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Published: December 30th 2007
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Dec 28
Special day at Hellfire Pass
The tours take you to Hellfire Pass for a 1.5 hour look at the museum and a walk through Konyu Cutting "Hellfire Pass". I did this on my last visit to Thailand and had decided I needed more time to explore the entire walking trail from the museum to Compressor Cutting and go even further to the Japanese Camp at Hintok next to the River Kwai.
I caught the bus to Sangkhlaburi at 730 am from the Kanchanaburi bus station. Just hop on the bus and pay your fare of 50 baht to the conductor. The non air conditioned bus is fine as they leave both doors open, sitting at the back is best if you want to stretch your legs and it takes 100 minutes to get to the Hellfire Pass Museum. I was also going to visit Sai Yok Noi Falls as they are close by on the road back to Kanchanaburi, so I asked Lek at reception at my hotel to write both destinations in Thai, a good move for the bus drivers and conductors.
I was lucky as the museum was closed on the days before
and after my visit, apparently there has been some local political problems and the stairway down to the Konyu Cutting was closed for safety reasons. The ovehead route was used which is good as it gives an excellent view of the cutting although you will need to climb up and down many steps.
Last time I was at Hellfire Pass I had a good look through the museum and the 30 minute movie they show can be very moving. This time I just wanted to walk the entire trail. You can take an MP3 player with audio for the various numbered stops on the trail. I really enjoyed this as I walked the trail, you pay a 200 baht deposit which is given back on your return to the museum. You also need to provide proof of your identity - I gave them a photocopy of my passport.
Well it is great to have plenty of time to walk the trail - no need to rush - It can be very hot here and fortunately it was perfect walking conditions. I took three bottles of water, good walking shoes, hat, sun screen and my backpack - you may
be alone on the trail so take plenty of water - my Thai mobile also had good reception.
Heres the timeline for my walk:
Start from the museum: 930
Kwai Noi Lookout: 945
Hammer and Tap Cutting: 1030
Compressor Cutting: 1145
Hintok Camp: 1230
Museum: 1315 (lucky the mail delivery man came along)
The photos tell the story of my walk better than words. After Konyu Cutting I was alone for most of the walk, an amazing feeling when you think about the thousands of allied prisoners that were once working and many dying here in autrocious conditions. It is silent and I can only imagine the sounds of prisoners working as the cuttings were created and the track was being put in place. Something I was not really prepared for is the striking beauty of this place. It really makes you think about what happened here.
I would suggest that if you come here that you walk to the end of the trail at Compressor Cutting. Many turn back or are picked up at Hintok Road. Past Hintok Road to Compressor it is really amazing at this
time of year with the huge leaves on the ground and the light shining through the trees.
I wanted to walk to the Hintok Camp on the River Kwai as this is also the site of the Japanese Camp in the war. Only do this if you are prepared for some tricky walking and downhill treking through rough terrain to the Hintok Camp. You should also contact the Hintok Camp and see if they can take you back to the museum or to the bus stop/train station as there are no taxis out here. I was tired but continued on as I thought nothing I was feeling could compare with what the prisoners of war had felt and endured when they were enslaved here.
The Hintok Camp is an oasis and next to the River Kwai with a pier and huge spa pool. They have a website where you can book tours that pick you up from Bangkok and put you in luxury tents with showers and air conditioning. I did not like that option as it is a bit too quiet out here for me to stay overnite, but would be perfect for others looking for a
tranquil place to stay neat the walking trail.
I took some more photos and decided it was time to head back to the museum. Well I did not realise it is about a 5 km walk back to the museum and up a fairly steep hill. Lucky for me the mail delivery man came past on his scooter and offered me a ride, it was getting hot and uncomfortable out there. We stopped at the local primary school to deliver a letter which was a treat with all the little kids smiling and doing their little wai to me, very cute. Back to the museum to return my MP3 player and off to the bus stop just down the road from the museum entrance. A special day for me at a place that everyone should visit if they come to Thailand.
Theres 42 photos so you need to select 2 and next at the bottom to see them all. If you click on a photo you can see a larger, clearer version.
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ANTHEA
non-member comment
You are amazing
Hi who are you and what have you done with my brother. I cant believe this is really my normally quiet brother Leon ou there exploring the world and partying all hours of the day. Keep it up the stories of your travels and the photos are really amazing we are all very jealous. For anyone that is thinking of going to Bangkok etc this information is invaluable, Never know Michael and I might get there one day. Anyway hopefully talk to you romorrow. Love Anthea.