I woke up bright and early on what was to be my last day in Bangkok, in plenty of time to catch the 10:30 train to Kanchanaburi. WRONG!!!! There IS no 10:30 train to Kanchanaburi! I arrived at the station at 9:30, only to find out the first train to the river Kwai left at 7:30 and the last train to my destination wouldn't be leaving for another four hours!!!!

Well gungho traveler that I am, I resigned myself to finding the shadest spot at the station and trying to enjoy the thus far crappy book called Sahara.
However with a very corny plot line, and a very cute and loveable stray dog in the vicinity, I soon put the book away.

His name was Tripod, well at least thats what I called him. Tripod was a "so damn ugly he was cute" kind of mutt with a bumb back leg. Thus his recently given name.

Well with Bangkoks reputation of having over a hundred thousand stray dogs, and anywhere from five to seven thousand of those dogs being rabid, I of coarse didn't touch the dog, it helped that he was on the otherside of the tracks.

For the first few minutes Tripod merely played with the rest of his stray kin, nuzzeling and nipping at the others, and showing his stomach in submission when required. Then SHE came.

She was an all white, pointy eared female and she like most dogs in heat was struting along like she owned the world. Tripod was the first to notice and the first to try and take advantage, but it was hopeless with his bumb leg, but he kept trying. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. but when I started thinking about it, I decided doggie porn wasn't where it was at after all.

So with about two hours to go before my train left, I decided to look for a bite to eat, luckily there was this crowded street restraunt, across from the station, so I pulled up a chair and ordered the first thing on the menu. What I don't know cause it was in Thai, I do know it involved chicken or so I hope.

Five minutes later my meal arrived sure enough its stir fried chicken and veggies on a plate of fried rice. Digging in, I poked a nice peice of chicken with my fork, and was about to put it in my mouth, when I noticed the table next to me go completely quiet. They were watching me eat!!!
Whats worse, I was just about to make a big Fubar, and actually put the fork in my mouth instead of the spoon. So I put the fork down picked up the spoon pried off the chicken from my fork, and scooped it up with the spoon and shoved it in my mouth. The whole place erupted in laughter.

The restraunt lady came over with a big smile on her face and my bottle of coke and said in broken english "Farang eat with fork we know." Needless to say this bought another round of laughs. So with my face beat red, I resolved to finish my meal which was very good and very cheap. Satisfied that I at least provided some entertainment for the locals, I paid for my meal and headed back to the train station to wait.

Sitting back in the same spot I noticed poor Tripod was once again all alone, laying with head between his paws, staring dejectedly at the white female further down the tracks, who had found a diffrent mate, with four good legs. Poor Tripod!

At 1:30 my train finally left the station bound for Kanchanaburi, and several stops along the way as well. Including one for a heard of slow moving Brahma cows. Sitting on that god awful wooden bench for three hours hoping my backside would finallly go numb and take away the pain, we pulled in to my destination.

I had originally planned to head down by the river itself, but instead opted for the place clostest to the train station. Apple's guest house. Finally getting into my room, I laid down on the bed determined to take a nap, it was a no go, I just couldn't do it. Instead I wandered down main street, taking in the sights, and noticed a bar beer with a TV playing Sportscenter, so I figured I'd stop for a beer, and find out the days NFL scores.

Well, half way through my bottle of Singha, and the NFL scores still not in sight. What should I catch out of the corner of my eye, but a baby elephant running down the middle of the street. About 20 seconds later it was followed by two preteenage boys yelling and chasing after it trying to catch up. Ahh the wonders of Thailand!!