Breakfast was again brought to our stateroom and we watched the countryside roll by as we prepared for the day. After breakfast we packed our bag as we would be leaving the train this afternoon. At the Nong Pladuk Junction the train left the main line and proceeded NW to Kanchanaburi. There we stepped out of the train and looked down on the famed Kwai River with our train parked on the bridge. The train backed off the bridge which gave us a great photo-op. Down to the river we went and boarded a barge for a short hop up river for a view then down river while enjoying a lecture on the history of the Japanese invasion of SE Asia and the building of the railway by prisoners of war.
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| Our train on the Bridge over Kwai River |
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| original spans |
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| scene on the river Kwai |
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| lady fishing, river Kwai |
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| memorial. zoom to read plate |
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| Part of the cemetery |
We got off at a temple and boarded a bus for a short hop to the Thailand-Burma Railway Center museum and gallery for more on the famed railway. I cut the museum visit short to walk across the street. There is a large cemetery, beautifully maintained with rows and rows of markers for the graves of hundreds from many nations who died in the building of the railway here at this crossing. There are many other graves along the route; most unmarked and unknown. Look into
www.kanchanaburi-info.com/en/muang.html .
I felt more than a little subdued going back to the train, which was now at the station. The station platform was crowded with food stands and people awaiting their train. It was bright and lively.
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| a monk |
After boarding we went to the dining car for pan fried barramundi fillet with Asian pesto and savory tomato crumble, confit of chicken leg accompanied by lemongrass risotto with butter lemon sauce and an apple tarte tatin with light chocolate ice cream and bourbon vanilla sauce. We sat at the siding and ate and watched the people on the platform watching us. When we finally pulled out, we moved to the back of the train and onto the observation deck to watch the tracks behind us and see the scenery roll by. Rolling through towns always brought out children shouting and waving.
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| view from the observation car |
We settled our on-board accounts and sat back to watch Bangkok. As usual, the entry by rail exposes the traveler to views of the seedy side of town and we got many glimpses of poverty, hovels, garbage, foul ponds and scrawny foraging dogs, over the top of which the tops of tall modern buildings could be seen. Not pretty, but real.
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| Bangkok station |
At the Bangkok station we got off, collected our bags, bid goodbye to the crew and bussed to the Royal Orchid Hotel. Our room was on the 15th floor and overlooked the city and the Chao Phraya river. Dinner was in the hotel.
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| view from our room |
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