The light at the end of the tunnel pt1 a 6 week adventure story

we decided to drive to the bottom of the hills and have a little lunch.




We had a few cans of kippered herring and some cheese, and some rice crisps that we'd tried not to crush.




The wind was still blowing at the bottom of the hills.



DSC_4769 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr


The ducks in this photo behaved just like widgeons.





DSC_4768 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




They would dabble a bit, and then fly 50 yards up into a pasture and waddle and wade and feed some more.


It was still hard to get used to baby ducks this time of year.



DSC_4772 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




I think this sign is a good idea.





DSC_4773 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr
 
It is always good to meet up with some oystercatchers.



DSC_4805 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr


the tide was rolling out fast and we found some shells that were kind of cool.







DSC_4807 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




this is an ant nest.





DSC_4809 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr


This guy must have found all of the shells..



DSC_4810 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr

DSC_4811 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr
















There were dozens of ants in it, I am not certain how they built it, or if they built it.


Maybe some other animal built it, and they moved in?






We were nearly to Wellington.


Home of legendary fish and chips.



DSC_4813 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr
 
Funny thing about oyster catchers, and I thought of this before the pic even came up: they seem to always be in pairs. Even outside of breeding season.
Great pics, thanks for sharing.
 
Carl, you are right about Oystercatchers... I 've never seen one solo.


Me and Paew and Pim and Anya are going to the River Kwai today.


I shook hands and Talked with a fellow many years ago, his name was Ralph Hibbs, and he was marched by the Japanese and forced to work on the railway for a very long time.


I bet some of you folks knew people that went through the same ordeal. It sounded like true hell, and death was everywhere.




Anya lives about 75 miles from the location, so we wanted to go and see it.


It sounds like it is in the hottest part of Thailand, and apparently has loads of waterfalls and is very picturesque.




I'll give you guys the full report upon my return.
 
River Kwai was a long haul from Samut Sakhon.


Little sister had a gps that was indecisive and temperamental.


And it soon ran low on batteries, so we had to wing it.




The route was busy with morning flow





DSC_4857 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr








we drifted into the countryside



DSC_4884 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




Sugar Cane, and groves of pineapples and mangos stretched from the road to the faraway hillsides.



DSC_4883 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




There are billboards of the King to greet you as you approach each new town.


Truck after truck roll by,
Jammed high with as much sugar cane as they can pack aboard.





DSC_4873 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




Many of the trucks are decorated with an almost psychedelic paint scheme


Some are elaborate and all of them are interesting





DSC_4868 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr
 
There were lots of food stands


Most of them were roasting whole coconut, and then freezing them.


This renders the insides into a sweet and refreshing jelly.


I was skeptical, but soon a fan.



DSC_4860 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr



DSC_4861 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




the cute little coconut girl was a born salesperson.





DSC_4863 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




What is not to like about this?







DSC_4864 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




We rolled into town where some of the War memorials were.



DSC_4887 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr



DSC_4888 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr



DSC_4889 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr



DSC_4890 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr



DSC_4891 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr



DSC_4893 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr



DSC_4894 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr





DSC_4895 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr



DSC_4906 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




We walked across, It was getting hot.


On rthe opposite side of the river, there is a stand of large trees


I saw a bird and had to get more photos of it.
 
Todd,

Those trucks are something else. I can't imagine how many man hours go into a paint job like that. Real works of art.
With all the scooters over there do you see many larger bikes?
You have me wishing all this snow would melt so I can get out for a ride.

Thanks for posting the photos. It's always interesting to see someone elses photo vacations.
Have fun and be safe.
 
It reminded me of a flicker,
A strikingly handsome bird and quite large.


It flew just like a flicker too.



DSC_4924 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr









DSC_4926 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr










Living high in the canopy
reflections from the hot sun over the churn of the river
wash over the underside of the leaves


the hum of the cicadas and swaying reeds


remind you that time is passing at a very different rate than you have been trained by
yet passing still
 
The war museum did not allow photos.


I was surprised to see the graphic displays and be educated about the torture that these men endured.


Most folks were sick with cholera, dysentery, or had terrible infectious ulcers from the thorns on the vegetation.


The Burmese really got hammered... over 100,000 were basically enslaved.


I asked anya what the story was with the leadership of her country when the Japanese military occupied
her country?


I wondered how much different things might have been if the Thai people had fought back.


Apparently the leader at the time of the occupation was exiled and welcomed with open arms by the Japanese.






Anyas mom and Grandmother lived near Bangkok when the Japanese invaded.


They bombed her part of the town and her mom and grandmother had to jump into a canal and hide under a bridge.




When the Japanese occupied, they treated the women poorly.
Anya's mom was a teen at the time.


she had a problem with her tooth and needed to see a dentist.


The Japanese refused to let her, and instead held her down and yanked every tooth out of her mouth!


They should have fought back.... My take.
 
John,


We did see some larger bikes, although they are few and far between.


Near the Kwai memorials, we saw a pack of white folks on Harleys. Probably 30 riders in total.


They had 2 Thai Motorcycle cops escorting them.




Not certain how they arranged that, but I'd reckon they get a hassle free trip.



