The Bangkok Folk Museum

The Bangkok Folk Museum was originally the home of the Suravadee family which was built in 1937. It’s tucked away in Soi Charoen Krung 43, off the famous Charoen Krung Road, the oldest road in Bangkok, built in 1860 during the reign of King Rama IV.

The family home was converted to the Bangkok Folk Museum to preserve the lifestyle of early Bangkok and also to record the history of Bangkok and the Bangrak district, where the museum is located. On 1 October 2004, the property was donated to the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority who now manages the place.

There are four buildings set in a lush garden in half an acre of land in the busy commercial Bangrak district near the Chao Phraya River.


The lush garden

Three of these building are open for public viewing. Ms Waraporn Surawadee, daughter of the original owners, lives in the fourth and it was through her dedicated efforts that the Bangkok Folk Museum was established.

The first building, which used to be the family home, is a two storey wooden building with a covered verandah at the back. The ground floor consists of an anteroom connecting to the dining room, guest room and library.


At the entrance to the house

There’s an air of nostalgia in the house where there’s a grandfather clock and an old gramophone that has to be started by a lever. On my first visit in 2004, an old 75-rpm record of “Would I Love You” by Doris Day and Harry James was still on the turntable. The record has been changed when I revisited the museum in August 2008.


Music of yesteryears

The dining room has a collection of European porcelain around the 1899 – 1913 period and old Chinese ceramics.

It's not an old palace, or a past royal residence, nor a teak house dragged from up-country and reassembled in the city - but that's its charm. Situated not far from the Central Post Office, the Bangkok Folk Museum is a typical Bangkok family house, the only difference being that this one is typical of over 70 years ago.

Together its interiors and original household items, including traditional household utensils and items of ceremonial significance, present a 'living scenario of middleclass Bangkok citizens in the period of World War II'. Everything is classified and exhibited with the efficiency and precision of a much larger museum, and owner Mrs Waraporn Surawadee can arrange guided tours.

Open: 10:00 - 17:00 (weekends only)
Where: 273 Charoenkrung Soi 43
Admission: free (contact owner Mrs Waraporn Surawadee 09:00 - 17:00 Monday to Friday for bookings).
Contact: +66 (0)2 233 7027

Royal Thai Air Museum

Established in 1952 to preserve not only military aircraft, but also equipment from the beginning of aviation, the Royal Thai Air Force Museum displays one of the world's finest collections of rare and antique military aircraft. This is the only place to see the one-of-a-kind Hawk 3 fighters, which once participated in the Corsair and Franco-Indo Chinese War.

The only remaining Japanese Tachigawa trainer can also be seen here. A Bomber Model II (Paribarta), the first aircraft designed and built solely by Thais, sits proudly next to international wonders like the Spitfire. Nierports, Breguets, Boeing P12-Es and carriers complete the exhibition, while modern jet fighters and royal helicopters add an exotic touch. Other interesting features include simulators, electronic aviation devices and a hypobaric (low-pressure) chamber used for testing the pilot's physical readiness. The museum souvenir shop is a treasure-trove of air force mementoes such as model aircrafts, books, T-shirts and watches.

Open: Daily 08:30 - 14:30
Where: Phanon Yothin Road, just behind Don Mueang Airport
Admission: free
Contact: +66 (0)2 534 1764

Human Imagery Museum

Thai artist Duangkaew Phityakornsilp and his team spent over ten years painstakingly creating the eerily life-like wax and fibre-glass figures that appear at the Human Imagery Museum and depict, with astonishing realism, scenes from Thai life and culture. Included amongst representations of daily life are farm labourers, slaves, chess players, even a man reading a Thai newspaper.

Other figures include a 'who's-who' of Thai nobility: Chakri Dynasty Kings, enlightened monks, poets, politicians, aristocrats and musicians. Some of the most prominent foreigners of popular history also appear in, what seems to be, the flesh. Sir Winston Churchill is there, along with the likes of Abraham Lincoln and Mahatma Gandhi. Bangkok's very own Madame Tussauds, if you like - only less pop culture, more high culture.

