Travelogue around Asia Pacific Part II

Bangkok - At the top of Bangkok Marriott on the 45th floor is the Octave Rooftop Bar & Lounge that provide a spectacular view of downtown Bangkok.   You can feel the cool breeze of the night and bright city light down below.    The service is really slow at the Octave Bar - looks like short handed up on this bar. Ascott Bangkok @ Sukumvit

Bangkok - Our last dinner before heading back to Singapore.   Let's do sushi and to this famous Maguro restaurant in Bangkok.  Delicious sushi and sashimi dish.   Maguro set Chawanmushi

Kanchanaburi - The Tiger Cave Temple, locally known as Wat Tham Suea, to reach the summit - we had to climb the 157 steep steps.  157 steps up to the summit At the hilltop, you will see the largest Buddha Image situated in the out-door area. This largest Buddha image, and was built in 1973. This Buddha image is about 18 meters high and 10 meters wide. Beautiful view from the top   Willy, Lesley and I from the beautiful summit 

Kanchanaburi - The Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre and Memorial Walking Trail was built and is maintained by the Australian Government. Opened 25 April 1998 and refurbished and rededicated on 12 December 2018, it's dedicated to the allied prisoners of war and Asian labourers who suffered and died at Hellfire Pass and elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region during World War II.   Poppy remembrance day More than 60,000 Allied prisoners worked on the railway.  In 1946, the Allied War graves registration unit concluded that approximately 12,500 lost their lives, includes some 6300 British, 2800 Australia, 2500 Dutch and tens of thousands of Romusha (paid conscripted labourer). Entrance to Hellfire pass Hellfire Pass was 'lost' in the jungle for many years after 1945 and was rediscovered only in the 1980s. After World War II, most of the Burma-Thailand railway was dismantled.   The name 'Hellfire Pass' came from the appalling working conditions at the around this site...

Kanchanaburi - Krasae Cave was once where POWs rest as it's located right next to the Death Railway. It is now a popular spot for visitors who take a walk on the railway and would stop by to pray toward a Buddha image enshrined within the cave. The cave is within walking distance from the railway tracks of Tham Krasae Railway Station, the most beautiful view point along travelling by train. Warning to be careful Starting point of the Death Railway This is a well-known viewpoint as it is considered the most beautiful and most dangerous point of the Bangkok Railway - Namtok, also known as "The Death Railway". Beautiful view of the Death Railway If you look down through the railway, you will see the Kwai Noi River flowing below, which needs to be especially careful.  Death railway clinging along the steep cliff Built over during World-war II of only 17 days during the spring of 1943, Tham Krasae Bridge is the longest railway bridge in Thailand and is one of the most famous; ...

Kanchanaburi - This popular restaurant that is near River Kwai had good reviews though expensive. Address: 431, 1 River Kwai Rd, Ban Tai, Mueang Kanchanaburi District, Kanchanaburi 71000, Thailand Egg omelette with prawn and crab Snakehead fish with basil Snakehead fish is ikan Toman - as the fish is deep fried it tasted dry. Stir fried Pak Wan Pak Wan is Sayur manis or Mani Cai or Sabah vegetable.  Stir fried prawns with pomelo This is a unique and tasty dish, the flavour was blended nicely.  The Pomelo gave a sweet taste to the dish and it goes well with the prawns.

Kanchanaburi - Numerous books and films on this "Bridge over River Kwai' has made this location famous and attracted both Thais and foreigners.    Bridge over River Kwai This steel bridge is one of important historical landmarks and memorials in Thailand. It is almost a symbol of the province and is a recommended place in Kanchanaburi travel guide. The history of the bridge is well known, as it was part of the railway lines in World War II and had seen its share of conflict and bloodshed.  After World War II, the damaged bridge was renovated by the Thai government in 1946.  Along the train tracks, there are train platform in case you are not able to reach the other end of the tracks when the train passes. Lesley and I on one of the train platform Train is approaching

 Kanchanaburi - It has been established to provide an unbiased, rounded and accurate account of the story of the Thailand to Burma Railway built in 1942/43 by Prisoners of War of the Imperial Japanese Army and by both forced and willing Asian laborers. Although not specifically a memorial, it facto is one. The object is to provide a center in Kanchanaburi that is part museum and part information and research facility, but devoted entirely to the Thailand-Burma Railway. Located just opposite of the Kanchanaburi war cemetery.   Entrance fee is B150 per person plus free coffee or tea, Entrance to Death Railway Museum The two-story building includes an air-conditioned museum, coffee shop, toilet, and a small souvenir shop. The railway was built to provide supplies to Japan’s troops during WWII, and was constructed using forced labour – by both Allied POWs and local civilians. As a feat of engineering it was an astounding accomplishment, with 415 kilometres of track and over 6...

 Kanchanaburi - A short drive from the Skywalk lies the Kanchanaburi war cemetery.   The graves of those who died during the construction and maintenance of the Burma-Siam railway (except for the Americans, whose remains were repatriated) were transferred from camp burial grounds and isolated sites along the railway into three cemeteries at Chungkai and Kanchanaburi in Thailand and Thanbyuzayat in Myanmar. Coincidentally, today is also poppy day or war remembrance day and many Australians and UK relatives of dead were at this cemetery for a remembrance service.  plaque lies at the entrance of the cemetery Graves of many servicemen  There are now 5,085 Commonwealth casualties and 1,896 Dutch war graves of the Second World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery.  memorial poppy  Today is remembrance day

Kanchanaburi - The skywalk over River Kwai was recently opened on 11 September 2022.  The glass skywalk, a 12-metre high and 150-metre-long walkway along the bank of the River Kwai.  Entrance is B60 person. View of the River Kwai Another beautiful view of the river The other end of the Skywalk 12m high skywalk Lesley, Willy and I on the skywalk