We got off to a leisurely start this morning, or at least it felt so since we did not make it past our rooms door until about 0830hrs.  We had breakfast down the road before heading off to the bridge, as in ‘The Bridge Over The River Kwai’.

We walked despite the protestations of Guest House staff and taxi drivers alike.  Not sure why since it was only about 1.5 to 2 km away.  Well ok I do know why they all protested that it was too far and too hot but neither of us were really falling for it.

The walk was pleasant without any diversions or wrong turns and we made it to the bridge without incident.  It’s strange really.  For a structure that has so much history, infamy, it appeared rather innocuous.  The weight of history and what happened does not seem to hang on the area the way it does in places like Cambodia.

One the way back, on the way there we crossed over the other side of the river at the bridge before walked up a mostly deserted road and accessed the bridge from the opposite side, crossed the bridge then walked back the way everyone else seems to get to the bridge so it was kind of a loop.  So anyway on the way back we paused to look through the little market, tourist market, set up near the bridge.  Not really much to look at.  Then headed back to our Guest House.  We booked a taxi to get to the Tiger Monastery, yes we could have caught the local bus but from what we heard and read it was an 8km walk from where you were dropped off to get to the monastery, so 16km round trip.  Sorry I’m just not that much of a fanatic.  We took the organised ride to get out there.

What can I say.  Is it touristy?  In a word, Yes.  Saying that is it worth it?  Yes.  Or at least I think so.  After all how many times in your life will you get to lay your hands on a real, living, breathing tiger?  I know it is a first for me and it was amazing.

One piece of advice I’d give is to arrive later rather than earlier.  Speaking to a lady in front of me in the que., I was in the que to get my ticket to enter, she had just come out and wanted a t-shirt.  She said that she had waited nearly an hour trying to get a photo of her with a tiger but had finally given up.  There were just too many people.  On the other hand when we arrived there was only about 40 minutes before the Tigers were put back in there compound and we seemed to walk straight through.  Probably because there were a whole heap leaving.  Saying that do not get me wrong. There were a shit load of tourists/travellers there.

Basically you leave your bag behind, in my case Cass stayed with my bag.  Take yourself and your camera to the handlers.  You hand your camera to one of the handlers and the other grabs your hand and leads you carefully through the compound to sit with and stroke the Tigers as if they were nothing but oversized versions of your cat back home.  Let me tell you while in part that is exactly what they are, well, they are just so not that!  One of the tigers started getting a little, um, testy.  At that point you are very much aware of exactly what these ‘little kitty cats’ could do to you even without meaning to.  While you are patting the tigers the other handler is happily snapping photo’s for you on your camera.

Having looked at the results when we got back here I must say he took some fairly good shots.

If your here and have the time I’d really suggest you take the trip out to the monastery.  Personally I think it’s worth it.