Much of Thailand’s cultural history and art is found in its temples. There is a mix of ancient temples that function as museums. Built centuries ago, they remain as indicators of just how long grandness has existed here and are one way to trace the conflicts that arose in the country. Parts of temples were destroyed in war, such as with Ayuthaya, now a UNESCO site. It was once the commercial capital of Thailand, then Siam, until it was trounced by the Burmese. There are still many Buddha statues with heads intact in this extensive complex. This video by Glenn Keisel on You Tube has some wonderful shots of various temples and national parks around the country. Ayuthaya is included. The photos aren’t labeled so you won’t know exactly which photos are from which temples, but this will give you a taste of temple hopping. The traditional Thai music makes for a perfect background.
Is The Local Team Wearing Red?
I dabble in a bit of sports writing in New Zealand, so when I’m on the road I try and get along to a local sports event. It’s a great way to get a feel for a place.
Here’s my top five suggestions for on the road sports experiences.
- Watching Boca Juniors in the cauldron of Buenos Aire’s La Bombonera soccer stadium
- Chowing down on hot dogs at a Yankees vs Red Sox game in the Bronx (and sorry New Yorkers, but the standard of food available was the worst I’ve seen at any sports event in the world)
- Discovering the joys of Australian Rules Football at Melbourne’s cavernous Melbourne Cricket Ground.
- Feeling every punch and sharp elbow watching Muay Thai (kick boxing) at Lumphini Stadium in Bangkok (with just maybe the best food)
- A day at the races (above) in the Sri Lankan hill town of Nuwara Eliya. I never did work out how you could place a bet on the horses, but the chill-laced snacks went great with a local Lion beer.
Click here for my article on the sleepy Sri Lankan town that’s surrounded by tea plantations.
Where else have readers sat in the bleachers drinking beer and cheering on the local team?
Thanks to PhantomMenace on Flickr for the pic.
Where on Earth? Week 24: The Bridge on the River Kwai, Thailand!
Congrats go out to Stacy (and then Beanie) for correctly identifying the above bridge as the legendary one which stretches over the River Kwai in Thailand.
The 1957 World War II film, Bridge on the River Kwai was one of my favorites growing up. It told the (nearly) true story of a group of British POWs forced by the Japanese to build an important railway bridge in western Thailand.
I had the opportunity to visit the historic site a number of years ago while trekking through Thailand. Located just a few miles from Kanchanaburi, the bridge is a popular tourist destination and easily reached by a variety of bus services. A small museum is dedicated to the brutal history surrounding the area, paying tribute to the 12,000 POWs who died while constructing the bridge. And of course, the museum clears up the historical inaccuracies portrayed in the film –- such as the fact that the bridge operated for two years before allied troops blew it up (as opposed to just mere seconds before the first train passed over it as depicted in the film).
There’s not much else here, but in my opinion it is still very much worth a break from Thailand’s hedonistic pleasures to step back in time for a moment and observe some history. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to whistle the Colonel Bogey March to your heart’s content.
That Market in Thailand That the Train Moves Through
The market in Justin’s post that the train moves through, literally–you really need to see it to understand the intricacies of the situation–could be in Bangkok. Or it could be near Bangkok. Bangkok is a city after all that sprawls and sprawls and sprawls.
I’ve taken a train to Bangkok twice, both times from Chiang Mai. Once it was the night train where we passed into Bangkok early in the morning. Along the tracks, even before the sun was barely up, life was bustling. There is a section that looks like the one in the video, although, I don’t think it’s the same track. The second train I took was the day train and a chance to see how the countryside gradually becomes dense with buildings and people.
Richard Barrow on his Web site, Richard Barrow: Promoting Thai Culture and Life to the World, details a train trip that sounds like it passes through the very market in the video. It sure looks like it to me. Plus, his description in the post “Market on the Railway Tracks” sounds identical. Here’s the description. Go to the post for more.
“I knew that during the last 100 metres or so the train would pass through a market. Literally. I know it sounds strange but this was my planned highlight of the trip. I wanted to get pictures of the market stallholders pulling back their produce as we passed through the market. “
Plus, look at the picture. Look at the first shot of the video. See? According to him, this market is along the Maeklong Railway at the outskirts of Maeklong. His post also explains how you can take this train trip to see the market for yourself and provides other photos. If you want info about Thailand, his blog is a wonderful mix of details.
Video: Train Cuts Through Crowded Bangkok Market
This video is classic. And by “classic” I mean “awesome.” So why didn’t he just say awesome? you may be wondering. Because it’s classic too! As in Citizen Kane classic. The method acting, use of deep focus, low-angle shots — it has everything!
Anyway, somewhere in Bangkok, there is a market with a commuter line train running through it. The beginning of the shot seems normal enough for any major Asian city, but it’s what happens at the end to really set it a part. I wonder how many times the train comes through per day? Insane.
Now, savvy Gadling readers… dig up some more info on this market! Is it really in Bangkok? What’s the story behind it? [via]
Update: Gadling blogger Jamie digs up some details on this strange Thai train.