As you know we are back in Thailand. We returned to spend a few days in Bangkok and once again, let's impressed by how modern and developed than is this city that, despite everything, is loath to lose its charm ... and that whiff of food cooked in positions street. This time we enjoyed the river at dusk, when the temples of the edges begin to turn the night lighting. In contrast,
also visit some of the most cosmopolitan neighborhoods, as in any other world capital, are a jumble of concrete and glass towers, offices, McDonalds and executives running. To get here is better to take what is called Skytrain (one meter high) because the traffic is quite unbearable. I already had talked about fuchsias taxis but not if you had ensenhado. In a few theaters last generation saw the last great American production time (the second movie in 10 months, we're not quite a day). That day we checked in situ is true that before each screening people get up to hear the national anthem while out on-screen pretty pictures of the monarch in
different aspects of his life and ending with a message that says: Long live the king. And here is authentic devotion to the royal family that is present in large posters in the street and in every home. That night we had an outstanding dinner with Fernando and his wife Nina, who just started a "tourne" by Asia. The school is companhero Teleco, many recognize him, that the world is not so great?
We moved to the west of the country, near the border with Myanmar, formerly Burma (sadly home these days by the terrible cyclone that has taken the lives of more than 20000 people). Kantchanaburi visited a village Pequenho would not be in the tourist circuits not to be because, during World War II, thousands of Allied prisoners of war worked here under the orders of the Japanese Army. The ambitious mission was to build a railway line through the jungle, to unite Thailand and Burma. Some 13,000 prisoners died in the attempt (mostly Dutch and English) victims of malnutrition, tropical diseases, exhaustion, etc. A more chilling figure of around 100,000 Asian workers "volunteers" also left his life in the construction of 415km of railway, of which the most famous stretch (Thanks to Hollywood) is the bridge over the River Kwai, on the outskirts of Kantchanaburi. 
Today, all this is a railway siding and various museums and cemeteries where they moved the graves of soldiers who were scattered throughout the jungle. And of course, the famous bridge, which despite several bombings still stands, in fact the square beam sections are those that are rebuilt but the old round. Personally disappointed us a little visit to the site, around has produced a tourist complex of restaurants and shops, and countless visitors who walk across the bridge (risking a bit of skin) have to dodge a tourist train that goes and comes from one to another river side. Anyway ... is like a carnival. 
Nevertheless, the town is a pleasant and fairly quiet in which to spend a few days. Especially when you can get you a room next to the river (or even over the river on floating houses) and enjoy the sunsets over the Mountains separating Thailand and Myanmar, as well as lotus fields that are born on the banks.
With both relax over, were looking for some action ... and found. We visited the Khao Yai National Park, a huge nature reserve jungle monsoons about 175km northeast of Bangkok. The attraction here is not only the lush vegetation, but also the varied animal life consisting of elephants, tigers, bears, deer, gaur (a kind of buffalo), several species and macaque monkeys and hundreds of species of birds.
Upon arrival we were shocked by this snake resting in the backyard of the hostel where we were. It is assumed that day are not very active but this was not at all happy that I approached the camera. I assure you that cost me some sleep tonight with all the noise countryside around us. The next day, accompaniment, a guide, we made a trek through the jungle in search of animals. I have to say it was quite an experience for a while we walked around how fast we could follow the guide, which in turn followed a group of monkeys gibbons. The floor was embarrizado since the rainy season is about to begin and that day we had enough rain. We jumped over fallen trees and streams, trying not to fall down, not to step on any snake, and above all, keep out the leeches.