Open: 09:00 - 17:30 (Monday - Friday), 08:30 - 18:00 (weekends and public holidays)
Where: 43/2 Moo 1, Pinklao-Nakhonchaisri Road, Nakhon Pathom
Admission: 200 baht
Contact: +66 (0)3 433 2061 / 2607

Corrections Museum

Located on Mahachai Road, the Corrections Museum is the place to learn about the gruesome punishments meted out to offenders in Thailand in the not so distant past. It was once the site of the Bangkok Remand Prison, an old and overcrowded penal facility located in the heart of Bangkok. In 1990, the cabinet relocated it to Lad-yao and turned the site into a public park called Rommani Nart. Three blocks, a cellblock, a side of the prison wall and two watchtowers were preserved, and converted into this Museum of the macabre.

Grisly corporal punishment tools and weapons exhibit the severities of the old penal system, a sadistic system based on retribution through severe punishment and suffering (after seeing these you'll think twice about misbehaving while on these shores). Life-sized wax figures act out with painful precision execution scenes. A grim highlight includes a man-sized rattan ball pierced with nails pointing inwards. Hapless prisoners were placed inside and an elephant used to kick the ball around. Ouch! Less likely to revisit you in your dreams is the area exhibiting furniture and handicrafts made by prisoners from across Thailand - all available to buy. The building also shows how prisoners in the past lived day-to-day, and how prison guards brought offenders into custody.

Open: 09:30 - 16:00 (Monday - Friday, closed on public holidays)
Where: 436 Mahachai Road, near Rommani Nart Park
Admission: free
Contact: +66 (0)2 226 1706

Jim Thompson House & Suan Pakkad Palace

Jim Thompson House is comprised of six lovingly maintained teak houses. The exterior is so very Thai: the lyrical tropical garden, the boldly upswept roof eaves, the spirit house offering protection in a shadeless corner. But step inside and you find a stunning home/museum that flaunts the exquisite taste and high-cultural leanings of its Asiaphile owner, Jim Thompson.

He was a former architect and US intelligence officer who after WWII fell in love, not with Thailand's beaches or its women but its lustrous, hand-woven silk. In between reviving this ailing cottage industry - which today thrives largely thanks to him - he spent his days snapping up Southeast Asian antiques. And not gaudy bric-a-brac, but some truly eye-popping paintings, pottery, furniture and sculptures.

Herein lies everything from decrepit old doorways rescued from a Chinatown street corner, to a 13th Century seated sandstone Buddha and crumbling Chinese stone lions. It's all stunning stuff. His taste was, is still, exquisite. And, ambling from room to room, it's clear from the 'oohs' and 'aahs' that others agree (as one American puts it while eyeing some Benjarong ceramics: "such an eye - and to think he was one of us!")

Home Improvements

It is clear also that while Jim Thompson was a huge fan of Thai art and customs (the threshold of each building is elevated to keep out evil spirits, for example), he was no slave to them. The stairways are found indoors. Black and white Italian tiling lines the entrance hall. And the decorative window panels, which traditionally face outwards, face in. This wasn't cultural irreverence - just home improvements.

As were other personal touches like the chandeliers, a Chinese blue and white porcelain set on a European dining table (he wasn't into dining on the floor) and, my favourite, a porcelain bedpan in the shape of a cat. Jim Thompson disappeared mysteriously in 1967 while in the Malaysian highlands. But it's easy to picture him still sitting at the work desk in his study, looking out at the sun shining between the giant palm fronds. This is a museum, yes, but one with a stirring, ghostly aura.

Jim Thompson House
Address: 6/1 Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama 1 Road
Location: Opposite the National Stadium on Rama I Road. Accessible from BTS National Stadium station.
Tel: +66 (0)2 216 7368
Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00

Bangkok Children's Discovery Museum

A visit to this museum destroys all preconceived notions of a museum as a mothball-reeking, dead quiet place with 'do not touch' signs everywhere. Bangkok's Children Discovery Museum actually encourages a hands-on approach to learning. By presenting interactive displays, it calls on a 'discovery learning process', whereby children enter the experience and participate in the process of learning rather than remaining a passive (and bored) viewer - a perfect place for inquisitive young minds to figure things out for themselves, as well as for tinier tots just wanting to touch everything.

