In my youth, I was addicted to Hollywood adventure films. One of the movies which had fascinated me, was ‘Bridge over the River Kwai.’ After I had visited the 'Death Railway’ war cemetery in Kanchanaburi Thailand, I wanted to see what was left of this infamous railway. Burma was closed to tourism so the only way in, was with one of the rebel groups fighting the central government. This is what I saw when I crossed with the ‘Democratic Burmese (rebel) Army’ from Thailand into Burma. (Myanmar)
General Bo Yan Naing. In charge of the Southern Command, of former Prime Minister U Nu rebel army.
Following the track of the Burmese 'Death Railway'.
The pro U NU Democratic Burmese (rebel) Army.
A scene with a rifle and a person lying in a field in the foreground, and a herd of buffaloes grazing in the background.
Soldiers crossing a river during a military operation, with jungle trees in the background.
Soldiers in camouflage gear crawling through a grassy, wooded area with trees and bushes.
1967 Burma. Karen girl smoking cheroot.
A young boy sitting on the ground, wrapped in a large piece of cloth or blanket, looking at the camera with a surprised or curious expression.
Three young children with short hair, two in the foreground and one in the background, in a rural outdoor setting.
Two young children sitting outdoors, one older boy holding a younger child, both smiling. The background shows trees and a dirt ground.
Black and white photo of a girl covering her mouth and smiling, with earrings and necklaces, accompanied by partially visible children on either side.
Most of the bridges had been blown up by the end of WW2.
Smuglers. From Burma to Thailand.
A young person in a cap wading through water with a backpack, holding a stick, surrounded by dense foliage.
Black and white photo of people planting or working in a garden with a small thatched hut in the background, surrounded by trees and bushes.
Group of people outdoors, some in military uniforms, engaging in conversation, with trees in the background.
A group of soldiers or military personnel in uniform gathered outdoors in a wooded area, with one person writing or sketching on a notepad placed on a log, while others observe.
Many women, children and old people, the young men all seemed to carry weapons.
And everybody was smoking cheroots.
At one point I was turned over to the care of Karen State army.
All the different nationalities: the Karen, the Shan, the Kachin, etc. in Burma wanted independence.
A girl with short hair and earrings holding a young child with a shaved head, both smiling and making peace signs.
A young child crouching on the ground, crying with tears on their face, in an outdoor setting.
A rural scene with a woman and a boy, two animals, a house with a thatched roof, and a large tree trunk in the foreground.
Two young children, a girl and a boy, smiling and sitting together in a black-and-white photo indoors.
Two young children, a girl with her hair styled in a bun and a boy, sitting on the ground outdoors, holding hands, in black and white
A cheroot stall.
Karen State Army soldiers
A smiling woman carrying a young child on her back in a natural outdoor setting.
Two young boys, one seated shirtless with a serious expression, the other child hugging him from behind.
Following the railway tracks
Following the tracks
Two women wearing hats and outdoor clothing in a forest, standing near fallen trees, with one woman holding a camera.
Transport between villages.
Railway tracks, not likely to be ever used.
Historical black and white photo of villagers, including children, gathered near a raised bamboo house in a tropical setting with palm trees, some carrying tools or bags.
A black and white photo of five children, all wearing hats, walking through a wooded area with tall grass and trees.
Village entertainment
What is left of the Mauchang bridge, Burma
The Mauchang bridge, full of bullet holes and shrapnel marks..
We went for a swim. All that history.
A person sitting on a damaged bridge over a creek or river, with trees and foliage around.
Three children sitting on a railroad track, with one holding a baby, and one holding a stick or rod, in black and white.