An ode to Kanchanaburi

The lion may be the king of the jungle but tigers rule in Kanchanaburi, roughly a three-hour drive southwest of Bangkok, Thailand.

The highlight of our recent trip to Kanchanaburi, arranged by Thai Airways and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, was definitely the Tiger Temple (www.tigertemplethailand.com). The temple is well known for its “Wildlife Rescue Project” with Thai monks keeping (and breeding) the endangered tiger as “pets.” Visitors can play with the cubs (and pose for lots of photos with the sleeping tigers). No, the tigers are not drugged as commonly suspected. We learned that tigers are nocturnal, therefore they are asleep during daytime. Other animals such as peacocks, buffalos, wild fowl and wild boar roam free in this peaceful environment. Here, we not only played with the tigers but learned conservation efforts in saving the endangered large Asian cat.

 Also in Kanchanaburi is the War Cemetery, a place where the remains of 6,892 Prisoners of War, who died during the construction of the Death Railway, are buried. The tranquil place is just adjacent to the Thailand-Burma Railway center, the museum that presents the history of the Death Railway. The dioramas, mementos and film clips essay the beginning of the arrival of the Japanese in Thailand until after the end of the Second World War.

 Of course, Thailand’s favorite animal was present when we visited the Taweechai Elephant Camp (www.twcelelephantcamp.com). We rode the giant yet tamed pachyderm through the jungle and then through the river, with the smart animal not getting anyone of us wet! Baby elephants performed for us and expected us to feed them after each performance. Some who were daring enough got to pose with a python.

 People usually trek to Kanchanaburi to walk on the world famous bridge over the River Kwai (sometimes spelled Kwae because of the Kwae Yai River). During the Japanese occupation, the Imperial Army brought the iron bridge from Java and was a strategic railway route to Myanmar (Burma). A wooden bridge was constructed followed by the iron bridge, which were both damaged by Allied plane attacks in 1944 to 1945. The bridge was repaired after the war and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the area.

 The view of the bridge was stunning from our hotel, Felix River Kwai Resort (www.felixriverkwai.co.th), where we got lucky enough to celebrate the recent Loy Krathong, the most colorful of Thai festivals. Krathongs or the floating lanterns made of flowers with candles and incense sticks were lit and lowered onto the river. Some revelers put written personal wishes and coins into these beautiful floaters. We were told that children would naturally go to the end of the river the next day to salvage whatever coins they could get their hands on. After that ceremony, we then headed to an open field to light hot-air lanterns. Two people were supposed to release a lantern, this time not wishing anything for oneself but instead wishing something good for others. When the lantern rose and eventually landed on a rooftop of a house, its occupants were supposed to benefit from the wishes thought of at the time of the lantern’s release.

Kanchanaburi boasts of several golf courses, spectacular waterfalls, national parks, caves and several other attractions. I have yet to explore them all when I head back there!

(Thai Airways flies to Bangkok twice daily. For reservations and bookings, please call 812-4744 or log on to www.thaiairways.com)

(To the Thai people in the Philippines, Happy Thai National Day and Long Live to His Majesty the King on the occasion of his 81st birth anniversary!)