ANZAC DAY DAWN SERVICE, HELLFIRE PASS/ KONYU CUTTING KANCHANABURI, THAILAND.
Our 15-night, April Thailand tour takes in the Dawn Service at Hellfire Pass. Please note that the visit to the dawn service is part of the 15-night Gem and Cultural tour of Thailand and is not run as a separate tour.
We leave our accommodation at 2.30 am for the 50-minute minivan ride to the Hellfire Pass Interpretative Centre. We collect an information pack which includes a torch, sprig of Rosemary, Order of Service and a brochure about the Interpretative Centre.
For mobility impaired guests, there is a golf buggy service that takes you down through the Konyu Cutting and to the Cenotaph where the service is held. Otherwise, there are about 100 stairs down to the cutting. There is limited seating and everyone who can stand does so, spilling back into the Konyu Cutting.
As you would expect the whole operation is run with Military precision, there are cold drinks, cold towels, porta potties and medical staff along the way.
The service itself is tightly run and the speeches solemn and short. The whole area is lit by bamboo torches and is eerily silent, despite the crowd of several hundreds.
The walk back up through the cutting to the steps up to the Interpretative Centre, is followed by a “Gunfire” breakfast. It is not a traditional Gunfire breakfast but is a uniquely Thai styled event, making it even more memorable. There is Bundy Rum and milk, sausage and onions in bread, tea, coffee and pastries. There are also Thai style food options and soft drinks. The food and drinks are set out around a food court area with plenty of seating. There is also a large screen where you can watch the service live if you prefer not to go down to the cutting.