Sangkhlaburi day 1: first steps and immersion at the edge of the lake

At the end of the afternoon, we arrived at our hotel, located just opposite the famous bridge, which I would almost call the main attraction since people don't bother to really visit the surrounding area, but it's ultimately advantageous for us, because as usual, the one who goes to the village where there is no one is us!

And since it's just us, the effect is even better for the local population, in the sense that we're not visiting a "zoo" as is sometimes the case when visiting "villages" in the North of Thailand and we're not disturbing their daily lives.

But this excursion to the Burmese village (actually of a Mon ethnic group originally from Burma to be more precise) will only take place the next day. For the moment, we are content to admire the landscape and to tread our feet on the bridge.

This one is about 400m long and is considered the longest wooden bridge in Thailand, everything was made in a completely artisanal way originally (all by hand!) but it was finally renovated (and not yet finished) which makes it lose a little of its charm in my eyes, because it is indeed a machine this time which is used for the renovation, only a part at the beginning is still original.

[EDIT 2013: The bridge unfortunately collapsed last July (2013) after heavy rains which moved a lot of debris... See the images of the bridge destroyed here which shows that the renovation was not of good enough quality…]

Don't trust the photo this part of the hotel is under construction and the pool is not
so not yet practicable, on the other hand the place is perfect for admiring the view!

Overview.

The bridge is relatively straight today, before it looked like this:

Knowing that during our stay the water level was relatively low, normally it is at its lowest at the end of the dry season around April and at its highest towards the end of the rainy season in September/October, logical, but here in December the level seemed to me to be already quite dry (although not at its minimum).

Here is a photo (which also dates from before the renovation) to give an idea of ​​the high level, knowing that the houses at the water's edge are all floating and therefore adapt to the seasons.

We were staying at Samprasob resort, our room really looks out right onto the bridge!

A new room for  1800 baht, breakfast included (me
apparently, despite the price displayed at 1500 on their site…)

Photos from their site indicate that the maximum level simply skims the bridge, the difference therefore oscillates between a minimum and maximum of around 40m to 50m!

In contrast, the level here is at its lowest.

Among the floating houses are hotels, for those whose
swimming would tempt them.

In the middle of the beginning of the bridge stands the machinery used for the renovation.

For those on a budget there are always tents,
on the other hand forget it in the rainy season…

With all that, it might be time for us to go to that famous bridge!

For photo enthusiasts many get up early, hoping for beautiful shots.és by attending the offerings made

by the faithful in the morning, this is what we will try to do…

The original bridge end.

It's better not to be afraid of heights.