The Celebrations on the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty the King's 7th Cycle Birthday Anniversary 5th December 2011 Commemorative Stamps

Worldwide recognition           

Seven designs featuring pictures of the coins and awards that different international organizations presented to His Majesty the King.

The Celebrations on the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty the King's 7the Cycle Birthday Anniversary 5th December 2011

1.  Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) : Rome, Italy

2.  World Health Organization (WHO) :  GENEVA Switzerland

3.  The Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award (UNDP) :  The United States of America

4.  THE INTERNATIONAL RICE AWARD, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) :  Laguna, Philippines

5.  Glory to the Greatest inventor : His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in the Year of Creativity & Innovation 2009 : Hungary

6.  WIPO Global Leader Award (WIPO)  :  Geneva, Switzerland

7.  Gold medal with mention, Brussels Eureka 2000 :  49th World Exhibition of Innovation. Research and New  Technology, Brussels, Belgium


The Stamps are printed in four colors on foils sheets with embossed patterns to imitate each coin.  A profile drawing of His Majesty the King in gold foil is placed on top of the award in each stamp.

Loi Krathong 2011, Postage Stamps

ประเพณีสะท้อนวิถีไทย
Reflection of Thai Way of life, Postage Stamps 

ลอยกระทงสาย (จังหวัดตาก)
Loi Krathong Sai (Tak Province)

Tak Province organizes Loi Krathong Sai Festival on the full moon of the 12th lunar month of each year.  Latex of Yang trees is mixed with wood chips, formed into small balls and placed at the bottom of halved coconut shells.  Ont eh nights of the festival the latex balls are lighted and floated in the Ping River at regular intervals, forming long rows of the flickering lights above the water.  These coconut shells (krathong) will eventually flow out of the audiences' sight.  It is believed that participants and spectators of this festival will be blessed with what they wished for during the festival.

ยี่เป็ง (จังหวัดเชียงใหม่)
Yi-Peng Festival (Chiang Mai Province)
This stamp depicts the 12th Lunar Month Full Moon Festival of Lanna thai (the northern region) which is known as Yi-Peng.  On the day of Yi-Peng, people decorated Buddhist temples and their houses with banana trees, sugar cane, coconut fronds, Tung flowers, and Chor Prateep.  Various styles of paper lamps called Khom Yi-Peng are hoisted high as offerings to the Lord Buddha.  Small bowl lamps are hoisted high as offerings to the Three Gems of Buddhism while floating paer lamps are lighted and released into the sky as offerings to Phra Ketkaew Chulamanee in heaven.

ไหลเรือไฟ (จังหวัดนครพนม)
The Festival of illuminated Boat Procession (Nakhon Phanom Province)
The Festival of illuminated Boat procession or locally known as Lai Rua Fai is an important festival held by the northasterners to celebrate the end of Buddhist lent on the 15th vexing moon night or the 1st waning moon night of the 11th lunar month of each yeear. "Rua Fai" is a boat made from banana trunks or bamboos of 5-6 wah tied together. Swets and any itms people want to donate are placed in the boat.  the boat exterior is decorated with flowers, incense sticks, candles, lamps and torches to be lighted before the boat is released into a canal or river.  This is the origin of the name "Lai Rua Fai".

เผาเทียนเล่นไฟ (จังหวัดสุโขทัย)
Loy Krathong and Candle Festival (Sukhothai Province)
This festival has been held as far back as Sukhothai period.  Inthe reign of King Ramkhamhaeng, it was known as "Jong parien ceremony" or Loi Phra Prateep".  There was a mention in the Stone inscription No. 1 that this was the largest festival in Sukhothai city, which led to a belief that this must be the same festival as Loi Krathong.

Date of Issue :  November 10, 2011
Credit :  Thai Stamp Bulletin Vol.2011 issue 4 (Oct - Dec, 2011)

The Big (Headed Ghost Cave) Part II

ถ้ำผีหัวโต หรือกระโหลกผี

ตั้งอยู่ในเขตหมู่ที่ 2 บ้านบ่อท่อ อำเภออ่าวลึก จังหวัดกระบี่ ชาวบ้านเรียกว่าถ้ำหัวกระโหลด เพราะว่า พบกระโหลกศรีษะมนุษย์ภายในถ้ำ เมื่อปี พ.ศ.2497

The Big - headed Ghost
The Big - headed Ghost or the Skull Cave is located in Moo 2, Ban Bo Tho, Krabi Province's Ao-luk District.  The villagers here call it the Skull Cave because in 2497 H.E. skulls were found in the cave.

