Short Trip To Kanchanaburi Area

[Nereus]

If you go to the end of the trail, there is road access and very easy walking access through Hintock Cutting to 3 Tier Bridge, which would give a real feel of what went on. The footpath is a bit stoney, but I'm sure you could manage it. Entering the Death Railway from this end would be absolutely free as well .
You could then return to your car and drive to the museum.
With Thais having a walking affliction, I'm surprised they don't use this entrance - they could even do it on their motorcycles

Thanks for that, Big Boy. I guess that you are aware of it, but as a point of interest, the whole memorial owes a debt to an Australian guy that has devoted a lot of time, effort and his own money into preserving and developing the area.

http://www.mansell.com/pow_resources/ca ... useum.html

[Big Boy]

I guess that you are aware of it, but as a point of interest, the whole memorial owes a debt to an Australian guy that has devoted a lot of time, effort and his own money into preserving and developing the area.

http://www.mansell.com/pow_resources/ca ... useum.html

I wasn't aware - thank you.

[Big Boy]

You may want to read these accounts BB.

"....Tropical ulcers caused only 2 per cent of deaths on the railway but were particularly loathed. Caused by the infection of wounds by microorganisms, they would eat away flesh to the bone. Even the smallest scratch might develop into an ulcer. Rowley Richards, an Australian doctor in Burma (now Myanmar) remembered these painful wounds as ‘shocking’:"

http://hellfire-pass.commemoration.gov. ... -death.php

WARNING: Some shocking illustrations.

Yes, when we visited the JEATH Museum (Trip report scheduled Monday) on the site of the original bridge, there where a few very graphic photographs of such injuries.

[Bamboo Grove]

I actually met this guy when taking my tour groups to Hell Fire Pass in late 90´s. I always loved his story when he told us that whenever he sees a ghost of the guys who perished there he just says to them:"God day, mate."

[sateeb]

BB...The Jeath museum is a bit haphazard. IMO the museum next to the War cemetery is so much better well laid out and far more informative.

[Big Boy]

Which JEATH museum do you mean. There are 2. Sunday's report will contain:

This museum was a real hotch potch of artefacts. Not just wartime memorabilia, but included watches, stamps, saucepans, shoes, Miss Thailand, jewellery etc. It was very random to say the least.

[Nereus]

No intention of stealing your thread Big Boy, but the following may be of interest. One of the survivors that I knew is still listed on this site, but I was sure he had passed on.

http://www.btrma.org.au/?p=702

[Big Boy]

Part 3

Tham Kra Sae Cave

We have caught the train from Wang Pho to Kanchanaburi several times in the past. We have always been impressed at the rickety Tham Kra Sae Bridge, just after Tham Kra Sae Station. The train seems to travel about 2MPH for fear that this weak looking bridge couldn’t take any more speed.

the rickety Tham Kra Sae Bridge

the rickety Tham Kra Sae Bridge

Most people are hanging out of the windows at this point, viewing the bridge, the river and the floating hotel beyond. I’ve always heard people talk about the Buddha Cave behind me, but we’ve always passed it before I’ve taken a look.

I set my SatNav for Tham Kra Sae Station. I had no idea how we would get to the cave from here. Imagine my surprise when I realised we had to walk along the track of the rickety bridge, with huge drops either side of us. What would happen if a train came? There was nowhere to go.

Tham Kra Sae Station

we had to walk along the track of the rickety bridge, with huge drops either side of us

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we had to walk along the track of the rickety bridge, with huge drops either side of us

Well, we put on our brave/stupid heads, and went for it – quite exhilarating actually, although the distance to the cave entrance wasn’t too far. Of course, my son and I left the women at the cave and carried on along this fantastic piece of engineering. This was one of the highlights of our trip. Views were also spectacular. Always in the back of my mind was what happens if there’s a train coming? We just had to hope he had good brakes – we had nowhere to run. I actually convinced myself that this must be why the trains go so slow here – idiots like us walking on the track. We did not encounter a train, although within a minute of us getting back to the station, we heard the familiar sound of a train horn.

my son and I left the women at the cave and carried on along this fantastic piece of engineering

my son and I left the women at the cave and carried on along this fantastic piece of engineering

Views were also spectacular

Views were also spectacular

Views were also spectacular

The cave itself was OK, but I’ve been in better. It went on a lot further than I was prepared to go (it got a bit low for somebody over 6’5”). My son carried on though, and took my camera with him.

