johnsunter.com >> adventures - world >> seath east asia >> bangkok 2
The wild city of Bangkok, touching tigers and a visit to the bridge on the river kwai (2/2).
A trip to the world famous Bridge on the river kwai.
This is the bridge across the river, built later by the Thai Government.
Kanchanaburi cemetery, where some of the 13,000 people, who died building the original railway, are laid to rest.
On the trip with me, were a brother and sister from Sweden.
We got talking on the journey, and they found this grave, of someone from The Manchester Regiment.
The cemetery contains most of the people who died building the bridge, except for the Americans, who were repatriated.
There were Japanise tourists everywhere, who were smiling and taking pictures, without a hint of irony.
After this, we visited the JEATH museum.
This stands for Japanese, English, Australian, Thai and Holland.
The museum is designed in the shape of a hut, of the kind prisoners would sleep in.
There were many pictures and artifacts inside, including this train carriage, used for transporting prisoners.
Cholera was the main killer. It was said that a person that contracted this illness, would be unrecognisable to friends 2 hours later.
A section of the original bridge, still exists in the museum.
In the film bridge on the River Kwai, the the bridge is made from bamboo, and other stuff like that. In reality it was built from concrete wood and steel.
Not surprising really, considering the book was written by the Author of planet of the apes !
Only around 50m long, its all that remains of the original bridge, that cost so many lives.
In reality, the bridge was destroyed by Allied bombers, and not by Commando's as the film says.
A replica of one of the Japanese watch towers, that overlooked the work camp.
Many of the people who built the bridge, were civilians, and forced local labourers.
The present day bridge, built by the Thai Government.
There was a tourist train that traversed the bridge every 10 minutes.
The modern day bridge, taken from a different angle.
I walked across the full length of the bridge, it was quite scary at times.
In certain places, if you miss your footing, there is nothing to stop you falling in the River.
We drove further up the railway, and then stopped for lunch, at a restaurant next to the line.
We had an amazing BBQ lunch and got to sit overlooking the Kwai river, with this view.
Its possible to do the trip over 2 days, and there are plenty of really good floating guest houses on the river to stay in.
Nearby, a section of the railway, runs next to a cliff.
We arranged for a driver to drive around, and meet us at the other end.
It was about a mile and a half to walk.
With the cliff on one side, and the river bellow, it was a pretty spectacularly experience.
Half way along, there was an enormous cave dug into the cliff face, where Japanese soldiers sheltered during bombing raids.
Having reached the other side.
Some quick refreshments, and then a 3 hour car journey back to Bangkok, with some fascinating conversation from Jenny, her brother and our polygamous driver.
A brilliant day out.
