We should never ever forget what was done to those brave and courageous men. Just shows you what human beings are capable of doing to to each other🥲

@nanwithabackpack

Жыл бұрын

Yes it was quite overwhelming being there. Walking back I was glad of my sunglasses to hide my eyes from the tears.

The bridge is moving, but Hellfire Pass will really take you back to 1942/3 ! I spent 45 mins there in 2006. The tears flowed and flowed. I was so fortunate to have the whole pass to myself. Wow so impressed that you made that effort. The cemetery was nearly as moving for me. I found the grave of an Australian soldier. At the AWM I place my poppy next to his name on the roll of honour.

@nanwithabackpack

4 ай бұрын

Yes I know exactly that feeling. I had my glasses on as I had tears. I lost all words at Hellfire Pass the heat the bugs, the eerie silence. There was a strange feeling around it you can’t explain unless you have stood there. I will never ever ever forget my visit. I still get a lump in my throat just thinking about it now. 🥺😟😞

This was a beautiful, moving video, the horror of those brave men’s working conditions will never be forgotten. My missus is a relative of “ Weary “ Dunlop, he was her grandfather’s cousin, on her mother’s side. Although she lived in Bangkok as a child, she only visited Hellfire Pass, in the nineties with her then boyfriend. When I told her about your video, she went to a drawer, and had a small bag ,with rocks, and a charred piece of railway sleeper, from Hellfire Pass, that she picked up when she was there. She also went on the Death Railway, that you went on. Bless you for highlighting this place..xxx

@nanwithabackpack

Жыл бұрын

Oh wow thank you so much for sharing your family story. I cried walking through hellfire pass I was so glad for my sunglasses. The heat and the insects were horrible I can’t even imagine what those poor guys endured. 😢

I found out that I have a family member who was worked to death on the railway and is buried in the War Cemetary, I was lucky enough to visit earlier this year and pay my respects. It is a very sobering place to visit. Whta was very shocking was that over 100,000 Thai civilians also died working on the railway we should pay our respects to them also.

@nanwithabackpack

25 күн бұрын

Thank you so much for sharing that with me. Yes, it was very sobering and something that I will never forget as long as I live.

Thank you for not only showing but allowing us to feel, an amazing hard past history of the area. Your video is one of the best .🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️

@nanwithabackpack

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so very very much, that means the absolute world to me. I am still very much learning how to film and edit. It’s so lovely to know when a video comes across well. I was so emotional in parts I was so glad of my sunglasses. Thank you for watching and following my journey 🙏

The most emotional video Sonja 😢x No words… just like in your words…. Thank you 🙏 x

@nanwithabackpack

Жыл бұрын

Yes I cried walking through it was so sad.

Walking will make you've a good health....You explained so deeply detail with full of view.....

@nanwithabackpack

7 ай бұрын

The Thai countryside is stunningly beautiful. ขอบคุณค่ะ (thank you) 🙏

hugs now I understand why you said it would be a sobering and heartfelt video......had to actually research this...and now I can understand why you pre warned me......cos you mentioned Vietnam last video and am not fluent in Thailand and River kwai yes have seen the films but didnt realise you were still in Thailand.....forgive me i will blame it on age...chuckles....and to think this railway track was built by manpower and carved out of rock.....together with the fact so many lost there lives.....hugs thank you for sharing

@nanwithabackpack

Жыл бұрын

Yes it was so very sad the heat and insects were horrible I can’t imagine what the men went through 😢

@LamiaEssex

Жыл бұрын

@@nanwithabackpack you actually gave a great insight.....hugs

@nanwithabackpack

Жыл бұрын

Thank you 🙏

Best video yet and so moving. Thank you for sharing and inspiring ❤

@nanwithabackpack

Жыл бұрын

It was an emotional few days but I’m so glad I went. Thank you for your kind words, it really means so much. 🥰 I’m traveling to Chiang Mai for the next video.

Really well made ! You nailed it...I left hellfire pass angry! Was there end of may.. was taken aback with my own attitude! Seems to me the horror has seeped into the jungle and is still lurking in the shadows...but that was just my take on it ! Brilliant account 👏

@nanwithabackpack

Жыл бұрын

Thanks so very much it means a lot I was there on the 25th May 2023. I cried walking through hellfire pass so many things going through my head and heart.

@michaelpoole7346

Жыл бұрын

❤️

I spent 3 days there....luckily on my own......would not be able to be with people on this sobering experience. Did a lot of homework before I came,but nothing can prepare you for what has happened here......😢😢😢😢

@nanwithabackpack

3 ай бұрын

Yes I’m so glad I was also alone. I will never forget my visit and my feelings as I was walking round. 😞

I have visited all the places you went to in your video more than once There are many videos on the same subject but your video is by far the best and the most sincere You mentioned the path that continues from Hell fire pass , that path opens your eyes even more to what those men achieved and the yellow shelter every five minutes you look at your watch Great video

@nanwithabackpack

2 ай бұрын

I can’t even tell you how much your very kind words mean to me. Hellfire Pass will stay with me forever. The heat, the sound of the Cicadas, the lump in my throat and the tears in my eyes. It was also things like the odd poppy left on the ground. Everytime I think of it tears flow. It’s somewhere I will definitely return to as there is so much more to see. I would like to continue the walk after the pass but have heard it’s a difficult walk and maybe doing it alone might not be safe for me? So many people ask me for my favourite places I have traveled to and Kanchanaburi is definitely in my top 5.

Your trip and clip will remind who seeing must avoid any kind of war....Thanks for your clip. I am Thai but never go there....

