Kanchanaburi - Off the Beaten Track

Kanchanaburi has some wonderful natural sights to behold and some large natural parks to cross.

When I went to Three Pagoda Pass, I was quite disappointed - the pagodas were ridiculously small while the area near the border post was full of tacky shops selling souvenirs and wooden furniture. Not much of interest there.

On my way back to Kanchanaburi, I decided to go west to see a few mines and waterfalls. Located in Tambon Pilok (some 70 km. to the west of Amphoe Thong Pha Phum along Highway 3272) there are the remains of tin and wolfram mines. They are in the Tanao Si Range, which forms a natural boundary between Thailand and Myanmar. There are numerous picturesque waterfalls nearby which are accessible by foot such as Namtok Chokkadin and Namtok Chet Mit.

I then decided to get back from Thong Pha Phum to Kanchanaburi via Sri Nakharin. A detour indeed, but chosen because it would take me on gravel tracks and dirt roads across a national park.

What I had not counted on was:

1) the distance (partly because of lack of detailed maps and partly because of no road signs inside the park)

2) that I was low on fuel after having visited the mines

3) a total lack of gas stations within the national park

So, as the fuel gauge started to get precariously low, I had to make alternative plans. Fortunately, there are small farms within the national park so I could ask for directions. I was told about a ferry to Sri Sawat across the reservoir behind the Sri Nakharin Dam.

This turned out to be a real life saver although I missed the connection to Sri Sawat. After the on-board computer had indicated an empty tank for the past 15 kilometers, I decided to buy three liters of motorcycle gasoline in order to be able to limp to the next gas station.

That evening, it was pure bliss to watch the sunset over the reservoir from my house boat as the thought of potentially having to push the car along winding road had started to stress me out a bit.