TravelStream™ news feed for member richardbarrow88 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/richardbarrow88 en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Tue, 06 May 2008 00:39:48 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/richardbarrow88/1/1209272700/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/richardbarrow88/1/1209272700/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/richardbarrow88/1/1209272700/tpod.html Tue, 06 May 2008 00:39:48 -0400 Amazing Thailand

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Bangkok, Thailand

I have visited Nakhon Pathom three or four times, and on every trip I usually just visit the giant Phra Pathom Chedi. It is true that it is impressive, but then so is the nearby Phra Ratchawang Sanam Chan Palace with its unique mixture of Thai, English Tudor and French architectural styles. Sanam Chan Palace was built back in 1907 by command of King Rama VI when he was still the Crown Prince. Some of the important buildings built around the 800 rai plot of land are Phiman Pathom, Phirom Phakdi, Wachari Romaya and Samakkhi Mukkhamat.

The grounds of the palace are next to Silapakorn University. When I was there, there were quite a few students wandering around the gardens having their pictures taken at various locations. One popular viewpoint was this statue of Ya Le, the king's favourite dog that always accompanied him. Unfortuantely he was shot dead one day and the king built this memorial in front of the Chali Mongkhon Asana building.

The first one I went in, pictured above, I was asked for my ticket. The prices were written plainly in English that foreigners were 50 baht and Thai people 30 baht. I have no problems with the two price system when they are honest enough to clearly show how much the Thai people are paying. I greeted the lady politely in Thai and for some reason asked her how much the ticket was. Straight away she said "30 baht" which somewhat surprised me. I wasn't even going to ask if I could have the Thai price as the difference was minimal. But, that was nice of her to do that.

I had an enjoyable time wandering around the gardens and exploring some of the private residences of the royal family. There is also a traditional Thai house to explore. The main building, Phiman Pathom, is pictured above and is connected by a raised walkway to a more tradionally Thai temple like building. You are not allowed to take pictures inside and you also have to leave bags and shoes outside in lockers. But it is worth looking around in order to get a glimpse of the lifestyle of the Thai royal family in the past. You can even sneak a look into their bathroom and bedroom. There was no tour and minimal signs explaining what you were looking at. However, it was nice that we could proceed at our own pace. Around the back of this building are a collection of Land Rovers and Chevrolet vehicles used when H.M. The King and other members of royal family used visited various royal projects around the country.

The palace is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. You will find it a short distance West of the chedi.

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Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

Despite its closeness to Bangkok, the city of Nakhon Pathom is neglected by tourists. This is a shame because of the historical importance of the city. Nakhon Pathom is not only one of the oldest cities in Thailand, but it also marks the spot where Buddhism was first officially introduced into the Kingdom. The original pagoda is believed to date back over 1,500 years. In those days, the Gulf of Thailand reached as far north as Nakhon Pathom. Indian traders arrived in their ships and settled in this area. The introduction of Buddhism came via King Asoka who sent two missionaries to this land around 269 BC. Historians believe that it is this area that was known as Suvarnabhumi and that Nakhon Pathom could have been the capital.

There is a legend that recounts the building of the original stupa. It is very similar to the Greek legend of Oedipus. Court astrologers predicted that the new-born son of the King would one day kill him. Unable to kill her own son, the Queen had the baby abandoned in a forest where it was discovered by an old woman. He was given the name of Phya Pan. Later in his life he became a great warrior for the king of Ratchaburi. During a dispute that led to an armed conflict, Phya Pan led his soldiers into battle on elephant-back. His father recognized him just before he was then killed by his own son. Phya Pan then entered the capital triumphant and claimed the Queen as his wife, which was the tradition at the time. He was devastated when he found out the truth. He consulted the monks about what he could do to amend for these great sins. He was told to build a great stupa that would reach as high as a dove could fly. The original stupa, or chedi, was 39 metres high.