ภายในถ้ำเป็นภูเขาหินปูน มีหินงอกหินย้อย บริเวณที่พบภาพเขียนสี ส่วนใหญ่จะอยู่ตามเพดานถ้ำ และผนังถ้ำ เป็นแหล่งที่พบภาพเขียนสีมากที่สุดในภาคใต้ ซึ่งแบ่งได้เป็น 3 ลักษณะ คือ 1.  รูปร่างคน  2.  ไม่เป็นรูปร่างคน  สัตว์  3.  ลักษณะพิเศษเป็นรูปมือเท้า  สีที่ใช้มีหลากสี ได้แก่ สีแดง ดำ เหลือง และน้ำตาล

It is a Iaimestone cave with stalagmites and stalactites, Cave paintings are also found on the roof and the walls of the cave.  Compared to other caves in the south of Thailand, this cave is believed to have the largest number of mural paintings.  The painted murals in the cave can be divided into three main categories.  Those in the shape of human beings and animals, nonhuman being and those shaped like a hand and foot, a variety of colours was used in painting such as red, black, yellow and brown.

ภาพเขียนสีเหล่านี้ เป็นหลักฐานสำคัญทางโบราณคดี  ที่แสดงให้เห็นว่าเมื่อประมาณ 3,000 ปีมาแล้ว แถบชายฝั่งทะเลอันดามัน มีชุมชนสมัยก่อนประวัติศาสตร์ ที่ว่าคงชีวิตอยู่ด้วยการอาศัยทรัพยากรตามชายฝั่ง และในทะเลเป็นแหล่งอาหารและที่อยู่อาศัย

Tham Pee Hua Toe,Krabi - Part I

ถ้ำผีหัวโต 
อุทยานแห่งชาติ ธารโบกขรณี
จังหวัดกระบี่

Tham Pee Hua Toe
Thanboke Koranee National Park
Krabi, Thailand  

Cave Art, Rock Art

สภาพที่ตั้ง



ถ้ำอยู่ในเขาของกลุ่มเขาถ้ำลอดใต้ เป็นภูเขาหินปูนในอ่าวพังงา

ในแนวเทือกเขาภูเก็ต ตัวถ้ำอยู่สูงกว่าระดับน้ำทะเล ประมาณ 10 เมตร

ภูมิประเทศโดยรอบถ้ำเป็นป่าชายเลน มีลักษณะเป็นอ่าวใน

Statelocation

Cave in his group, he coves under the underpass.  The limestone hills in vertical mountain basin Nga Phuket The Caves above sea level about 10 meters terrain around the mangrove cave.  Look inside the bay.



Thai alphabet and nationhood

Thai alphabet and nationhood

          Language is one of the most important cultural aspects of Thailand.  Apart form being a means of communication, the Thai language is also a valuable cultural heritage that reflects the country's progress and prosperity.  It signifies the "unity" of the Thai people

          The Thai language is an important national identity that deserves to be preserved for posterity.  The Commitee for the Thai Language Campaign, Chulalongkorn University, made a recommendation to the government that a "Thai Language Day" be established to raise public awareness of the Thai language's merit and significance to recruit their year has been designated the "National Thai Language Day" for the presided over an academic conference organized by the Thai Language Club of the Faculty of Art, Chulalongkorn University, and participated in a discussion with other Thai Language experts.

44 Thai alphabet

The Thai Alphabet Postage Stamps  

Date of issue  :  July 29, 2011

Credit :  Thai Stamp Bulletin Vol. 2011 issue 3, July-September 2011

Helping the Human Race



Red Cross 2011 Commemorative Stamp
Date of Issue    :  30 March 2011
Purpose            :  To commemorate the Thai Red Cross Fair 2011

Helping the Human Race
The Thai Red Cross Society is a non-profit organization, established to promote humanitarian causes.  It provides assistance to the sick, the deprived and the victims of mishaps, without discrimination on the grounds of sex, aga, social position, caste, nationality, religion or politacal ideology.  The present Executive vice-President of the Thai Red Cross Society is Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

During her term of office, the Princess has closely supervised and helped to develop the Red Cross activities, enabling it to consistently progress and contributing to its success by boosting the morale of officials and employees at all levels.

credit :  Thai Stamp Bulletin 1

Wat Yai Chaimongkhon, Ayuttaya

Ayutthaya is a distinguishingly historical place that still keeps its mesmerising charm until today.  This province once was a capital city for the longest period in the Thai history. Thus, it is rich of historical sites and historical artifacts, making it the world's notable cultural heritage.     

Wat Yai Chaimongkhon constructed in King U-Theng's era.  housing a pagoda built by King Naresuan the Great to commemorate his victory over a Burmese King.

The satellite stupas of varied structural form sand conternporay with the main stupa, are lined up out side the gallery.

The Reclining Buddha image and its vihara were probably built in the reign of King Narasuan.  It was particularly used to worship and meditation.  The present image was restored in A.D. 1965.

