My last two nights in Kanchanaburi were the worst and best I've had so far.
This entry is split into two parts and this is the nightmare part.

On Saturday we had booked a for for the next day to various things in the area (hot springs, cave, waterfall etc). Unfortunately this was a 7.30am start so it was an early start the next day.

Having gone to the restaurant attached to the backpacker's place (extra daring I know) we came back to the room pretty early and then read for a bit till it was about 11.30 pm. Tuely went outside to the attached outside bathroom and I heard a cry of disgust. I went outside to look and thought I saw what looked like large patches of black mould. However, this was pretty strange as there hadn't been any there before. I paused for a couple of seconds and it became clear these big black patches were pulsating. I looked for another second and it was strikingly obvious they were swarms of hundreds and hundreds of ants.

I was somewhat taken aback by this you could say. We weren't really sure what to do so. Reception closed at 10 so we were a bit unsure and retreated back to our room to create a plan of action. It was clear to us that the enemy was massing but they were outside and didn't really seem to have any direction. Unclear what to do we went back outside and saw that the ants had started to disperse and move round the back wall to the side wall connecting the bathroom to our room.

Now we knew what to do. We packed pretty hurriedly and scarpered to the bar (this unlike reception is open till 7.30am).

We passed the restaurant and it was lit so we went there and tried to speak to three guys who couldn't speak English. As much as I tried my impressions and gestures of swarms of ants didn't seem to be understood. Then one of them went over to his scooter and gestured for me to get on. Sensing this was the only option I rode off with him and fortunately he took me to where the receptionist lives.

She gave him the key and he went back so we could switch rooms. He closed the door and left and in a scene reminiscent of a movie Tuely and I hugged as our ordeal was over. Not so - as we were hugging a massive grasshopper flew across the room and brought that celebration to a hasty end.

The unfortunate thing was we obviously couldn't get up for our tour the next morning and so we lost our deposit.

Although luckily the manager was very sympathetic....We explained the situation to him and he said 'I have never heard that before, you are unlucky'. We were somewhat bemused at this but his best was yet to come; ' As they say in English shit happens'. We told the co-manager and he did apologise but that night/day was not good.

Richard, Bangkok, August 18th

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