Erawan NationalparkHighlight dieses Nationalparks ist der 7-stufige Wasserfall, dessen verschiedene Abschnitte tolle Gelgenheiten zum Baden, Rutschen und sogar Massagebrausen bieten. Obendrein offerieren die residierenden Fische gratis Fischspa fuer alle Badegaeste.
Tiger "Tempel"Eine Erfahrung, die wir lieber nicht gemacht haetten und die so anders war, als wir uns das vorgestellt hatten. Der "Tigertempel" wird als buddhistischer Tempel angepriesen, in dem es sich die Moenche zur Aufgabe gemacht haben, verwaisten und geretteten Tigern einen sicheren Unterschlupf zu gewaehren. Tatsaechlich ist dieser Ort nicht mehr als ein schlecht ausgebauter Zoo, in dem 91 Tiger und andere Tiere alles andere als artgerecht gehalten werden. Um das Zentrum (das gar kein Tempel ist) finanzieren zu koennen, werden sehr hohe Eintrittspreise verlangt. Dafuer koennen die Touristen fuer Fotos mit den Tieren posen. Man wird von einem der tausend jugendlichen Angestellten von Tiger zu Tiger gezerrt, schnell die Hand auf das Fell und abgeknipst, dann war's das. Alle Tiger (von ausgewachsenen Maennchen bis Baby) werden sediert und in verschiedene Posen zurechtgerueckt, damit's auch nicht langweilig aussieht. Wir raten dringend davon ab, dieses Projekt zu unterstuetzen und haetten das Eintrittsgeld lieber an den WWF gespendet.
Burma-Thailand-Railway (Death Railway)
During WWII the Japanese were ambitous to conquer the whole of Southeast Asia and finally even India. They fought successfully against the allies in Singapur, Indonesia and Indochina. To be able to supply their troups in the west they planned to build 415 km railway between Bangkok and Rangoon (Burma). Approximately 60'000 prisoners of war (mainly British, Dutch and Australian soldiers) and 180'000 Asian labourers worked under very bad conditions and with the most simple tools on the massive project. After only 16 month the project was fullfilled. 90'000 locals and 16'000 POWs (45% of all the workers) died due to the extremly hard work, bad hygenic conditions and malnutrition. Today part of the railway can be travelled by train and the Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum provides good information about this unwell known part of history. The bridge over the river kwai is a well preserved relic too.
Erawan national park
The highlight of this national park is the 7-tired waterfall with it's different levels providing many possibilities to swim, slide and even massage. On top the resident fish provide free fish spa treatment.
Tiger "Temple"
An experience which we'd rather didn't make and which was so different from what we expected. The "tiger temple" is sold as a Buddhist temple in which the monks provide shelter for orphaned and saved tigers. In reality this place isn't more than a zoo with bad infrastructure where 91 tigers and other animals live far from appropriate. To finance the centre (which isn't a temple after all) the visitors are ask to pay expensive entrance fees. In return the tourists can pose for photos with the cats. For 3 minutes one of the teenage employees will take you by the hand and shuffle you from one tiger to the other, put your hand on the fur and make a picture, that's it. All the tigers (from the big males to baby ones) are sedated and put in different poses to make sure the pictures won't get boring. We would strongly advise not to support this project. We'd rather donated the money to WWF instead.
Express-Fahrt auf Seitenwagen mit Gartenstuhl fuer 1.30 CHF
Express Delivery on side carriage with garden chair for 1.30 CHF