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Marmite the Dog · 28-01-2007, 06:59 PM

Set on an area of 285 rai (14 acres), this Royally supported art and craft center is located at Chang Yai, Bang Sai District, 24 km from Bang Pa-in. The centre offers a glimpse of how farmers in the four regions of Thailand live and work, and how Thai folk arts and crafts are produced. It also offers training to farmers and villagers in folk arts and crafts as a means to keep traditional art forms alive.

I managed to drag GoW away from the PC for a few hours for an afternoon at the Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Centre. It's a 30 minute drive from Ayutthaya down a fairly major road that is virtually empty. I think the road was consrtucted because of the royal projects here, so it has to look nice even though hardly anyone uses it.

After negotiating the bridge & U-turn combo, we managed to find our way there. 50 Baht for Thais (20 Baht for kids) and 100 Baht for foreigners. I didn't mind too much as GoW paid, but she could've got away with 50 Baht for me as the ticket office is sited so they can't see the cars very well.

The first thing we had a look at was the aquarium. It wasn't that big, but the fish were.

Now, you're not allowed to take pictures in here, as the flash scares the fish. Obviously, not being a halfwit, I just took pictures with no flash.

It would've been a bit better if the fish stopped moving for a moment, but they were being awkward (must be famale).

Marmite the Dog · 28-01-2007, 07:05 PM

Next on the agenda was the bird park. This was a good walk of about 30m so you might want to transfer all your Thai people in a car to stop them moaning.

They had one-legged ducks...

Pretty caged parakeets (probably)...

Peacocks...

And other birds who tried in vain to hide from the visitors...

Marmite the Dog · 28-01-2007, 07:11 PM

This hornbill was 54 years old and was quite entertaining to watch.

Also with the birds were squirrels, civets, mouse deer and bloody big snakes. Luckily, they weren't allowed to mingle.

We left the bird park and went wandering past the factories where they make all the different handicrafts. They have a nice gaudy statue here too. Probably sponsored by Nintendo.

Eventually, you come to the village. There are traditional houses from the four main areas of Thailand. It was really peaceful here.

Marmite the Dog · 28-01-2007, 07:17 PM

I offered to pose for the potter who was making a kwai statue, and she wanted to know if I was joking of being serious. Cheeky bugger. I did find a figure of RC's missus though.

And then it was time to sit by the lake and partake of some fine cuisine.

Sadly, they didn't have anything decent to eat, so I had somtam tai with an Isaan wine cooler...

And GoW had the normal somtam with the rotten bits of crab in it. No doubt she'll be complaining of gut-rot later...

Marmite the Dog · 28-01-2007, 07:21 PM

There's a really big hall with all the articles that are manufactured onsite for sale. Strangely, absolutely nothing looked worth buying, unless you're into face masks, glass sculptures or any of the other trditional Thai tat. Nice building though.

And then, it was time to go. The visitors began to seep back towards the coaches, content with a day spent eating, sleeping and wandering aimlessly.

But for some, the fun never ends...

dirtydog · 28-01-2007, 07:36 PM

This is how I envision my land and house to be like, so far I have only got the water bit

WhiteLotusLane · 30-06-2008, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirtydog

This is how I envision my land and house to be like, so far I have only got the water bit

Garden's too formal, house too Central-Thai. Makes it look like a formal museum piece, not a home. :P

Looks hotter than heck, too.

daveboy · 30-01-2007, 02:36 AM

Great pictures Marmers this place looks well worth a visit.

NickA · 30-06-2008, 04:25 PM

Never noticed this thread before. I went there with the family at the end of last year. I think you've covered everything, except there was some quite nice food to be had next to the big lake and whilst you were eating you could feed the fish, they had some humongous catfish in there and just absolutely hundreds of fish. I'll see if I've got any pics.

NickA · 30-06-2008, 04:55 PM

OK, found some pics, here are the fish...

