Laughter, Legacy, and Kindness in Kanchanaburi

The Train Ride of a Lifetime

We left Bangkok’s station at 7:45 a.m., expecting a quiet ride to Kanchanaburi. Instead, we found ourselves in the middle of a rolling comedy show. Six slightly inebriated Thai women piled into our cabin, their laughter bubbling over. Within minutes, their antics had spread through the car—snacks flying, jokes bouncing, and strangers becoming friends.

By 9 a.m., the Heinekens were open, Pepsi was being mixed into mysterious concoctions, and the conductor had already scolded them twice in Thai. Each scolding only added fuel to the fun. 

Sonja, of course, was in her element—every time I turned around, she had a new snack in her mouth, courtesy of our new companions. Selfies, videos, and shared laughter made the miles disappear. What began as a train ride became a festival on rails.

Shadows of History

Kanchanaburi is not only about waterfalls and coconuts—it carries the weight of history. We visited the Death Railway Museum and one of the cemeteries where prisoners of war rest, men who perished building the infamous bridge across the River Kwai during World War II.

The story is sobering: tens of thousands of Allied POWs and Asian laborers suffered under brutal conditions to construct the railway. The bridge itself became immortalized in the 1957 film The Bridge on the River Kwai, which dramatized both the futility and the resilience of human spirit. Standing there, history pressed down on us, reminding us that travel isn’t only about joy—it’s also about remembrance.

Later, we walked across the current bridge (the original was destroyed by Allied bombing). 

The solemn feelings gave way to laughter when we met a lady boy coconut vendor who looked uncannily like Dan Blocker from Bonanza—if Dan had lipstick and a flair for comedy. 

He had us in stitches as we sipped our coconuts, proving that even in places marked by sorrow, humor finds a way to shine.

Kindness At Every Turn

On our final day, we rented a motorbike and set off toward Erawan Falls. Rain clouds gathered, and neither of us felt like tackling the climb, so we didn't see much of the falls. 

That detour led us to one of the most unforgettable moments of our travels.

We stopped at a weathered coffee shack, where the young owner greeted us with uncontainable excitement. He was not only a barista but an artist, proudly showing us his studio and each piece of his work. As we sipped our coffee, he approached Sonja with tears in his eyes and offered her a small, framed painting of a bird. “This is for you. Please take it,” he said. That gift, born of pure generosity, will hang on our wall as a reminder of the kindness we found here.

The theme continued when we returned our motorbike. My phone was dead, and I couldn’t call for a ride. Without hesitation, the rental shop owner closed her shop, hopped into her SUV, and drove us five miles back to our hotel. No fuss—just kindness.

Closing Thoughts

Thailand has a way of seeping into your soul. From laughter-filled train rides to solemn lessons in history, from coconut comedy to unexpected gifts of art, every encounter leaves us changed. We’ve never returned from Thailand the same people we were when we arrived. Each trip makes us better—more grateful, more connected, more human.

To our grandchildren.  Adopt these qualities.  Become better people and always be kind and respectful to everyone you meet.  You'll never know when Dan Blocker will become your friend.

Oh, Thailand... We Love You So

⛳ Post Script: Golf in Chiang Mai

Before we packed our bags for Bangkok, we decided to squeeze in one last adventure in Chiang Mai — a round of golf. Our hotel arranged a tee time at Alpine Golf Resort, about an hour outside of town. The drive itself was scenic, but the course was even better: rolling fairways, lush greens, and mountains framing the horizon.

What made the day truly memorable were the caddies — engaging, funny, and quick with a smile. They kept us laughing as we worked our way through the round. We hit some good shots, we hit some great shots, and, oh yes, we hit some shots best forgotten. But that’s golf, isn’t it? A mix of triumphs and mulligans, all wrapped in sunshine and laughter.

My caddie saying "hit there." I'm saying "I'll hit over there" and the other caddie just cracking up.

All in all, it was a perfect way to cap off our time in Chiang Mai — a reminder that travel isn’t just temples and food, but also finding joy in the unexpected, like a day on the links in Thailand.

