It will be our last spot in Thailand before running to Malaysia...! Many tourist crossing Thailand are a little bit more organised and know the visa issue when you come to Thailand by land! We didn't! We only got a 15 days visa as we didn't fly in. Two options came to us, as an extension was absolutely out of question (price tripled last few months):
a) we would need to do a visa run (which would cost us transport in and out) or
b) we would go and spend a month in Malaysia. We thought that we could always come back another time to Thailand, being such easy to reach.
So our decision was made. We therefore went to the rivière Kwai knowing it would be our last stop in Thailand. We got one of this floating room on the river. Very nice but I got so sea sick with all the speed boat passing, that we had to check out and get a room on land! Our first visit was obviously the bridge.

Cyril couldn't stop whittling "the bridge on the river Kwai" song while crossing it! We then got our motorbike and decided to drive 70km to one of the most beautiful waterfall in Thailand. That was so painful but so worse it... On our way there we had one of the most amazing experience: some locals were making some big gestures and screaming to us in Thai to hurry up. Don't ask us how we understood that! Cyril started to hear some very deep sound and asked me to get the camera out of our bag ASAP. There it was; a wild elephant crossing the road and passing from one of the national park to the other. So rare, we were "gob smacked"!
We finally made it to the waterfall, after a good 2 hours drive. Yes, I know! Quiet slow! But after all the crazy driving of Vietnam and Cambodia, whenever Cyril go faster than 35km an hour, I scream at him to slow down!! And then he piss me off and go faster...! The 7 levels of the waterfall are just magical with clear blue water and many fishes that make you go insane whenever you put your feet on the water; they love dead skin and just "attack" you! Well at least you don't need pedicure anymore!


Then you have the monkeys. Oh dear, very cheeky ones! They wait for you to go in the water, to jump on your bag and check if their is any food to grab! But the worst is that if they cannot find anything, they drop your bag and all your belongings on the fall! And finally you have the forest spirit. Some specific old trees considered sacred, where locals make offerings. It's so surprising at first and finally so beautiful.


On our way back we stopped near by one of the station of the 'death railway'. Locals told us we could go by walking on it and get to the station. Just to be careful as the train always pass at a certain time.


We went and walked on this shaky old wooden bit hanged on the air! Well if the train can pass it, we can as well! We made it to the station and were well surprise to see a buddhist temple in one of the cave. We checked the time and decided to head back as the train would come within an hour. You didn't want to be on his way, and there is nowhere to jump! On our way back, we decided to follow the way on land instead of crossing back again the wooden bridge. After few minutes walking we started to hear a big whittle. And there it was, passing on top of our head: the train! We went so pale! And laugh so much...! We were so lucky!
Well every good thing has an end. Time again to pack our stuff and head to Malaysia. We took a 22 hours train to Kota Bahru! You cannot see any tourist on this train, this part of Thailand is avoided by everyone as clashes between Muslim and Buddhist happen daily, bombs have been found on train stations... We had so many militaries armed around us in our wagon, we felt pretty safe! Until the train stopped at 'Yala': The city, you never want to go to. The train was planned to be direct, but unfortunately we had to make a change. We had to wait 10 minutes for the transfer, in the home town of Muslim extremist. The army was hiding behind big sand bags bunkers with massive M16. And there we were surrounded by so many Ben Ladden look alike, staring at us...! No worries everything went fine again! And we finally made it to Malaysia!