These "sympathetic" critters appear in the wet season and although we were given special socks that were above the pants, the feeling of having them crawling up your clothes is quite unpleasant (especially if your pants have a hole) and we tried to detach his foul shots suckers. No is easy, the more effective is a slap, but stick to your fingers with ease. So cash seems a little hell, it was for a while, but we saw many monkeys, as well as traces of elephants and bears. It is when one asks, and what the hell do I do if you see a bear?. In short, the best thing was when we went into a clearing of tall grass and dry soil, and the leeches away, see that we are happy there. The group was formed by the guide who called himself "Puma" John, Charlotte (an English girl) and me.
is curious to know that animals are creatures of habit and usually move in the same places. When we went we spent driving signs saying beware! passageway of elephants, tigers, cobras up!. Anyway, that day we saw none of these animals, it was Sunday and the park was full of visitors, both hard drive is an animal show himself. What if we saw was a black scorpion quite surprised Asian forest, planted in the middle of the road until our guide it back to the field, and a piton not very comfortable with the flashes of a group of guiris that he threw up . Too many monkeys and sambar deer, one of them appeared so of chilling out chewing with one of the shelters.
also saw many birds, especially spectacular Hornbills, which are like toucans but with a kind of double bill and a lot bigger. We watched with binoculars and no picture is recoverable so I put a picture from the Internet so that you see an idea. This is the Great Hornbill , one of the prettiest we saw, when deploying the wings are wonderful. The other great attraction of the park are spectacular waterfalls, one of them also famous for Hollywood. The first picture is Haew Suwat Nam Tok, or Leonardo Dicaprio waterfall jump in the movie "The Beach", as you see there is an island but inland. It was the undisputed star for the visitors who delighted in Banhan lower lake. The second waterfall, Nam Tok Haew Narok is not so popular but from our point of view is much more beautiful. Although it does not seem in the photo is almost four times higher than the first, and is enclosed in a steep valley that is filled with very green steam produced by water hammer. Here, about anhos, 8 elephants were killed by the cataract despenharse dragged by the force of water.
After this exhausting tour we headed north to try to cross the border of Laos on the same day. When we reached the bus station, were all least one regional bus full of those who are stopping to people's house to pick it up. When we got checked in horror that there were no free places and people and would stand despite an usher is responsible for apinharlos when I thought that would fit three rows. We seemed excessive ir 6 hours that way. As they knew they were going to ask for money back and wait for the next bus is worried about finding a place for farang , or us, so here is what they call foreigners, and use it a lot.
Pequenho We sat in two seats beside the driver, not only did not fit seated and we had no room for the legs but that it touched the side driver (since we occupy the two shifts) that he had no driver to resign that he nailed the shifter when got sixth. Interestingly it was concerned more with Juan than me, because a pair of pink painted UNHAS lucia the rude driver. So, sweating and apinhados, we consider whether three hours to get off and wait for another bus at the next stop. Finally the bus was empty in a big city and we could move to a normal seat, which seemed a real throne in comparison. time we got to the border with Laos, Nong Khai, and we seemed a little late to cross and get to Vientiane, but was very close, and prefer to stay at rest that we needed to. The fact is that we have found un hostal muy majete con un jardin-restaurante junto al rio, con mucho encanto, y hemos decidido postponer un poco mas el cruce de frontera. Aqui teneis al rio Mekong con Laos al fondo, y el jardin donde hemos disfrutado un poquito, otra vez, del dolce fare niente .
Ya que nos hemos quedado por aqui, nos acercamos a visitar el parque de esculturas gigantes Sala Kaew Ku . Fue construido por iniciativa de un extranho chaman, originario de Laos, que durante 20 anhos se dedico a representar en cemento toda la imagineria Hindu-Budista que pasaba por su cabeza. Algunas estatuas miden 25 metros!. Es un lugar muy extranho, donde los Followers of this shaman kept his mummified body and numerous relics. We must recognize that the place is amazing. 
Finally, in the culinary section, we make a special mention to the tropical fruit that we're facing, and we have not spoken yet. Markets in Southeast Asia are all packed with a variety of fruits extranhas had not seen in our lives. We just tried some, but we would like to discuss two in particular which we found curious and quite tasty: the mangosteen and rambutan (left and right), I find no translation to spanish, but it seems that the latter called Chinese castor in Central America. Be that as it looks amazing both inside and out. An experience for the taste and sight. 
And here we at the moment in Thailand. We plan manhana cross the border, which is here at hand, and reach Vientiane. But that is another story.
A kiss to all.
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