The River Kwai and Its Bridge

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Kanchanaburi is a couple of hours North West of Bangkok. It is a small town on the Main railway from Bangkok to Yungan, formally known as Rangoon, on the banks of the Nam Kwai. The railway (also known as the Death Railway) was built to supply the Japanese in IndoChina during the war and crosses the Nam Kwai. It was constructed using Allied Prisoners of War, and was bombed mercilessly by the allied forces. The Japanese even housed some Prisoners on the bridge itself to disuade the Aliies from bombing it. 15,000 PoW's, mainly from Britain & Holland died during the construction of the railway

After the war the bridge was rebuilt and all the PoW's were moved to a series of cemetaries to honour their memory. Its a very moving experience.

But there is also fun to be had in Kanchanaburi. There are Elephants to bath and Tigers to pet. We did both. Every morning the elephants are taken down to the river and bathed by their keepers before they walk round a park all day with tourists on their back. While they are being bathed you can get on their back while they frolic in the river!
Me and a tiger
Great fun!

There is also the Tiger Temple. It is run by monks who have rescued about 10 tigers from poachers and effectively keep them as pets. For a couple of hours a day they allow people to pet them. Its quite frightening to be so close to something that could quite easily kill you, ever though they are as tame as a standard moggy.

We were only in Kanchanaburi for 2 days. It is a delightful little place and the time passed all to quickly. We dont go back to Bangkok. We get the overnight train to the coast, then the ferry to Koh Pha Ngan.

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