September 11, 2009

Ancient City or Muang Boran, Samut Prakan Province

Muang Boran or the Ancient City, Samut Prakan Province, is the world's biggest open air museum. It occupies an area of 500 rais (200 acres). Construction began in the latter part of 1963. It is located at Tambon Bang Pu Mai, at Km. 33.5 of the old Sukhumvit Road, 8 kilometres from Samut Prakan town. This unique attraction is the center of scaled down and actual size replicas of important historical sites of various provinces such as Prasat Hin Phanom rung, Wat Mahathat sukhothai, Phraphuttabat Saraburi, Phrathat Mueang Nakhon, Phrathat Chaiya, etc. Furthermore, there are rare traditional folk arts and cultures, some of which are hard to come by nowadays. For those who wish to learn about Thailand, they will not be disappionted here.
Getting there by car, take the Samrong, Samut Prakan Road to Samut Prkan T-junction and turn left going along the old Sukhumvit road (road to Bang Pu), then at approximately Km. 33 turn into an entry road to Muang Boran and drive on for 8 kilometres, Muang Boran will be on the left. To get there by bus, take the air conditional bus Line no. 11 (Pin Klao - Pak Nam) to the end of the Line and take the local mini bus Line no. 36 to Muang Boran.
The museum is open dairly from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm Admission : Adult 300 baht, Child 200 baht. Fees for taking a car or van in is 50 baht. for more information call 0 23239253, 0 22241058 or web site : ancientcity.com
credit : tourismthailand.com



The Grand Palace, Bangkok



Sanpet Prasat Hall, Ayuttaya


The Stupa of Phra That, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province.
The monastery is a remarkable architectural reminder of the artistic virtuority of the southern Thai architects. The Stupa, where the Buddha relics are housed, was built during the regin of King Sri Thammasokarat in 555 A.D. When Nakhon Si Thammarat was first established. The stracture is obviously infloenced by Singhalese School of Art.
The Stupa at Muang Boran is smaller than the original one at Nakhon Si thammarat by one third. However, the structure was painstakingly rebuilt based on archaevlogical evidences.
credit : Muang Boran sign board




Wat Chom Kom, Lampang


The Tiger King's Palace, PhetchaburiBuddhist art museum displaying corved and gilded cabinets and chests taken from the monasteries. Muang Boran has reconstruced the teaching hall in samller size.

Wat Chamthewi, Lamphun Province

Wat Phra Phutthabat, Saraburi Province

Phra That Phanom (The Pagoda) Nakhon Phanom Province


The puppet show

shadow play place

September 8, 2009

Illustrating Bodhisattva Guan Yin, Goddess of Merey Stamp



Date of issue : 09.09.09
Denomination 9.00 Baht
Quantity 1,000,000 pieces
size 33 x 72 mm. (Vertical measured from perforation to perforation)

Design : Illustrating Bodhisattva Guan Yin, Goddess of Mercy, in the Posture of Giving Blessing (Standing). According to Guan Yin book, Guan Yin Goddess has a beautiful oval shaped face figure, complexion is fairer than the ivory white, elegant hair is as black as dark cloud of the night, eyes are more graceful than crystal eyes, right hand holds a vast containing divine merey holy water while left hand holds willow twig, and dress is shiny white.

Designer : Mrs. Veena Chantanatat (Thailand Post Company Limited)
Printer : Thai British Security Printing Company Limited, Thailand
Printing Process : Lithography with Pearlescence Ink and Glitter Ink
Colur : Multi colour

Sheet Composition : 10 stamps per sheet
Souvenir Sheet 15 baht
First Day Cover 20 baht

September 7, 2009

Thai Boxing, Muay Thai or Siamese Kick Boxing

It is not uncommon for foreign visitors to Bangkok to come across a group of Thais crowding around television sets at night watching the latest boxing match. Thai boxing, or Muay Thai, attracts the most attention of the Thai people.

Your visit to Bangkok will not be completed if you do not see at least one Thai boxing matches are regularly televised, attending the live event is a thing not to be missed. Thai boxing is almost universally regarded as today's most exciting ring sport. It is considered by many to be the most violent martial art compared with Japanese Karate, Korean Taekwando, and Chinese Kang Fu.

