But wait! We’re too early for our lunch and Railway ride – so what does Odum do? Have a surprise stop at the Sai Yok Noi Waterfall to “waste time” before heading to the train station. Ok, what the heck? It is a gorgeous waterfall, and we can walk up it – but water is cascading down the steps. And I mean really cascading. I demurred – why? I don’t really know, I just didn’t want to risk walking up there? Didn’t want to get wet? I can’t tell you why I didn’t want to go, but Montana (the nickname we have given the couple from Montana, John and Melanie before we knew their names) pressures me into it – and I am ever so glad I succumbed to peer pressure.

This was totally fun! We all took off our shoes, with Odum remaining on the bench to guard them and to remind us again and again to not step on the shiny parts – that’s algae and its slippery – yes mom, and off we went! Up the stairs (look at that water!!) and onto the second level of the falls where we hang out and take far too many pictures and videos – ok only 2 videos, the good one and the one where I think Ed is actually taking a picture so I just stand there smiling like a fool!

With time left to kill, we meander down more train rails – yet another part of the Death Railway – to an old steam locomotive that was used during WWII. It is in great condition considering, and just another reminder that among beauty there is torture as well. A quick stop (for Ed) at a lovely bathroom – tied for #1 on his all time worst bathrooms in the world – and then we’re back to the bus and on to the train station for our lunch stop.

Our lunch today is at a restaurant right across from the train station. We have a big long table, where we sit next to Montana and enjoy a great lunch with tons of food: Cashew Chicken, Sweet and sour fish, Fried chicken with sweet and sour sauce, veggies, rice and a fried banana with ice cream for lunch.

The highlight of the meal (ok, not really, but still) was the bathroom. There were no lights, it was completely dark, which we girls deemed as “mood lighting” and you flushed the toilet with a pail full of water from the cistern sitting ominously in the dark corner of the room. All in for the adventure!

It’s finally train time. With lunch all finished we troop across the street to the station and await our ride.

Odum is in the lead, herding his cats, trying to ensure we are all on the same train car. Probably helpful! We all manage to make it on the same car with only some minor shuffling and settle in for a lovely, if not really hot, ride. This is the typical (read: normal) train for commuting from Kanchanaburi to Bangkok, and honestly, it would be rough to ride that whole way. Cheap. Easy. Yes. But not the most comfortable ride. We hang out in our seats for a bit, but then I decide to go stand by the window. Moving has a twofold purpose: 1) it gives me great views across the valleys as we speed along, and 2) I get the breeze! And let me tell you, you need it on this train!

It takes about 50 minutes for us to get to our next stop, the last station before the trestle over the Khwae Noi River. As we arrive at the station, we see our bus coming to get us – looking like he’s racing the train! Funny.

After disembarking, we hang out at the viewpoint and watch as the train pulls out of the station, and then slowly crosses the trestle. It is beautiful area, and amazing how the trestle was built, hugging the cliffs and crossing the river.