This museum gets kids excited and encourages them to ask questions about how the world works. Figure out how it all fits together, by looking at the parts and experimenting - that's the idea. Fun in the science gallery includes creating your own giant bubble from inside. Try to understand the nature of illusion by entering a tunnel of mirrors. In the 'life' section, examine the processes of the mind and body - experiment with the human kinetic processes yourself and check out your heart rate by scaling an indoor bicycle. Now put your coordination skills to the test by hitting the button corresponding to each different action... This is education at its most fun!

The mysteries of our magical world, demystified

Wonder what kind of music would come from the stars? What about other parts of the world? Test the different drums from all over the world. Listen to recordings of greetings in different languages, or discover what sounds go with which of the various instruments. What do different people wear? What kind of houses do they live in? This exhibition intends to foster in children a respect for diversity and a natural curiosity about the world around them. What is the grown-ups' world really like? Be one for a day. Kids can even join a cooking class and make some real yummy (Thai) food at My Little Kitchen. If they are rising starlets, let them have their own TV or radio talk show.

You can take to the wheel, not literally of course, but here you can test drive and see which buttons and levers do what. This installation has a real seat, with a gearbox, steering wheel and dashboard with the whole range of buttons and levers. There is even a car suspended in mid air so you can see the underside - what happens when you turn the wheel, and turn each switch. Notice how all the parts work in unison and even see how an accident can happen. Here is something that even adults can learn from. Where does electricity come from? And how much energy do we use? Marvel at how much each household appliance uses up in the 'energy gorging monster'.

Wat Yannawa

A very short distance south of Taksin Bridge is the rather urbanized temple of Wat Yannawa. The temple was built early in the 19^th century. It was quite popular with the Chinese who settled the neighborhood after Chinatown began to fill up. This is still a predominately Chinese neighborhood, which is why the information plaque is in Thai, English and Chinese.

The large gatehouse of the temple.

The temple's singular attraction is its very unusual wiharn in the shape of a Chinese junk. The wiharn was built on the orders of King Rama III, who saw steam ships replacing the old junks, and wanted the people to remember the old ships that had originally bought so much prosperity to the kingdom. The 'ship' is made out of concrete, with two chedis where the masts would normally be. The alter is in the wheel house above the stern.

The meeting hall with its roof-top pavilions.

The ubosot behind the wiharn is looking unkept and run-down compared to the freshly painted wiharn. The gatehouse as well as the two large buildings flanking the wiharn are all recent additions.

Being a sort of 'one hit wonder' the temple fell off the tourist map many years ago. A bit part of its current importance is owing to the fact that the temple's abbot is current the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand's main Buddhist school.

Getting There

Wat Yannawa is a very short walk south of the Taksin Bridge Skytrain station. Exit the station to Charoen Krung Road, turn right, and you'll soon come to the temple's large gatehouse.

THE STONE MUSEUM

The Stone Museum represents many things to many people, but it isn't an easy place to define or pin down. As our name suggests, we are a museum of minerals and fossils with a host of indoor and outdoor displays that are “hands on”, enabling visitors of all ages to actually touch specimens from 80 countries. One of our most popular exhibits is the Fluorescent Room, where visitors witness a display of hundreds of rocks (most from the Garden State) that glow in a vibrant array of colors. Recently we have acquired a dinosaur egg from China as well as a leg bone from one of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs—the African Spinosaurus. Kids also love our “recycled dinosaur”, Monroe, a giant twenty-foot-tall reptile replica who roars with real ferocity.

Monroe the recycled dinosaur

Fluorescent Room with glowing rocks
Famous Flourescent Room

Yet we are more than a user-friendly geology and natural history museum. We are also a showcase of “practical masonry”, with hundreds of full-size displays of all types of stone products used in building construction and landscape design set in a continuous wall around our man-made lake (there's no guess work when you can see finished walls and walkways in “the outdoor showroom”). Our museum also depicts the tools and techniques used in past and present stonework. Many visitors have thanked us for helping them choose the right material for their project.

