September 2002 81st Issue

Rumour Round Up

The Observer office was very excited to hear the rumour about the Singapore - Hua Hin - Chiang Mai flight once again. Hoping there was something in it, we called the airport, and yes, the route is being discussed and negotiations are taking place, but no the flights will not be comencing in October.
The battle of the superstores! - It appears that Tesco Lotus will be opening in Cha Am and Foodland will be opening in Hua Hin, great news.
There was absolutely no truth in the rumour that Barcelona scouts were at the football match between Hinchester United and the Highway Police. However scriptwriters from the Benny Hill Show were there looking for laughs.

King's Cup Elephant Polo 2002 at Anantara Resort & Spa

Come witness Thailand's Elephant polo Tournament in Hua Hin at the luxurious Anantara Resort and Spa. Timeless and without worry. The teams come from all corners of the globe to take part in this "Sport of Kings"! The Elephant Conservation Centre presents Elephant Painting and the Elephant Orchestra. Sample the culinary skills of our master chef and a multitude of exotic blends, take time out at the Spa and discover the elixir of eternal youth, or for the more energetic there are six world class golf courses nearby plus a multitude of water sports. Sept 17th - 22nd

Over the coming months we will bring you extracts from travellers journals in several parts, starting this month with 'A weekend in Kanchanaburi'

Kanchanaburi, Thailand’s fourth largest province, is an ideal place for a quick break from Hua Hin or Bangkok. It’s convenient location, numerous attractions and tranquil settings make it a great venue for that weekend away. Getting there couldn’t be simpler (or cheaper), with no bus service linking the two cities the only option from Hua Hin is the train. The third class train departs daily at around 11.45am and costs 30 Baht to a town called Ban Pong. Here you can take a bus or get off the train at the next junction (Nong Pla Duk) to connect with another train to Kanchanaburi (11Baht). The train also provides a great way to see the rolling countryside and mix with the locals, the journey takes around 4 hours in total.
When in Kanchanaburi I personally prefer to stay down by the river, there are a number of guesthouses with rooms ranging from 70 to 350 Baht, the VN Guesthouse is one of my favourites(034-514082); you can actually stay on a floating pontoon on the river. For those that like a little more luxury there are hotels in town.
The main attraction in Kanchanaburi is the River and the “Bridge over the River Kwai” (pronounced mae nam kwae in Thai). Internationally famous, thanks to several motion pictures and books, the black iron bridge was brought from Java by Japanese supervision by Allied prisoner-of-war labour as part of the “Death Railway” linking Thailand with Burma. Still in use today, the bridge was the target of frequent Allied bombing raids during 1945, and was rebuilt after the war ended. The curved spans of the bridge are the original sections.

You can hire canoes out for 300 baht and take to the river, or charter a long-tailed boat upto or from the Bridge (around 3kms from the city). There are a number of riverside restaurants, souvenir, handicraft and jewellery shops in the area.
Railway enthusiasts may travel along one of Southeast Asia’s most historical tracks, namely the surviving stretch of the ‘Death Railway’, from the provincial capital to the Nam Tok Railway Station near the Sai Yok Noi Waterfall. The winding track crosses the world-famous bridge and provides a clear indication of how difficult constructing the original track (long since repaired and restored) must have been. One particularly exhilarating stretch sees the line parallel the curving Kwai Noi on a wooden viaduct towering above the river and hugging a steep, cave-ridden cliff.
Each year, late November and/or early December, the world-famous bridge becomes the focal point of celebrations. Highlights include exhibitions and historical and archeological displays; a carnival featuring sideshows, roundabouts, folk entertainment and cultural performances; rides on trains hauled by World War II vintage steam locomotives; and a nightly light & sound presentation re-enacting the bridge’s Second World War history, including an Allied bombing raid.
To commemorate all those who died in the Pacific during this period, the Australian Government in cooperation with the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand, has provided this interpretive memorial, the Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum and Walking Trail. This Museum explains to visitors the story of why and how the Railway was built and attempts to convey the hardships and suffering endured by so many who were forced to work in extremely harsh conditions. The Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum symbolises the importance of this site to the Australian people It also reflects the enduring bonds of friendship that have grown between the people of Thailand and those nations whose citizens worked on the Burma-Thailand railway. The memorial is located some 80 kilometres north-west of Kanchanaburi on Highway 323, local busses leave frequently.
The provincial capital is a relatively new town, dating merely from 1831. Major tourism attractions are inextricably connected with the Second World War, and more specifically, the years 1942 through 1945. The Japanese War Memorial occupies a small plot of riverside land just south of the bridge. The Kanchanaburi War Cemetery on Saeng Chuto Road, opposite the Railway Station, this immaculately maintained enclave contains the remains of 6,982 Allied prisoners of war who perished during the construction of the ‘Death Railway’. An estimated 16,000 Allied prisoners of war, and 49,000 forced labourers, died during the construction of the ‘Death Railway’ and Bridge over the River Kwai. The Chung-Kai War Cemetery 2 kilometres south of town, on the bank of the Kwai Noi River, this occupies the former site of the Chung-Kai Prisoner of War Camp. This second cemetery is more peaceful, attractively landscaped, and contains some 1,750 remains.
The JEATH War Museum This enclave in the riverside precincts of Wat Chaichumphon has been constructed largely in the form of an Allied prisoner-of-war camp. The name JEATH is derived from Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand and Holland. The thatched detention hut with cramped, elevated bamboo bunks contains photographic, pictorial and physical memorabilia dating from the Second World War. Several prisoners of war who survived appalling conditions have donated items from that time to add to the museum’s authenticity.
Opening hours: 8.30 AM to 6.00 PM daily

