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Considering its Anzac day in Australia I thought it would be a fair time to post these pictures. I traveled on the train from Bangkok approx 3.5 hours, I've done it before and I must say its not such a good way to go on a hot day. Every body was quite pleased to get off the train at the end of it, Anyway you leave at the station in Thonburi.
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This is the view as you approach Thonburi station in Bangkok.
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The train travels all the way to Prachuap Khiri Khan but I'm buggered if I'd pull that on traveling on this train. Leave that for the locals. :)
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All the happy punters sweating there bolliks off. :)
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The train from hell just after I arrived but it would be a good trip in the cool season.
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I'm looking forward to the upcoming pics mate.
"LEST WE FORGET" We will remember them.
Excellent town is Kanchanaburi, very easy to blow away a week exploring the town and outer ares.
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Because today is Anzac day and very important to all the countries that fought in the war and in particular the prisoners of war that were brutalized by the Japs in kanchanaburi I'm going to stick with that theme for this thread. This is the museum where there are replicas of the railway and the conditions it was built under. My first time there and it was brilliant, informative and impressive.
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This is the main cemetery in Kanchanaburi, bus loads of visitors arrive everyday and its a very moving experience to actually walk amongst these graves, I was surprised by my reaction. The Australian government pays for the upkeep and the Thais do an awesome job to keep it immaculate.
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Even though buses arrive regularly many times one can be alone here.https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...Photos_032.jpg
This impressed me to see local Thai school children converging on this cemetery and being immersed in history. Many Thais assisted the prisoners in those dark days and I thought maybe some of these children had relatives who did just such.
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The graves seem to go on forever.
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Many young troops fell.https://teakdoor.com/Gallery/albums/u...Photos_057.jpg
And not so young, plenty of troops 45 + also lay here.
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Outside the railway museum which sits opposite the cemetery. No photos allowed inside unfortunately.
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The famous bridge over the river Kwai. A prisoner of war camp sat below this bridge.
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I had never been to this cemetery before and the following pictures are a tribute to the Thai gardeners who tend this place.
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Great Shots
May they all rest in Peace.......
The inscriptions are very emotional when standing in front of them, many people moved to tears.
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When I was here the Thais where cleaning and relakering every name plate in the cemetery. Massive undertaking, I had a chat with these guys and they told me it was approximately a 2 year job. They have my upmost respect as there amount of care and dedication to this job was inspiring.
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These are the two guys banging away at the plaques. Take into consideration its late march and stinking hot.
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This guy is the cleaner.
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This guys banging away at the lacquering.
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There workshop. :)
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The end result and work to be well proud of.
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How good is this work and the family of this fellow would be well proud to see the dedication of these guys. There getting payed to do this work but there doing it properly.
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The gardener.
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The boys have all the good equipment so they can do there jobs properly thanks to the Australian government.
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The Japs caused all this killing, death and destruction in the name of this flag. Thank god they stopped them before they got to Australia.
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We are now back in Kanchanaburi at the J.E.A.T.H museum. Its a recreation of a prisoner of war camp in the exact dimensions and conditions the prisoners lived under. Pictures were not allowed inside but I got a few sneaky ones in. :)
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Tells the story.
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The Jap commander did not keep his promise to the prisoners of war and they died hideous deaths.
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The entrance complete with a bomb overseeing proceedings.
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Just inside the entrance, the structure is U shaped and loaded with pictures and letters from people who have been there as well as the prisoners them selves. Harrowing stuff.
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Taken from the exit looking back in, the prisoners lived and died on these bamboo platforms.. Whilst I was there these two young female Jap backpackers came through. They where in and out in 2.2 micro seconds. :)
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The exit showing a guards tower. Interesting is the statue of the Jap but puzzling at the same time. This guy was a guard but after the war became a passivist and apparently devoted the rest of his life to assisting the Thais. I myself would rather of seen a statue of the great Weary Dunlop the famous Australian surgeon who saved countless soldures of all nationality. Dont seem the place to have a Jap on a pedistal.
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The museum sits on the banks of the Kwai in a very peaceful location. Nice place to sit and reflect on what these poor buggers went through at the hands of the Imperial Army.
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These next few photos are a mock up of prisoners at work.
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Don't look like much fun does it. ?
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