This is an interesting part of Thailand. Firstly, there is the train from Thon Buri station in Bangkok. It is timetabled to leave at 13:30 but hey, it' Thailand, so 45 minutes either side is not unusual. It's a funny sight to see travelers and nationals alike hop off the train to see what the delay is, only to have the train, unannounced to suddenly depart. One a the Rive Kwai, watch out for the obligitory scammers and fake attractions... The was an English fellow having a hissy-fit at having paid 250baht to see the River Kwai prisoners exhibition, only to enter an empty room with a statue of an Eskimo and a stuffed dinosaur. He couldn't get a refund because suddenly no-one understood anything. He was pissed. Wlaked the brige, bought some roasted chestnuts for lunch from a blind hawker (I'm starting to wonder though!!) and walked across the "bridge". Coincidentally spent Anzac day there. My advice, if there is a war, let some else fight it. It's a hardcore lose-lose for the soldiers and best glorified in umpteen American psycho flicks. ;)

La storia è quella descritta nel film di Linch, di cui rimane soprattutto la famosa marcetta. La realtà è quella del business nato intorno a questo ponte e alla cittadina che le è sorta intorno. Curiosando tra le bancarelle se si è fortunati è possibile ancora trovare qualche reperto interessante dell'epoca, ma attenzione ai falsi...per il resto, a pochi km. da qui il Tiger Temple offre rifugio ai grandi felini, custoditi da monaci intraprendenti che ne hanno fatto un'attrazione turistica. Che dire? Ognuno si arrangia come può, ma i cuccioli si possono accarezzare e coccolare e per chi ama gli animali basterebbe questo a giustificare una visita.

historische stadt am kwai river bei kanchanaburi,oder wie thais sagen" mueang gaan".ich war 3 mal dort und habe mir mit verwandten und freunden ein hausboot gemietet auf dem wir dann jeweils 3 tage am stück auf dem fluss vebracht haben.verpflegen mussten wir uns selbst,es gab eine feuerstelle auf dem boot:-)echt cool!!tagsüber schwammen wir dann im fluss und fingen fische und anderes was im fluss herumschwamm.viel natur und vegetation sind noch erstaunlich gut erhalten.wenn man dort ist sollte man unbedingt den kleinen umweg zum tigertempel in kauf nehmen,hammer!!!!!

It is an emotional historical site which is definitely worth a visit! You can take the train linking Thailand and Berma and imagine the harsh conditions of the prisoners who were forced to build the railroad during World War II. The railroad can look a bit spooky when it gets dark.. The cementary of the soldiers who died building the railroad is also worth a visit. However, be respectful when you are in it. It is also nice to live on a bungalow on the river (but be ware of the mosquitos) and cruise slowly along the river on a motor boat..

I've read the book, seen the movie and had to capture it myself! Being able to walk across it, even if it's not authentic helped me re-live the story. While there, every person from a British Commonwealth country also has to walk through the war graves cemetery to get near to understanding how many people died here.