“From Ayuthaya we took the bus to Kanchanaburi via Suphanburi.
“It was like clockwork – straight off one bus onto the next and away we went. Kanchanaburi appeals very much to tourists because of its links with the notorious death railway and the bridge over the river Kwai.
The new Death Railway War Museum was very good and very moving. Our trip on the train took us over the bridge and through narrow gorges bringing home to us how the prisoners of war must have toiled to dig out this railway and the cost in terms of human life. Our four friends who we were going to India with had joined us for our last few days in Thailand.
The three men spent a day much further along the railway in an area of the jungle known as Hellfire Pass.
Many Australian prisoners of war had died here in terrible conditions and the Australian government had funded the maintenance of the lonely trail, erected a memorial and opened a museum. The three men found walking along this trail a very moving experience.
On a much lighter note the three ladies spent an excellent day at the Apple Thai School of Cookery. The Apple Guesthouse and restaurant have an excellent reputation. The day included a visit to the local fruit and vegetable market, plenty of hands on cooking and demonstrations and lots of lovely food to eat.
Our instructor for the day was Mickey, a man who badly wanted to be a woman. It was a bit disconcerting to start with listening to him whilst admiring his long hair and lovely painted nails. His legs looked pretty good too in his mini skirt! However we soon got used to him and his cooking was excellent.
