桂河桥@泰国 ~ The Bridge Over River Kwai @ Thailand

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For those of you who missed last week's My Paper instalment of 天涯我独行, here is the original story. It was our first attempt in sharing our travel experience in Chinese and I was glad that unlike our previous entries, this Chinese version was not "heavily" edited before it was finally published.

The main reason we wanted to submit this article is not really for a minute of fame. Rather, to reitarate that there is more to Chatuchak Market, Erawan Shrine and Mah Boon Kroong in Thailand. And of course, to fulfil my interests as a freelance travel writer.

"来到桂河桥 (The Bridge Over River Kwai)，心里难免有一份感伤。桂河桥属于号称"死亡铁路" (Death Railway) 的一部分。建于1942-1943年的死亡铁路，横跨泰国和缅甸。二战期间，日本为了能从泰国到缅甸运载武器和军粮，强迫数以万计的劳力兴建这条铁路。为了建造这条全长415公里的铁路，总共牺牲了大约116，000 条人命。邻近的铁路博物馆细腻的记载了这条铁路的点点滴滴， 以及战浮所受尽的其害。

离开博物馆和桂河桥的路上，我的眼眶是湿湿的，心境久久无法平复。我们无法体会战浮和老佰姓为了建造这条铁路所受尽的痛苦，只能珍惜我们身边的一切，更珍惜和平的可贵。

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