They were the only other non-thai at the station other than myself. I took a chance. Maybe they spoke english. Not everyone that is white does, you know. Some might be Russian or Dutch, German or many other nationalities and not know english.

It was dark . 5:30 a.m. in fact, when I left the hostel in Bangkok on my way north to Kanchanaburi, Thailand. Police walk the streets here. There was one on the corner, so I asked him which direction Thornburi Train Station was. What I needed to know was which side of this 8 lane street I needed to be on to catch a taxi in that direction.

He didn't speak english, so I showed him my map. It was in english, so he could not read it. He called to another cop down the block and he came over and together they figured out where I was pointing. He still didn't understand I just needed to know the direction to hail a cab, though. He started trying to flag down taxis for me. Everytime one came by, it already had passengers. Lots going to airports or places this time of morning I guess. Any other time you have to constantly be telling them no thanks because they are thick as thieves yelling, "Need ride?" When you need one....well, you know how that goes.

After 15 or 20 minutes he finally waved one down . I showed the driver teh map. He didn't understand, so the policeman told him in Thai. I ask how much. He says 400 baht. Too much I say and walk away.

By now two motorbike taxies have parked down the street. It is 6 a.m now. I need to get going. I walk over to one of the motorbike drivers and show him the map. Means nothing to him. He calls another driver over and he also cannot read it. Then a young woman, probably going to work, walks by and they ask her. She speak and reads english pretty good. She tells them where I need to go. They say 400 baht. I say no. They come down to 250 baht finally and the girls says to me, "It is fair price, long way." So I take the helmet and with my backpack hop on the bike. He cuts through traffic. They cut in-between the back bumper of one car and the front bumper of the other car and weave their way to the front of the line when the cars are stopped at a red light. I pull my arms in to avoid car mirrors. He gets me there about 6:45, after asking directions several times from other thais .

It is still dark. There is a huge outdoor market setting up right next to the train depot. I get my ticket but the train does not leave until 7:45. So, I walk over to the market. It is huge and there is food of all kinds there. All types of meats, unrefrigerated. Just laying out in the open. It is t-shirt warm, too.

After tiring of he market I walk back across the small alley type road to the depot. This is when i see Billy and Jes. I sit on the bench next to them and after a few minutes, I strike up a conversation. Yes, they do speak english. They are from England. They have been here for a couple of weeks and will travel around for another 5 weeks. They, too, are headed for Kanchanaburi.

England is very expensive to live in I find out. It rains year round and is very dreary, depressing weather. They say when an outdoor event is planned it will undoubtedly get rained out.

They are very likable and we sit together and chat all the way to Kanchanaburi, looking out the open windows . Well, we chat at least when the train is stopped. The train windows are all down and the doors open. The noise is really loud as it moves. There is no air or fan, but the air coming in through the windows is fine. It is a fun ride from 7:45 to 10:40 a.m. The ticket was 100 baht ($3.30). Leaving Bangkok, the further we got the more palm trees and hills I started to see. It so different from the busy pace of Bangkok. When traveling like I am, long term. the journey IS the trip.

I notice in Thailand things are very clean. The streets in Bangkok are clean, and there are thousands of people walking them all day and night. It's not like in the states where you hardly see anyone walking on the city streets. But, they stay clean. I don't think they run a street sweeper because of the traffic. All I ever see is sometimes someone with a thai broom and pan going along sweeping the curbside. And, another thing. I have walked literally blocks and blocks looking to throw something in a trash can . They are hard to find. How do the streets and lots stay so clean?

The train is very clean. It is primitive, but clean.

Two and a half hours later we arrive in Kanchanaburi. It is world away from Bangkok's noise and traffic pollution.

Billy and Jes and I walk around town awhile. Then it is time for me to find my hostel and they need to find theirs. It is the last time I saw them. It was nice having someone to travel with for awhile.

I find Sam's River Raft House. My home for a few days. I chose it because I get a room on a houseboat on the River Kwai. It is a little less than 270 baht, but I will splurge to sleep on the River Kwai. That's $9 U.S. dollars.

The place is pretty. Right on the River Kwai and very nice eating and sitting area. Also, they have several decks overlooking the river .

I have a private room and bath. My home rocks and the curtains sway when another boat passes by and makes waves.

The bath is similiar to the other hostels I have stayed in. Toilet, sink and shower all in same room, with shower hose hanging on wall. Cold water only. There is one thing different here, though. When you enter the room there is no electricity. You have to take the large plastic key ring that the room key is on and insert it into a wall socket thing. The power comes on. When you get ready to leave the room you take the key with you, or course, so all the power goes off. I have noticed everyplace I stay in Thailand there are signs asking you to cut air and lights when leaving the room every time. They watch power usage here. I think some small town or villages only have power part of each day.

I sit on the dock and chat with Banchie and David from Australia. They want me to go shoot some pool and eat with them, but I have some work to do online first.

After they leave I talk with a couple from France that just came out to sit on the dock awhile. They have some Thai chip sort of things that none of us know what they are, but hey are very good. We have a good time sitting on the dock of the River Kwai.

Sawat Dee Krap (Goodbye) Yes, it means both hello and goodbye. (Pronounced Sawee dee Krop)