Loi Krathong: brightening up the dark history of Kanchanaburi

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On the night of the full moon, Thais launch their krathong on a river, canal, or a pond, making a wish as they do so. The festival may originate from an ancient rural ritual of paying respect to water spirits. (Wikipedia)
Prepared candles and float.
I didn't know anything about the Loi Krathong festival, but it was  fitting to be here in Kanchanaburi which had a World War II history, that is not so pleasant. I was both saddened - by the war history and please that the town in a pleasant place to visit.
Floating into the night sky.
Doing what tourists do, we had to be part of the action and made some of our own floats.
Tourist making a float.
The trials of war. It is so sad to see in this modern world that war and its atrocities haven't changed. This innocuous building; the Jeath war museum is so heart rending. I was gutted and near cried reading the and seeing the stuff here. It is not a fancy polished up western style venue, which makes it all the more gruesome in its ability to delineate the truth of war.
Jeath museum.
The  Bridge over the River Kwai, is a film which is a story about a contingent of British prisoners of war arrive at a Japanese prison camp. Well it's a a real bridge, and the war and cruelty subjected to the prisoners did exist. The movies sanitizes the actual  reality. This museum does not sanitize anything.  

The bridge, well, it is a bridge. No emotional context here. Go see the museum.
Bridge over river Kwai.
The Allied War Cemetery, a grid of deceased soldiers, most of whom died in abominable ways.
Kanchanaburi war cemetery.
Back on to lighter, personal matters. In Thailand the toilets aren't our fancy flushing numbers.  They can be as simple as a plank of wood over a hole in the ground, or as upmarket as this ceramic one. You need to be flexible, get used to rinsing your bum (if no t.p.) and don't through the toilet tissue down the hole !
Squat toilet.
I visited a swimming hole with a waterfall cascading into it. It is famed for the fish that nibble away at your festering wounds.
Fish in pool.
Brush with the law. I went with some travelers to a popular restaurant on the river. It was busy, we ordered our meals and was waiting forever. It wasn't going to come. We decided to leave, and there was arguments that we should pay. I left anyway, but two decided they weren't going to have it and decided to argue the case - not a smart move - as the police were called. The restaurant owner showed the mountain of dishes that we 'consumed', so they ended up forking out some money. Lucky that  is all they had to do. I am still hungry.

Apart from that incident, I really enjoyed Kanchanaburi. It was a sobering experience and the same time joyous one with the festival and swimming.
Village on the river.
I leave for the next destination, the island of Koh Phi Phi and life here continues withoug me.
Carrying goods to sell.
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