The Death Railway

What I've read in my secondary History book finally made sense to me. Instead of the usual memorising of information, information automatically got stuck onto me when I could envision the torture of the POWs and the Asian victims.


Forced labour was used in its construction. About 200,000 Asian labourers and 60,000 Allied prisoners of war (POWs) worked on the railway. Of these, around 100,000 Asian labourers and 16,000 Allied POWs died as a direct result of the project. The Allied dead were comprised of: 6,318 British, 4,377 United States, 2,815 Australians and 2,490 Dutch personnel. Sources are from Wikipedia.


The railway was constructed to transport Japanese forces, supplies and equipment transported from East and North Asia to Burma and through Thailand. Initially, they were transported by sea, through the Strait of Malacca but were vulnerable to attack by Allied submarines, and an alternative means of transport was needed.


It is such an irony to imagine such violence amidst such beauty.





A temple was constructed in a cave near the railway to pay homeage to the victims I suppose.




Took a picture with Pia who is a French exchange from another Thai university. Bumped into her during out tour.


Maa. How can I resist...

So, as we waited for the train to arrive, Cholsu beckoned me from a shop.




The train ride didn't take long. It was about 20mins. I wanted it to be longer. Absorb and just enjoy the breeze.


I prefer to travel in pairs or alone and not with a tour group based on the fact that you are never in control of time. Other people dictate your movement and schedule. I don't like it. I like to discuss on where to go and when to do it. Being spontaneous is what I'd prefer.




Photographer taking another photographer.



The Kanchanaburi gang.


I know it's cliche but you've just gotta take this pic. Wheee!






It wouldn't occur to me that I would be taking a similar train for 14 hours across Thailand to Koh Phangan the week after.


A random photo of a Korean woman.


Feeling the breeze.





Standing at The Bridge Over River Kwai.


Boon and Nathan.





I somehow felt a lil wrong for taking the train and using the tracks that many had actually died for. You get what I mean? It should not be used but more for remembrance. But it's just my own sentiment. Feeling a lil emo.


Took a good one for Nate.


So as the day bidded goodbye, Cholsu and I sent Nathan and Boon to the bus station. While they headed back to Bangkok, we both of us stayed for another day to venture out deeper into Kanchanaburi.



We stayed at this floating house called T&T because the rest of the guesthouses were fully occupied. Till then.

jamiel
meeting some pussycats