October 6, 2009

Prasat Phanom Rung, Narai Lintel, Buriram Province

Buriram is a land of ancient Khmer prosperity. The southern part of the province has a number of Khmer sanctuaries, the most magnificent being Phanom Rung, regarded as one of the most beautiful examples of Khmer architecture in Thailand.
Buriram is 410 kilometres from Bangkok. It has an area of 10,321 square kilometres.


Phanom Rung Historical Park This is a grand and majestic Khmer site over a thousand years old. Built on an extinct volcano, it is originally a Hindu religious site and later became a Buddhist one. During the 15th-18th Buddhist century, several additions were made.The first thing visitors see when they arrive at the site is the grand stairway from the foot of the hill up to the top. Most of the buildings of the sanctuary are made of laterite and sandstone, all with elaborate designs. The buildings are lined all the way to the main pagoda. This layout is according to Hindu belief of the layout of the heaven of the god Shiva.


The main pagoda is a large one with a square base and facing east. The designs on the pagoda, columns, doorway, and lintels are exquisite, most telling a story of gods in Hinduism. From these designs and the architecture, it is surmised that the pagoda, the stairway and the Naga bridge were built during the 17th Buddhist century. Each building has descriptive designs telling people the purpose for its construction, its usefulness and the beliefs of ancient people.
Prasat Phanom Rung

Thap Lang Narai Banthomsin (Narai Lintel),a carved stone piece on top of the prasat's door which was returned from the United States in 1988.



Mueang Tam Stone Sanctuary (Prasat Mueang Tam), Buriram Province
This stone sanctuary can be reached by taking the road to Prakhon Chai for 8 kilometres and another 5 kilometres on a road on the right-hand side. This Khmer site has a square layout. Its main structures are 5 brick pagodas built on the same foundation and enclosed by two walls. The 4 doorways are perpendicular to each other and built of sandstone with beautiful designs. The inner wall is made of sandstone and is one long, narrow continuous corridor, called Rabiang Khot. The outer wall is made of laterite. Lintels adorn doorways and the main pagoda, recounting Hindu tales. Another highlight of the site is the 4 large pools between the walls. The edges of the pools have serpent designs with the

Silk making villages, in Na Pho district.  This is a major centre of quality silk making, especially Pha Mat Mi.  It is supported by Her Majesty the Queen's arts and culture foundation.

Credit : tourismthailand.org

September 24, 2009

Chao Phraya River to Wang Lang (Siriraj)

                                                     
                                                              Wang Lang (Siriraj) pier


                                                                Thammasat University


                                             His Royal Highness Prince Mahidol of Songkla


                                                          Mahidol Day, 24 September, 2009


Her Royal Highness Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Boromrajajonani,
the mother of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej,
was born on October 21, 1900 and passed away on July 18, 1995.


Siammin Building, Department of Orthopedic Surgency
Chao Phraya River to Wang Lang (Siriraj) Pier at Siriraj Hospital
Siriraj Hospital is the oldest hospital in Thailand, located in Bangkok on the west bank of Chao Phraya River, opposite Thammasat University's Tha Phrachan campus. It is the primary teaching hospital of the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University. The hospital was founded by King Chulalongkorn in 1888, two years after a worldwide cholera outbreak. It is named after the king's 18-month old son, Prince Siriraj Kakuttaphan, who had died from dysentery a year before the opening of the hospital. The medical school was established two years later in 1890. With the capacity of more than 3,000 beds and more than one million outpatient visits per year, Siriraj is one of the largest, most-congested medical centers in Thailand. The medical school accepts about 250 medical students and more than 100 for postgraduate residency training each year.
Nowaday, Siriraj is the biggest public hospital in Thailand. From the excellence medical practices, its tertiary care unit is the referral center for all hospitals in Thailand. Siriraj hospital will be the medical hub of Asia in the future.

Centers of Excellence
The heart of Siriraj
Thai German endoscopy
Siriraj GI Endoscopy Center
Breast Center, The Breast Center was founded by the Breast Foundation under the royal patronage of HRH the Princess Mother Srinagarindra in cooperation with the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital.
Orgam Transplantation Center
Bone Marrow Transplantation Center
Bangkok Biomaterial Center
Siriraj Robotic Surgery Center
How to get there : visitors can take either bus or ferry. ordinary bus : 19, 57, 81, 83,146, 149 Airconditioned Bus: 91 Ferry from Tha Chang/Tha Phrachan pier to Wang Lang Pier (Siriraj Hospital)

               
                                                                 Wat Arun click

September 17, 2009

Let's go on a railway (September - October, 2009)


Photo of TAT

Bustling Raiway Tourism Burgeoning Thai Economy.
Let's go on a railway excursion this holiday.