Masonry outdoor showroom and walkway

Masonry outdoor showroom and walkway

Entrance to displays

Education is the “touchstone” of our outdoor display. Displays teach homeowners how to build a fireplace, install veneer brick and stone products. But that still doesn't tell the entire story of The Stone Museum. Some guests don't come to be educated about minerals or stonework; rather, they come to walk or meditate on the lovely arcaded walkways, while listening to the sounds of rushing water that emanate from six stone waterfalls found on the grounds. The lake area is decorated with metal sculptures and striking landscape boulders, many of which derive from the American Southwest.

Waterfall

Masonry table and chairs

Masonry outdoor showroom and walkway

Waterfall

Visitors who don't want to leave The Stone Museum at the end of the day can bring a small piece of it home by shopping at our Rock and Gift Shop, where we sell a hundred different polished gemstones and a wide variety of jewelry, fossils, collectibles and carved objects. We hope this short explanation of The Stone Museum is helpful in describing what it is about; of course, the best way to comprehend it is to visit us in the near future. Then try to explain it to a friend—you'll see it's not that easy.

Rock and Gift Shop

Rock and Gift Shop display

Special Exhibits

The Stone Museum has created a memorial to the brilliant and acclaimed sculptor Jim Gary (1939-2006), whose "20th Century Dinosaurs" have been exhibited in museums around the nation and the world. Jim, a longtime friend of The Stone Museum, combined and crafted used automobile parts into anatomically accurate dinosaur sculptures, which are infused with a spirit of imaginative realism. Our exhibit focuses on the genius of his technique as well as the highlights of his storied career. Three Gary creations are on display as part of our permanent collection. Jim Gary was the first living artist to have his art on display at the Smithsonian Museum.

We've also added an exhibit of Pat Carmella's true to life cobblers shop, which was transported piece-by-piece to the grounds of our museum. Original equipment, hand tools, and supplies highlight this fascinating glimpse into the craft of shoe repair.

Monmouth University has donated their rock collection that is now on display at The Stone Museum.

talkingmachine

Story of musical cylinder in Siam from the book Vajirayanvises Va Duay Tibhayasoth Va Duay Tibhayajaksu.

It is pleasant indeed that one of Thailand most important historical documents are still well kept in form of microfilm. the Book Vajirayanvises" published in the period of King Rama V "Va Duay Tibhayasoth Tibhayajaksu"is written by Prince Bhanurangsi Sawangwongse Krom Phraya Bhanubhandhuwongworadej. There are statements mentioned about a tinfoil machine and a phonograph cylinder in Siam.

" There is one instrument which was invented about 10 years ago called phonograph. This phonograph is the instrument that already imported in Siam for some time. Somebody tried to use it and found that it worked. It is electrical instrument which when one says something and it keeps that quoth forever and whenever someone wants to listen to this quoth, they can turn this instrument on , then they can listen it again. The sound that it saved is all clear.

However, we can't admit that it is a useful instrument because we can use it only one time, namely one time record and one time listen. Also it is considered as Tibhayasoth or magic hearing. Later I reckon that in USA. Mr. Edison already tried to develop the quality of this phonograph (Tinfoil machine) to have a better condition.

I'm pretty much curious about it. I have seen pictures of the new phonograph in one European newspaper that reports about this new invented phonograph and I'm really impressed with it, so it is the reason why I write this book. This new invented phonograph has not imported yet, but it actually does exist. The advantage of the new invented phonograph is it records the sound of a speaker more clearly than the old one. It's as we hear the real sound of the speaker. If one wishes to listen to the sound of the speaker, they can listen it many times as they wish.

The inventor of the phonograph has tested this instrument in USA. to Europe (England) He sent the 3"cylinder recorder to England and then a person in England can listens to the sound and words from the recorder from USA easily. Even though it is far away, it seems like hearing from the speaker right away. This new-invented shows its quality effectively and this record can be kept as long as we need and it lasts forever. The inventor of this phonograph tried to connect the phonograph with wide-ended tube like a horn and settle it in a hall in a the Grand Palace in England. When there is a grand concert , this recorder can record all the sound of musical instruments and hundred singers altogether such as musical instruments with a solo or chorus, no matter it is high-pitched or low-pitched sound and even the mistakes are recorded as well.

