Burma. It actually seems more Burmese than Thai, and there are Karen and Mon villagers all around. The location is beautiful, though there’s nothing to the town–a tiny central intersection with a few shops and an open-air market. English is hardly spoken. On the way to the Internet cafe here, I stopped for lunch at the market. The women working there were wearing the traditional Burmese face paint–a ghostly, pale yellow coloring–and the longyi traditional skirt. I ordered by pointing at what someone else was eating, which I couldn’t even see. It turned out to be a Chinese-style noodle soup with pork and fish balls. As I was eating it, I thought to myself: “This is the greatest noodle soup I have ever had.” Was it? I don’t know, but traveling does that to you. Last night at my guest house I had an amazing Burmese salad of nuts, beans, chilies, and fermented tea leaves. I spent most of last night talking with a fellow guest at the Burmese Inn, a 31 year-old dentist who left his practice in Ottawa and started doing dental work in the Arctic for part of the year and traveling the other part. He is another of the many people I’ve met already who have just completely jumped off the grid. It’s fascinating. The view from my 200 baht bungalow was ridiculous this morning: a lake surrounded by hills and crossed by the longest wooden bridge in Thailand. On the itinerary for Sanghklaburi: I’m going to take a boat trip on the lake and see a submerged temple. And I’d like to visit a Mon village–they’re a stateless people who have been relentlessly persecuted by the Burmese government.
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February 26, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Forbis
Are you taking pictures of all these meals you’ve been having?
February 27, 2007 at 5:07 am
Mark S.
One of the google ads on your sidebar is about as inappropriate as it gets:
Visit Bridge over the River Kwai enjoy Train ride on Death Railway
www.orientalescape.com
Contextual ads, gotta love ‘em!
February 27, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Forbis
Mark, that one doesn’t disturb me as much as the advertisement for Exotic Thai Women: “Meet hundreds of Thai women during our 10 day tours of Bangkok.” To each his own, as me dear ma would say.
February 27, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Forbis
The Associated Press reported this morning that Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, has concocted a 135-lb. hamburger, beating the former world record of 105 lbs. formerly held jointly by a restaurant in New Jersey and another restaurant in Thailand.
February 28, 2007 at 3:39 am
Mark S.
I think a 105 lb. burger could feed myself and at least two/three hundred Thai women for ten days…
Book it, Danno.
February 28, 2007 at 7:00 am
Thomas
Mark S! Sawadee krap! Where be you these days, my friend?
I hope you’re clicking on those ads . . . I needs me some revenues. I actually took that Death Railway train ride over the bridge (and have video of it). It really is a delightful way to relive the good old days of Japanese agression in Southeast Asia.
I have been taking some food photos. I’m really eager to upload the latest batches, but local internet scene is not being very cooperative. Tomorrow for sure.
That 135 lb. hamburger makes me just a little bit homesick.
February 28, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Forbis
But if you really think about it, aren’t we all booked for a one-way ticket on the Death Railway…?
February 28, 2007 at 10:08 pm
Marc
“But if you really think about it, aren’t we all booked for a one-way ticket on the Death Railway…?”
Good point. But mine’s not going anywhere near the River Kwai.
My Death Railway’s going to Vegas. And there is an all-you-can-eat 135lb. burger bar in the dining car. Morning, noon and night, ordering three at a time.
Sweet.
March 1, 2007 at 2:22 pm
concerned reader
hmmm…interesting… the map works…but when i zoomed to the closest level i saw a motel 6, what looks like a kmart, and a TGI Friday’s for sure… i feel like my world is shattered…i’m at a loss for words right now - alex
March 2, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Alana
Dear Tom:
Your trip scares me.
Sincerely,
Alana (Lauren’s friend)