Visit to River Kwai, Kanchanaburi

Anzac Day is observed on 25 April every year and honours members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzac) who lost their lives in foreign conflicts.

We have been to some memorable Anzac Day services around the world:

I think this year’s British Anzac Day service will be remembered for a long time too. Luckily we’re still jet-lagged (a permanent state for me!) so getting up at 4 am for the Dawn Service was easy. I do think there is something special about a remembrance service at this time of day as the sun rises.

Yes, we were up at the crack of dawn to join Aussies, New Zealanders, one British Prince and his American bride to be for the Service of Remembrance at Hyde Park Corner. My previous posts above will explain more about Anzac Day and its importance to Australians.

Visting Kanchanaburi

There was one place who really brought alive the horrors of war for me this year, and that was an earlier visit to Kanchanaburi, Thailand. It is an area made famous by the British-American epic war film Bridge over the River Kwai, 1957.

The film is a work of fiction that uses the historical setting of the construction of the Burma Railway in 1942–1943. This steel bridge over the River Kwai is one of important historical landmarks and memorials in Thailand.

The bridge over the River Kwai is a replica of the bridge which was bombed in 1945, and not the bridge either that was depicted in the film. Despite this, and let’s not let fact get in the way of a good tourist attraction, this steel bridge over the River Kwai remains is one of important historical landmarks and memorials in Thailand.

It takes about half a day to drive from Bangkok to the town of Kanchanaburi, 129 kilometres North-West of Bangkok. We broke the trip by getting up early but stopping off at Amphawa floating market.

A visit to the River Kwai area, is a popular side trip from Bangkok and you will have the choice of many tours. Most of us plan to have one or two nights in Kanchanaburi. I have yet to stay at the Float House Hotel up near Hellfire Pass but hear good things about it. I have also had many visitors who have taken tours, so message me if you need a good tour company recommendation.

Kanchanaburi War Cemetery:

On arrival, we visited the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, the main prisoner of war cemetery for victims of Japanese imprisonment while building the Burma Railway. Nearly 7000 Prisoners of War (POW) are buried here.

Having seen the scale of the loss of life just hits you as you read the personal messages written on the tombstones. Most of the POW’s are British, Australian and Dutch, we stop at one grave of a soldier named Melbourne. The site is immense, immaculate and incredibly sad, such loss of life and many so young.

Death Railway Museum:

Over the road is the impressive Death Railway Museum, do not miss. It explains why it was so important for the Japanese to build the Thai-Burma railway between Bangkok and Rangoon in WWII. How the Japanese managed to achieve the construction of the 415 km track, a feat which the British had previously decided against, using over 100,000 Prisoner of War and over 200,000 Asian labourers. The cost in terms of loss of life, the horrors of the climate, illness and the cruelty of mankind.

It also has a really good cafe, and you will need a cuppa after the museum. It is really interesting but draining.

Taking the train ride:

For many arriving by train or at least experiencing a train ride whilst up at the River Kwai is an important part of their experience. We will always drive as we have the use of a car, and found to our cost we needed to pre-book a train ride, as the train to Hellfire Pass was fully booked on our visit.

We did get to walk across the bridge, along with quite a few others! It is quite an experience as there is a sheer drop off the side. If a train comes you will notice there are waiting areas on the edge of the bridge. Not for the faint-hearted!

(This post is part one of a two-part post on the region. The following post, W is for Wandering Kanchanaburi, will take you to Hellfire Pass. I hope you will join me to learn some more about this not-to-be-missed visit.

Joining with thanks to Wednesdays Around the World and the team at Communal Global

V is for visiting the River Kwai, Kanchanaburi and part of

Blogging from A to Z April (2018) Challenge.

Click here to see the list of all participants!

Thanks so much to the organisers

Blogging From A to Z April (2018) Challenge River Kwai

6 comments

Karen crimson kettle -

I’ve been really enjoying your A-Z posts. The weather has taken a nose-dive over here, I expect it’s a bit of a shock to your system compared to the heat in Thailand. x

wrensrambles@gmail.com -

Thank you Karen, I glad you are enjoying the A to Z.Thank you for your support and for stopping by to comment.
Yes the weather here in the UK is cool, but I think it’s brilliant!
Have a great weekend.
Wren x

Angie -

Thank you for sharing these pieces of history with us. Though these visits may drain us, it is so important to remind ourselves about what mankind can do if unchecked.

I appreciate your recent visit to my blog. To answer your question, the cats have settled in very well. Last week, while we were on vacation, a neighbor looked after them with no issues, so I think all is good with our felines.