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OTT-DVD-139 - For many years the infamous Bridge On The River Kwai has attracted a great deal of tourists to the city of Kanchanaburi. The bridge owes its worldwide fame to a novel by French author Pierre Boulle and a distinguished film by David Lean. However, due to its natural beauty, the province, which is located around a hundred and thirty kilometres west of Bangkok, is also a popular holiday area. With the creation of the Death Railway in the Second World War the Japanese planned to establish an alternative supply route across South East Asia built by POW's and forced labourers from all over Asia. The bridge has been moved from its original location as originally the railway viaduct was situated four kilometres further north. Despite this the historic bridge on the River Kwai has lost nothing of its fascination and historic significance and its somewhat plain and unspectacular construction of steel and concrete is in stark contrast to its moving and dramatic history. The longer the construction work continued, the worse the situation grew for the totally exhausted POW's. The back-breaking work, continuous under nourishment, the outbreak of cholera and the daily torture by the Japanese, took its toll and thousands of men died. In 1945 the Japanese destroyed all the documents that related to the death of the POW's and forced labourers. However, it is estimated that around sixteen thousand allied soldiers and up to one hundred thousand forced labourers from each corner of Asia perished. The seven thousand gravestones of the POW's that lie within Kanchanaburi Cemetery and the legendary River Kwai are a tragic reminder of one of the saddest chapters in the history of Thailand.
On Tour... RIVER KWAI...
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 199 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m28s
Views: 13  | Comments: 0
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7DY-DVD-129 - Thailand is a land of smiles and sunshine, the gem of Asia. A fascinating land of contrast, chaotic traffic, serene temples, poverty, wealth, hustle and contemplation. The metropolis of Bangkok boasts many wonderful sights such as Wat Phra Kaeo, the Temple Of The Emerald Buddha, that is highly revered by the Thai people. The city's most important landmark is also its most beautiful temple complex, a wonderful work of art comprising golden Chedis and numerous resplendent buildings. The River Kwai Bridge: the film of the same name made the bridge world famous. In Kanchanaburi the railway spans the wide River Kwai and this bold construction consists of steel and concrete, not wood as was depicted in the film. A bridge that symbolises the brutality of war built by thousands of prisoners of war under the command of the Japanese. Thirteen kilometres north of Bang-In is the former capital of ancient Thailand, Ayutthaya. The most famous historic site in Thailand has retained its exotic appearance. The Wat Mahathat was built in around 1380. Its main feature is a mighty banyan tree whose roots grow around a severed Buddha head. Chiang Mai is the most important city in northern Thailand and is located within a fertile river valley three hundred metres above sea level. The centre of the first independent kingdom in Thailand situated within the famous Golden Triangle. The Hmong are the largest of the northern mountain tribes. They originated in Laos and Southern China and it is believed that this tribe, divided into clans, once had its own kingdom. Thailand is a mysterious land full of contrast, natural beauty and superlative exotica!
7 Days THAILAND
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 199 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m41s
Views: 125  | Comments: 0
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