[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/seaduck/12498874303/]DSC_4942 by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/seaduck/]Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr


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[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/seaduck/12499224494/]DSC_4943 by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/seaduck/]Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr








We took a shortcut through a Military base to get from this place to that place.






[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/seaduck/12499190614/]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/seaduck/12499190614/]DSC_4985 by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/seaduck/]Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




We were a long spell from anyplace.




[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/seaduck/12499188354/]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/seaduck/12499188354/]DSC_4988 by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/seaduck/]Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr






Bos Indicus grazes in the heat of the day.




[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/seaduck/12498840903/]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/seaduck/12498840903/]DSC_4983 by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/seaduck/]Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




these pungee sticks are not state of the art security, but they work well.




[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/seaduck/12498721735/]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/seaduck/12498721735/]DSC_4974 by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/seaduck/]Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr
 
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We found a spot that has a legendary waterfall and swimming hole, and were excited to get in.


Just as we grabbed our things, about 4 big double decker busses pulled in


Full of 7-9 year old kids.


Crap!





DSC_5008 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




There were a bunch of shops, so we decided to give the kids some time and check out other stuff for a while.



DSC_5009 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr


Apparently, there are many Russian tourists that visit this spot.


I noticed the Russian tabs on the stands.



DSC_5004 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr


I fooled around with the settings on my camera, and clipped a few good shots.



DSC_5003 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr
 
Trust me,


Cleaning detail in the heat of the day "sucks it."


Long and hard.


Sweeping up leaves.



DSC_4946 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr






We decided to check out the waterfall, It was really hot, we needed to cool down.


found an old Japanese train up in the woods.





DSC_5021 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




The falls was a mess..
Kids everywhere,
Cannon Balling and splashing and shrieking.



DSC_5019 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




I told the girls that there had to be another place upriver.


So we walked up a steep staircase





DSC_5022 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr






And followed the sound of the water for about 1 km


through banana groves and the relentless heat of the day.



DSC_5028 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr
 
We made our way to the place I had in my head.


A clear pool in the shade of high trees with buttressed Stems into the hillside.


Fish greeting us with caution but curiosity.




[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/seaduck/12499178884/]DSC_5048 by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/seaduck/]Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/seaduck/12498848963/]
DSC_5031 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr








[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/seaduck/12498829143/]DSC_5046 by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/seaduck/]Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr


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[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/seaduck/12499184564/]DSC_5045 by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/seaduck/]Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr


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[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/seaduck/12499184564/]DSC_5045 by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/seaduck/]Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr









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[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/seaduck/12498834353/]DSC_5042 by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/seaduck/]Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr





The girls played in the water and talked about things in their language.
The language of sisters.


I couldn't understand a lick of what they were saying, but I could understand all of how they were saying it.




I Watched them
And realized that I have a family.


One I never bargained for.
I realized I was glad to have it.




The water was cool and good
refreshing and clear and inviting.


A baptism




I floated on my back in the cool water and looked up at the trees far above me
Girls laughed and played in the water and I felt at home in a place very far from home


Reckon every dog has his day


I was glad & figured
this was it.
 
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[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/seaduck/12498878363/]DSC_5013 by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/seaduck/]Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




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[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/seaduck/12499228474/]DSC_5014 by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/seaduck/]Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr


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[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/seaduck/12498872613/]DSC_5016 by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/seaduck/]Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr






Anya and her sisters all have ESP or something like it.


I suppose they must be in tune with things that not everyone is wired to pick up on.




Anya swam up to me and said, "we have to leave now!"


I said, "what? Why? Are you kidding?"




Again she said, "Now, I've got a bad feeling"




So I gathered up my stuff and we left that perfect place.




We got to the base of the hill where all of the kids unloaded from the busses
It is a state highway and the speed limit is @50 mph but it was loaded up with busses and people and vendors along the roadside.




I crossed the threshold first and got to the other side of the road


I signaled the girls to come across and just as they did, we heard the screech of tires breaking on the road for about 3-4 seconds along with
the blaring of a truck horn, and the terrible sound of metal upon metal at speed.


dust and smoke and confusion.


Right where my girls stood just moments before,
a truck slammed into another that was making a U turn.


The striking truck hammered the other guy from behind
The stricken truck rocked off the side of the road and into the phone booth and mailbox at the base of the stairs where the girls had just been.


Where all of the kids had been just before...




I ran to the striking vehicle to check and the guy got out and was pissed off about his truck....


So he was OK


The stricken vehicle driver took a moment to come to, and was also angry... so ok.


There were about 3 traffic cops there anyway, and we decided to split after the incident.
 
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The wreck really frightened the girls,
me too.




Me and Anya talked about it as we bedded down for the night.


Sometimes the difference between life and death can be just a moment or two.




I was glad that all parties were able to walk away.




I am also glad that all of us made it in that very moment to the right side of the threshold.
 
Glad you and your family are OK Todd. If you train yourself to listen you can hear the wheels of the universe turning. After a while it becomes second nature. I used to poo-poo stuff like that until I met someone who could hear it - like your Anya. Then I realized I also have a bit of it and now, I have my own stories.

Congratulations on finding your family or............. being open enough to let them find you.
 
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