When this recorder sent back to New York, USA a lot of people want to listen music from the concert in England could listen to any sound of music from the concert, besides this the listeners were able to recognize the voice of the singers as they gather in the Grand Palace in England also. Someone made a suggestion that if this recorder is installed somewhere, people can hear every sound even the sound of carriage driving on the road, or the sound of animals around and this recorder can also record all the sound as well.

Due to this reason this recorder is as Tibhayasoth or a power of hearing beyond the range of human ear that ca hear well and fast as wish. This statement refers to this recorder is not exaggerated. All this instrument needs electricity to make it work. What exactly is electricity? We can explain it as an eccentricity in the air when it rains. We can see dazzling light and thunder, namely it is electricity. electricity is an element which is used in machines and instruments. According to the western scientists realized the advantage of electricity, then they tried to find ways of producing electricity in order to make use of it for the machines and instruments. This statement is only a short explanation of electricity. To make it clear is like to explain that the world is round or flat. The power that make these machines work is electric power. The word "Tibhayajaksu" has quite the same meaning as "Tibhayasoth" ,but the difference is Tibhayajaksu is defined as a power of seeing beyond the range of human eye that can see the object well and fast as wish. ( From the document about recorder in the book Vajirayanvises vol. page 406.)

salachalermkrung

The Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre now proudly presents a new episode of Khon-Masked Dance entitled “Hanuman Chankamhaeng”, an excerpt from Ramakien story. This performance is also to celebrate the Auspicious Occasion of the 60 th Anniversary Celebrations of His Majesty the King's Accession to the Throne. “Hanuman” is a white monkey warrior, whose duty is to assist the righteous King “Rama” to fight with the demon King “Totsakan”. The “Hanuman Chankamhaeng” performance depicts the life of Hanuman since he was born and became valiant soldier who helped King Rama win against Totsakan, and Hanuman was later promoted. This spectacular episode has 60 performers, with elaborate dress specially designed for this specific dance. It involves highly traditional singing, dancing, acting, acrobatics and music.

Ban Bung Sa Prehistoric Museum

Sophonkhantiphalakorn (Songsak Khantiko), the abbot of Wat Tham Pha Pong, told that the inspiration to establish the museum was that the area is an archeological site dating back about 2,500 years. There were at least 15 sites, each with an area of 50 rai and numerous antiques of archeological value had been unearthed. Most of them are iron tools, pottery, multi-color beads and bronze ornamental items. Valuable antiques have been looted, leaving only pieces of pottery scattered around. He then started collecting as many antiques as he could and planned to build a museum to house them at a temple land plot to the north of the village. Some of the objects are displayed at Mukdaharn Museum and Kasetsart University, Sakon Nakhorn Campus. The museum received academic support from Sakon Nakhorn Rajabhat University and Silapakorn University, Bangkok.

The museum has been opened to the public since 2002 and is under the supervision of the abbot who is also the museum curator. It is a two-storey building. The upper floor is used as monks’ living quarters while the ground floor is an exhibition area. The items on display are mostly antiques found in the area and donated by the villagers, such as metal axes, bronze ornamental items, stone beads, pottery and animal figures. They are displayed in 10 cabinets in the middle of the hall.

Besides the antiques, the exhibition includes household utensils, e.g., wickerwork, looms, cotton spinners, ploughs, animal bells, coconut shredders, drums, iron and rattan chests, the first bicycle of the village, and old-fashioned telephones and television sets. Most of the items have tags with their names and names of donors.

Sources:

1. Field investigation on November 27, 2004

2. Histories of the museum, Bung Sa and Na Luang Villages, Tambon Chanphen, Tao Ngoi District, Sakon Nakhorn Province, written by Ven. Sophonkhantiphalakorn (Songsak Khantiko), the abbot of Wat Tham Phabong, Tambon Kok Tum, Dong Luang District, Mukdaharn Province.

3. Questionnaire on preliminary data of local museums, 2003

4. A network forum for research and development of local museums (northeastern region) organized by SAC on December 27-28, 2003 at Takasila Hotel and Walairukhawet Research Institute, Maha Sarakham Province.