A boxing stadium is normally a noisy crowded arena, full of spectators cheering and screaming supports for their favourites. Each fight starts with both corners performing a ritual, honouring and paying homage to their teachers ( Ruam Muay Thai). A match consists of five rounds, each of which lasts three minutes with a two minute break between rounds. The bout is normally accompanied by the music of a three instrument orchestra (drums, cymbals and flute). The music rises and falls with the action taking place in the roped ring. Apart from using their gloves, boxers are allowed to use their feet, legs, knees, elbows, shoulders, or any other parts of the body, except the head, to overcome their opponent. A winner is awarded for a knock out or a pints decision given by a panel of judges.

There are two boxing stadiums in the city.

1. Ratchadamnoen Stadium on Thanon Ratchadamnoen Nok, muaythai2000.com/
2. Lumpini Stadium on Thanon Rama IV (near Tahnon Sathon), muaythailumpini.com/

Events take place at Ratchadamnoen Stadium on Mondays 18.30-23.00, Wednesdays 18.30-23.00, Thursdays 18.30-23.00, and Sundays 18.30-23.00, and at Lumphini Stadium on Tuesdays, Fridays 18.30-23.00 and Saturdays 16.30-20.30 and 20.30-24.00 . However, interested visitors are advised to check in advance for information on venues, times and ticket prices.

credit : Bangkok2000 City of Culture,Bangkok Metropolitan Administration

September 1, 2009

Buddha image "Luang Pho Pu", Wat Krok Krak wears a pair of Sunglasses



Luang Pho Pu, Wat Krok Krak at Samutsakorn Province

Buddha image (Luang Pho Pu) wears a pair of sunglasses
The local legend, an epidemic of conjunctivitis. The villagers attempted to protect the contagious eyes but it did not recover. So, they asked to the Buddha's intercession that if they recovered to bring placing gold leaf on the eyes of the statue. Then, they began flocking to the temple to do goodness. The abbot of Wat Krok Krak sought to divert the mock people's attention by placing a pair of sunglasses on the statue. Since devotees brought the pair sunglasses to dedicate to Luang Pho Pu.
Wat Krok Krak is an ancient temple, was built in the early Rattanakosin period, located "Maha Chai", Muang District, Samut Sakhon Province, is a small province on the mouth of the Tha Chin River, 30 kilometres from Bangkok.

Samut Sakhon Province covers a total area of 872 square kilometres and is divided into 3 districts : Muang Samut Sakhon, Krathum Baen and Ban Phaeo. It is a major fishing port and producer of brine salt. There locates a lot of Seafood manufactory and is full of seafood restaurant.

August 25, 2009

Giant Panda born in Thailand




Credit : Photo of TAT

Giant Panda born in Thailand
New Baby Panda, her name is Linping
Her mother name is Lin Hui
Her father name is Chuang Chuang
At Chiang Mai Zoo

You can see live version of baby Panda directly from Chiang Mai Zoo
At http://www.zoothailand.org/panda/livepanda.php

Birth of Giant panda’s cub reported
After we had been following up Linhui’s pregnancy we found that about midnight on 27th May 2009 Linhui started licking her vagina progressively for several hours and marking at the same time. Linhui was eaten a bamboo lass than before.
In the morning about 8.00 am the keepers were going to bring Linhui into the cave to check up her health but Linhui denied. She still pay attention to lick her vagina and started to push till her vagina was expansile. So we decided not release Linhui into exhibit area and told the keeper to keeping eye on Linhui all the time. So we had found that Linhui was still push intermittently and has more frequency from 20 minute to 10 minute and she still licks her vagina at the meantime.
Until about 10.39am Linhui had change her action to bend down and she started to push again until she was delivered the baby on the floor and Linhui tried to hold her baby in the mouth to cuddle. Linhui was being a great mother even this is her first pregnancy. We believe that Linhui can raise her baby by herself. The giant panda’s cub is big, cries out loud, and has a lot of energy to squirm. We think the giant panda’s cub is healthy and that is not necessary to separate from mother.
After 3 hours from delivered the giant panda’s cub was not hungry yet. Linhui had clean and make her baby sleep. The cub move progressively and cry out but when Linhui hold in a good position the cub was go back to sleep.
Preparation to raise the giant panda’s cub. First we must know that the cub could suckle milk from mother or not if the cub couldn’t suckle milk from mother we have to separate to feed and then bring its back to Linhui. But from our observed we expect that the cub had suckled some milk from Linhui already.
Credit : pandainthailand.com