Located in the west of Thailand, some 129 km from Bangkok, Kanchanaburi is home to historically rich attractions like the World War II Bridge over the River Kwai and dozens of beautiful waterfalls. In this edition of EQ Youth, we link up with young locals to find out about their lifestyles, favorite hangout spots, and what makes their city great.
Cheeze, 23, student
What’s your lifestyle like in Kanchanaburi?
“I love cafe hopping and eating out with friends. We’ve got loads of cafes here! I also love Erawan falls because it’s super easy to get there. If I’m too lazy to drive, I can just take a bus which takes about two hours. I feel like part of the youth culture here has to do a lot with the accent. For me personally, I don’t feel like I speak with an accent, but when I went to a uni in a different province, people would ask me where I came from. I didn’t feel excluded or anything because they found it cute.”
“Another thing that’s part of our culture is going to the annual ‘bridge festival.’ It’s held at the Bridge Over the River Kwai with lots of stalls, music, and light shows. I’ve been going since I was in junior high. My parents were really strict, but they let me go to this festival.”
“As for food, our termite mushrooms are really famous. They typically grow towards the end of the year so they’re quite rare and expensive.”
Any cool spots you want to recommend to EQ fans?
“Everyone should try staying overnight in a raft or going up to Sangkhlaburi or Saiyok. Kanchanaburi is a huge province and there’s plenty of places to visit. I’ve lived here all my life and I haven’t been to them all.”
“If you love nature and want to relax, I recommend coming here for some hiking. You could first spend a night on a raft then visit some waterfalls. Don’t forget to try our jungle food also – things like frog, barking deer, and kang fish. Our food is tasty and spicy and we have lots of beautiful restaurants. Come visit when you have a chance!”
Photo credit: vinlos
Jay, 19, student
What’s your lifestyle like in Kanchanaburi?
“We have loads of cafes here. My favorite is Kan Machi Cafe. We love cafe hopping and camping. During a festival season, when traffic gets really bad, we usually stay on a raft. We don’t have a lot of PM2.5 here, but the weather can get really hot. It only gets cold for a couple of days. You can also drive to visit a zoo or take a stroll at the Saturday walking street.”
Any cool spots you want to recommend to EQ fans?
“If I have friends visiting from other provinces, I’d take them to Sai Yok Yai Waterfall and go on a boat ride around an island where you can visit a series of waterfalls. It's really a photogenic place. In the evening, I’d take them to Chuen Ruedee Beach to listen to live music and enjoy some moo kata action.”
Photo credit: Kanchanaburi Tourism
Nam, 16, student
What’s your lifestyle like in Kanchanaburi?
“After school, I go to cram school and if I have some free time, I usually go to a cafe with my friends. There’s lot of places you can visit here. Food is affordable – people love Kosak boat noodles.”
Any cool spots you want to recommend to EQ fans?
“I would recommend going to cafes or Keeree Mantra restaurant with a mountain view. Rafting is also fun – you can rent it for the day to sit and chill. Don’t forget to buy souvenirs like crispy gold rolls or Kanchanaburi t-shirts. If you come during the River Kwai Bridge festival, you should visit Mon Bridge on the border with Myanmar.”
Photo credit: chillpainai
Woon, 16, student
What’s your lifestyle like in Kanchanaburi?
“I’m a bit busy these days but I do like traveling and going out. I love cafe hopping just like other teenagers.”
Any cool spots you want to recommend to EQ fans?
“Definitely don’t miss Erawan Waterfall and the River Kwai Bridge. They’re super famous and have a lot of interesting history.”
Photo credit: egyptyha
Mark, 16, student
What’s your lifestyle like in Kanchanaburi?
“There’s so many cafes to choose from! Most high schoolers like to go downtown because there’s lot of shops to check out. It’s also easy to make friends here because everybody seems to have friends in different schools around town. If you want to snap a gorgeous sunset photo, make sure to go to Baan Sittisang. If you plan to take a bus back, be careful though because it can get really crowded and finish quite early.”
Any cool spots you want to recommend to EQ fans?
“Go to Keeree Mantra Restaurant for a view of beautiful mountains and grass fields. If you like boat noodles, you must go to Ko Sak Tha Nam. Tha Nam or Baan Sittisang is also great for sunset watching. I’d also recommend Rinrin Cafe in the city. We have a great selection of food places, so make sure to visit them and support our vendors.”
Photo credit: painaidi
First, 19, student
What’s your lifestyle like in Kanchanaburi?
“I like to spend my time in nature along the border of the province. If I’m free, I like to go make merit and feed the fish at Wat Tai. My parents have been taking me there since I was little. There’s also cafe hopping and plenty of food options around the bus terminal.”
“A lot of students love hanging out there. For me personally, I like going to the night market and Saturday walking street because I love eating. The night market starts from 5 pm and stays open until dawn. There’s lot of food options to choose from, but my fave is Jay Lew noodle shop. I also love camping – my dad has been taking me camping since I was little.”
Any cool spots you want to recommend to EQ fans?
“Make sure to go camping. I just went to this camping site and it wasn’t too crowded. There’s also a stream where you can go in and swim. The place is called Tha Thung Na Nature Protection Unit and it’s near Sai Yok Yai. A quick drive from the city center and you’ll be there in no time.”
Photo credit: chillpainai
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