6 – 9 February 2012 We left Bangkok and travelled up North for a brief stop at Bridge River Kwai. Kanchanaburi, close to the Myanmar border is where you’ll find Bridge River Kwai. This “Death Railway” was constructed by the Japanese prisoners of war during WWII. It started in October 1942 and was completed in a year. The reason why the Japanese built the bridge was so that they could transport cargo to India which will support their attack. It was tough and many lost their lives. After a short break, we headed to Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yannasampanno Forest Monastery or Tiger Temple (www.tigertemple.org). There are many programs to choose from- group photos to morning programs to tiger feeding (1000 to 5000 baht). We were told by our tour guide to avoid wearing anything red or orange. Inside the enclosure, there were some 8 to 10 tigers – all of them were sleeping.…
Thailand
Thailand – Oh Siam
Thailand: Indiana Jones
4 February 2012 The 10:50am train from Bangkok to Ayutthaya took 2 hours and after a short walk from the train station, we found ourselves in Ayutthaya Historical Park which covers the ruins of the ancient city of Ayutthaya. It used to be the capital of Thailand and was ruled by 35 kings until it was destroyed by the Burmese Army in 1767. There are heaps of Wats to see in the Park and we lingered far too long in the first Wat. The main Stupa stood in the centre, surrounded by many other smaller ones, courtyards and Buddhist statues. To escape from the heat, Jim and I went inside the main Stupa. The main chamber gave us nice views of the surrounding environment and a flight of stairs immediately caught our attentions. The ropes and railings leads you into darkness. Surely there must be something down there. Our adventurous side kicked in and…
Thailand: Bangkok days
1 – 2 February 2012 Siam’s Bangkok is fast-paced, like many capital cities in South East Asia. I started out at Lumpini park which offered a quiet spot away from the morning frenzy. A great friend Jim from America joined me on the trip and Kia, my great university friend decided to show us around his city. So we hopped on a ferry and made our way to see the Grand Palace. Established in 1782, not only can you find the royal residence and throne halls but also a number of government offices as well as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. You know you are in Thailand once you set foot inside the complex. Surrounded by 4 walls totalling 1900 m in length, it used to be the administrative and religious centre of Thailand from 1782 to 1932. Today, the Grand Palace is a centre of the monarchy and serves as…