Kanchanaburi also boasts several natural attractions such as waterfalls and caves. Sai Yok Noi Waterfall Also known as Khao Phang Waterfall, 60 kilometres from town on Route 323, this is the first of several waterfalls. The roadside cascade is best visited between July and September, when water is most plentiful, and is located 2 kilometres northwest of Nam Tok Railway Station, the terminus of the branch line originating in the provincial capital and which crosses the world-famous bridge. The Lawa Cave 75 kilometres from town, this largest cave in the area has stalactites and stalagmites in several chambers. Visitors may take boats from the Kwai Noi River Pak Saeng Pier, at Tambon Tha Sao (southwest of Nam Tok Railway Station and Sai Yok, Noi Waterfall) to explore this cave, and travel afterwards upstream to the riverine Sai Yok Yai Waterfall, 104 kilometres from town.
Erawan National Park 65 kilometres from Kanchanaburi along Route 3199, this 550-square-kilometre national park is the site of the 7-tiered Erawan Waterfall, widely regarded as being one of Thailand’s loveliest cascades. A mountainside forest setting includes dense bamboo groves which support numerous bird species. The park’s other major attraction is the spectacular Prathat Cave which contains monumental stalagmites. Bungalow accommodation and camping facilities are available.
Tigers can be see close up at Wat Pha Luangtabua Yannasumounno Temple and animal park, most of the guesthouses will run you out there (about 30 minutes) for 150 Baht. The local monks take care of the animals which are let loose to roam around on Mondays and Thursdays.

Sangkla Buri This petite settlement, some 225 kilometres from Kanchanaburi, edges the northernmost extremities of the Khao Laem reservoir. The scenic 75-kilometre route from Khao Laem largely parallels the reservoir, passes several raft complexes, botanical gardens and roadside cascades, and vistas of partly submerged trees crowding the reservoir banks. Three Pagodas Pass This even smaller settlement, 241 kilometres from Kanchanaburi, marks the rugged Thai-Myanmar border, and is the site of a small but thriving border market. Visitors are allowed to enter the neighbouring Burmese settlement between 6.00 AM and 6.00 PM (when the border is closed). The three miniature pagodas are memorials to what was the traditional invasion route favoured by Burmese soldiers during the Ayutthaya period (1350-1767). Kanchanaburi offers something for everyone and its convenient location makes it a great getaway destination.

Article and photography by Martin Young.

Upcoming Seminar

Businessmen and foreign residents in the area might be interested in an upcoming legal seminar in Bangkok, hosted by the Law Faculty of Dhurakijpundit University. The seminar, all in English, is called, "Legal Guidance for Foreigners: Investing, Working and Living in Thailand."
It will be held at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, Bangkok, on 1 and 2 of November 2002.
The seminar features top speakers drawn from the Thai government, judiciary, and legal practice talking on a variety of important, practical issues. One subject that residents especially enjoy is a talk, with questions and answers, on Law Involving Land Ownership and Families. Other talks are on intellectual property law; taxation; how to use the Internet for legal help and information; laws relating to foreign investment; latest developments in financial laws; labour law and employment issues; issues related to visas, work permits, immigration and business start-ups; and, liability of legal representatives and executives of listed companies. A keynote address will be given by Dennis P.R. Codon, VP Legal and General Counsel of UNOCAL Corp, who will fly in for the event from California.
Last year's seminar attracted more than 150 participants from 25 countries worldwide.
The fee for the 2 day event (including 2 buffet
lunches at the Hyatt and 4 coffee breaks, Thai classical music show and dancing, full set of conference documents, and Certificate of Participation from Dhurakijpundit University) is 9,900 baht per person (early registration.
To register, or for more information on the event, you may contact Professor Ronald Movrich of DPU at mobile 01-702-9544 or e-mail him at legalguidance@yahoo.com

News from Hua Hin Dog Rescue Center

Our friends from HHDRC are seriously depressed. None of the promised help is coming. Big hotels, resorts and golf courses stay blind to their cry for help.
So far, only 2 serious donations, but from individuals, helped them to survive.
For 1 dog leaving for adoption, 2 more are thrown over the fence of the centre!
Neighbours are furious about the constant noise and nasty actions from people living nearby are feared.
The Centre is now full at 200% (32 dogs!).
Alain De Rocker donated attractive T-shirts with the HHDRC logo (S, M, L and XL available).
The Centre will sell them at 250 bahts each so that you can show your concern and support to the whole world (well Hua Hin anyway).
Read the HHDRC’s newsletter for more on their adventures on the website
http://www.dogrescuecenter.com

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