The town surrounding the Buddhist monument was eventually abandoned after the rivers dried up and the trading ships moved elsewhere. The jungle then cut off the area to the outside world and it became forgotten. It was then "re-discovered" by the future King Rama IV who at that time was a monk. When he later became a king, he commanded for the pagoda to be rebuilt. In 1853 A.D. a giant chedi was built to enshrine the original pagoda. Unfortunately this one collapsed during a violent rainstorm. It then had to be rebuilt and wasn't completed until 1870 A.D. By this time the height of the chedi was 120.45 metres high making it the tallest Buddhist monument in the world. The diameter of the base is 233.50 metres. The chedi is solid and houses the relics of the Lord Buddha. The chedi was improved upon during the next reign. The temple then became the royal chapel for King Rama VI. His ashes are interred in the base of the standing Buddha on the north side of the chedi.

Nakhon Pathom is only 56 kilometres West of Bangkok. It is easy to drive there along Highway 4. From Samut Prakan, it took me less than one hour to drive there early in the morning. You can, of course, also go there by bus from the Southern Bus Terminal or by Train from the Thonburi Station. At the weekend, there is a special train excursion that leaves Hualampong Station at 6.30 a.m. I was at the station when the train arrived at 7.40 a.m... Everyone rushed out as they had only 40 minutes to explore Phra Pathom Chedi before they had to get back on the train. You could take this tour if you like (only 100 baht) or arrange your own trip. I would suggest staying longer. There is more to see in the town. There are a few cheap but clean hotels near the station. I ate my breakfast in the market in this area and then walked the short distance to the chedi.

If you are there early in the morning like me, then you might want to go around to the Southern entrance to get a better picture as the sun will be behind you. When walking around a chedi or any Buddha monument, you should do so in a clockwise direction. This will bring you greater luck. I actually walked around three times in the end so hopefully I brought myself a lot of luck. The first round was at the base of the chedi. Then I went up the steps to walk around the gallery which was, of course, much quicker. I then walked through the cloisters surrounding the chedi to walk again around the circumference. Here you will find a total of 25 bells in little bell towers. If you ring them with a wooden mallet as you walk around, then your luck will be heightened. On the outside of the cloisters you will find numerous Buddha images depicting different postures and gestures of the Buddha. Many of them I have never seen before. There are also chapels where you will find larger Buddha images such as the Reclining Buddha on the Westeren side.

In the temple grounds there is also a small museum. In total I was here for just over two hours as there was a lot to explore and learn about.

My blog, more stories!! : http://www.thai-blogs.com/index.php?blog=5
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Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand

On the Western outskirts of Bangkok is the Samphran Elephant Ground and Zoo. They label it themselves as the "greatest elephant show in Thailand" and I think they are probably right. I went there yesterday with Nong Grace and she thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. In addition to the elephant show, they also have a crocodile show.

The highlight is undoubtedly the Elephant Theme Show. The show was all encompassing and gave better value for money. What I particularly liked from the start was the use of English narration and dramatic sound effects.

During the show, we saw how the elephants are not only revered by the Thai people, but how useful the elephants have been throughout their history. We were given demonstrations of how they caught elephants in the wild. Then how they were used for logging by picking up tree trunks with the help of their tusks and then pulling them along the ground. Next came some light humour with the Elephant World Cup. A herd of elephants came on wearing team colours for various countries. They did some various party tricks like picking up objects on the ground while racing down a course and dancing to disco music. They also tried some head stands. But the highlight was a penalty shootout using giant balls. After scoring a goal, it got down on its knees and did a good impression of a footballer doing a victory dance.

The climax of the show was the big battle between the Siamese and Burmese armies. In the olden days, the kings fought on elephant back. Everything was recreated for the show in fine detail from the battle gear of the elephants to the uniforms of the soldiers. The show was certainly dramatic with not only the sword fighting but also the loud explosions. If you are going to the show with young children, you should get them to cover their ears for this part. At the conclusion of the show, there is an opportunity for you to go closer and take a picture with the giant elephants. If you like, you can also buy sugar cane or a bunch of bananas to feed the elephants for only 10 baht. There is also an opportunity here to ride around the arena on the back of the elephant for only 70 baht.
Around the back of the park is a new area where you can have a longer elephant ride which lasts about 20 minutes. They take you around the garden and then passing through a dramatic waterfall and along an artificial river. This has been beautifully created and together with the colour flowers gives a colourful backdrop for any photo.

