Banchango
Nearing The Bridge Over The River Kwai in a Long Tail Speed Boat.
Those of you who remember the film “The Bridge Over The River Kwai” will note that the bridge in this photo and the river are nothing like those depicted in the film. This is because the film was shot in what was then Ceylon (now Sri Lanka ) not at Kanchanaburi in Thailand and the bridge most closely associated by the tourist trade with the film and book is made mostly of concrete and steel rather than wood. It is the only railway bridge over the river although I understand that there was a temporary wooden structure used while this bridge was being built.
In fact there are two rivers using the name Kwai - The Kwai Yai and the Kwai Noi meaning River Kwai Large and River Kwai Small respectively. This is the Kwai Yai. In fact when the book was written the name Kwai was not used at all and this river was considered part of Mae Klong River but this part was later renamed Kwai Yai (sometimes spelt Khwae Yai) to bring fact in line with the fiction of the book and film. This certainly has not done Thai tourism any harm although the area has not been spoilt as development has not been overdone. I certainly recommend at least a short stay here at Kanchanaburi to anyone visiting Thailand. This is not just for the river and bridge but also museums, the War Graves plus some excellent restaurants and hotels priced for every pocket. For my family and me it is one of our favourite places in Thailand.
This photograph was taken on 27th September 1994.
Nearing The Bridge Over The River Kwai in a Long Tail Speed Boat.
Those of you who remember the film “The Bridge Over The River Kwai” will note that the bridge in this photo and the river are nothing like those depicted in the film. This is because the film was shot in what was then Ceylon (now Sri Lanka ) not at Kanchanaburi in Thailand and the bridge most closely associated by the tourist trade with the film and book is made mostly of concrete and steel rather than wood. It is the only railway bridge over the river although I understand that there was a temporary wooden structure used while this bridge was being built.
In fact there are two rivers using the name Kwai - The Kwai Yai and the Kwai Noi meaning River Kwai Large and River Kwai Small respectively. This is the Kwai Yai. In fact when the book was written the name Kwai was not used at all and this river was considered part of Mae Klong River but this part was later renamed Kwai Yai (sometimes spelt Khwae Yai) to bring fact in line with the fiction of the book and film. This certainly has not done Thai tourism any harm although the area has not been spoilt as development has not been overdone. I certainly recommend at least a short stay here at Kanchanaburi to anyone visiting Thailand. This is not just for the river and bridge but also museums, the War Graves plus some excellent restaurants and hotels priced for every pocket. For my family and me it is one of our favourite places in Thailand.
This photograph was taken on 27th September 1994.