AmyHuang
Kanchanaburi and River Kwai
We were back in Bangkok for two more days to exercise my credit card and to meet a friend who was in transit here to Bhutan. However no way was shopping going to take all day and our friends also had their agendas for the day, so it was off to Kanchanaburi we went.
If you are unfamiliar with the name Kanchanaburi, perhaps you've heard of the River Kwai Death Railway. Kanchanaburi province and town is around 130 Km west of Bangkok and is surrounded by mountains, rivers and waterfalls. However, this town is more infamously known for the Bridge over River Kwai, the Death Railway, a Japanese construction project that killed approximately 100,000 prisoners of war and local labourers during the World War II.
Learn more about the history and the location here.
We visited the World War II museum and paid our respects to the dead at the War Cemetery. Many of those who died building this railway are no more than my age, and many probably could have made it home after the war if it was not for this deadly project.
After this sad visit to the bridge we were shipped off to an elephant camp to ride yet another elephant (we had a baby in tow this time) and another bamboo raft. Then, we were packed onto a carriage for a scenic train ride. With limited time we could only do a day tour to check out the place, however Kanchanaburi had grown on me and we plan to come and spend a couple of days here the next time we are in Thailand.
More stories to come. Meanwhile - happy new year!
If you are unfamiliar with the name Kanchanaburi, perhaps you've heard of the River Kwai Death Railway. Kanchanaburi province and town is around 130 Km west of Bangkok and is surrounded by mountains, rivers and waterfalls. However, this town is more infamously known for the Bridge over River Kwai, the Death Railway, a Japanese construction project that killed approximately 100,000 prisoners of war and local labourers during the World War II.
Learn more about the history and the location here.
The bridge over River Kwai
The war cemetery
We visited the World War II museum and paid our respects to the dead at the War Cemetery. Many of those who died building this railway are no more than my age, and many probably could have made it home after the war if it was not for this deadly project.
After this sad visit to the bridge we were shipped off to an elephant camp to ride yet another elephant (we had a baby in tow this time) and another bamboo raft. Then, we were packed onto a carriage for a scenic train ride. With limited time we could only do a day tour to check out the place, however Kanchanaburi had grown on me and we plan to come and spend a couple of days here the next time we are in Thailand.
More stories to come. Meanwhile - happy new year!