We arrived at the park at about 11.45 a.m. During weekdays, the first scheduled show is the Crocodile Wrestling Show at 12.45 p.m. So we had timed this right. While we waited, we wandered around to see what else was on offer. Near the entrance, there is an opportunity to have your picture taken with two tigers that were born at the park. This costs 100 baht for up to four people in one photo. They give you one print for this though you can use your own camera to take as many pictures as you like. Nearby were about half a dozen young elephants that were chained to the ground. Each elephant had a keeper to look after its needs. Nong Grace was a bit nervous to go near them at first, but the trainer encouraged her by saying that they wouldn't hurt. Surprisingly, she even went on an elephant ride around the park which she never wanted to do before.

The crocodile show lasted about 20 minutes. The audience certainly loved it as there were gasps of horror and nervous laughter at all the right times. As soon as the show finished, we then made our way over to the elephant ground for the show that I already talked about. Before this, they put on a magic show which was entertaining for the kids. This started at 1.15 p.m. and then the elephant show at 1.45 p.m. So, you basically go from one show to the next without a break.

After the last show, we wandered around some more, looking at the crocodiles in the pens and also the beautiful orchids. Nong Grace also had a great time playing on the swings in the playground. The entrance fee for the park is quite high at 500 baht for adults and 300 baht for children. The Thai price is 80 baht for adults and 40 baht for children. It is a little sneakily that they don't show the Thai price at the ticket office. In the end we spent over five hours there!

Samphran is on the main highway out of Bangkok on the way to Nakhon Pathom. It is very near the Rose Garden and Don Wai Floating Market. You could visit here after going to Damnoen Saduak in the morning. Or go to Nakhon Pathom in the morning and then stop here on the way back. You can either go here by yourself by bus or join tours from Bangkok. Visit our sister site at www.Bangkok-Daytrips.com for more excursion ideas.

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Chon Buri, Chon Buri, Thailand

People often ask us for family friendly tourist attractions in Thailand where they can take their kids to have some fun. Sriracha Tiger Zoo is a great place for kids on holiday in Thailand. It can be done as either a day trip from Bangkok or as an excursion from Pattaya which is slightly closer. We drove down there to visit the zoo and it took us only 80 minutes from the Bangkok area. I took Nong Grace again as she enjoys visiting zoos and animal parks. Up to now, she has been quite nervous about getting close to any of the animals. However, for the first time, she wanted her picture taken with a tiger cub. This cost 150 baht for an instant picture in a nice frame. You can also take as many pictures as you like with your own camera. She even posed again later with two baby crocodiles for another 150 baht. She could have also posed with an orangutan, kangaroo, snake and even scorpions. But you have to draw the line when it costs 150 baht per picture.

The main feature of the zoo is the 200 Bengal tigers which can be seen at various locations. To their credit, the zoo has been able to maintain a successful breeding program for these tigers and so many of them were born at the zoo. In the Tiger Tunnel you can get quite close to the tigers. In the same building there is a nursery where you can see one of the most remarkable sights at the zoo. This is the tiger cubs drinking the milk of a large mother pig. And then, in the neighbouring cage, there were piglets dressed in tiger skin shirts running around with a full grown tiger!

As well as observing the animals, there are also a number of shows that you can watch for no extra charge. Our first show was "Amazing Circus" which was a kind of Big Top show. It started with an act by an intelligent pig that was able to successfully sort coloured pegs into the correct coloured boxes. I guess this proves that pigs are not colour blind. Next came the highlight of the show with a performance by the large Bengal tigers. A word of warning before I continue. The tigers sat in a semi-circle with their backs to the audience at the start of the show. I would strongly suggest that you don't sit in the front row as when they go to the toilet they can squirt backwards a couple of meters. The tigers did all the usual tricks such as jumping through hoops of fire and walking on their hind legs. It was certainly entertaining for the youngsters in the audience, but honestly, I am never that impressed with performances done with animals in Thailand. There are three of these shows per day at 11 a.m., 1.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m.

