Choi's Travel Blog: May 2013

Friday, May 31, 2013

Bangkok Day 4: Kanchanaburi - War Cemetery & JEATH Museum

Today is the 4th Day of our Bangkok vacation (10 Dec 2012). See here for Bangkok 4 Day itinerary.

We booked a day trip to the infamous Death Railway in Kanchanaburi; it was a whole day tour package with Discovery Asia and I was very happy with the guide and the service. This day tour which included a 1.5 hour train ride and lunch cost TB900 per person as shown in the flyer below. Here's another tour agent which you may wish to look at.

Location of the above tour agency.

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The guide Uma was waiting for us when we arrived at about 6.55 am at the agreed meeting venue at Indra Regent in Pratunam. She was with the driver and 2 other passengers waiting for us in a 13-seater van.

The Death Railway is located in Kanchanaburi which is about 120 km west and about 2 to 3 hours drive drive from Bangkok depending on traffic conditions.

Our first destination was the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. The Cemetery is situated adjacent to Saeng Chuto Road which is the main road through the town. When approaching from Bangkok, the cemetery is on the left side of the road, towards the far (northern) end of the town.

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Past the arches in front, you see a few commemorative pieces ..

And inside, we see a well maintained garden with the graves of those who died during the construction and maintenance of the Burma-Siam railway (except for the Americans, whose remains were repatriated) were transferred from camp burial grounds and isolated sites along the railway into three cemeteries at Chungkai and Kanchanaburi in Thailand and Thanbyuzayat in Myanmar.

The notorious Burma-Siam railway, built by Commonwealth, Dutch and American prisoners of war, was a Japanese project driven by the need for improved communications to support the large Japanese army in Burma. During its construction, approximately 13,000 prisoners of war died and were buried along the railway. An estimated 80,000 to 100,000 civilians also died in the course of the project, chiefly forced labour brought from Malaya and the Dutch East Indies, or conscripted in Siam (Thailand) and Burma (Myanmar).

There was a group of Thai students from a nearby school; they were there busy studying some of the graves and taking notes.

The war cemetery is only a short distance from the site of the former 'Kanburi', the prisoner of war base camp through which most of the prisoners passed on their way to other camps. It was created by the Army Graves Service who transferred to it all graves along the southern section of railway, from Bangkok to Nieke.

Next we head towards the JEATH War Museum.

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JEATH stands for Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand and Holland, representing the nationalities of the prisoners of war (POW's) who were forced to work on the construction of the famous "Bridge On The River Kwai".

The first thing that strikes you when you visit the museum is the bamboo hut with a collection of photographs displayed. The hut is a replica of the conditions the POW's were forced to live in.

Kanchanaburi - War Cemetery & JEATH Museum

The museum displays graphic images of the terrible conditions inflicted on the many young men that died and the many that survived to tell the story.To bring these atrocities to the public domain, the museum exhibits many photographs taken of real situations either by Thai's or POW's.

There are also many real accounts written by former POW's, their relatives, friends and authors that interviewed the many prisoners that suffered at the hands of the Imperial Japanese Army.

After this, the next destination was the Death Railway.

Here's my 5 day Bangkok itinerary

Kykuit :John D. Rockefeller Estate - My 2 Night Stay

Kykuit, also known as John D. Rockefeller Estate, is a 40-room National Trust house in Westchester County, New York, built by oil tycoon, philanthropist and Rockefeller family patriarch John D. Rockefeller.

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I was privileged to be at Kykuit in April 2012 where I attended a 3 Day workshop there. My 2 night stay in this magnificent estate was truly an experience of a lifetime.

On arrival, here's a beautiful view of the Kykuit mansion:

And here is how my room in Kykuit looked like:

I attended the workshop in one of the conference facility during the day:

If you are in New York City, Kykuit is a place to explore for a day trip If you wish to take a guided tour of the estate, be mindful of the tour times at Kykuit for they only run a few everyday. Check out the website here Kykuit : The Rockefeller Estate

In order to view the house, I would highly recommend you take a guided tour and there are many variety of tours to choose from. The classic tour clocks in at 3 hrs & gives you a comprehensive look of the whole house. However, if you are in a rush opted for the shortest tour which is an 1 1/2 long. If you have the time, I recommend doing the classic tour because the shortened tour was surprisingly just a quick peek at the house. I guess with such a large house -- it takes longer than an a 1 1/2 to look around.

Our tour guide (wearing the red jacket) was informative, knowledgeable & authentic; gives you a thorough overview of the history of the house and the Rockefeller family. Their house is beautiful and full with artwork both modern & ancient Chinese pieces. Apparently the original Rockefellers were quite religious and this "simplicity" can be seen throughout the house --- the fact that they didn't have a dance room because they didn't believe in dancing. The Rockefellers are staunch Baptists. It's a stark contrast from the Vanderbilts' lavish Newport, RI summer homes. The Rockefellers also have a vast collection of sculptures strategically placed in their gardens & lawns.