@nanwithabackpack

7 ай бұрын

Yes it was a very sad thing but we must never forget the men who gave their lives. 🙏

I took R&R (1969} in Bangkok and my driver drove us out to the bridge. What I didn't see in your visit was all the Buddhist monks walking to and from Burma in their orange robes, they were everywhere. It is a picture I will never forget, all the temples, the water buffalo in the fields, and how clean the countryside was.

@nanwithabackpack

3 ай бұрын

Oh wow thank you so very much for sharing your memories. I saw a monk walking along the track when I arrived but I don’t remember any making the pilgrimage along the road. Maybe it is just at certain times of the year? I can’t imagine making that walk as it was so hot. It was bad enough sat waiting for the bus!!!! The men were so strong, it makes me so emotional just thinking about what they endured. 😞

Superb video Sonia, really well made ... with a full production and research team around you, there's a future for you as TV travel presenter, like Joanna Lumley or Chris Tarrant ! We've had "Two Fat ladies" and "The Hairy Bikers" doing what they did, why not "Nan With A Backpack" ?! ... I knew a little about the Death Railway, not only through other TV documentaries (possibly made by the people I mentioned) but also through my late Uncle Tom who was a prisoner in Burma of the Japanese and may well have worked on the railway. He got shot in the head by a Jap and was blind for the rest of his life, but at least he survived somehow and shortly before his death in 2001 had a book published about his remarkable life. You must remind me to lend it to you when (if!) you finally return to Essex ... 😘

@neilwiltshire1467

Жыл бұрын

PS: Did you know that the famous 1957 film "Bridge Over The River Kwai" was made nowhere near the real bridge, but shot in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) ? ...

@nanwithabackpack

Жыл бұрын

Oh wow yes I would like to read it. I have had several people tell me family stories about the horrors relatives went through. It’s so very sad.

@nanwithabackpack

Жыл бұрын

Yes 😃

Very moving vlog thank you for sharing with us, what is your first name, love from Australia

@nanwithabackpack

Жыл бұрын

Yes it was very moving being there I cried walking around. Was very glad of my sunglasses to hide my eyes. Thanks so much for sharing my adventures with me. Sonja 🥰

You look so so well and much younger x

@nanwithabackpack

Жыл бұрын

Awwww that’s so kind 🥰 not sure if I feel younger!!!! 🥴😜

Awesome ! This is nice video thanks for sharing it feels like I also come to the Kanchanaburi Thailand . If you don't mind may I ask for your permission to use a little of your footage as promotional video in affiliate link that i promote? Kudos !😊 Thank you and more videos please.

@nanwithabackpack

5 ай бұрын

So glad you enjoyed my video it was an emotional experience but one I will never forget. Yes you may use a clip but please can I ask you to also put a link to the full video on my channel. 🥰

You are brave in that heat walking outside all day.

@nanwithabackpack

Жыл бұрын

Think I’m getting used to it!!! I just have to remember to keep hydrated. 😃

The most exotic country which I have visited.

@nanwithabackpack

7 ай бұрын

Thailand 🇹🇭 has a very special place in my heart 💓

Its sad what all thoughs guys had to go threw

@nanwithabackpack

11 ай бұрын

Yes I cried

Hi have done the same trips before Covid had a great time, I got the train to the end of the line then Taxi to hellfire pass

@nanwithabackpack

7 ай бұрын

It was such an incredible but emotional day. I came back mentally and physically exhausted. The local bus was very memorable as well. Definitely something I will never forget. 🥰

@martynhamer3044

7 ай бұрын

@@nanwithabackpack Glad you enjoyed it I hope you visited both cemeteries in Kanchanaburi, they are kept beutifully by the Thai people such a tribute to those brave men and women who died, I had a week there then went up to Pakchong to see the original film sites of Bruce Lees first big film the Big Boss , all the places are still there after all these years think it was 1971 when It was filmed , Thailand is one of those spiritual places that totaly changes you when you have been and experienced the lovely culture, when waiting for the train to Kanchanaburi in Bangkok a monk walked past me as I was seated so I tried to do the correct Wai with my thumbs on my head in respect , he stopped and squeezed my hands for a few seconds then walked on smiling it was a moment I will never forget. I,m sure you must have had some great experiences too. ;-)

@nanwithabackpack

7 ай бұрын

Oh I don’t know the Wai thumbs on head. I will definitely look it up. I will definitely return one day. ❤

@martynhamer3044

7 ай бұрын

@@nanwithabackpack Me too! its such an amazing place and the people so welcoming, before I went I googled how to say hello and thank you etc then it said about the wai greeting like the praying hands together greeting, in Thailand the position of the thumbs is very important apparently, if your greeting a shop owner or Hotel staff the thumbs are placed near the chin when doing the Wai, if its someone more personal a family member or loved one the thumbs would be on the nose , the highest respectful wai is saved for the Monks, this time the thumbs should be on your head all done with your hands together in the praying type posture , I did my best wherever I went in shops and cafes and when I did the Wai I was greeted back with a smile and a Wai ;-) such a lovely way to meet people and show mutual respect.

@nanwithabackpack

7 ай бұрын

Oh wow I can’t thank you enough for explaining it to me so well. I had no idea about the thumb’s I will definitely keep this in mind when I go back. ❤

That isn’t the original bridge, correct?

@nanwithabackpack

7 ай бұрын

I believe there were two bridges one was a wooden railway bridge and the other is Bridge 277 that is the one I crossed. The river Kwai is really called the Khwae Noi' but because of the film is now more commonly known as The River Kwai. The movie was filmed in Sri Lanka, (then called Ceylon) near the town of Kitulgala not in Thailand 🇹🇭.

@kennyw218

Ай бұрын

The wooden bridge is a little further down there’s only a little piece of it left to see mostly hidden by grass I think this bridge was the one bombed in another movie staring Chris penn you can see the bomb damage still