"Hey, Larry". It is Barnio and David (cousins from Australia). I met them at Sam's River Raft House my first night. They are having breakfast and I am on my way with my loaded backpack to check in at the Jolly Frog Hostel. I liked Sams but want to experience a different hostel tonight. We talk a little and say our goodbyes. They are leaving today for home.

This is the first Thai Bathroom I have seen . Even now, it does not have the squat toilet. But, it has a toilet that does not flush with a handle. There is a pail under a faucet. If the bucket is not full, you are supposed to fill it up using the faucet it is sitting under. Inside the bucket is a pail that you dip with. You dip enough water with this until the toilet flushes. The shower and sink are in the same room. There is no toilet paper but a faucet with a squirt hose to hose yourself off afterwards. Beats wiping with your hands. (I brought my own paper, though, so I am set).

I pay my 70 baht. ($2.63, yes, two sixty three for a private room). I get the room for one night and find my room upstairs. It's a private room but I share the 4 baths that are down the hall.

As soon as I drop my bags, I go exploring. The grounds are very nice and right on the River Kwai. I sit on the picnic table and enjoy the late morning river for a while.

Then, I go walking in a different direction around town . I want to see the war cemetery, but as I get close to it, I see the Death Railway Museum. They offer free coffee to visitors, so I go in. This will be the first coffee I have had since leaving the states on Jan 9.

I snap a few pictures in the lobby, then someone looking officials points to a "No Camera" sign. Does that mean me too? So, no pictures of this wonderful museum. The museum has artifacts and pictures of the horror the prisoners endured building the Death Railway by the hand of the Japanese. Some prisoners hid written notes about the horrible conditions they were forced to live and work in.

I round a corner and there is Barnio and David. They are filling in some time before they have to catch their transport in the afternoon. They have their full load of gear with them. They are glad to see me. They say it's good to have some additional company to talk to and ask me to tour the museum with them. They have been traveling together for a few months and heading home today . I wish we could have met up sooner and traveled together for a while. I really enjoy their company.

The War Cemetery is just across the street from the museum. After a couple of hours in the museum, I stand at the large window on the upper floor and look down on the cemetery containing the bodies of the soldiers that died such a grueling death. It's a beautiful view from up here of such a sad place.

The thousands of prisoners from the U.S., Britain and other countries that died building the railroad had their remains moved here after the war to this beautiful cemetery. Before resting here, their bodies had been spread throughout POW camps, burial grounds and lone graves along the rail line. There are three cemeteries here holding the remains of the thousands that died. I saw stones that said, "Even though you are buried in a foreign land you are always in our hearts", and other similar things.

I walk through the cemetery and notice so many head stones of guys in their teens and 20's . They died from cruel conditions imposed by the Japanese, who thought it was a great marvel that they were able to finish their railroad so quickly. Not giving thought to the many young lives that were lost in the process. It is very sobering.

The Cemetery, in the city of Kanchanaburi, contains the graves of 6,982 soldiers. There are two other cemeteries for those that died the same death in the area.

It's one of the best maintained of any cemetery I have ever seen. There are rose bushes and other beautiful flowering plants planted in between the headstones.

Barnio and David and I walk, looking at the many headstones. We are quiet as we reflect, each in our own way.

Barnio and David have to leave to catch their transportation. We had some fun together and I am glad I got to meet them.

After saying goodbye to my Australian friends, I walked over to the train station that I came in on . The day I got to Kanchanaburi I had all my gear and was concerned with finding my hostel, so I didn't get to take any pictures. Notice the beautiful grounds. Right across the street is a vacant lot and old buildings. Such a contrast of beauty and poverty.

That night I ate in the Jolly Frog Hostel restaurant. Even before getting here I read it was one of the best places to eat in town. At night the locals fill the place until late at night, proof that the reviews were right.

I meet Rena, a guy from Holland in the restaurant and we talk and share information. He has been here a few weeks but leaves tomorrow for south Thailand and the beaches.

I took pictures of the napkins here. They are so small. They are like this in Bangkok and any place I have been. I compared them to my open wallet. They are the same size and do not unfold. Just a thin piece of napkin. It's not double ply and doesn't unfold.

This concludes this very good day, and now I will spend my first night at The Jolly Frog.