From Amazing Circus show, we followed the crowds to the Elephant Show. This one wasn't actually too bad. The tempo was quite fast and the elephants with their trainers kept running on from stage left and stage right. Although many of the tricks were the usual fare, the fast tempo managed to keep our attention and Nong Grace enjoyed the show. The highlight for her was the basketball match between two elephants. The trainers also asked for two volunteers from the audience. They then laid down on the ground while two elephants walked over them several times. One of the elephants did the usual trick with its trunk by prodding the male volunteer in places he didn't really want to be prodded. However, the young female elephant was the funniest. When it stepped over the volunteers, it lifted its hind leg as if it was just about to take a leak. There are three elephant shows per day at 11.40 a.m., 2.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m.

Our next show was the pig racing which I was actually looking forward to. I had heard about it before and just wanted to see what it was all about. This show started with an amazing pig that could do some really cool party tricks. Believe it or not, the pig could do simple arithmetic sums. To prove it wasn't fixed, the audiences were invited to call out numbers. The equation was then read out aloud in Thai, English and Chinese. The pig then picked up a marker with the correct number. After this came the pig racing. These were piglets that basically just ran from one end to the other. The second race was then their return trip. Not as exciting as I thought it would be. The show certainly has more potential. These shows are every half hour from 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

In the building next to the pig racing is a place where you can feed the baby tiger cubs. A bottle of milk was a little expensive at 50 baht. Nearby here we also saw deer, giraffes and few other wild animals. There was also a section with dozens of rabbit that seemed to be suffering a bit from the heat. Again, Nong Grace enjoyed feeding them which fortunately only cost 10 baht this time for a bunch of long green beans. Nearby we went into an artificial cave to see the advertised Scorpion Queen who apparently is comfortable with scorpions covering her whole body. Though we didn't see any action as she didn't want to perform for just the two of us. But she said she would if we paid 150 baht. I declined her offer.

Our last show was the Crocodile Show. All of these crocodile shows are much the same as each other. It usually involves sticking limbs - either hands or heads, into the mouth of a crocodile. What makes or breaks these shows is the personality of the performers. Our show had one lady and one man. The guy actually looked quite young and he hammed it up a bit which made his performance a bit funny. He slipped over a few times while trying to pull the crocodile out of the water which earned him some nervous laughter and applause from the audience. The show was alright if you haven't seen that kind of thing before. It ended when an obvious stage plant came down and threw them a 20 baht note as a tip. No-one picked up on the hint so the cleaning lady was then told to throw some money too. Then other people started to tip them. There are seven crocodile shows per day.

Our last stop was the crocodile nursery. Here we saw hundreds of crocodile eggs in the incubators. Apparently they have an egg breaking festival in May where the public can help with the hatching of the eggs. Nong Grace then surprised me when she said she wanted to have her photograph taken with a baby crocodile. She was very nervous at first but was determined to do it. She had seen a photograph of her father posing with a big tiger and I guess she wanted to outdo him. So, she now had two framed pictures of her holding animals. Something to show her friends at school. On the way to the exit, we passed one more pen where we saw a tiger that seemed to be living happily with some dogs. Pretty unusual so it excited Nong Grace. But she was still disappointed that she hadn't seen the duck with the crocodile.

As usual, there is a two price ticket system at the zoo. The foreigners price is 300 baht for adults and 200 baht for children. No sign of the Thai price which makes me presume that they are embarrassed about having two prices. I managed to get the Thai price of 120 baht by asking politely in Thai. Someone also told me that a work permit also does the trick. Nong Grace was free as she is less than 140 cms. But that sign is written in Thai and so I am not sure if that includes foreign children. The price for Thai children is 60 baht. To reach the zoo, just take the main highway from Bangkok towards Chonburi and then Pattaya. The zoo is in the Sriracha district. Big signs tell you when to turn off so it is quite simple.


