Memory Lane (In my own language)

Ancient Artillery Museum

In the front lawns of the Ministry of Defence building, arranged in a garden display, are a large collection of bronze cannons. The display was initiated by King Wachirawut (King Rama VI, 1881–1925), who was probably inspired by his experience at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, England.

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Sixty-three guns were once displayed on the lawn, according to a 1921 survey but many have been relocated and forty currently remain. Some of them have long history serving bravely as kings of the battlefields back in the Ayuthaya Kingdom (1350-1767).

The display has been reorganized many times. In 2004, several guns were rotated to face the building, prompting rumors that the ministry was trying to avoid bad luck resulting from the guns pointing towards the Grand Palace.

This was denied by the Ministry Permanent Secretary, who said that it was part of a re-landscaping project, done in accordance with a request from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and advice from the Fine Arts Department, and also to mark the ministry's 120th anniversary.

The display has been reorganized again, so that all the guns now point sideways. In 2014, the ministry inaugurated the exhibit as an outdoor museum, titled the "Ancient Artillery Museum", with information placards and scheduled guided tours.

The most significant ones are such as

“Paya Taanee”; the longest of all, 6.82 meters, built in the land of an independent territory in the south, Patanee, hence the name given, in the reign of King Paputtayodfa Chulalok (King Rama I; 1782–1809). The King defeated the ruler in 1786 and brought back the cannon. Originally there were 3 of them but another two were lost during the transportation along the river.

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“Narai Sungharn” (= killing Narai); the biggest of all which measured 4.5 meters in length and 30 cm. on cannon barrel (the right term?) built by the order of King Paputtayodfa Chulalok. The end of the cannon was in the shape of a conch shell.

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“Marn Pralai” (= satan defeated); the most beautiful one also built in the reign of King Paputtayodfa Chulalok

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“Akranirut” (= the great fire); the oldest one built in Spain in 1624 used in the reign of the 21^st King of the Kingdom of Ayuthaya

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The garden also features two large gajasiha (kochasee = a mythical hybrid animal in Hindu mythology, appearing as a sinha or rajasiha with the head or trunk of an elephant) statues which are the symbols of the Ministry of Defence.

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I am sad today. One of my all time favorite singers has died.

When I was young, my favorite pastimes concerned about western stuff. I watched farang movies/tv (American/British) dubbed into Thai, I read farang stuff, translated versions, I listened to farang songs (American/British) and etc.

Back then modern technology like this has not been born yet but I managed to find farang songs from my grandmother's transistor radio to listen to. I thought 'Wow, these songs sound beautiful!".

There were tons of them that I liked. Those were from various singers. Until one day, the song "Delta Dawn" hit my ears and I thought 'Hey, I like her voice' and from then on, I tried to follow her work which was quite hard to find because she was not popular much in Thailand so, it was up to the kindness of those DJs.

Anyway, back then western stuff hardly spread into Thailand in various kinds of media like nowadays that we have internet. Especially songs, we only heard their voices. We had never seen any clips or any movement of theirs. The closest that we could find was still photos of them which were not all (such as I have never known how "Leslie Gore" looked like until the internet was born).

So, let's say that all those years, I saw Helen Reddy from only still photos from Thai magazines which were rare. I never knew how was her movement while speaking or singing on the stages.

Helen Reddy inspired me to go out and search all the records stores which were not many in Bangkok to buy the my first album, "Long Hard Climb" (because I seldom heard her 'Delta Dawn' on the radio) and I 'did something good' so my dad bought me a small gramophone.

After hearing a lot of her songs on more albums of hers, I was hooked on her voice so much that I decided to write to her. You all know by now that I am a Thai born in the country that doesn't communicate in English. Though we learned English in schools but those were fundamental lessons and up to 90% hated it (me included).

Yet, at the age of 17, let alone writing a Thai letter, I held my breath and tried to compose an English letter... to Helen Reddy.

I used her record label's address and after sending it out at the post office, I prayed that my letter would reach her and started counting days.

From days turn into a week and from a week turns into a month and from a month turns into many months and finally, I forgot what I did.

Almost a year went by. One day I came back from school and saw a big strange envelope with my name printed on it in English. I knew what happened. My face felt hot and my hands were shaking while trying to open the envelope, so excited...



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Anyway, I noticed that she wrote my name wrong. That was because of my poor English handwriting but that's okay. I knew she meant it for me.


<span style="font-family: verdana"><font size="4"><span style="font-family: verdana"><span style="font-family: verdana">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jkWSShm5vw

^What a great story! Nice of you to share that and for sure there's many people around the world with Helen Reddy in their thoughts today.

^ Nice story.

K. Nong, was this humorous song before your time? It was still sung everywhere in the early 70s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlLD4K7SLKI

You can probably explain the joke in it better than I can.

Helen Reddy, great story. :smile:

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Originally Posted by panama hat

Helen Reddy, great story. :smile:

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Ditto!!

Thanks .... everyone!

Still in the area around the Ratanakosin Island… for the last time.

