Mineral Resources Exhibition

Mineral Resources Exhibition
during 7-13 November, 2009
at Siam Discover Center, Bangkok
Photo Album

Sirindhorn Museum (Dinosaur Fossils Museum Phu Khum Khao)

Luang Pu Thuat, Wat Chang Hai, Pattani

Luang Pu Thuat, Wat Chang Hai, Pattani

Phra Ratchamuni Samiram Khunupamachan (Luang Pu Thuat), Wat Chang Hai, Pattani (Pattani is an east coast province in the south of Thailand).

Luang Pu Thuat, Wat Chang Hai, Pattani being respected by people all over the country, Luang Pu Thuat was an educational monk. It was told that he was able to sea water into fresh water.
Luang Pu Thuat was born at Tambol Delung, Amphoe Sating Phra, Songkhla province on March 3, 1582 (B.E. 2125) and died on March 6, 1682 (B.E. 2225) in Malaysia, his body was brought back to Wat Chang Hai. The annual festival to pay respect to his bone and ashed is in April. Many people believe that he has performed many miracles when he lived and even after he passed away.

photo : toursiumthailand.org

Wat Chang Hai Racha Buranaram, this old monastery was built for more than 300 years, with the sculpture of Luang Pu Tuad, once an abbot of the temple. The architecture of stupa, chedi, temple and bell tower are magnificently beautiful. This monastery is located about 31 kilometres from Pattani town.

The biggest statue of Luang Pu Thuat at Wat Huai Mongkhon, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan province, Thailand. (w 9.9 x h 11.5 m.)

Laem Pho Mollusc Fossil, Krabi

Laem Pho Mollusc Fossil, Krabi

Mollusc fussil site are exposed at Laem Pho, Tambon Sai Thai, Muang District, Krabi Province, in the vicinity of Hat Noppharat Thara Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park.

Laem Pho site 1
Located West of visitor center, crops out as a rock beach and can be clearly seen during miximum low tide. The pan shaped outcrop is resulted from sinking of underlying claystone beds. The fossil bed consists of stubby shaped gastropods (Family Viviparidae) ranging in size 1-2 cm.

Laem Pho site 2
Located at visitor centre is exposed as a 1-2 m think limestone bed. This limestone bed contains millions of compacted gastropods and is underlain by 20-40 cm. thick lignite and claystone beds. These beds are easily eroded by wave actions resulting in collapsing of gastropod beds.

Laem Pho site 3
Located approximately 1,000 m. east of visitor centre. The site can be accessed along the track during low tide. Mollusc beds at this site are approximately 3 m. thick, consisting of gastropods and bivalves. However, gastropod fossils from this site range in size from 1-2 cm. with study and long shaped forms, respectively long shaped gastropods are found only at Laem Pho site 3
Credit : Department of Mineral Resources sign board

75 million years shell cemetery

Is a form of limestone layers measured at full tide about 200 meters long 50 meters wide. It is composed of dead shells known in geology as “Fossil”. Most of these dead shells are of the species of snails, round in shafe, about 2 cm. long. The shells have piled up on top of one another and were cemented together by silicic matter, which turned the pile into a structure of rock about 40 cm. thick. The layer of rock below it became a type of coal called Lignite, and is about 10 cm. thick. Below the Lignite is a layer of shale. The nature of the rock and its formation it is possible to calculate that it way formed about 75 million year ago. During that period the region of the Ban Laem Pho used to be swamp area, with a mass of dead foliage consolidated into a type of coal called lignite. In later periods many species of shells appeared and occupied the swamp, breeding into millions, it would appear that occupied the swamp, breeding into millions, it would appear that certain change occurred in this region later, and the swamp area was submerged in the sea water killing the shell population. Silicic matter form the sea water cemented them together forming a structure of rock. Another evolution developed on the earth pushing portions of this rock formation above the sea level, hence the present phenomenon occurred. Accouring to available information there are only three of this type of shell cemeteries in the world on in The State of Chicago, U.S.A., one in Japan and this one in Ban Laempomin, Thailand.

Strata at these three sites are interpreted as having been deposited in fresh water lakes during 35 million years ago. Depositional events are summarized as follows

1. Sediments were accumulated into the basins as clay mixed with plant remains and gastropod fragments. This indicates the presence of plants and animals in the lakes.

2. Plant remains were then accumulated upon clay layers and became peat and lignite.

3. In the final stage, clayey sediments were mixed with calcareous components and abundant shell fragments. This is due to huge population of gastropods living in fresh water lakes. Changes in paleoenvironments and fluctuations of water level resulted in increasing and decreaising numbers of gastropod population as recorded in fossil beds.

4. The presence of laterie, lateritic soil, river and beach sands. Overlying molluse beds indicates that fresh water lakes became a landmass prior to 200,000 years.
Credit : Laem Pho Molluse Fossil sign board

Trang Vegetarian Festival 2009 Photo Album

Trang Vegetarian Festival 2009
Photo Album, 23 October 2009

credit : Thumrin Hotel, Thumrin Thana Hotel, Trang

Wat Sothon Woararam Worawihan Temple, Chachoengsao Privince, Thailand

Wat Sothon Woararam Worawihan Temple, Chachoengsao Privince, Thailand

Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan in Muang district, includes the most important Buddha image

 “Luang Pho Sothon”.

Chachoengsao, A Buddhist city

Chachoengsao or Paet Rio is located on the east of Bangkok. Its fertility is due to Bang Pakong River. It is an important venue for agricultural products in the Central Region, with mango as the most popular fruit of the province. Moreover, it is the location of the sacred Phra Phutthasothon Buddha image (the Luang Pho Sothon statue).

The history of Chachoengsao dated back since the Ayutthaya Period during the reign of King Phra Borom Tri Lokkanat. Most people live along the banks of Bang Pakong River and canals. Phra Phutthasothon or Luang Pho Sothon is the center of beliefs and faith. In the past, Chachoengsao was a small town, and was upgraded to a province in 1916.

Chachoengsao is 80 kilometers from Bangkok, with the area of 5,351 square kilometers.

Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan
This temple is in the municipal area by the Bang Pakong River. Built in late Ayutthaya Period, with its original name of “Wat Hong”, it is the location of Phra Phutthasothon or Luang Pho Sothon, the important Buddha image in the attitude of meditation with a width of 1.65 meters and a height of 1.48 meters high. According to the legend, this Buddha image had been floated along the river, before being placed here at this temple. The original image was a beautiful Buddha image, but later on cement was placed on the image to prevent from burglary. Worshippers from all walks of life come to pay respect to this most reputed image by pasting gold leaves on the image.

The present chapel (ubosot) is a new, beautiful, and gigantic building which has replaced the old one. The chapel actually depicts the style of the applied Rattanakosin period.

credit : tourismthailand.org