After a pretty non-descrip breakfast, not the worst but not the best we have had it was off to Hellfire Pass in an what they call an open truck. Pretty much a songthew just a bit bigger. As they are open at the back it makes for great watching of people, stall and the general area as we passed by.

I had wondered how we would get te driver's attention if we needed it but as it turns out Philip solved that mystery for me. He reached up and pressed a button which was next to the lights at the top and as it turns out it must set off a buzzer or something in the cab as the driver stopped very quickly! After convincing him that we were all ok, and ribbing Philip, we were off again.

It is about a 45 minute drive to Hellfire Pass, with a short stop (really just a slowing down) for an immigration checkpoint, which was set up in the middle of the road. I'm not even sure that he even wound down his window as we passed by.

Hellfire Pass is one of the places Dad has always wanted to see.

In October 1942 work on the railway started in both Burma and Thailand with the aim to be a completely joined railway by August 1943. Over 60,000 Australian, British, American and Dutch Prisoners of War and approximately 250,000 Asian labourers built the railway. The Asian labourers were treated no differently to the Prisoners of War and in fact were often treated worse.

From April 1943 the work pace increased substantially as they strove to meet the deadline. The reason Hellfire Pass has it's name is due to the flickering bonfire light that illuminated the emaciated workers while they worked on Konyu Cutting. The 'speedo' as this period was called, combined with the cholera outbreak and wet season resulted in the death of thousands. The beatings, combined with starvation and lack of medical facilities and treatment resulted in further death.

Overall 12,399 POW's and between 70,000 to 90,000 Asian labourers died.

The museum was built, paid for and maintained by Australia. It is an elegant, somber yet inspiring place which fits in well with the surroundings.

The walk through the cutting is approximately 4.5km however only 2km is currently open. From the museum it is approximately 500m to Konyu Cutting. There are a lot of stairs for the first part but it is a beautiful and serene walk. We were lucky there were very few people when we walked to Konyu Cutting and had the memorial to ourselves for a little while giving time to reflect on what these soldiers went through.

Standing in the cutting feeling the heat and humidity and looking at the shear rock walls, I simply can't imagine how these men worked at building the railway, with primitive tools, let alone also managed to sabotage the railway on so many occasions.

This is now the third time I have been here and I am still awed by this place.

From here it was onto lunch near the Sai Yok Noi Waterfall. A small restaurant on the opposite side of the road with a nice view. BBQ chicken and sticky rice (yum) and fried rice with either chicken or pork. A raspberry soda which tastes like fizzy red cordial to top it off. Sugar rush . . .

A market was set up next to the restaurant selling various snack foods, Thai style. The ladies selling had no english but were quick to offer samples which I must admit turned into sales for them. Dried plantas ( a savoury kind of banana) chips, plantas chips dipped in a sugar syrup, some kind of taro or potato chip and purple potato chips dipped in the same sugar syrup and it was off to the waterfall.

After doing our cardio stair climbing exercise for the day it was determined the waterfall was actually at the bottom of the stairs but to the left! The waterfall itself is lovely but Miss A of course decided she wanted to go in after Papa did. What looked like a decent crab and some fish were near a concrete turtle which had been there some time and covered with algae. As we walked back I saw a small crab in the 'rapids' a small stream. Pointing it out to Miss A it was only when I touched it that she saw it and then wanted to take it with her. Lucky for the crab it got caught in the current and scooted away.

A nice little break, cool near the waterfall and it was off to the Nam Tok Train Station to catch the 'tourist' train back to Kanchanaburi. It is a 1.5hr train ride, when the train is on time. . .

Mum, Dad, Philip and Marie wandered down to the Wang Badem Cave. The cave contains a large buddha and worship area. Both Phil and I had seen it before and Miss A had fallen asleep so we chose to stay with her in a small rotunda letting her sleep.

After the train was half an hour late, we finally were on our way. It is a lovely ride and still trying to work out how the train can be late as it is very quick stops at the stations, literally enough time to get on or off with no messing about.

The countryside is beautiful. Of course the typical sights of rice fields, but there were many other crops of Taro, pineapples interspersed with a temple literally in the middle of nowhere.

Hats and a tshirt purchased at the market at the Kanchanaburi end of the line and it was back to the Hotel.

Philip and I walked to the 7-11 for some drinks. Turns out it was a great people watching experience. From the girl, who nearly passed as a girl, to the differnet cuts of meat (with a 'lot' of flies on them) to the mangosteen piled into the back of the truck (which we bought) it was a great walk with one of the most interesting people I know.

Question of the day on food:
When a Thai menu states mild, medium or hot and you request medium, what on God's earth is hot? I had a Thai Green Curry (medium) and I love hot, spicy food but wow that surprised me.

I was going to try a Jungle Curry as I had on a previous trip but maybe not. . .

After tea the boys stayed in with beers while the girls went over to Sabaigaya for a massage. Well this is when the night got interesting. We guessed quickly that they didn't have enough staff and then the owner of Meat and Cheese walked in. Turns out he owns the massage place as well! This man has a finger in a lot of pies, does he own this town?

As it turns out in Kanchanaburi it turns out he owns Meat and Cheese, 2 Massage Places and the Amazon Bakery.

After a rather amusing massage, we were way to giggly for our own good ( :) ) and probably lucky for us the women didn't know much if any english. Listening to Marie trying to explain to her masseuse about reflexology, after stifling my giggles I finally had to tell her the poor woman didn't understand her. Much laughing after we regretted not taking extra money as these women deserved a tip, they were great.

Returning to the hotel beers for me and the boys and Smirnoff for Marie a great way to end the night, although the Rambo movies are being played in reverse order as it turns out.