One of the most moving places in thailand I have been so far was kanchanaburi. Home to the bridge over the river kwai, the hellfire pass, and the death railway, it is impossible to pay tribute to allied pows that lost their lives in the building of this horrific railway line.
one of the most imtersting things about seeing some of the museums and exhibtions where the ingenious nature of the prisoners when having to solve design problems. Their japanese captors kept all aid from agencies such as the red cross hidden from prisoners. Stockpiles where found after the war. This meant many improvised implements for treating the sick were made from any material that could be found. Leg Splints, pumps, crutches and even hidden radios were designed and improvised with local materials.
Radios were a means tof keeping morale going, and learning news from the outside world. One of the most striking pictures was a radio hidden in a broom head (one for carl clerkin), the images of which I have tried to find, but to no avail. Radios were strictly forbidden, and prisoners were killed for having one, so they were hidden in all sorst of ingenious ways.
Thailand is so far away from us, and the tragedy in europe was so huge, that thailand and burma is not so famous (except for the film), but the suffering in this area was huge. I'd reccommend a visit to Thailand and kanchanaburi for anyone intersted in why we have the freedom to do whatever we want today.
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