Next up we took a James Bond style speed boat tour upto the iconic bridge over the River Kwai. A sobering reminder of Thailand’s part in the 2nd World War.
During its construction, approximately 13,000 prisoners of war died and were buried along the railway.
An estimated 80,000 to 100,000 civilians also died in the course of the project, chiefly forced labour brought from Malaya and the Dutch East Indies, or conscripted in Siam (Thailand) and Burma.
We also visited Hell Fire Pass.This is a railway cutting on the former Death Railway which was built with forced labour during the war.
The pass is noted for the harsh conditions and heavy loss of life suffered by its labourers during construction.
Hellfire Pass is so called because the sight of emaciated prisoners labouring at night by torchlight was said to resemble a scene from hell.
Moving on from the horrors of the pass, we headed to our accommodation for the next two days, the peaceful waterbourne River Kwai Jungle rafts. http://www.riverkwaijunglerafts.com
Inaccessible except by boat, on a bend in the river at Kanchanaburi, these were fantastic.
With no electricity, they were lit by wick lamps after dark.If you fancied a dip you just jump off your floating pontoon into the river (just be sure to grab the last handrail or you’ll be swept down stream on the fast currents!
Neil takes the plunge!
Our pontoon out front – don’t I look delighted to be there!