The cave itself was OK, but I’ve been in better

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The cave itself was OK, but I’ve been in better

DSC06039.jpg (53.31 KiB) Viewed 470 times

The cave itself was OK, but I’ve been in better

DSC06040.jpg (70.02 KiB) Viewed 470 times

The cave itself was OK, but I’ve been in better

The cave itself was OK, but I’ve been in better

DSC06048.jpg (59.37 KiB) Viewed 470 times

it got a bit low for somebody over 6’5”

My son carried on though, and took my camera with him.

There were a couple of bats in the cave, but I didn’t manage to catch them on camera.

As I’ve said, walking along this bridge was quite exhilarating for me, and an experience that will stay with me for a long time.

We made our way back to the hotel for a much needed shower and a bit of R&R before going out for the evening, where we ate on one of the floating rafts beneath the bridge.

Tomorrow: JEATH Museum No. 1

[Big Boy]

Part 4

JEATH Museum 1

After breakfast, we left the women in the hotel (12 o’clock checkout), while my son and I wandered down to the JEATH Museum not far from the current bridge.

JEATH means Japan, England, Australia, America, Thailand, Holland.
[Edit] I'd forgotten that America were in the war also - obviously the Thais have forgotten them also. I've added America to compensate

It cost 40 Baht each for admission. The actual buildings were very ornate, with some outstanding murals painted on the walls and ceiling. It was very confusing going from room to room, and there didn’t really seem to be any continuation. I’m sure somebody understood the confusion.

buildings were very ornate

buildings were very ornate

buildings were very ornate

buildings were very ornate

buildings were very ornate

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murals painted on the walls

murals painted on the walls

The first thing we came across was a series of statues depicting war time leaders.

General Tomoyuki Yamashita

DSC06096.jpg (64.25 KiB) Viewed 385 times

Adolf Hitler

DSC06097.jpg (64.09 KiB) Viewed 385 times

General Hideki Tojo

DSC06099.jpg (54.11 KiB) Viewed 385 times

General Douglas MacArthur

DSC06103.jpg (51.05 KiB) Viewed 385 times

This museum was a real hotch potch of artifacts. Not just wartime memorabilia, but included watches, stamps, saucepans, shoes, Miss Thailand, jewellery etc. It was very random to say the least.One display that I found a bit disturbing was a glass case containing the remains of prisoners who died while building the Death Railroad. I thought this public display of human remains was quite disrespectful.

Railway Engine at entrance

wartime memorabilia

wartime memorabilia

wartime memorabilia

shoes

DSC06133.jpg (52.92 KiB) Viewed 385 times

saucepans

We made our way around the displays, but I found one of the best parts of this walk around the museum was access to some excellent viewing platforms to see the bridge, river and beyond.

some excellent viewing platforms to see the bridge, river and beyond

some excellent viewing platforms to see the bridge, river and beyond

some excellent viewing platforms to see the bridge, river and beyond

some excellent viewing platforms to see the bridge, river and beyond

After the museum, we went back to the hotel, showered, changed and loaded the car in readiness for our homeward journey (via another 3 attractions first.

Tomorrow: JEATH Museum 2

[PeteC]

Am I correct in saying that is not the original bridge nor the site of the original bridge? I think I read somewhere that the original was totally destroyed and was located either up or down river from that spot. Pete

[richard]

Correct. I posted a pic on the history challenge thread. The original was down stream I think

Have a read of this http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-bat ... 2/kwai.htm

[Big Boy]

Tomorrow's report is from the site of the original bridge - JEATH Museum 2. The museums are about 3.5 miles from each other by road.

[oakdale160]

The museam that is the best(IMHO) is the one adjacent to the large cemetery in town. The cemetaryitself is very moving, so many very young men who lost their lives here. On one visit i saw two elderly british ladies kneeling and praying at a grave, that made me feel teary and humble. I have no connection with any of those buried but take flowers, pick a headstone at random, say a prayer and lay the flowers there.

[Big Boy]

Yes, sateeb said that as well - didn't know about it (the museum, not the cemetery) . One in the bank for next time .

[richard]

I love Kancha and at one point considered living there but find it eerie. Sounds a bit crazy to dwell on the past but I was born just before the end of the second world war and visited many places in Germany in 1950 with my father who worked and played in Germany during the 1930's. Saw the result of a war torn country(including concentration camp sites)

Any visit to parts that remind me of how lucky my generation were to just miss it by a few years saddens me. I cannot stand in that cemetery without shedding a tear and openly sobbing. I did have relatives who were close to similar conditions and fortunately survived

I took my daughters and they just did not believe how young the guys were who died.

Sure, they'd seen the movie 'Bridge on the river Kwai' which is an heroic fantasy about the events but since getting them to watch 'The Railwayman' there opinions have changed.

Am I getting a bit down? OK time to go out and join the 'grumpy old men brigade'