Bridge on the River Kwai..touristy?
Oct 10th, 2003, 06:57 AM
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Bridge on the River Kwai..touristy?
One of our options for a day trip out of BKK is the Bride on the River Kwai...We are going during the week-long celebration at the end of November....Has anybody been there....interesting or touristy? Someone recommended tacking it on the Floating Market trip. Is that too much in one day (we'll be using a private driver). Thanks in advance for the input.
Oct 10th, 2003, 11:21 AM
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Very touristy. Not much to see except souvineer shops all around. Not even the original bridge. The museum and cemetary nearbye were OK. Have not taken it, but the train ride that leaves from there is aleged to be interesting.
Oct 10th, 2003, 11:29 AM
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Skip the Floating Market and go straight to River Kwai. I don't know how the week-long celebration will affect atmosphere, but I found my visit there meaningful and sobering. I especially recommend going by the cemeteries, both to realize the sacrifice made by Allied forces and Southeast Asians and to honor them. ZZ
Oct 10th, 2003, 05:22 PM
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I'm with Zambezi on this one. Like any place that attracts tourists it gets 'touristy' but don't put that into your 'mind-set', don't worry about it.
Pity you cannot take a night stop, train is fine but will be busy, car with driver a good idea.
For many a visit to Kanchanaburi(the town) is a Pilgrimage, the war cememtaries mean a great deal especially to those of us from 'Down Under'. The cemetaries are well kept and it is a certain 'must visit' place. The Museums are very interesting.
Forget doing Floating Market same day, too rushed. Tens of thousands have relatives buried there and is busy with not only 'tourists' but also with many paying their respects.
I have been several times. Pity you cannot spend longer, the region around Kanchanaburi is great.
Pity you cannot take a night stop, train is fine but will be busy, car with driver a good idea.
For many a visit to Kanchanaburi(the town) is a Pilgrimage, the war cememtaries mean a great deal especially to those of us from 'Down Under'. The cemetaries are well kept and it is a certain 'must visit' place. The Museums are very interesting.
Forget doing Floating Market same day, too rushed. Tens of thousands have relatives buried there and is busy with not only 'tourists' but also with many paying their respects.
I have been several times. Pity you cannot spend longer, the region around Kanchanaburi is great.
Oct 10th, 2003, 07:50 PM
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i never disagree with jamesA but this time i want to put a plug in for the floating market....while it is a major tourist attraction....it is a hoot....lots of fun to be in the boats and in the action....rent a small boat with a woman helmsman....walk way to the back of the market and get her there....ignor the offers near the road....i would skip rose garden which most stop at on the way back....
i have not been to the river kwai, but many speak favorably of it....
both are a long ride!!!!!
i have not been to the river kwai, but many speak favorably of it....
both are a long ride!!!!!
Oct 10th, 2003, 09:30 PM
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I would deffinately 'do' the Floating market but not on the same day as doing the River Kwai as would be too much. Do the floating market another day ( very early morning start best ).
If you can manage to overnight at River Kwai you could then do on the way back to Bangkok.
If you can manage to overnight at River Kwai you could then do on the way back to Bangkok.
Oct 11th, 2003, 07:19 PM
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We spent 2 nights at Kanchanarburi at a beautiful hotel on the river where all the tourists except us were French or Japanese. We got to K in a taxi from Hua Hin (well worth the $50 fee) Besides touring the cemetaries, and taking the train ride, we also went to the Australian memorial at "Hell Fire Pass"--a truly moving experience. I highly recommend visiting the area.
Oct 11th, 2003, 08:00 PM
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Jane the Hua Hin and Kanchanaburi combination is one that I often suggest. Getting out and around the River area you find plenty to do and the River Rafts can be great fun. It's a great area and as you said it can be a very 'moving' experience, then a car down to the beach in Hua Hin or that area.
For anyone with just a week and wanting to see and do a lot it's a good comination.
For anyone with just a week and wanting to see and do a lot it's a good comination.