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Bangkok, Thailand

Wat Saket is one of those temples in Bangkok that should be on your list of "places to visit". I have already written about a gruesome visit to this temple by a tourist in the 1880's (click here). The temple itself is not much of interest. What most people go there for is to climb the 318 steps to the top of the artificial mound to see the views. The chedi at the top, see picture above, is believed to house relics of the Buddha. Every year in November, for nine days and nine nights, there is a temple fair which is probably one of the oldest fairs in Bangkok. Like our own temple fair here in Samut Prakan, a sacred red cloth is paraded around the base of the mount before being taken to the top. It is then wrapped around the chedi. If you look closely, you can see people have written messages on the red cloth.

The temple fair really starts to get active in the late afternoon. However, I went there earlier in the afternoon in order to enjoy the breeze and also the beautiful panoramic views from the top. In the past, this temple used to be the highest point in Bangkok. It is now of course dwarfed by the skyscrapers. But, on a clear day you can still see a long way. Towards the setting sun, I could see the Grand Palace and Wat Arun. (If you want to take pictures this direction then you would obviously need to come in the morning.) After I had finished looking at the views I made my way down to the base of the Golden Mount. Here there were hundreds of stalls selling everything from the latest VCD movies to the best selection of Thai food. This temple fair is held every November and so if you find yourself in Bangkok around the full moon this time next year then be sure to visit the fair at Wat Saket.

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Bangkok, Thailand

For first time visitors to Thailand, the tourist attraction that should be at the top of everyone's list is the Grand Palace in Bangkok. Or, to be more precise, Wat Phra Kaew (The Temple of the Emerald Buddha). This location is such a feast for your eyes. Every direction you look there is another classic picture waiting for you to take. I have been there about four or five times now. I had an opportunity to go again the other day and just went for it. I never grow bored of this place. The entrance fee is 250 baht for foreigners and free for Thai people. When you buy your ticket you also get a free ticket for Vimanmek Teak Mansion. You have to use this within 7 days.

The Grand Palace is open every day until 3.30 p.m. You might find it closed sometimes for special royal ceremonies. If someone tells you that the palace is closed for the day don't believe them. Go to the main entrance and look for yourself. This is a common scam as they want you to go on a private tour which will include a number of gem stores. As with all royal sponsored temples, you need to be dressed politely. This means no shorts, sleveless shirts and flip flops. You can wear sandles but they must have a strap around the heel. If you arrive in shorts, you can borrow some baggy trousers from the office near the entrance. You enter the Grand Palace complex from the northern side which faces Sanam Luang. This is where they have kite flying competitions in the summer months. Last year they had the big political demonstrations on the field. As you enter the grounds there is a large grass lawn to your left. Beyond the wall are buildings in the temple complex. This is a good place to have your picture taken with the golden chedi in the background.

Work on the Grand Palace started in 1782. The layout and many of the buildings are based on the ancient city of Ayutthaya which was burned to the ground by the Burmese in 1767. Over the years, successive kings have added and renovated different buildings. Today there is a lack of open space and you might find that unless if you have a wide angle lens, you might not be able to get the whole building in your picture. It is also almost impossible to get pictures without tourists blocking the way too. You really have to be patient and wait for your shot. When you enter Wat Phra Kaew, you will notice a pair of giants. These are characters from the Ramakien. There are twelve in total and they guard each of the entrances. The green face giant in the above picture is Mangorngun. His crown is topped with a naga. Some have purple, red or white faces and also have different decorations above their crowns.

The golden chedi in the Grand Palace is Phra Sri Rattana and houses a relic of the Lord Buddha. It was built by the command of King Rama IV. The main chapel of Phara Sri Rattana houses the sacred Emerald Buddha. You are allowed to take pictures around the buildings, but you are not allowed to take a picture inside the main chapel. No-one is allowed to touch the Emerald Buddha apart from the King or the Crown Prince. They change the jeweled clothes three times a year.

