Bridge Over the River Kwai

From Kanchanaburi

The plan for day one was to look around Kanhanaburi, including of course the famous bridge itself, and the Death Railway Museum, which recounts the construction of the Thai-Burma railway.

I had assumed that the bridge standing today was a new one built some time after the war, but it turns out that most of it is still the original construction apart from the middle section, which was repaired after it was destroyed by allied bombing towards the end of the war (not by daring commandos, as the film would have us believe). It was certainly an unusual experience walking across the bridge while pondering on its history.

The Death Railway Museum is one of three or more exhibitions in Kanchanaburi related to the railway, but probably the most informative one. It provides a well presented history of Japan's objectives in SE Asia, and the planning and construction of the railway, concentrating in particular on the use of PoW labour to undertake this project, and the appalling conditions under which they worked, and in many cases died. This is brought home by the presence of a cemetery adjacent to the museum containing the remains of over six thousand allied PoWs who died in the construction of the Thai-Burma railway.

Train to Kanchanaburi

The first hurdle was finding a taxi driver who had even heard of Bangkok's Thonburi station, let alone one who knew where it was. This small station is miles from the main Bangkok station and a far as I can see, it only serves the line to Kanchanburi and Nam Tok. The journey was on 3rd class coaches, at a cost of 100 baht (£2) for foreigners, and free for Thai locals. It was billed as taking 2.5 hours but in the end it arrived at Kanchanaburi over four hours after departure, due to having to wait for several trains going in the opposite direction on the mainly single track line. Just as well I was not in any hurry.

Back to Bangkok

Our workshop session with True seemed to go well, and I think we now have a good understanding for what they need in phase two of the project. It could take some time to develop the customizations they need, so not sure when I will next be back here in Bangkok for a site visit.

In the evening, another chance to hit the town with the i team. Over dinner, Vince took the time to introduce me to his chosen religion: pastafarianism, and explain the powers of its supreme being, the flying spaghetti monster. It made more sense to me than most other religions I have encountered.

Another unexpected bonus of the evening was getting Vince's advice on places to go in Thailand. I had originally planned to go diving in Koh Samet, but that came to nothing when I discovered that all the accommodation on the small island was fully booked due to some local island festival that was on that weekend. Vince's suggestion was to spend a few days in Kanachanaburi, otherwise known as Bridge Over the River Kwai town. Not only that, but Mike, another member of the i team, was also planning to go there, having had to cancel the previous week due to pressure of work. So I would have the benefit of a traveling companion. Watch this space.

Kooking in Khon Kaen

From Khon Kaen 2012

Currently spending a long weekend in North East Thailand, visiting various friends.  It's too hot here at this time of year to get out much, so basically just chilling out (is that possible at 40+C ?), drinking beer and playing guitar (on a previous visit, I left one of my old instruments with friends here, for just such an occasion).  Also enjoying eating some of the spicy Isaan food.

Bangkok with the i team

Flew into Bangkok from Doha on Qatar Airways.  Quite a civilized flight except that I only got one hours sleep thanks to the time difference and being woken up 2 hours before arrival for breakfast, which the clock said was at 6am but my stomach said was 2am.  As a consequence, suffered jetlag for most of the day.
In the evening I joined up with some of the i-conX team working on the Thailand project, to get an update on how things were going with the customer, and also celebration our successful project completion in Qatar.
We ate out in a very pleasant restaurant that actually served genuine Thai food as opposed to the usual stuff they serve up to tourists.

Qatar - maybe the last time?

Back to Doha again for the final customer meeting in this phase of our project.  All went well and they are very pleased with what we have delivered over the past 6 months.  Probably no need for me to visit again for quite a while, if at all.  I can't honestly say that I will miss the place.

Damien Hirst, Tate Modern

Love him or loathe him, its hard to deny that Damien Hirst is one of this country's most successful artists.  Now, the chance for us all to see most of this better known works together in one show, at the Tate Modern.  It was all there, from his signature spot paintings, pharmaceutical and medial collages, bisected sharks and sheep, via musings on the meaning of life and death in the form of cases of flies and rooms full of butterflies, to the totally OTT 'For the Love of God' - his infamous diamond encrusted platinum skull.
Although this was the first time I had ever seen Hirst's work up close (apart from the now defunct Pharmacy restaurant in Notting Hill), I felt that his pickled animal carcasses had lost some of their shock value because we have all become desensitised to these works via constant media exposure.  On the other hand, his spot paintings were much more accessible as works of art in their gallery setting than they ever were in a glossy magazine, and his butterfly collages were simply stunning, looking more like elaborate stained glass windows.
Exiting though the gift shop, we resisted the temptation to splash out £36,800 on a Damien Hurst hand painted plastic skull (hand painted by one of his many assistants no doubt).  Not even the £9.95 fridge magnet set could tempt me.  But go see for yourself. The exhibition is open unto 9th September 2012.