Kanchanaburi

We hired a driver and tour guide to take us to Kanchanaburi which is about a two and a half hour drive from Bangkok. Backpacks loaded with water, sandwiches and snacks, we headed out at 7:15 a.m. for our day trip. Our tour guide assured us there would be many "Happy Breaks" and "No problem" with four children for the long voyage. She was right.


Our first stop was "Bridge over the River Kwae"


We walked across the bridge and discussed the Death Railway: a strategic railway built between Thailand and Burma in 1942. Our tour included a visit to the Jeath War Museum. The word Jeath replaces the word Death because it sounds too horrific. Construction began on September 16, 1942 at Nong Pladuk, Thailand by approximately 200,000 prisoners of war from England, America, Austrailia, Canada, and Holland. Many labourers died of disease, stavation and lack of medical equipment. Photos in the museum tell a very sad story of the life and death of those who "slaved" on the railway.

This is written in the museum materials that we received.
"Dear visitors, The Jeath Museum has been constructed not for the maintenance of hatred among human beings, especially the Japanese and allied countries, but to warn and teach us the lesson of HOW TERRIBLE WAR IS."

Our group stopped for a traditional Thai meal on a floating barge before driving on to the Tiger Temple. The Tiger Temple was established in February 1999 when the first cub arrived. It was a female cub of Indochinese tiger subspecies and her condition was very poor.
We were able to hold the little tigers because one of the handlers (Rod from Banff) overheard Georg say "eh" and recognized us as fellow Canadians. Sue is an animal lover and the feeling seems to be mutual. The little tiger cuddled in her arms and seemed to want to go asleep. Another experience that only Sue experienced (I'm sure this is a one-of-a-kind experience) was a "licking" by a resident (a deer). While waiting for Brett to return from the "Happy Place" a deer approached Sue, licked her hand and then continued to lick her arm! I think this would be animal magnetism. Sue with Baby Tiger

By the way, she also seems to attract "short people" as she calls them. They are just drawn to her and seem to want to get close to her. Isn't it wonderful that she's been a preschool teacher/Mom to so many short people over the years!



Boys with Tiger


Baby Tiger


We drove to an elephant training camp where we watched an elephant show. The little elephants would collect 20 baht and go "shopping." Returning with a bag of potatoes or bananas they would wait expectantly to be fed the treats.

They also performed a little show of dancing and bowing and standing on two legs. Anyone wishing to have a massage could request an "elephant massage." Georg was volunteered for one such massage.


Two-by-two we went for an elephant ride that lasted over 40 minutes and included a quick trip through the water. Erik was happy to be able to "drive" his elephant. He switched places with the regular driver and spent the whole time trying to balance on the elephant's head.


The day ended at 10 pm. Everyone was tired and we all agreed that today was a 10.