Rama VIII Bridge

The Rama VIII Bridge in Bangkok, Thailand, officially opened on September 20, 2002. The cable-stayed bridge consists of a single pylon located approximately one-third of the distance from the northwest end of the bridge. Golden suspension cables extend from this pylon to the road surface. The Bridge is 2.45 km long including approach spans, and spans the Chao Phraya River. The bridge is named after the eighth monarch of the Chakri dynasty, King Ananda Mahidol. It has become a notable tourist attraction, and is depicted on the back of the Series 15 20-baht banknote, behind a portrait of King Ananda Mahidol.

Rama VIII bridge during the daytime

jo louis theatre

In 1984, Sakorn set up a booth at the annual Suan Amporn Fair in Bangkok to demonstrate the ancient art of making khon masks. He took with him to the booth the puppet of the old hermit from the Ramakian he had made. The puppet attracted attention, and when the Tourism Authority of Thailand discovered that this impoverished old man was the last living person who knows the art of theatrical puppetry, it offered him money to make more puppets and revive performances. The following year, Sakorn and his children gave a performance at the fair. He named the troupe Hun Lakorn Lek( Joe Louis), Sakorn Natasilp Troupe: Maestro Krae's Grandchildrens Lakorn Lek. The revival was welcomed but there was not enough demand for performances for it to be sustainable or viable as a livelihood.

In 1996, the Commission for National Culture nominated Sakorn for the title of National Artist (Performing Arts Category: Small Theatrical Puppetry). This nomination was made in the name of His Majesty the King, in whose name the honorific title of National Artist was bestowed. The accompanying medal was awarded by Her Royal Highness Princess Sirinthorn, daugther of His Majesty. This recognition enabled Sakorn and his children to raise enough money to open a small puppet theatre near their home in Nontaburi province. The theater was consecrated on 28th December 1999, and the first performance was given on 3rd January 2000. The theater was called the Joe Louis Theater. The revival was still not successful: the theater was rudimentary and too remote from the metropolis, and few went to see it. In May 2002, the theater was moved to its present and more central location at the Suan Lum Night Bazaar in Bangkok.

On 10th July 2002, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirinthorn, His Majesty's daughter, officially opened the theatre and unveiled the plaque. On 5th December 2004, Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, sister of His Majesty the King, re-named the theater Nattayasala Hun Lakorn Lek(Joe Louis) in Thai and The Traditional Thai Puppet Theater in English. The Traditional Thai Puppet Theater Foundation is under Her Royal Highness's patronage.

Amphawa

The Ampawa Community have a long time since Kongsri Ayudhya chamber. The majority of the population by occupation agriculture mixed garden. And say that. Ampawa as a breadbasket of Ayudhya. Past for build a canal houses must set the front of house to a canal. To take advantage of consumer traffic and later when the road building. Transport of water has reduced the role down. However, the waterfront areas that have not changed much. It is evident from the composition of the architecture of much that is unique. Of traditional waterfront community.

Ampawa home in the community. Most remain in the tree house's unique past. And maintain the value of history and architectural beauty of the waterfront community. It is a valuable cultural heritage of a great community.

Royal City Avenue (RCA)

Royal City Avenue (or just RCA as it is known by locals) is one of the biggest entertainment areas in Bangkok, but as visitors are concerned, probably the least know. RCA is a long road hosting a multitude of different types of bar and clubs. Very much a Thai scene, RCA is frequented by Bangkok’s young scene, mainly university students letting off steam. Lots of variety of music depending on the bar you visit. Multi-million watt sound systems blast out Thai disco, house, R&B, and the usual American / Brit pop.

What’s great about RCA is the wide range of places to eat and drink and the variety of themes in the clubs and restaurants. Catering for the local youth, it’s not an overpriced venue. The new MRT connections have made RCA more accessible and so it is more often finding itself on the tourist map. Be warned though, if you are over 30 you’ll feel old! Great place to visit if you are young and in Bangkok for an extended period, otherwise it’s probably not going to be a high priority against some of the more central entertainment areas.

Details: Only a few of the clubs on RCA have entrance fees. This area is a designated ‘Entertainment Zone’ but the 01:00 curfew applies here like everywhere else.

