วันศุกร์ที่ 18 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2554

King Narai the Great Lopburi Thailand




Lopburi, the former Lavapura or washed, can be found in the central part of Thailand (2 hours drive from Bangkok) was very prosperous during the sixth to tenth centuries Dvaravati and was influenced by Khmer culture during the 10 to 12 centuries. This period in Thailand is known as the Lopburi period.

When Ayutthaya was established in 1350AD, Lopburi became the second capital city. King Narai the Great (1656-1688AD), 27 king of the Ayutthaya period, he ordered the French and Italian engineers building the Phra Narai Palace Ratchawang (Wang Narai), strong walls and Lopburi. King Narai Palace used to host government officials and real missions for recreation and a home game during the holidays.

The reign of King Narai the Great Fair is held in February each year to commemorate the good deeds of King Narai the Great of Lop Buri and the nation. This annual fair features popular dramas, other events, light shows and sound booths that offer local products, all surrounded by beautiful decorative lamps and locals often wear traditional clothes for the occasion.

วันเสาร์ที่ 12 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2554

Jesada Technik Museum

Jesada Technik Museum was founded by Mr.Jesada Deshsakulrith, Thai businessman who loves to have sightseeing of Automobile and Mechanics and have had a chance to visit several interesting museums of antique car in Europe & USA. This inspires him to start collecting antique and hard-to-find car in his collection. Starting from Messerschmitt KR-200 (Bubble Car: 1958) brought in from Switzerland. The more he collects, the more he studies. He found that automobile evolution substantially creates comfort, happiness to mankind. Each piece of collection implies conceptual philosophy telling spirit of designer and manufacturer which is valuable to next generation. Currently there are approximately 500 pieces of collection in the premise e.g. Airplane, Helicopter, Tank, Bus, Sedan, Bubble Car, Motorcycle, Tricycle and Bicycle from around the world. He has intention to educate Thai who love mechanics to have an opportunity to see the real object rather than only seeing from picture. The museum was then established at Ngewrai district, Nakornchaisri Ampur, Nakornprathom Province. The museum is open for free entrance.

The highlight of the Jesada Technik Museum is there is plenty of bubble car which cannot see anywhere easily. The children who come to visit can touch car in imagination of dream by themselves. Due to the museum is open freely for visitor to access inside a car which is really expensive and scarce. Mr.Jesada told his heartfelt feeling impressively that “Dream of children is much more valuable than what they are touching. Who knows in the future, these children will create things which are multiple larger than what I do.”

Austin 7 Chummy



Model : 7 chummy
Motor : austin
body : Steel
Years Built : Fall 1929
No. Cylinders : 4
Chassis : Steel Tube
Displacement : 747 cc
Suspension Front : Coil
No. Surviving : n/a
Horsepower : 10
Suspension Rear : Coil
Gearbox : 3 + rev
Steering : Worm
Starter : Dynastart
Brakes : Hydraulic
Electrics : 12 v
Interior : 4x Bench
Top Speed : 85 km/h

see more at http://www.jesadatechnikmuseum.com/product_detail.php?qid=3&v=1

วันศุกร์ที่ 11 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2554

Wat Pumin in the City of Nan


Located about 668 kilometres from Bangkok, Wat Pumin is one of the 50 Northern temples that I visited recently with Silpakorn University Bangkok. Besides Wat Nong Bua, Wat Pumin is a very unusual Nan’s temple in Thailand. In the middle of the temple, four majestic golden Buddha statues of Maravijaya with their backs against one another facing the four directions. The doors are delicately carved in splendid designs by Lanna craftsmen.

Wat Phumin was built in Lanna-style by King Jetabutbrahim, the ruler of Nan in 1596. The temple underwent a major restoration in 1867 and the mural paintings in the interior have become the valued treasures of the temple. It is believed that the wall murals were painted by Chinese artists during this time. Blue is one of the primary colours extensively used in the mural paintings. The wall paintings, in Thai Lu style are considered highly valuable and depict legends concerning the Lord Buddha as well as local legends and the local way of life, which include native attires, weaving and commerce with foreign countries.

Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat (Phitsanulok Province)


Chinnarat famous Phra Buddha at Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat (Phitsanulok Province)
Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat in Phitsanulok, the front door? Northern Thailand? It is home to the famous Phra Buddha Chinnarat. The monastery is situated on the bank of Nan River near the bridge of Naresuan. The Buddhist temple is a 5 minute walk from the newly opened Heritage Yodia Boutique Hotel in Phitsanulok. It is commonly known by locals as "? Wat Yai?, Is the most important monastery of Phitsanulok.


The monastery was built in the reign of Phra Maha Racha Thamma I (Phra Lithai) in 1357 AD houses the Phra Buddha Chinnarat considered the most beautiful Buddha image in Thailand. This statue was cast in the attitude of subduing evil during the last period of Sukhothai in 1631. Later, the year of 1931, King Ekatosarot graciously bestowed some of their gold badges to be beaten in the gold plate and applied to the image with his own hand, creating the most beautiful Buddha image.