5 Tousism Associations + Tourism Authority of Thailand + State Railway of Thailand are proud to recommend the Phu Ko White water Raffing to Follow Takong Programme.

1. Phu Ko by train
(Saturday 5, 12, 19 and 26 September, 2009)


Photo of TAT
06.00 hrs. Assemble at the meeting point near the PR counter, Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lampong)
06.40 hrs. Depart Bangkok Railway Station for Saraburi province by Rapid Train no. 135. Breakfast provided on the train.
10.13 hrs Arrive at Muak Lek Station, leave for Chef Sao Noi Waterfall where you can relax and rest or swim in the fall.
11.30 hrs Lunch of Wao Thai Restaurant in Muak Lek District.
12.30 hrs. Leave for Phu Ko. change clothes for a little adventure of white water raffing. along the way try to find the Takong or indochinese water dragon one of the protected animals, study about plants, and watch various kinds of birds.
15.30 hrs. Leave Phu Ko to shop for local food, good beef, milk, fried curry puffs and fruits of Muak Lek.
17.11 hrs. Train no. 146 leaves Muak Lek Railway Station for Bangkok ..Supper is provided on the train... At Leisure....
21.00 hrs. Arrive at Bangkok Railway Station...Bon Voyage.
Ticket Price : 999.- Baht/ Person (Nine Hundred Ninety Nine Baht)
Including : Train, transfer, raffing, 3 meals, admission fee, insurance, tourist guide.
2. Lop Buri by Tram
(Saturday 3, 10, 14, 24 and 31 October, 2009)

Photo of TAT
06.30 hrs. Assemble at the meeting point near the PR counter, Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong)
07.00 hrs. Depart Bangkok Railway Station for Lop Buri province by Rapid Train no. 111. Breakfast provided on the train.
09.44 hrs. Arrive at the Lop Buri Railway Station, leave for Narai Ratchaniwet the ancient Palace where King Narai the Great constructed in 1666, by train...Visit the Dusit Sawan Thanya Maha Prasat Hall, the Audience Hall, Chanthara Phisan Pavillon, The first palace at King Narai the Great in Lop Buri, Suttha Sawan Pavillion, where King Narai the Great resided and died on 11 July, 1688. Phra Khlang Supharat, a place to store royal treasures and royal goods sold to foreign merchants during the late 1600s, elephant and horse stables...etc.
11.30 hrs Leave for Ban Wichayen, once a residence of Chevalier de Chaumont, the first French ambossador to Thailand during the reign of King Louis XIV and later on. Constrantine Phaulkon, who later became King Narai, the Great's advisor and was granted the position of royal minister Chao Phraya Wichayen.
12.20 hrs. Lunch at the Thai Sawong Ruean Thai Restaurant.
13.30 hrs. Leave for King Narai the Great Statue.
14.00 hrs. Visit Ban Hin Song Kon, the village where Din So Phong is produced in nearly every house in that compound, there is white marl with a delicate and light texture. And then visit the brass house which speciallizes in brass. Leave for Wat Phra Si Rattana Maha That. on ancient temple opposite the railway station.
17.27 hrs. Train no. 210 leaves Lop Buri Railway Station for Bangkok...Supper is provided on the train... At leisure..
20.35 hrs. Arrive at the Bangkok Railway Station...Bon Voyoge.
Ticket Price : 999.- Baht/ Person
Including : Train, tram, 3 meals, admission fees, insurance, tourist gouide.
Reservations :
1. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Tel. 0 2250 5500 ext 2105 and 2115-9
2. Thai Ecotourism & Adventure Travel Association (TEATA) Tel. 0 2929 0795-6
3. Thai Tourism Promotion Association (TTPA) Tel. 0 2918 5414
4. Association of Thai Tour Operators (ATTO) Tel. 0 2998 0983-5
5. Association of Domestic Travel (ADT) Tel. 0 2270 1505-8
6. Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) Tel. 0 2237 6046-8
For further details, please contact the TAT Call Centre 1672 and Railway Hotline 1690.
credit : toursimthailand.org and thaitravelmart.com


Railway Station (Hua Lampong), Rama 4 Road, Bangkok

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