How to get there: The quickest way to RCA is by MRT or BTS and a quick taxi ride the rest of the way. The nearest MRT is Pharam 9 station, and the nearest BTS Asok or Phrom Phong. From any of these stations the taxi fare should be no more than 50-60 Baht depending on traffic (it is a bit built up the area).

Banglumphu

Banglumphu

I like to stay in Banglumphu, one of Bangkok's many neighborhoods. although I often stay at the D&D Inn on Khao San Road, this time I'm at the Nakorn Pink Hotel about 8 blocks away on Samsen Soi Six.

Banglumphu is a relatively modest, even poor, neighborhood and the area around my hotel is charmingly funky and quiet, yet somehow lively. Its just a few blocks from one of Bangkok's river canals.

A mobile fruit vendor in Banglumphu, Bangkok Thailand.

Some Banglumphu kids hamming it up for my camera.

Mister B at the big old Wat at the end of my street in Banglumphu, Bangkok Thailand.

A really cool bike in Banglumphu, Bangkok Thailand.

Detail from my local neighborhood Wat in Banglumphu, Bangkok Thailand.

Motorcycle Taxi drivers of Banglumphu, Bangkok Thailand Samsen Soi 8.

Banglumphu food vendors near my hotel.

The lobby of the Nakorn Pink Hotel in Banglumphu, Bangkok Thailand.

Shopping at Bangkok's massive MBK center near Siam Square.

A colorful street corner in Bangkok's Banglumpoo (alternate spelling!) neghborhood.

Another street corner in Bangkok's Banglumpoo (alternate spelling!) neghborhood.

Fire extinguisher with political candidate's flyers.

Suvarnabhumi Airpor

From 5 December 2008 at 11.00 hrs. onwards, Suvarnabhumi airport will resume operations

Suvarnabhumi Airport. The New Thailand International Airport will be ready for the opening of its full-scale commercial service at 3am on September 28, 2006
when Don Muang airport serve for domestic flights. The name Suvarnabhumi was chosen by HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej which means "The Golden Land" ( for Thai =l สุวรรณภูมิ = Suwannaphum ) , specifically referring to the continental Indochina. "Golden Peninsula"or "Golden Land" is a traditional name for the Thailand-Cambodia-Laos-Burma region

Khao Lak

Khao Lak (Thai: เขาหลัก (Pronunciation)) is a seaside resort in Thailand, located 80 km north of Phuket International Airport in Takua Pa district, Phang Nga province and popular as a departure point for liveaboard scuba diving trips to the Similan Islands.

The pristine coastline is synonymous with beauty. Nearby rubber and palm plantations dot the coastal region and most nearby inland areas. The major national Highway 4 runs north and south and mostly parallel to the coastline. Khao Lak is a thriving tourist destination for backpackers, up-scale tourists, adventure tourists and seasoned scuba enthusiasts. Local peoples are mostly Thai often with some Chinese ancestry. The diversity of ethnic groups and cultural influences within and surrounding Khao Lak makes this region rich in agricultural, fishing and dry good products. Tourism is Khao Lak's revenue generating entity, becoming Thailand's most popular jumping-off point for the world renowned Similan Islands.

Khao Yai National Park

Khao Yai is Thailand's oldest National Park. It was designated on the 18th September 1962. At 2,168 km it is the largest National Park in Thailand. Located within the Dongrek Mountain Rang, Khao Yai's elevation ranges from 200 to 1351 m a.s.l. (Khao Rom)
History of Khao Yai, in 1902, 30 families from the south if Khao Yai moved into the Khao Yai hills. They farmed rice, hunted wildlife and collected forest products. The present grasslands along the road near the Head Quarters (HO) area are evidence of these villages and farms. In 1932 when Thailand became a Constitutional Monarchy, the government closed Khao Yai because the area had become a hideout for political criminals.In 1959 His Excellency Field Marshall Sarit Thanarat, then Prime Minister, asked the Agriculture and Cooperatives Department and the Department of Interior to look into the setting up of a National Park's System. In 1962 Khao Yai became the 1st National Park under the National Park Act of 1961. It is managed by the Royal Forest Department.