There are many other beautiful and remarkable things in the grounds of the monastery.? The mother-of-pearl inlaid wooden doors of Vihara are especially splendid, and were built by King Boromkot in 1756 as a dedication to Phra Buddha Chinnarat. Behind the Vihara, there is a large prang 36 meters high, which is a staircase leading to the niche containing the Buddha relics. In front of the prang, there is Phra Attar, and the 9 / 4 Vihara slope, is the newly renovated Buddha image.


Besides Chinnarat Phra Buddha image, there is also a replica of the Phra Buddha image Chinnarat found at the famous Wat Benchamampovit (Marble Temple) in Bangkok, and hopefully, I can make a comparison between these two images of Buddha in the near future.

วันอังคารที่ 8 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2554

Learning to read Thai


Learning to read Thai
Thai script is derived from Sanskrit, an ancient language from India. As English, Thai, is read phonetically from left to right. While the symbols used in the Thai script are very different from the English letters, words often spoken Thai as written, which makes reading easier for Thai language. Learning to read Thai can be done online, through study teams at home or in a school with a tutor.
1. Familiarize yourself with the sound of each letter in the Thai alphabet. The Thai alphabet has 44 consonants, 32 vowels, numbers, symbols and special marks. Visit a site like Learn Thai Podcast and click each letter to hear the correct pronunciation.
2. Visit a Web site, and learning in Thailand and click "Learn to Read Thai." This site offers 22 free classes online reading.
3. Start at Lesson 1 and proceed through the course at their own pace. For additional assistance and clarification, click "Learning from the tone" or "Reading Resources" on the homepage.
4. Visit a website such as the Rosetta Stone and the search for Thai teams. Rosetta Stone offers immersion programs, including audio CDs and a guide to help you learn and understand the language, alphabet and pronunciation.
5. Practice your reading skills of Thailand in the Learning Resource Centre Thai Thai. Here are the tests of understanding with Thai road signs, restaurant menus, popular and newspaper extracts. These examples will give you the opportunity to apply their reading skills to real life scenarios.
6. Proceed to the University of Minnesota's Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (Carla) website. This site offers a complete list of schools offering less commonly taught languages.
7. Complete the quest to discover the local schools offer courses in Thai language. Browse by language school for courses that specialize in learning to read Thai and select the course that suits your needs.
8. Download a free alphabet chart Learn Thai online or buy one from your local language school and hold next to your study area. These letters will help you learn, internalize and repeat the Thai alphabet and pronunciations through visual aids.

วันเสาร์ที่ 5 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2554

Types of Buddha Statue Thailand


Types of Buddha Statue Thailand
There are many statues of Buddha in Thailand, shortly after it began to appear in the first and second centuries, styles of many developed countries. While there are rules that determine the position that the Buddha could be in the form and characteristics of the Buddha, Thai style in which the Buddha was still different.
Chiang Saen
Chiang Saen style, also known as the Lanna sty, developed between 1000 and 1800. This style, influenced by the art of Burma, Sri Lanka and India, usually depict the Buddha with big curls and a button of lotus. The torso of a Buddha Chiang Saen tends to be fat with a thin waist, the face is typically curved eyebrows, thin lips and a hooked nose.
Dvaravati
Dvaravati style Dvaravati arose in the kingdom of Thailand, which flourished between 600 and 1000. Buddha in this style tend to have heavy influence over India at the beginning but eventually began to take on aspects of Khmer art. Dvaravati Buddhas have bulging eyes, thick lips and flat nose. When standing, the Buddha Dvaravati has a long-range suit for pimples, while a seated Buddha Dvaravati has a short coat draped over his left shoulder.
U Thong
U Thong Buddha were found in central Thailand between 1100 and 1400. In this way, the Buddha is carved a small group from the forehead and the hairline and the head is covered with small curls. The face of Buddha is very square. As time passed, became more oval face and body became longer and thinner.
Sukhothai
The Sukhothai Buddha developed during the reign of the Kingdom of Sukhothai, which lasted from 1200 to 1400. Was greatly influenced by Sri Lanka. These Buddhas were distinguished by a flame on the top of the head of Buddha, which is covered with curls very well. Sukhothai Buddha has high, curved eyebrows and an expression of the lower face, smooth. Sukhothai Buddha's body has broad shoulders and a relatively small waist.
Lopburi
Art flourished in Lopburi, a provincial capital during the Khmer empire, from 1000 to 1100. Lopburi Buddha statues have a hair band and a smiling face is characterized by thick lips and prominent earlobes. These statues, often displayed on a base of lotus petals, are defended by large snakes.
Ayutthaya
The Ayutthaya period lasted from 1300 to 1700. In the artistic style of this realm, the Buddha had a square face with small sculpted lines above the eyes and upper lip. While the Buddha of this period began with a smiling face, the expression became stronger as the period progressed. Later in this period, representations of Buddha was adorned such as crowns and diadems.