4 May 2009: Bridge over the River Kwai and The Tiger Temple

Today was the unexpected highlight of our trip. We were not leaving for the airport until mid evening so we decided to take a full day’s excursion up to the Kwai River to see where the famous Bridge over the River Kwai was built and to walk through the War Graves Cemetery where about 7000 British POWs were buried, after suffering at the hands of the Japanese Military. It was a very moving morning. At the Jeath Museum (name was made up from the letters of the nationalities of service personnel involved in the River Kwai railway construction – Japan, England, Australia, Thailand and Holland) we saw the awful conditions that our brave soldiers had to endure and some of the evil and mindless punishments that were handed out by the Japanese. I am surprised anyone survived it.
We had lunch at a floating restaurant on the River Kwai. To get there we took a fast jet boat up the river, which was exhilarating! Then this afternoon we visited the much awaited Tiger Temple. The temple is run by Buddhist Monks and over the years it has become a place of sanctuary for many injured wild animals. Tigers are still hunted and killed in Thailand and if the dead Tiger has any cubs they will be killed too by the hunters. In the past however, local people have managed to rescue Tiger cubs and bring them to the Temple for the protection. As a result there are now approximately 20 or more Tigers living in harmony with the Monks and their voluntary helpers, within the sanctuary. Although still wild animals they are used to being with humans and therefore they will allow visitors to stroke them (on their backs) and even be photographed with them with their heads on your lap!
Fortunately for us one of the Tigers had 5 cubs 6 weeks before our visit and just 3 days ago the Monks had decided to start a Cub Experience for visitors. For an extra charge of 1000 Baht (about £20) visitors can spend time feeding and playing with the cubs. We jumped at the chance of holding baby Tigers and so after the main group had moved down to the Canyon we went off to see the babies. There were just 5 visitors in the compound (one tiger each) and we had a truly magical experience bottle feeding the cubs, cuddling them and in Saboohi’s case, letting them nibble our toes (ouch!). We were with them for 45 minutes and it was one of the best experiences of my life.