Here's some photos of the inside of the mansion:

Here's some photos of the beautiful gardens outside the Kykuit mansion.

So if you are in New York city, do make a day trip to the Kykuit Rockefeller Estate.
Enjoy your tour!!

Bangkok Day 2 - Chatuchak Weekend Market

Day 2 (7 Dec 2012). See here for Bangkok 4 Day itinerary.

Chatuchak Weekend Market ... yes, don't miss this when you are in Bangkok! We spent the whole morning there, a good 4 hours!

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Originally starting life as a wholesale market for traders and locals, Chatuchak Weekend Market is now famous amongst tourists visiting Bangkok, and is definitely a ‘must-do’ for any shopper coming to the city. The 35 acre market has over 8000 stalls (yes 8000!), with more than 200,000 visitors on a typical weekend, it can be a bit daunting.

How to get there: Take the Skytrain (BTS) to Mo Chit station, take exit no. 1, then walk towards the nearby markets. Or use the subway (MRT) to Chatuchak Park station (exit no.1), then walk to the nearby markets. We took a cab from our hotel since there were 3 of us. Since it was the week-end, there would not be much of traffic jams on the way there.

Open: The Chatuchak Weekend Market is opened on Saturdays and Sundays 09:00 - 18:00, and Fridays 18:00 - 24:00.

Maps are available from the information kiosks; it’s a good idea to pick up one before you head off shopping, or check out the Chatuchak Market map below right, it lists all of the main sections and gives you a good idea of the layout.

Some tips to help you when you visit Chatuchak Weekend Market:

Get there early – the morning, when there are fewer people around, is the best time to visit the market.
Clothing – wear comfortable shoes and lightweight clothing. We recommend using sun-cream, sunglasses and a hat or cap too.
Look after your bag, wallet or purse – stalls only accept cash and there are ATMs in Chatuchak market. Watch out for pickpockets though, as the crowded conditions make it fairly easy for them to operate. Useful tip: set a budget and only take that amount with you (along with a photocopy of your ID).
Drink plenty – the market is big and it often gets very hot and humid with temperatures of around 28-33°C (82-91°F), why risk being ill?
Get a map of the market - or go without one, have fun and get lost in the market
Haggle – the art of haggling is part of the Thai culture. If you’re not used to bargaining, Chatuchak is an ideal training ground!
If you see something you like, buy it! – the market is so big it’ll be difficult to find your way back to the stall later.
Stop for something to eat at the market – with the numerous bars and restaurants in Chatuchak market, you’ll never run out of things to eat. If you manage to find it, the coconut ice-cream mixed with fresh coconut flesh and served in a half coconut shell is worth trying.
Find the toilets – public toilets are located at the entrances and along the main roads that circle the market. Don’t expect anything too clean, but they’re better than nothing. You have to pay 2 baht to use the toilets and 5 baht for toilet paper.
Stay to watch the market close – sit down, have a cool drink and watch the Thais at work. Fascinating.

We went rather early, reached there about 9.30am, and was there before the crowd comes. Also it is much cooler to go in the morning. We had breakfast there, just a little to fill our stomachs. There's a lot of food there, so many varieties too, so don't eat too much from one stall. Sample the different food from different stalls.

We were there early and stalls were just starting to set up for business

Very soon, the crowd arrives

Chatuchak market is full of such a variety of goods that that list is almost endless, however here is a sample of some of the items that you can find there:

There's plenty of food for you to sample. Go in the morning, we tried their different kinds of snacks and have lunch there. Be adventurous! Be bold!

Kebab chicken for breakfast?

And do sample the wide variety of food

Potatoes chips Thai style

Drink plenty of water to hydrate yourselves

Game to try some local Thai food?

Chicken feet - try it, very delicious and soft

More ...

Most of the people who go there are tourists. You will not be alone definitely. People of all colours, shapes and sizes!!

Wear light clothing as it can be very hot and humid

Indeed, the body heat of so many people can be challenging

Antiques and collectibles, arts, books, ceramics, clothing & accessories, food and beverage, furniture and home decoration, handicrafts, miscellaneous and used clothing, pets and accessories, plants and gardening tools.

There are some very beautiful crafts in some of the covered shops

Spoilt for choice

And more arts and crafts shops

You name it, its there in Chatuchak Market

Why not have a shot for the memory ..

Chatuchak Weekend Market can be a bargain hunter’s paradise if you use your negotiating skills well, just remember to keep a cool head and don’t haggle too much, and be prepared to walk away if the price is not right, as there will probably be another stall just around the corner selling the same item for less.