Kanchanaburi - the tourist stuff

Whilst in Kanchanaburi we went to check out all the sights...mainly to do with the Thailand-Burma Railway built by the Japanese during the Pacific War, the most famous part of which is the Bridge over the River Kwai. AFter visiting both the Thailand-Burma Railway Museum and Hellfire Pass Museum we're all now pretty much expert on this part of history...which is actually pretty stickening with about 90,000 POWs and 200,000 Asians dying during the building of the railway. Not surprising if you're made to move 3 cubic metres of earth a day and work 16 hour shifts in a malaria infested region you don't stand much chance.

On the lighter side the railway itself is very impressive and beautiful to sit on whilst it clings to the mountainsides above the river. We went on a wee tour day up here which was great as we got to see a couple of waterfalls, hot springs...which were amazing, and, of course, another Buddha...this time subduing Mara in a cave (sly finger shuffle position). It was great to see so much, but it turned our tour guide into a bit of a slave driver telling us things like "take as long as you want here, we have loads of time. Be back on the bus in 45 minutes!"...and when that includes the 15 minutes walk there and back Katie began to really appreciate Martin's and my extended scenic route back from hellfire pass taking in the route the POWs used to march down and even more to her delight a few hundred steps! Still beat the rest back though...hardcore!!

We finished off at the Bridge which was quite impressive...and strange to be able to walk across a railway bridge...constant paranoia keeps kicking in!! Massive tourist trap though - walk around the corner int he direction of our hostel and all of a sudden you're back in a practically rural setting!

Great place to visit though and the Jolly Frog hostel is an awesome place to unwind.