Kanchanaburi's Hidden Tiger Temple

   

Tourists visiting Thailand usually have Pattaya, Phuket, and Bangkok on their places-to-see list. And feeding the cubs? How can you not have a picture of that if you visited exotic Thailand? 

Well, the six of us who made a trip there had quite a few touristy wishes too. So while we did the usual Pattaya, and Bangkok, cabaret shows, watched hookers standing 2 steps away from each other - in utter cultural shock - we wanted to get a different, not-very known version of the tigers. 

If you, like me prefer getting away from hoards of tourists, read up and you'll see what I mean.

the 1000 baht photo

We called Laila [the guide] who came up with a pretty cool package that had us driven all the way to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok which was a good 3 hour drive. **Don't believe the locals when they say anything is close by. Don't. Just be polite and nod.**

Finally we got there and the long drive seemed to be worth it. Here's what you should take in at first hand:

* Please be covered. Shoulders and knees cannot be exposed. This is a Buddhist temple, and so is disrespectful. You can buy a t-shirt from there just in case.

* Only some 300 people visit this place everyday.

* It's about a 150-metre walk from the entrance to where the highly sedated [or calm, meditated] tigers await your arrival.

* But there are quite a few attractions on the way. You will see massive grizzlies in their cages. A boar sunk neck deep in mossy water. Monkeys. Cubs.

yes, these are cubs

  

* There will be volunteers and monks feeding tigers chained to the trees. Playing with them, pushing and pulling them around like lifeless objects. I still have to see a wild tiger respond so calmly due to meditation alone!

* There are a couple of tigers that you can walk.

look ma, I walked a tiger :D

* Then you reach the tigers. They're sappy, and look stoned almost out of their minds.

* But these are only the tigers. The tigresses are chained at the back, and you can't go around them. Apparently "all female beings are snappy, so leave them alone", I overheard someone say.

* Then the resident guide will take you through the history, a little about the tigers there, their names, ages etc. Once that is done, you can take pictures with the tiger in your lap for 1000 baht each. It's a lot cheaper in a group, but only 1 person gets to hold the head.

stoned, sedated, consequence of meditation? ...you decide

*It's free if you don't want the tiger's head in your lap.

* After that, go around pick your favourite tigers, smile, take pictures, and walk back to your car. There's no limit to this one!

There's more to do at this forest temple, here. 

If you love this place to the ends of the world, you can also stay back and be a volunteer. It was one of the coolest places I've ever visited, don't know when I'll be back, but I haven't said my goodbyes to it just as yet. 

You will need at least 7 hours for your trip to the Tiger Temple in  Kanchanaburi. There is the Damnoensaduak floating market on the way, so you can drop by. 

P.s. it's not the cleanest.

Mumbai Local Daily: Ladies Compartment

I have been commuting by train to work for the last 18 months, and somehow I manage to cross paths with new situations... almost EVERY day!

Twitter is my companion at times like these. Soon I had people asking me to shut the fuck up, while some even suggested I write a tiny book. So obviously, since shutting up is something I won't do, I decided to create and then update a blog that can fit all my train travel experiences now on, and what first-time travellers should expect.

I'm already having a bad feeling about this. #dammit

Anyway, here we go:

* First things first. The trains between 9:00 am and 10:00 am are always packed.

* Indian women usually have extra long hair. Mine for one is short. And these long-haired folks enjoy the breeze through their oil-loaded locks. So be ready for a whiff of coconut oil. If you're passing Bandra, Mahim and Matunga, on the western line, you will be lucky enough to have a bonus of human dump stench, and a good look at about 20 black buttocks.

* Some women don't shave their underarms, and see no problem in sporting sleeveless tops. 

* This one time the only view I had was of a woman's ear. Infested with blackheads. And I had no where else to look.

* Quite a few have to be introduced to deodorants. 

* They will elbow you in the face, stomach, chest, back and anywhere else they can. They will. I have learnt to too!

>>Check this space for more updates on what to expect while travelling in the ladies compartment!