Thailand April 2013

          I always wanted to see, the bridge over the River Kwai. So Khanchanuburi 100klm west of Bangkok was an early destination but I never imagined that we would be able to camp within 50 metres of the bridge! 

             And the bridge where so many WWII POWs died building it, is still a working railway with access for both pedestrians and trains; yes at the same time; a train comes and you hop into a side bay

                       One of three war cemeteries; 15,000 POWs died through starvation, torture, disease and over work; over 1,700 were Australian. On top of that around 90,000 civilians died after being pressed into slave labor by the Japanese in an attempt to build a connecting railway between Thailand and Burma. In all they built 415 km with 88 bridges and cuttings in just 20 months

           The most infamous cutting was here at Hell Fire Cutting…

              One could only reflect on the misery and death that happened here in 1942 – 43

           Marina clinches another deal!

      

               Wachira Longkorn Dam is a large irrigation and hydro power dam which now floods the upper reaches of the Death Railway near the Burma border; incidentally the engineering was managed by SMEC;  Not sure what happened to the local residents – I guess this would be some of them floating on their house boats 

              Though some of them can afford satellite TV!

     

                    The Buddhist Temples or Wats are everywhere and are so colorful and intricate

                                I don’t know what these trees are but their colorful yellow and mauve flowers are a constant pleasure right across Thailand

    

                          Another awesome load!

                 Over 450 klms north from Bangkok and the elevation is still no more than 54 metres ASL. Just one large plain of rice growing

 

     

                     Sukhothai is the ancient city which the Thais say rivals Angkor Wat. Built during the 14^th and 15^th centuries it was one of many Kingdoms which was finally absorbed by developing civilizations.

 

                        It certainly had some impressive remnants from the past

               This statue shows the ancient connection that Buddhism here has to Hinduism