Thanks so far for everyone's help, and one more question! We were unable to get Tong personally as a guide, and have Tom for 2 days. Then I came across a post on TA where someone was willing to share their day with Tong, and now we are going to the Tiger Temple (after much soul-searching, guilt, and then the realization that I really wanted to see a tiger up that close) in the afternoon. Tong offered either the usual Bridge, cemetary & museum; or the monkey school in the morning. Since it's not my trip, I'll go with the flow, but if you all have some more interesting way to spend the AM in that area (or can tell me that the morning she's offering is really great), I'd be happy to hear all opinions/suggestions.

I'm getting really excited that March 31st is on the horizon and I'm ready to go! Hope you all have some good ideas on this.

my only comment is that the bridge, etc is even further away from bkk and the sites there are only moderately interesting, imo...

would she take you to the "secret place"??

rhkkmk - I'm always wondering, is that the same place as the fishing village? If so, I'm set to do that on one of my days with Tom. If not, would someone please tell me what it is???? Also would someone clue my in on just where the "secret market" is in Chinatown? I know, I know, if you told me, it wouldn't be a secret, would it.

the 'secret place' is the same as the fishing village.... it is south from bkk sort of on the way to the floating market...

the secret market is called pahurat and is an Indian market actually...google it and there is a map...it is just south of pahurat road which is off of tripetch rd which runs in town from the memorial bridge....so not all that far from the flower market and not far from sampan lane

Thanks I'll add that market to my wandering around day!

Anyone else have a suggestion for interesting stuff around Kanchanaburi!

Hi Susncrg
We arrived home yesterday from our Thai/Cambodia and we did 3 days with Tong. On the day we went to the tiger temple we did the following.... Monkey school in the AM. It was moderately interesting and we got to feed and hold the gibbon.
Tiger temple from 12.30. We went early as this was one of the main points of interest for us and we were not dissappointed. We took almost 200 photos at the tiger temple alone,just in case the memory should ever fade.
In the afternoon we went to bath the elephants. We had already been on an elephant ride early in the trip and were not very keen. We could not have been more wrong...it was one of the highlights of our entire trip.
Late in the afternoon we had a quick trip to the River Kwai. It is a very beautiful spot to have such a sad history but unless you are interested in that history I doubt it would be worth a special trip
(IMO)
Tong also offered us a visit to a forest orphanage in the AM that sounded interesting. Hope this helps.
Whatever you decide to do with Tong will be fun.

We went with Tong to the Forest orphanage after the Tiger Temple. It was wonderful. The kids were great. We loved watching them swim in the river and frolic about. It's a change from the usual tourist stuff.

Skittle and gpanda - Thanks. I think I'll send your posts to Tong and tell her to replicate it!

We actually did the Floating market, tiger Temple and Forest Orphanage in one day. If you're lucky, you can feed Bam Bam the same way I did. Just ask Tong.