Some of my woodcarvings on display

Searching for KW

Nice roof

28-01-2007, 06:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
Marmite the Dog ผู้เชี่ยวชาญเปล่า Last Online: Today 09:14 AM Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Simian Islands Posts: 30,327	Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Centre Set on an area of 285 rai (14 acres), this Royally supported art and craft center is located at Chang Yai, Bang Sai District, 24 km from Bang Pa-in. The centre offers a glimpse of how farmers in the four regions of Thailand live and work, and how Thai folk arts and crafts are produced. It also offers training to farmers and villagers in folk arts and crafts as a means to keep traditional art forms alive. I managed to drag GoW away from the PC for a few hours for an afternoon at the Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Centre. It's a 30 minute drive from Ayutthaya down a fairly major road that is virtually empty. I think the road was consrtucted because of the royal projects here, so it has to look nice even though hardly anyone uses it. After negotiating the bridge & U-turn combo, we managed to find our way there. 50 Baht for Thais (20 Baht for kids) and 100 Baht for foreigners. I didn't mind too much as GoW paid, but she could've got away with 50 Baht for me as the ticket office is sited so they can't see the cars very well. The first thing we had a look at was the aquarium. It wasn't that big, but the fish were. Now, you're not allowed to take pictures in here, as the flash scares the fish. Obviously, not being a halfwit, I just took pictures with no flash. It would've been a bit better if the fish stopped moving for a moment, but they were being awkward (must be famale). __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. I will meet the blackness and the blackness will be eternal

28-01-2007, 07:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
Marmite the Dog ผู้เชี่ยวชาญเปล่า Last Online: Today 09:14 AM Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Simian Islands Posts: 30,327	There's a really big hall with all the articles that are manufactured onsite for sale. Strangely, absolutely nothing looked worth buying, unless you're into face masks, glass sculptures or any of the other trditional Thai tat. Nice building though. And then, it was time to go. The visitors began to seep back towards the coaches, content with a day spent eating, sleeping and wandering aimlessly. But for some, the fun never ends... Last edited by Marmite the Dog : 30-01-2007 at 10:12 AM. Reason: typo

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28-01-2007, 07:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
Marmite the Dog ผู้เชี่ยวชาญเปล่า Last Online: Today 09:14 AM Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Simian Islands Posts: 30,327	Next on the agenda was the bird park. This was a good walk of about 30m so you might want to transfer all your Thai people in a car to stop them moaning. They had one-legged ducks... Pretty caged parakeets (probably)... Peacocks... And other birds who tried in vain to hide from the visitors...

28-01-2007, 07:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
Marmite the Dog ผู้เชี่ยวชาญเปล่า Last Online: Today 09:14 AM Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Simian Islands Posts: 30,327	This hornbill was 54 years old and was quite entertaining to watch. Also with the birds were squirrels, civets, mouse deer and bloody big snakes. Luckily, they weren't allowed to mingle. We left the bird park and went wandering past the factories where they make all the different handicrafts. They have a nice gaudy statue here too. Probably sponsored by Nintendo. Eventually, you come to the village. There are traditional houses from the four main areas of Thailand. It was really peaceful here.

28-01-2007, 07:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
Marmite the Dog ผู้เชี่ยวชาญเปล่า Last Online: Today 09:14 AM Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Simian Islands Posts: 30,327	I offered to pose for the potter who was making a kwai statue, and she wanted to know if I was joking of being serious. Cheeky bugger. I did find a figure of RC's missus though. And then it was time to sit by the lake and partake of some fine cuisine. Sadly, they didn't have anything decent to eat, so I had somtam tai with an Isaan wine cooler... And GoW had the normal somtam with the rotten bits of crab in it. No doubt she'll be complaining of gut-rot later...

28-01-2007, 07:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
dirtydog The Dog Last Online: Today 03:01 PM Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Pattaya Jomtien Posts: 42,361	This is how I envision my land and house to be like, so far I have only got the water bit

30-01-2007, 02:36 AM	#8 (permalink)
daveboy Has Got Itchy Feet Join Date: May 2006 Location: SE London Posts: 3,135	Great pictures Marmers this place looks well worth a visit.

30-06-2008, 04:25 PM	#9 (permalink)
NickA This is not my avatar Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 11,389	Never noticed this thread before. I went there with the family at the end of last year. I think you've covered everything, except there was some quite nice food to be had next to the big lake and whilst you were eating you could feed the fish, they had some humongous catfish in there and just absolutely hundreds of fish. I'll see if I've got any pics.

30-06-2008, 04:55 PM	#10 (permalink)
NickA This is not my avatar Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 11,389	OK, found some pics, here are the fish... Some of my woodcarvings on display Searching for KW Nice roof

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