Day 11: Thu 4 Sep - Bangkok

This was the traditional MEPS visit day where we usually visit a military installation of some description.  Touring a Thai military installation was not an option this year, so I arranged with Noy for her to take us on a tour which included the Bridge of the River Kwai, so it did have some military significance. 

So, we had to be up even earlier as the bus taking us on our tour was leaving from the BITEC at 7am.  Those of us staying at the Windsor Suites requested a breakfast-to-go, and somehow, I ended up with 2.  Not that I was complaining though, as they were tiny breakfasts consisting of a small sandwich, dry croissant, bread roll and water! We all met down in the lobby and also met Dave and Noy there and then made our way to the BITEC via the BTS.  We arrived in plenty of time and found the bus.

The tour started with a drive to Kanchanaburi, and we arrived about 9am. Our first stop was at a WW2 Kanchanaburi War Cemetery where we had about 30mins to walk through the grassed cemetery.  This cemetery contains the remains of 6,982 Allied POWs who perished during the construction of the Death Railway. 

It was then back onto the bus to proceed to the Bridge Over River Kwai.   We were there for around two hours and we walked the bridge and wandered through the museum.  We had lunch on a raft moored on the riverbank of a tributary to the Kwai River and were served excellent Thai food.

The bus then took us to Saiyok Elephant Park where we got to ride them, have them put on a show for us and for those lucky enough to be chosen, have a massage by an elephant.  What am amazing experience the whole thing was!  Another 40 minutes later we were at the Death Railway.

After all that, we were pretty buggered and most of us had a little snooze on the way home which took a little more than 2 hours.  Bangkok traffic!!  

Kanchanaburri War Cemetery





Bridge over the River Kwai











Museum
Interesting pictograms

Prisoner holding carriage

Sick prisoners

The Malaria Boat




Elephant holding and mounting yard

Me, Sylvain and Mai (the elephant)







Zheng-yu & Jane


Me having a massage




Zheng-yu being kissed before his massage

Death Railway





















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