johnsunter.com >> adventures - world >> south east asia >> bangkok08 2
I fly to Bangkok to catch up with Frank, and see a few of the things I missed on previous trips (2/2).
After the elephant museum, we went to see the ancient city or as its know locally Mauang Boran.
It houses a collection of the Thailand's most significant historical sites, buildings and structures.
Some of the structures some are actual size, but others have been scaled down to a 3rd of their original size.
This room was part of a re-construction of an entire Thai village.
The ancient City is more than 200 acres in size.
We traveled around in Matts car, but many people toured it by bicycle.
It is constructed in the shape of Thailand. Each of the structures, is positioned in the park relative to where the original structure resides in Thailand.
One of the 109 sites represented here, the Pavilion of enlightenment.
Of all the amazing buildings this was my personal favourite.
Its recommended to spend a whole day there.
We only hung around for a couple of hours, so I never got to research the historical significance of the site.
You will just have to take my word for how astounding it was to be there.
Sala of Ramayana.
A traditional Thai house village house.
One of the wild deer that live in the Ancient City.
The largest outdoor museum in the world, it felt all the more authentic, to have animals like this, just wandering around.
A reconstruction of the Prasat Preah Vihear temple on the cambodian border.
Built during the 6 centuries of the Khmer empire, its ownership has long been disputed by Cambodia and Thailand.
The top of the temple provides this spectacular view of the Ancient City.
In 1962, following a serious dispute between Cambodia and Thailand over ownership of the temple, the International Court of Justice in the Hague ruled that it belonged to Cambodia.
This building was probably the most spectacular in the whole park.
I never actually found out what it was called, so if your reading this and you know, please email me.
The floating village.
This isn't actually a reconstruction, the original buildings were dismantled, moved here and then re-constructed in meticulous detail.
I really enjoyed being in the Ancient city. I love to explore, and it was like being able to explore an entire country and all its history in an afternoon.
We decide to take some refreshments.
Na has some sort of drink in a coco nut.
Just like in a real floating market, there were traders, plying their wares from boats (although these were more likely to be souvenirs than rice or meat).
We left the ancient city, and went to visit Bangkok Pier.
I had never actually thought about it before, be Bangkok, is right next to the sea.
The place is owned by the Army (the Thai army have all sorts of assets and a General for example, can run several businesses whilst working for the government).
The main drive up to the Pier had the largest collection of Seagulls I had ever seen in 1 place.
You were able to buy food to feed them, but there were literally thousands of them, flying around in a circle to keep coming back, to get more food.
On the last afternoon before my flight home and what had been a superb trip.#
Frank and I take a boat into town; the same boat that Frank normally takes to work in the morning.
In my minds eye, I had this idea of a serene relaxing trip along the water.
It didn't happen that way. They pull up plastic Tarps on each side of the boat, so you cant see out.
The engine is dirty and the gearbox long past it sell by date, so the screaming and clattering of the engine and the pungent smell of fuel in my nostrils are my main memories of the trip.
We get off the boat and just wander around looking at things.
We eat an enormous fried Chicken meal in one of the shopping centres that would feed 10 people and cost next to nothing.
We wander through a market. The stench of rotten meat came close to reuniting me with said meal for 10.
We continue walking and Frank shows me this amazing scene just near his condo.
To the left of the picture, a banana tree is literally growing out of the pavement.
A brilliant trip, I would like to thank Na, Frank Anne and Matt for making me so welcome and I promise ill be back soon.
