Australia's Auschwitz?
Trip Start
Nov 01, 2006
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23
24
Trip End
Apr 10, 2007
Kanchanaburi, Thailand
Friday, April 6, 2007
I walked on the brdige but did not take photos or take the train. Instead I spent a morning visiting Hellfire Pass, about an hour's bus ride away from Kanchanaburi. The serene landscape belies the brutality that went on during the construction of the Thai-Burma railway. Here mostly Australian POWs dug a pass for the Thai-Burma railway. The museum, entirely funded by the Australian government, present the exhibits and material extremely well
Buses with personalities
. But I have to say that the exhibits and the testimonies weigh towards Australian and European POWs. Reportedly it was the Malay and Burmese who suffered most - in numbers of deaths, casualties and illnesses. I also learnt there that the Korean wardens were the harshest. It was explained that they had been subject to brutal treatment by the Japanese, and hence took it out on the POWs. I asked the staff if many Japanese tourists came to Hellfire Pass. No, they said. They did not want to come or see it. Overwhelming facts and testimonies can be readily found in many sources. So no need to repeat them here. I had my camera, but learning of the stories, I could not bring myself to press the shutter button. Just around me I heard lots of Australians talk. I felt quite odd to be the only Asian visitor. I would hope to see Japanese and Australian joint tour of sorts taking place. But that would be a pie in the sky given the current political climate in Japan.The town is very well geared for tourism in Kanchanaburi. Lots of good accommodation and restaurants catering to western tourists. But my favourite eatery spot was a small family-run restaurant before you come down to the waterfront where many restaurants serve up western fare and get enough patronage thanks to guide books. They served horse-kick strength Tom Yam at a bargain price. One can watch the cook make it in front of you from start to finish.
Kanchanaburi is more than the River Kwai history. I enjoyed going to wats in the outskirts of the city. It took me some effort by thumbing and bussing. Seeing a few cave temples was well worth my effort. Quite awe-inspiring.
Overwhelmed by the sheer variety and choices and affluence in Thailand, I must confess that I actually enjoyed browsing at Tesco, which was a huge contrast to the market in town centre.
