Kanchanaburi

We took a leisure train ride across the infamous "Death Railway" to another nearby town but couldn't find our way back to Bangkok. We hopped on the train knowing that we couldn't miss such a good opportunity as it would be a wonderful experience. Of course the train is not lavishly furnished like the Oriental Express but it does have its own unique character. Some parts of the rail were constructed only from timber and the train had to practically slow down while crossing that particular stretch because it was simply too dangerous to go through in high speed. Somehow, it reminded me of the sufferings of the POWs during World War II and it was quite sad to think that so many actually died while enable the possibility of our ride that day.

We also visited Saiyoknoi Waterfall which was just a short trek from the main road. The water was refreshing and we could walk just right to the top of watersource.

Kanchanaburi today still reminds me of the horrors of war, what it brought to the people and wounds that would never be healed. We passed by a cemetary in which foreign soldiers who fought and died in Thailand during the war, were buried. It was a solemn and peaceful place. This is also the first time I been to a military buried ground.

Our stay there coincided with the "Festival of Lights" which celebrated the King's Birthday. We had our dinner at a restaurant by the riverside overlooking the steel bridge where the performance were held. It was a story about the war but unfortunately it was told in Thai. Nevertheless, it was a stunning performance with lots of fireworks and realistic sound effects.

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