Bangkok Beginnings: Sunrise, Chinatown & a Head Cold

The View From Our Room

After an hour’s flight from Chiang Mai and another hour’s ride through Bangkok traffic, we arrived at the Grande Centre Point Sukhumvit — a five‑star hotel that feels like a palace in the sky. Our suite has wrap‑around windows framing the city, and waking up to the sunrise over Bangkok’s skyscrapers is nothing short of magical. And here’s the kicker: we’re paying less for this suite than we did for a motel in Moses Lake. Thailand, you win again.

But I have to wonder — what is it with Thailand and my health? On the flight I caught a head cold that’s pestered me for two days. You haven’t truly traveled until you’ve tried explaining symptoms to a pharmacist with Google Translate. After a few failed attempts, she looked up and said, “Would you rather we spoke in English?” Truth be told, her English was better than mine.

Despite the sniffles, we powered through our first day’s adventures. Last time we were here, we only had one day to see the major highlights like Wat Arun. This time, we wanted something more intimate, so we headed to Chinatown — one of the largest and oldest in the world, established in 1782. Think about that: while George Washington and Ben Franklin were still wandering around America, dim sum was already being served in Bangkok’s Chinatown.

The sounds, the smells, the chaos — walking down an alley barely four feet wide, with food and merchandise spilling out on both sides while a motorbike squeezes past — it’s an experience you won’t find in Tacoma. 

From Chinatown, we walked to the Chao Phraya River and boarded a boat to glide down the city’s main artery.

At the end of the day, it was a very good start to our Bangkok adventures — a mix of luxury, laughter, history, and the kind of sensory overload that makes travel unforgettable.

Bangkok Sunrises and Slow Travel

Mornings in Bangkok have been… well, I hesitate to use the word “surreal” because it’s overused, but that’s the closest description. It’s that feeling of disbelief, like you can’t quite process what you’re seeing. Every morning we’ve watched the sunrise over the city from our suite, and it feels unlike any sunrise we’ve ever experienced — with the exception of Haleakala on the Big Island of Hawaii. Just special.

One of the joys of being “travelers” rather than “tourists” is the luxury of taking things slowly. When we were younger, we traveled with a plan for every day. We’d wake up early, follow a predetermined path, and try to see as much as possible before the day was done. We don’t travel like that anymore. Slow travel gives us the freedom to pause, to take a day off when needed, and to let the journey breathe.

That freedom came in handy when my head cold caught up with me. Instead of forcing ourselves out into the city, we stayed at the hotel. I got some much‑needed recovery sleep, while Sonja put a serious dent into her Netflix account. Sometimes, the best travel memories aren’t about rushing to see everything — they’re about giving yourself permission to rest.

Breakfast, Markets and Memories

Yesterday was one of those days when we felt truly grateful to be able to travel. We left the hotel in search of breakfast and Sonja spotted a small restaurant with a Canadian flag and a sign promising all‑day breakfast. What a find! I had one of the best breakfast sandwiches I’ve ever tasted, while Sonja was transported to another place entirely with her eggs benedict. And, don't tell anyone, but we snuck in a little carrot cake to top it all off.

We met a young couple there — he from Miami, she from Thailand — along with their child. Listening to him talk about living in Bangkok versus the U.S., we understood completely. There was none of the “rush, rush, rush” that seems to infiltrate everything back home. Instead, you could feel the peace they carried as a family.

After breakfast, we hopped on the BTS Skytrain to the other side of the city. Bangkok is home to 11 million people — the size of New York City — so even on an elevated train it took 30–35 minutes. Unlike New York’s subways, the BTS is air‑conditioned, quiet, and orderly. Standing room only, yet no loud talking, no music blaring — just a comfortable ride.

We arrived at Chatuchak Weekend Market, billed as the largest outdoor market in Southeast Asia. With over 8,000 vendors, it lived up to the hype. Clothes, trinkets, carvings, street food — everything you could imagine was there. We saw so much we wanted to buy for our kids and grandkids, but U.S. rules on overseas packages make it nearly impossible. Either the gifts are rejected and sent back, or the kids would have to pay a 100% tariff. To quote Rodney King: “Can’t we all just get along?”

