What I Am Most Looking Forward to Seeing

As I write this post, I am currently flying along the coast of Alaska bordering the Bering Sea (North Pacific Ocean.)   This is the first time that I have seen Alaska and it looks absolutely amazing.  From where I am looking, I can’t tell if the Mountains that are below me are surrounded by snow or is it the clouds that are circling the mountain tops.  I am glad I remembered to bring my camera with me.  You be the judge!

 

 

From what I can see on the map that is on the TV screen in front of me, I will be flying fairly close to the Russian Coast line after we cross the International Date Line.  As I leave Tokyo later in this flight, I will be traveling over Vietnam to get to Bangkok.  I am not sure if I will travel near the China coastline but if I do, I can only hope that I get some pictures as well. 

 

 

Now, on to the reason for this post.

On my last day with the students, one asked me what was I most looking forward to on this opportunity to Thailand? I guess I should have said the school visits but that wouldn’t be me.  There are a ton of things that I am looking forward to:

-          The Temples

-          The Culture Exposure

-          The Scenery

-          The People

-          The Schools

-          The Train ride to the North end of the Country

-          My Colleagues from Boston

But the thing I am most looking forward to seeing is “The Bridge over the River Kwai” and the “JEATH Museum.”  I love history and maybe it is my being born in the Air Force but I have always been extremely interested in Military History and the World Wars.

Toward the end of this Opportunity, we will be traveling to this area to view the railroad, museum and cemetery.   In World War II, the Japanese were attempting to build a railroad through the country of Thailand to Burma.  To do this, they used the local population and Prisoners of War.  This was not easy work.  Many were worked to death building the railroad and the bridge.  The term “JEATH” comes from the nationalities that help in the building of the Railroad and the Bridge:

-          Japanese

-          English

-          Americans/Australians

-          Thais

-          Holland

We will be traveling to this area along a stretch of railroad known as the “Death Railway.”  Forced labour was used for construction from Asian labourers and Allied prisoners of war.  It is estimated that nearly 90000 Asian and 13000 Allied POW’s died as a direct result of the project.  Of the Allied workers, the English suffered the greatest loss; 6,318 British personnel.  As well, 2,815 Australians, 2,490 Dutch, about 356 Americans and a smaller number of Canadians and New Zealanders also died building this railway. 

My hope is that I can find a grave site of a Canadian soldier and place a small Canadian flag at the tombstone.  And while I know that this whole opportunity is going to give me an insight into another culture, as I am the minority, I know that being able to see this museum will be a highlight of the trip.

I am to arrive in Bangkok at 11:30 pm local time (10:30 am MB time) Friday Feb 14^th and will most likely not do another post until after Saturday when we have had supper with 3 of members of the Thailand Education department.  That will come after a day of touring Bangkok including the Green Buddha and Grand Palace.