Sleeping on a Wooden Plank and with the Bed Bugs
Trip Start
Jul 10, 2007
1
7
46
Trip End
Mar 11, 2008
River Kwai, tribal village near Burma,
Thailand
Thursday, July 19, 2007
We began today's journey by riding in an antique train on the famous "Death Railway". At least one war prisoner has lost his life for each railway tie used to build this railway leading to Burma. Many are still buried beside the tracks. After trying to digest this fact, we visited the JEATH museum (Japan, England, America, Thailand and Holland) dedicated to the prisoners of war captured by the Japanese army. This museum is located inside one of the shelters that housed the prisoners. The roof leaks; rain is destroying the paintings as well as pictures and letters written home by the POW's. It is appalling to see the lack of respect given to these soldiers. It was my first insight as to understand how the boys would react to the atrocities of war. They are both so young but they were so shocked by what had happened
elephants
. I can see kindness and empathy in their hearts. The war cemetery nearby was beautifully kept, I am sure since it is subsidized by the veterans. In one quiet and peaceful corner, seven Canadian soldiers are laid to rest. The oldest one, the pilot was 21. The other six crew members were between the ages of 16 and 19. I did not let my boys out of my sight after reading the stones left behind. How their parents must have felt; it is so hard not to cry with them.
Finally, we arrived at the famous bridge which is not in its original location but according to our guide; close enough. We are able to walk on the tracks but were told that at the sound of a train, to run quickly to the wider side of the tracks and that jumping off the bridge just was not advisable.
After our very quick walk on the bridge...(with absolutely no safety standards ) , we were on our way to a tribal village. As we played "Try to spot David Niven by the Bridge", we inadvertently found Elvis. He is happy and looking well rested.
The tribal village nears the Burmese boarder. The villagers fled Burma to find refuge in these mountains
tribal village classroom
. There were a lot of bananas Pappie! The villagers were very welcoming, generous and so curious to find out our country of origin. They were also amazed by the size of our boys and at the freckles, eye and hair colour of our youngest. He is constantly being touched on the shoulders or on the head and receives a lot of smiles from the women. We slept - sort of - on a wooden platform, under mosquito nets, in a very dark shack. After a healthy breakfast of rice and something that resembled eggs, we headed down the slippery mountains on the backs of elephants. Awesome! Mine was a grumpy and hungry male. He was constantly sidetracked by the corn fields and often stole some plants. Ty and I were more than once almost catapulted off his back. Now, where and how does one land gently and gracefully when one falls off an elephant and save the camera?
The rest of the day was spent at BED BUG Island where every possible form of ground cover was submerged under four inches of water...and the rain oh the rain!!!! This was a low point of the trip. Monsoon season was starting to wear on us. The toilet to our "interesting" digs was located outside, oddly lodged between two rooms. At night when one needed to visit it, one discovered an enormous, dark, hairy eight legged beast on the wall. They grow them big here, and one does not wait to see if they are friendly!
At breakfast, a young girl from our tour showed up with her legs completely covered with bed bug bites. Thank goodness for our silk sleeping bags and my insistence that we sleep in them... they saved our legs and weeks of scratching!
Comments
just wondering
...and how does one steer an elephant that doesn't feel like going where you want it to? I'm thinking that if it wants to eat that corn, it gets to eat that corn...
What an adventure!
Hey guys,
What a fantastic journey, so admirably described! You're doing a great job, Dozee, not only in telling the story but keeping the gang in check. I can't believe you've actually been to the bridge on the River Kwai! Please do the same thing I've always asked of the H/L continuum during their travels- say hi from me to any mammal you meet! Keep the great stories coming!
PC
P.S. I got Et's postcard. Amazing, thanks!
Bruins sweater
MJTYEX but mostly X
Hope an elephant comes around and eats that Bruins sweater....with Zdeno in it....Papy