From the market, we wandered into Talat Noi, a neighborhood that’s a photo junkie’s heaven. Street art, cozy alleys, and locals cooking and living their lives. We ate at a restaurant that felt straight out of a Hollywood movie — an old warehouse on the river, with original décor and even a tree growing out of the dining room, reminiscent of Angkor Wat. The food was excellent, the view unforgettable, and the memory will linger.

I don't have words that will capture this area, so I'll let the pictures do the talking.

A walk, a tuk tuk ride, a subway ride, and another Skytrain later, we were back at our hotel. Looking at each other, all we could say was: “Wow.”

Although we're not leaving Bangkok yet, I'm going to close this post out here.  In a couple of days, we're going to take a side trip out of the city and I'll pick things up then.   Love you kids!  We really hope you make it to Bangkok so we'll leave some good feelings here for you!

I Think I Like Facials

The pivot to Chiang Mai turned out to be a great move. The weather has been fantastic — upper 70s to low 80s with no rain — and we chose a wonderful hotel right on the Ping River. From our balcony, the view stretches across the water, and every morning Sonja has sat outside with her coffee, watching the day break. More than once I’ve heard her sigh, “Can we just stay here?”

Our time has been wonderfully relaxing. We reconnected with friends who own a restaurant we frequented last year. Back then, we left them a small Seattle Police bear, and sure enough, it still sits proudly by their cash register. When we walked in, their faces lit up with recognition: “I know you. From Seattle!” Hugs, smiles, and mango sticky rice followed, along with laughter when they saw themselves featured in our YouTube video.

The rest of our days were spent strolling through the city, savoring Chiang Mai’s charm, and indulging in incredible meals — including a couple of Michelin‑starred restaurants. 

But the highlight came on our second night: two and a half hours of body scrub, body wrap, massage, and a facial. This was my second facial of the trip, and I’m beginning to wonder if women have been hiding these things from men all along. You’ll never see an ad for facials during a football game, but I’m here to say they’re pretty amazing. My testosterone may not be impressed, but my skin is oooh so soft.

Tomorrow we fly to Bangkok to rejoin our original schedule. We’re excited for our second visit there and the adventures ahead. One side note: we received a text from the Vietnam postal service that the two boxes of gifts we mailed from Hanoi were refused by the U.S. government. Apparently, they’re not accepting packages from Vietnam. I guess America is great again, huh?

✨ Papa’s Travel Tips

• Don’t knock facials until you’ve tried one. They may not boost your testosterone, but they’ll make your skin feel like silk.

• Leave a little gift behind. You never know when it will greet you on your next visit — even a Seattle Police bear can become a restaurant mascot.

• Balcony mornings are priceless. Sometimes the best travel memories are made with coffee, quiet, and a sunrise.

• Google Translate is your best travel buddy. It may not be perfect, but it can turn “what’s good?” into sweet bread and laughter.

Papa's Travel Tip: Be Ready To Pivot

 One lesson we've learned over the years is that we have to be flexible in our travel plans.  Even after a year of planning things do sometimes go sideways.   As is the case with our time here in Vietnam.  

Our plans were to fly from Hanoi to Hue for a few days and then onto Da Nang for some golf.  Mother Nature had other ideas.  Torrential rains have hit central Vietnam (Hue & Da Nang) and this is following typhoons a few weeks ago.  

The result:

The Imperial City is under water.

We spent a few hours last night cancelling hotels and flights.  Then rebooking everything to head back to Chiang Mai Thailand.  We spent 2 weeks in Chiang Mai last year and Sonja had a great time.  Papa, not so much.  Chiang Mai is where he drank the water and got ill.  We're heading back so that Papa can enjoy this northern Thailand city.

We'll be there for 6 nights and fly from there to resume our original itinerary in Bangkok.

Like Woody Allen said, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him how well you've planned."