Koapoon Cave Temple, Kanchanaburi. ( I apologize for the quality on this video its really a nightmare trying to video and walk about in these caves it was not the highlight of my trip, especially after heart surgery. Perhaps 40 years ago i would have enjoyed this pot holing ) I visited this cave temple in June 2014. I took a river cruise in a long tail boat. These boats are very quick some being powered by V 8 engines. However their shape does not allow them to turn quick because they are flat bottomed. So all manoeuvres should be taken at a very slow speed to avoid capsizing. Arriving at the jetty I found it all being modernised with new timbers, but they had thoughtfully made a walkway for any boat trippers. It was not 100% safe though, but no choice, had to accept the walkways. When you get off the boat you are met with a very steep hill that you must walk up before getting to the temple. You will find several shops here selling everything from Hats to souvenirs and the usual drinks to re hydrate you in the fierce heat here. On the walk up the hill you will come across the Death Railway tracks that run from the Bridge over the river Kwai. Take a moment to stand there and imagine what those men had to endure in what was then a tropical forest. The rocks that they cut through in building the railway were terrible to see. A friend of mine was imprisoned in this work during the war, many times he told me all the stories of how life was in the camps here. Many never made it home hence the two war graves situated in Kanchanaburi, one Don Rak near the railway station in Kanchanaburi and Chungkai cemetery which I visited early. The first shrine that you will see is the Phra Mae Guan Im Pho Thi Sat Chao, a large Buddha sat on the top of the hill overlooking a spectacular river view. Many Thais offer prayers at this shrine and usually buy a bottle of water which you can buy here. A lorry equipped with seats in the rear can take you to the Koapoon Cave Temple about 2000 metres farther up the dirt track for 50 Baht per person. Yes you can walk but after that climb up the hill not many want to. Arriving at Koapoon Cave Temple you will find a number of smaller temple buildings surrounding the site. The entrance to the caves are on the right coming from the river or on the left coming from the road entrance. Again a number of Buddha images are lined up before the entrance on the right hand side This temple is very old not much has been recorded about it but it is said that in 1870 King Rama V or King Churalongorn the Great visited here by waterway to worship here. Koapoon means limestone mountains. The stairs down to the caves are not too many but are steep. The main flight takes you down into the first one of nine chambers. This chamber holds a reclining Buddha image and this chamber is called the Phra Buddha Salyas room. Room 2 is called Ja Ae room. It means to meet, because this room does not connect to the others. You will find a number of images and smaller Buddha’s in here. Moving onto room 3 called Mai Toa Rom meaning walking stick. It’s so called because the limestone Crystallized post in this room looks almost like a walking stick that is support the ceiling of the room. Room 4, Sai Yoi room, meaning weeping fig tree. Due to the roots of a weeping fig tree that penetrates the ceiling of this room. Room 5 Jor Ra Kha room, which has the name of crocodile room. A rock in the shape of a crocodile was found in this room in a basin shaped piece of rock, but this was stolen during the passage of time. Room 6, Por Poo Rui See room. The ascetic room. Room 7 Thape Ni Mitra room or God vision room, there is an image of a Buddha placed here. Room 8 Kaew room or crystal room on the way from the last room you will see plenty of wonderful Crystallized limestone which makes this a famous landmark. Room 9 Thape Prasittisopol room, in this room you will find more crystallized limestone with a shape of an Elephant’s head with a long trunk. During the war the Japanese used this part, at the rear near the river, as a nursing camp called Koapoon hospital. More information can be seen about this in the Jeath Museum at Chanasongkram, Muang Kanchanaburi. The day I visited this Temple was very hot and sunny and you would think the depths of the cave would be cool. It was not, it was hot , humid and no air movement. Many of the places you almost had to crawl as the ceiling was so low. I really did not imagine me going any father than halfway after having had open heart surgery only a few months before. On appearing at the entrance again, the man who drove the bus asked me why I had not gone all the way round and come out at the other opening and that I was the first one he had seen who had not done that !!!!

• published: 15 Aug 2014
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