I have really only scraped the surface here. I will bring you more blogs with photos later. I just want to finish this blog with some ideas of where to go next. I reckon that you will spend between one and two hours at Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace. From here you could walk to the nearby pier and rent a long-tailed boat for an hour to explore the Thonburi canals. Apparently this is about 500-600 baht per boat now. When you finish you can ask the boatman to drop you off at Wat Arun, otherwise known as the Temple of Dawn. From here you have some fine views of the river. When finished, you can catch a cross river ferry for only a few baht to the opposite bank. Here you will find Wat Pho, or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. This little tour, that you can easily arrange yourself, will take you about four or five hours to complete. There are plenty of places along the way that you can stop for refreshments or a meal. That is probably enough for the day. I would suggest that you next catch a taxi to an air-conditioned mall like MBK or Siam Paragon. If you want more, then you could visit the National Museum, Wat Mahathat and the Amulet Market, the City Pillar, and the Open Air Gun Museum. All of these are in this same area.

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Bangkok, Thailand

One of my favourite temples in Bangkok has to be Wat Benchamabopit. This is more commonly known by tourists and tour guides as the Marble Temple because it was built with marble from Carrera, Italy. It is one of the most stunning examples of modern day temple architecture with a blend of both Thai and Western architectural features. Notice the round columns at the front of the building and also the four tiered roof. Most temples roofs are two or three tiered and the building is oblong in shape. This one is cruciform in shape with a cloister attached to the back. Another departure from Thai tradition is the beautiful stained glass window.

The Marble Temple is located on the corner of Si Ayutthaya Road and Phra Rama V Road. This palace was built by King Rama V. The name of temple means "temple of the fifth king". Standing guard at the entrance to the ordination hall are two marble lions which are similar in style to the metal ones found at Wat Phra Kaew. Another interesting feature of this temple is the absence of the usual sema stones which mark the boundary of the sacred area. Ordinations of monks can only be carried out in buildings that have these markers in the four corners. However, this temple has two poles at the front side topped with lotus buds. At the rear are two stone slabs marked with the Wheels of Dhamma.

On entering of the temple, I found an ordination taking place. Obviously, as this is a working temple, you should try and be respectful at all times. The principal Buddha image is in the style of the Buddha subduing Mara. There are eight paintings of famous stupas and chedis around Thailand in each of the alcoves inside the temple. The ashes of King Rama V were interred in the base of the Buddha image in 1911.

One of the reasons I like visiting this temple is because of the cloisters around the back. Here you will find a long line of 53 important Buddha images from around Thailand and also other Buddhist countries. Thirty three of them are originals and the remainders are scaled down copies of the originals. This remarkable collection was the idea of King Rama V. He asked Prince Damrong to travel around the country in order to collect important Buddha images. The result is probably the most important collection of Buddha images in one place as they represent different styles and periods. In total there are eleven attitudes or gestures of the Buddha which are represented by these statues. This is out of a total of about 80.

You can visit the Marble Temple at any time during the day. Entrance fee for foreigners is 20 baht.

My blog, more stories!! : http://www.thai-blogs.com/index.php?blog=5
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Bangkok, Thailand

When you visit the Grand Palace you are given a free ticket for Dusit Palace which includes Vimanmek Mansion and the Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall. This large area is north-east of the Grand Palace and next door to Dusit Zoo. From JJ Market it would be about 80 baht in a meter taxi. Maybe 60 baht from the Grand Palace. The free ticket is valid for seven days. Make sure that you use it. If you have to pay, then it is 100 baht for Vimanmek Mansion and adjacent buildings (75 baht for Thai) and 50 baht for the Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall (20 baht for Thai).

