Traveler’s anecdote

Tell ITN about the funniest thing that ever happened to you while traveling in a foreign country. (ITN prints no info on destinations in the United States.) There are no restrictions on length. The ITN staff will choose each month’s winner, who will receive a free one-year subscription to ITN. Entries not chosen cannot be acknowledged.

This month’s winner is THOMAS M. JOHANNECK of McLean, Virginia:

For my 29th birthday, in 1986, I had the pleasure of taking a train ride in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, that included crossing the famous WWII “Bridge Over the River Kwai.”

As the ancient, steam-engine-run Death Railway train lurched and swayed rather violently while crossing the bridge, we were assured by our tour guide, “Don’t fear. This bridge is tested daily. For instance, today you are testing it for the people on the train tomorrow.”