This morning we got up early and trekked the length of the train to the observation car because we had been promised a special view - we would be crossing a 300 metre long wooden "trestle" viaduct on the banks of the River Kwai. Unfortunately every one else on the train was there too and it was a bit of a bun fight, but at least it gave it gave us some exercise, which we need because as we were to find today there's no shortage of eating opportunities!
(Wang Pho station early morning)
We stopped at Kanchanaburi and disembarked to travel a short distance up the actual River Kwai, a guide from the local war museum gave us a brief history of the wartime Thai-Burma railway and spoke about the terrible conditions that the wartime POW's worked in to build it. Next we visited the Museum and the War cemetery, both were beautifully planned and maintained, a very moving place.
(The Bridge on the River Kwai - with our train on it)
A lovely lunch sitting next to a couple of Swiss people who are living in China, both of them spoke amazing English, in fact they spoke about four languages each, the lady is even learning Mandarin.
This journey feels like a linear form of cruising, there is on board entertainment, (Peter on the piano in the bar in the evening, a fortune teller in the Reading room from 1:30, and a demonstration of traditional Thai dancing in the observation carriage at 5:00. At this rate we shall need another holiday at the end of this one to recover!
(On the "observation carriage")
(The reading room)
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