Tours of Vimanmek take place every half hour from 9.45 a.m. to 3.15 p.m. You first enter a small building where security checks your bags. You are not allowed to take beyond this point any bags, mobile phones and cameras. Lockers are provided though I felt it was a bit below the belt that they charged us 20 baht for using the locker.
By the end of the 19th Century, the Grand Palace was starting to become too crowded with new buildings springing up all the time to house the ever extending royal family. As King Rama V was starting to find it too hot and uncomfortable staying here, he decided to move to a new location on what was then the outskirts of the city. He called this area Suan Dusit which means Celestial Garden. The first permanent building was the Vimanmek Mansion. This is reputedly the largest teak mansion in the world. Apparently only wooden pegs were used to join the pieces of timber. The mansion was originally used as a summer palace on the island of Koh Si Chang. But King Rama V ordered it to be relocated to Dusit Palace. This was then completed in 1901.

The Hor Pavilion
Before you join the compulsory guided tours, you have to take off your shoes. Also, make sure that you are dressed politely as this is a royal palace. Our guide informed us that the house is an interesting blend of Thai and Western architectural styles. The building has two right angle wings with an octagonal building at one end which served as the residence for the king. Altogether there are 31 exhibition rooms containing collected art work and personal effects of the royal family. You can even visit his bed chamber. I enjoyed the tour though we were moved along at a rather fast pace. I would highly recommend people to visit the mansion as it gives you a unique glimpse into the world of a Thai king of the past. It is a shame that we weren't allowed to take picture both inside and outside of the house. Once the tour had finished, and we had collected our bags and shoes, we then continued exploring the grounds of Dusit Palace.

Scattered around the grounds are a number of smaller buildings which were used as residences for various members of the royal family. Some of these have been turned into museums. These hold collections such as photographs, clocks, fabrics etc. Of particular interest to me were the photographs of royal ceremonies and also pictures taken by the present King. There was also an exhibition in the elephant stables. For all these buildings you weren't allowed to take in cameras, mobile phones and bags. Like before we were provided with lockers to use. The last major building we visited using the Vimanmek Mansion ticket was the Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall. This beautiful building was completed in 1904 and served as the throne hall for the palace. Inside is an exhibition of art and craft.

Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall
Our final stop was the magnificent Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall. This is situated at the southern end of Dusit Palace. This was where countless thousands of Thai people wearing yellow shirts greeted His Majesty on the balcony last year. Today the place was practically deserted. It seemed like most people were just coming for the mansion. It is a shame as they missed a treat. Strangely, you are not allowed to take pictures of this building from the lawn. Nor inside. If you want a better chance to look around, then you should come on Children's Day (the second Saturday in January) as the grounds are more open to the public at that time. Also, the nearby Parliament House.

King Rama V ordered for this grand reception hall to be built near his new palace. It took eight years and wasn't complete until 1915, after he had already passed away. The hall was constructed in the Italian Renaissance and Neo Classic style of architecture. The exterior is decorated with marble from Carrara, Italy. The building is about 112 metres long and 49 metres wide. It is topped with a large dome in the center which is surrounded by six smaller domes. The outside is beautiful. The interior can only be described as breathtaking. I only wish we were allowed to take pictures. But, as usual, we had to deposit our cameras and bags in some free lockers. Before I forget, one interesting aspect is that women MUST wear skirts. So, if you go there wearing trousers then they will lend you a wraparound. By the time we had finished we had been in the grounds of Dusit Palace for nearly three hours. I think most people spend less than one hour here. We were hot and tired. There is more to see in this area of Bangkok but we already had enough. I think when the weather is so hot you don't want to cram too much into your day. But, if you want more in this immediate area then you could consider Dusit Zoo or the nearby Marble Temple.

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]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/richardbarrow88/1/1209275220/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/richardbarrow88/1/1209275220/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/richardbarrow88/1/1209275220/tpod.html Mon, 05 May 2008 23:40:05 -0400 Amazing Thailand

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We often talk about the top 10 attractions in Bangkok for tourists. Most of these are familiar to all of us. However, if you have already been to Thailand before, or you feel that you cannot face yet another temple, then the Corrections Museum on Mahachai Road offers a suitable distraction. My tour guide was a charming Thai lady who very enthusiastically picked up a sword to demonstrate how they used to behead prisoners in the old days. I asked her if the place ever gets crowded. She said, oh yes, yesterday we had a party of four people come. Anyone else that day? No, just them.