Topography
Khao Yai National Park consists of complicated mountains such as Khao Rom, the highest about 1,351 meters, Khao Lam about 1,326 meters, Khao Keaw about 1,292 meters, Khao Sam Yod about 1,142 meters, Khao Far Pha about 1,078 meters, Khao Kampang about 875 meters, Khao Samor Poon about 805 meters and Khao Kaew about 802 meters above sea level. Moreover, the area has vastly grassy field alternating with productive forest. The north and the east part are smoothly sloping down, while the south and the west part are rising up. The area is the source of five main rivers as follows.
(1) Prachin Buri River and
(2) Nakhon Nayok River situated in the south part and important for local agriculture and economy, meet each other in Chachoengsao District to become Bangpakong River go to the Gulf of Thailand.
(3) Lam Ta Kong River and
(4) Praplerng River, in the north part, go to maintain the agriculture of Korat Plateau and meet Moon River, the main river of Southern Isan that goes to Khong River.
(5) Muag Lek Stream, located in the northwest part and going to Pasak River in Muag Lek District, is valuable for local agriculture and cattle, and has water all the year round.

Climate
It is often cooler up here with an average temperature of 23 C.
Rainy Seson: May - October. Rains most days, the waterfalls are thus stunning. Can get clear cool weather.
Cold Seson: November - February. Gets as cold as 10 C at night you will want blankets. Again clear weather with great sunsets is common.
Hot Season: March - April. Hot and dry, but still cool compared to the plains, reaching the mid 30's!

Flora and Fauna
Tropical moist evergreen forest covers the central area of the Park. The rich diversity of plants (about 2000 species)astound the new-comer. Towering trees draped in mosses, climbers and epiphytes, tangled trunks of the strangling figs, drooping lianas and spiny rattan palms, delicate ferns, multicoloured lichens and an ever-changing array of fungi. There is aways something new to discover in the forest. Dry evergreen forest and dry deciduous forest covers the lower slopes of the Park and some of the higher sections. Bamboo is often an indicator of this drier forest. Hill evergreen forest covers the highest peak (Khao Kieow and Khao Rom) The trees are smaller here, and ferns, mosses and epiphytes abound. Grassland provides a welcome relief to all the forest . The Park mange (burn annually) the grassland to prevent trees from invading and to provide year round grazing for deer, elephants and guar. Wildlife is plentiful (70 mammal species, at least 74 species of herptile and thousands of invertebrates) but often hard to see. Sambar (large, gray-brown, often in groups) and barking deer (smaller, red-brown, usually in pairs or alone) are frequently seen in the grasslands or on spotlighting tours. Gibbons provide an excellent morning wake-up call with their mournful hoots. Quiet, patient walkers may catch a glimpse of these tree-living apes. Macaques are often seen on the roadsides. Elephants are sometimes spotted at salt-licks or on the road in the evenings and lucky (?) tourists may spot a tiger in the grasslands during the evenings. Civets, squirrels, porcupines, and wild pigs add a bit of variety. Snakes and lizards usually make their presence known by a rustle in the undergrowth as you are walking. If you see a snake, treat it as dangerous unless you know otherwise!! Geckos are frequently seen catching insects on building walls and ceilings. Cicadas never stop their scratchy hum. Look up and down and from side to side to spot the real movers and shakers in the forest - the insects and invertebrates.
BIRDS: We've got lots - over 320 species have been recorded. To the non-expert, birds are often just mysterious whistles, trills and calls, or a flutter of wings and a glimpse of colour. Patience is needed,good binoculars and a bird guide help. Roadsides, the old golf course, grasslands and the watching towers are good places to start . Hornbills are quite easy to spot, and hear the "gak gak gak" laugh of the Indian Pied (often seen in big flocks near Nong Pak Chi Tower in the evenings), or the deep resonant "gok…gok" of the Great Hornbill (usually seen in pairs or alone, the biggest of Khao Yai's hornbills) BATS: Nearly 1 million insecteating bats live in a cave on the edge of the Park. Drive about 3 km to the north of the Park Chong entrance gate and take a small track on the left-hand side just past a temple. A few hundred metres up here take a right-hand turn and follow the track to the end. You can climb the hill to the cave. Please do not enter the cave - you will disturb the bats. Allow them to come out for about 3 minutes before taking any flash photography.