bridge of the River Kwai...
Of all the remnants of war history in Thailand today, those in Kanchanaburi – less than a three-hour drive west of Bangkok – are probably the most well-known, significant and poignant. Subsequent to their invasion, with unfettered access to and the use of Siam’s infrastructure, Japan sought to create a transport route through Siam into Burma, which it also occupied between 1942 and 1944, in order to reduce its reliance on sea transport and facilitate onward moves into India.
This took the form of the now infamous Death Railway, constructed by the Japanese using the forced labour of hundreds of thousands of civilians from southeast Asia and prisoners of war from the Allies’ forces. These soldiers – relocated from camps in Singapore and elsewhere – were principally from the UK and its colony in India, the Netherlands and its Dutch East Indies colony (today Indonesia), Australia, and the United States
The Death Railway earned its name from the sheer number of lives lost during its construction, including that of railway bridge number 277 in June 1943, allowing the track to cross what is today known as the Khwae Noi River, and which has become recognised worldwide as the Bridge on the River Kwai. Estimates vary but, of more than 60,000 prisoners of war enslaved on the Death Railway, almost 13,000 are believed to have died, in addition to as many as 90,000 southeast Asian civilian forced labourers.
Even those who overcame the odds had to endure abysmal living and working conditions, including a humid, monsoon-plagued climate ripe for spreading diseases, food shortages, an absence of medical care, and the mammoth task of construction on unforgiveable terrain and with primitive equipment. That’s not to mention the incredible violence and torture inflicted by the Japanese and Korean soldiers supervising the construction.
Had an amazing time visiting the River Kwai Bridge on my last day of Bangkok. We didn't book our seats on the train but still managed to get seated. I'll never forget the lessons I learnt in the museum about the atrocities underwent whilst making the bridge. An eye opening day.
The bridge is a subtle reminder of those who sacrificed their lives making it. the view is beautiful and it’s always better to go early in the morning as there are less people.
Coffee shop on the way back to Bangkok, Bangkok - Kanchanaburi line with reviewers looking for ... beautiful photo angles while the brightness of the sky contrasts with the evening weather well.
Guihe Bridge borders Myanmar. It's three kilometers from Beibei Prefecture. The scenery here is beautiful. Friends from all over the world who come to visit here all take self-portraits on the bridge. There is a group in Malaysia who speaks Mandarin. It's so kind to hear that. They were very enthusiastic. When they knew that I was traveling alone, they invited me warmly and I refused them kindly. There are many Thai children playing and singing by the bridge with guitars. The first photo was taken with the help of a Thai boy playing guitar. He was very skilled and gave him 20 baht. He was happy to say thank you directly. The pace of life here is very slow. Many stores open at more than 10 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. Consumption is also low, more suitable for the elderly.
A great place to visit to get an insight into some of the history of Thailand.
Guihe Bridge is well known for its film of the same name. If the itinerary permits, you might as well go to the field and experience for yourself the "Death Railway" of the old days. ___________ RIVER KWAI BRIDGE is located in KANCHANABURI, about 130 kilometers northwest of Bangkok. One-day tour of Guihe Bridge can be easily booked at Bangkok Tourist Center or at the hotel. One-day tour buses usually leave early, usually around six or seven o'clock, and return to Bangkok at six or seven o'clock in the afternoon. The various fees are about 1,000 baht (about 200 yuan). There are also trains running between Beibei Prefecture and Bangkok. One is that the traveling time is longer, and the other is that the commuting time is not necessarily appropriate. If the time is right and the weekend is in Bangkok, then you can choose to leave at 6:00 a.m. on Saturdays. There are several scenic spots on the way. The stopover time varies from 10 minutes to half an hour. The round-trip fare is 120 baht (about 24 yuan) and returns to Bangkok at six or seven o'clock that evening. In Bangkok Railway Station, foreigners can buy tickets with the original passport, cash or credit card. The train stays at Guihe Bridge for a long time and can walk up and down the bridge. The train is mostly local, but also has many foreign tourists. It has no air conditioning, only fans. Although the conditions are simple, there are also different customs.