The Bridge on the River Kwai!

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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The weekend market - a lazy day

No where planned to go today, so we got up at a respectable hour and took our time over breakfast. The breakfast room was packed with Japanese families, and this made the people watching more entertaining than usual.

We decided to take the "Sky train" to the Weekend market, that is to say, to the market that is especially noted for being held at the err... weekend. The Sky train is Bangkok's attempt to improve traffic congestion, it's an urban railway system that runs high above the ground, it's very cheap and clean, and busy, but it does avoid the traffic.

(... the train approaching platform one is a "Sky train...)

 

The market was a fascinating experience, really atmospheric, massive and not just a tourist site, you could buy almost anything. We came across an area that seemed to specialise in pets, and there were dwarf rabbits, (dressed in costumes...), puppies, cats and in the fish water section, terrapins, koi carp and sea horses. I' m not sure about the animal welfare issues but it was certainly interesting.

(Jan was concerned that the dogs and cats were suspiciously close to the deep fat fried fast food stalls!)

(The way into the market).

(There were hundreds of little alleyways like this).

(Street performers come in all shapes and sizes...)

 

Excitement levels have been high at the hotel today and yesterday. Some high ranking military officials from Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam have been staying, we saw them going out to a function last night, all festooned with medals,, and this morning they were having breakfast in a private room off the lobby. There are security guards with earpieces and badges in dark suits all over the place, at one point I said to Jan I thought the man in the gaberdine suit was a spy... She said to be careful, because she thought his bow tie was really a camera...*

 

Got my suit delivered this evening, very nice, it shall be unleashed upon the unsuspecting public tomorrow night.

It also rained for the first time today, and boy did it rain! Cats, dogs, kitchen sinks, the lot, we were inside watching and it was spectacular.

We are catching the train to Singapore tomorrow, and so will be out of wi-fi range for 3 days, expect a bumper blog when we re-emerge into civilisation!

 

 

*spot the reference and maybe win a mention in a forthcoming post... come on you lurkers!

 

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