Oct 11th, 2003, 09:13 PM
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Thank you all for your responses. We were waiting to say something while we listened. We have decided to do both excursions, but on separate days. (We hate the "cram it all in in one day" feeling, which is why we do not do organized tours---so we definately don't want to create our our individual version of that.) Thanks everyone.
Joyce and Don
Joyce and Don
Oct 12th, 2003, 12:28 PM
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We went a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it . . . or, I should say, it interesting . . . was heartbreaking. Don't miss the museum.
Do walk across the bridge and then turn back under it . . . there are scores of "gem" vendors selling "emeralds, rubies, saphires, amythyts" . . . huge stones for about $5. Bargain hard and buy a few. We did, just for fun, brought them back to our jeweler . . . of course they were not "real" but they were some kind of REAL stone and very high quality. My friend's "emerald" turned out to be a tourmaline and worth a whole lot more than the $5 she paid for it.
The stones look really nice when set and are a fun souvenir. We'd like to go back just to buy some more of them!
We thought this trip was a whole lot better than visiting the floating market.
Sandy (in Denton, TX)
Do walk across the bridge and then turn back under it . . . there are scores of "gem" vendors selling "emeralds, rubies, saphires, amythyts" . . . huge stones for about $5. Bargain hard and buy a few. We did, just for fun, brought them back to our jeweler . . . of course they were not "real" but they were some kind of REAL stone and very high quality. My friend's "emerald" turned out to be a tourmaline and worth a whole lot more than the $5 she paid for it.
The stones look really nice when set and are a fun souvenir. We'd like to go back just to buy some more of them!
We thought this trip was a whole lot better than visiting the floating market.
Sandy (in Denton, TX)
Oct 12th, 2003, 07:00 PM
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If you go to Kanchanaburi go to the new Death Railway museum near the cemetery.
Not to be missed. If you have more time take the train up to Nam Tok across the bridge and up the line(send your driver ahead) then go to the Hellfire pass museum...walk along the restored railway line.
There is a good hotel (river kwai hotel) right on the river near nam tok.
Much more peaceful than Kanchanaburi itself..makes a nice break from BKK.
Not to be missed. If you have more time take the train up to Nam Tok across the bridge and up the line(send your driver ahead) then go to the Hellfire pass museum...walk along the restored railway line.
There is a good hotel (river kwai hotel) right on the river near nam tok.
Much more peaceful than Kanchanaburi itself..makes a nice break from BKK.
Oct 13th, 2003, 09:28 AM
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I'd agree that doing the floating market on a different day than the River Kwai is the only way to go. At the river, make sure you take the train ride over the restored track which was built at such a heavy cost. It is very moving. Just make an effort to get on the train early as you will find the view very difficult while riding backwards on wooden seats in an un A/C train car. The JEATH museum is also worth seeing.
Whille at the floating market, I highly recommend eating lunch from the food vendors, both floating and those near the gift shop. It was one of the few times where I was really tempted to eat from a street cart and did not regret it one bit. Also, while you are out that way, check out the Cobra show. As you may imagine, it features lots of snakes separated from you by only a small moat and tile wall. While touristy, and alot like the crocodile show at the Tiger Zoo,our kids found it very entertaining, especially when the guy catches three snakes at once-I'll let you imagine how he catches the third one. Again, if ,like me, you are not fond of being forced to endure stops at the usual tourist centers or "crafts"sites, hire your own driver to take you there. The added cost will not be much and you will enjoy yourself much more.
Whille at the floating market, I highly recommend eating lunch from the food vendors, both floating and those near the gift shop. It was one of the few times where I was really tempted to eat from a street cart and did not regret it one bit. Also, while you are out that way, check out the Cobra show. As you may imagine, it features lots of snakes separated from you by only a small moat and tile wall. While touristy, and alot like the crocodile show at the Tiger Zoo,our kids found it very entertaining, especially when the guy catches three snakes at once-I'll let you imagine how he catches the third one. Again, if ,like me, you are not fond of being forced to endure stops at the usual tourist centers or "crafts"sites, hire your own driver to take you there. The added cost will not be much and you will enjoy yourself much more.