The Bangkok Remand Prison (or Special Prison as the name says in Thai), was the first prison built in Thailand based on international standards. It was built by command of King Rama V in 1892 after a visit to a prison in Singapore. By 1990 the prison had become too cramped and overcrowded and so everything was moved to Lad Yao Prison. This prison was then turned into a kind of prison museum where visitors could learn about prison life and forms of punishment, torture and execution in Thailand since the Ayutthaya period.

In the first building there were many pictures showing daily life in the prison. There were also two scale models which showed the park today and how crowded it was when the prison was operating. There were many buildings and very little, if any, place for the prisoners to exercise. Probably the highlights of this first building were the demonstrations of the three methods of execution which were used in Thailand.
In the first room, models were used to show execution by sword. The next method of execution was by gun. In the third room there is a table showing how the prisoner was strapped down before being injected.

We left this building and then made our way into the park where I was escorted to the only remaining cell block on the northern wall. This was Area 9 which was for female prisoners. On display in each of the cells were different forms of punishment and torture. Many of these were being used right up until 1934 when they were banned by the Penal Code. I think my favourite was this human takraw ball. Other torture methods on show include a chin hook, a pillory, a head squeezer and a coffin. Other display items include prisoner restraints, weapons made by the prisoners, confiscated drugs, prisoner uniforms and homemade cards used for gambling. There is no admission charge which is a refreshing change. However, you are urged to make a donation in the box as you leave the first building. Also write a nice comment in their visitors book. The Corrections Museum is open Monday to Friday between 8.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. It is on Mahachai Road which is on the Western extreme of Chinatown.

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I have been to this Suthat temple before as it is one of the most important royal temples in Bangkok. It is a fascinating area and well worth exploring on foot if you have the time. When I was there it was something like 38 degrees Celsius so I must admit I didn't linger much. But, do check out the Giant Swing in front of this temple as well as a couple of Hindu shrines. Also within walking distance is the alms bowl village where they make the bowls for the monks. In fact, there are literally dozes of "Buddha shops" around here selling many objects for Buddhists.

Work on Wat Suthat was started in 1807 during the reign of King Rama I. He felt that his new capital in Bangkok needed a large temple in the center of the city much like Ayutthaya and Sukhothai of the past. He even had transferred the large Buddha image from Wat Mahathat in Sukhothai to Bangkok. Today, the ashes of King Rama VIII are encased in the base of this Buddha image. In the temple grounds there is also a statue for King Rama VIII, the present King's elder brother. The Buddha image is made of bronze and has a knee span of 6.25 metres and a height of 8 metres. It is considered to be the largest remaining Buddha image from the Sukhothai period. The work on the temple was continued by King Rama II and finished by Rama III.

The large wihan faces north and is surrounded by a clositer that has dozens of Buddha images (see below). Around the building there are a collection of 28 Chinese pagodas while at each corner there are bronze horses which date back to the reign of King Rama III. There are also a number of other statues of Chinese origin. As I mentioned before, many temples in Bangkok have these Chinese statues as they were used as ballast in Chinese trading junks. The original wooden door panels of this building are now at the National Museum. Some of the carvings were apparently done by King Rama II himself and are well worth a look if you ever go there. Inside you will be amazed by the height of the building and also the large Buddha image. As in other temples, you are allowed to take pictures but please do so in a respectful manner. As you can see from my picture, the temple was very crowded. Once you have finished in the wihan, it is worth leaving the cloisters to explore the rest of the temple grounds which you will find to be much quieter. Between the wihan and the sleeping quarters of the monks you will find the very large ordination hall. probably one of the biggest in Bangkok. Take your time, there is plenty to see.

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