King Narasuan The Great Palace

King Narasuan

Phra Mongkhon Bophit, Phra Nakorn Si Ayutthaya Province

Phra Mongkhon Bophit

History of Phra Mongkhon Bophit   

Phra Mongkhon Bophit is one of the largest bronze Buddha images in Thailand.  The image measures 9.55 metres at the widest point across the lap, and 12.45 metres high without the base.  This Buddha image is seated in the position of subduing mara and situated on the west side of the old palace compound in the Vihara of Phra Mongkhon Bophit temple.  The image is believed to have been condstructed in the early Ayutthaya period between 1448 to 1602 A.D. and was originally situated at the east side of the old palace compound.  Later, during the reign of King Song Tham it was moved to the west side and a Mondop was built to shelter it.  During the reign of King Phra Chao Sua (1706 A.D.) the top part of the Mondop and the head of the image were damaged by lightning.  The Mondop was converted into a Vihara and the main restoration of Phra Mongkhon Bophit was completed during the reign of King BoromaKote (1742-1743 A.D.).

During the fall of the Ayutthaya Kingdom in 1767, the roof of the Vihara was damaged by fire and the head and the right arm of the image were broken.  Later the image was repaired and the Vihara was completed again in 1956.

On 23 March 1990, The Supreme Patriarch presided over a candle lighting ceremony in front of the image and amounced that people could honour the image by convering it with gold leaf H.M.Queen Sirikit auspiciously paid homage to the image a donated Baht 70,000 to the restoration fund.  Henceforward the Mongkhon Bophit Foundation undertook to cover the image with gold leaf in celebration of the 60th birthday of H.M. Queen Sirikit.

credit :  signed board Courtesy of Shangri-la hotel

Wat Pho or Wat Phra Chetuphon

Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajworamahavihan  

Wat Pho or Wat Phra Chetuphon, the oldest and largest wat in Bangkok, was built in the 16th century during the Ayutthaya period and then almost completely rebuilt in 1781 by King Rama I. 

It leatures the largest reclining Buddha and the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand and was the earliest centre for public education.       

Phra Buddhasaiyas

Viharn Phranorn

Wat Pho is the national headquarters for the teaching and preservation of traditional Thai medicine, including Thai massage.

The Eight Chinese Deities

Li Tie Guai, the Deity of Medicine and Medical Treatment, is a young, intelligent and robust man.  He is  a vegetarian, follows religious precepts and leads and austere life.

Han Zhong Li, the Deity of Fortune, is plump and of huge stature, with a broad forehead, long, thick eyebrows and a large nose.





Lu Dong Bin is the Deity of Industry, Trad and Business, Intellectual People and eyebrows and elongated eyes like those of the swan.  His left eyebrow is marked with a black mould.  His fae features a large, round nose, chubby cheeks, a wide mouth and a long, slender neck.  this eight foot two inch Deity is clever and has a very good memory.

Zhang Guo Lao is the Deity of Stability, Long Life and Good Health.  The Zhang Guo Lao legend has it that a white bat lived on the sunlight and the moonlight for over a thousand years until it was made into the deity.  He can transform himself into an aged man and he has a white donkey as his vehicle.

Lan Cai He is the Deity of Flowers and Abundance.  According to legend, this Deity was given a mirculous fruit that enabled him to maintain his youthful looks and complexion forever.  There is nothing to show whether this Deity is male or female, but in Taoism, he is taken to be a male.

He xian Gu is the Deity of Virtues, Loyalty and Gratitude.  He is knowledgeable, articulate and his words are endowed with reason.   He is graceful and tender in his manner.  He loves to help the deprived with his magical  powers and he is able to give solid predictions.

Han Xiang Zi is the Deity of Fortune Telling.  He is regarded as a prophet and a music lovers.  Having a special interest in people who had megical power he took lessons in magic and pracised penance wiht Lu Dong Bin.

Cao Guo Jiu is theDeity of Status and Prestige, Royal Duties, Employees and Loyatty.  He was a member of the royal family and was blessed with a great fortune, yet he decided to sacrifice his luxurious and easy life for meditation.

The Eight Chinese Deities Stamp

Date of Issue :  February 1, 2011



Credit :  Thai Stamp Bulletion Vol 2011 issue 1

Madame Tussauds Bangkok Part II

Madame Tussauds Bangkok

 

Ludivig van Beethoven

Albert Einstein

Devid Beckham

Khaosai Galaxy

"The Left hand tht drills intestines"

Muhammad Ali

"I am the greatest"

Tony Jaa

Ronaldinho

Michael Jackson

Jim Carrey

Oprah

Tata Young

Britney Spears

Madonna

Nicole Kidman

Shayne Ward

Leonardo Dicaprio

Angelina Jolie & Brad Piec