Caves and Houseboats

As it creeps up on April, the hottest month of the year in Thailand, there are a couple ways to escape the heat: water and caves. These pics are from Kanchanaburi province and the famous "River Kawai". The six-eight cylinder "longtails" pulling the houseboats rumble up and down the river, most with a modified pipe as a muffler. The only thing louder are the high-powered PA systems that send ripples through the canyons.

This is another fine example of using noise pollution as a marketing tool to draw participants in Thailand. Besides meditation, it seems noting is done quietly in the Kingdom. Follow your ears to the action... literally at any time of the day! Between the searing heat, unrelenting smoke of burning season, and the ear shattering noise from PA systems in every nook and cranny, the festive summer holiday season can be trying times for many foreigners living in Thailand.

My plan to escape north, to the mountains of Chiang Mai, were dashed when the Bangkok Post reported the International Airport had to turn on the runway lights, in mid-day, because of the blanketing smoke.

Ahhh... Amazing Thailand.