Sao Lak Muang are city pillars found in most ancient cities of Thailand. Each is usually housed in a shrine which is also believed to house Chao Pho Lak Muang, the deity who guards the city.

In Bangkok, it was King Paputtayodfa Chulalok (Rama I) who erected the first city pillar in April 1782, when he moved his capital from Thonburi to Bangkok.

Bangkok's city pillar shrine (also known as ‘san lak muang’) is one of the most ancient, sacred and magnificent city pillar shrines in Thailand. It is believed that people would achieve prosperity and fulfillment in their work/career also luck if they come to pay their respects at this sacred place.

The shrine is located in the heart of Bangkok, opposite to the grand palace in the southeast corner of the Sanam Luang and close to the Ministry of Defence.

According to a historian, the shrine was built by the order of King Rama I, the first king of the Chakri Dynasty, on April 21, 1782 after the establishment of the new kingdom, the Rattanakosin Kingdom of which Bangkok is its capital.

The construction was according to the Brahmans’ belief saying that once a new city is built the main pillar is to be held auspicious so its people will be blessed secure and peaceful, fair and just.

The said pillar is made of acacia wood. Acacia tree has a Thai name as chiyapruek which means "tree of victory". This wood was used by Thai locals to build a pillar 108 inches high above ground and another 79 inches deep in the ground, making a total height of appx. 190 inches with diameter of 29 centimeters. Inside was placed a horoscope of the capital city of Bangkok.

In the reign of King Mongkut (Kings Rama IV) who saw this pillar become dilapidated he, in 1852, ordered the excavation of the old pillar and the construction of a replacement with a new horoscope for the city placed inside.

The new pillar was made of teak wood and covered with acacia planks. It measures 108 inches in height with a base of 71 inches wide.

Both old and new pillars were moved to a refurbished pavilion with a spire (prang model) on top of the shrine (Ayuthaya style). The shrine was finished on May 1853.

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In 1980, in preparation for the celebration of the 200th anniversary of Rattanakosin which would occur in 1982, the Bangkok city pillar shrine underwent renovation including the addition of arches to house five city guardian deities.

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According to the “In–Chan–Mun–Kong” local legend of the sao lak muang shrine, ancient Thai locals believed that the construction of the shrine required the sacrifice of four people after the proclamation of the words "In–Chan–Mun–Kong" all over the city ("In" from the north, "Chan" from the south, "Mun" from the east, and "Kong" from the west. Each word is common Thai male name in the old days like Jack, David etc.).

Anyone who responded to one of these names would be captured and brought to the ceremonial location to be buried alive in the hole. Thus, their spirits would guard and protect the city.

Anyway, this is only a myth. No such record found in any chronicles. Moreover, the Thai kings have always been the principal of the Buddhism so, this is definitely a myth. However, if this is true, it would happen somewhere else not Bangkok.

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Originally Posted by Shy Guava

K. Nong, was this humorous song before your time? It was still sung everywhere in the early 70s.


You can probably explain the joke in it better than I can.

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Well, how much do I want to do that but can't, too local. It mainly talks about the confusion with words, Thai words; dog and pig.

"dog" in general Thai word, and you probably know well, called "hma" while pig, "moo".

However, there are more Thai terms called for those 2:

"dog" = "su-nak" and "pig" = "su-korn"

And some people has got them mixed up...

That's all.

The original version was a smash hit in Thailand in around 1963. I was just a boy and everywhere I went I heard this song.

<font size="5">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYrwRiofonM

Nang Kwak

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Nang Kwak is a benevolent spirit or household divinity of Thai folklore.

She is deemed to bring good fortune especially in the form of money, prosperity, attracts customers to a business, and found among merchants. She is the patron Deity of all Merchants and Salesmen and can be seen in almost every business establishment in Thailand.

She is represented as a beautiful woman wearing a red dress (not always, but more often than other colors) fashioned in the Thai style. She also wears a golden crown on her head and is in the sitting or kneeling position. Her right hand is raised in the Thai way of beckoning customers, with the palm of the hand curved and pointing downwards. Her left hand is resting on her side or holds a bag full of gold near her lap.

Iconography of Nang Kwak is based in the Hindu goddess Laksami, the goddess of wealth, fortune and prosperity.

Some Thai people like to have a cloth poster (called a Pa Yant, or Yantra Cloth) of this goddess in their home or shop, where it is often placed by the shrine. Some also wear her figure as an amulet around the neck, which is a logical development, due to the fact that many people in Thailand must travel around to sell their goods, which makes a portable Nang Kwak amulet the obvious choice for such a person.

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Sao Tok Num Mun (a pole that oozes oil)

In the old days, Thai people always built wooden houses. There are various kinds of trees that give wood hard enough to be able to build a house. One of them is Hopea Odorata (called in Thai “Ta-kean”).

From time to time, a strange phenomenon happens to those woods. They leak sticky liquid like oil, mostly in form of poles not planks. When that happens, the owner of the house prepares to get sweat for another strange phenomenon will follow.

While being least expected, you will hear the planks creak like someone is walking on it but there is no one in sight. The sound will be heard here and there around the house. Sometimes you even dream of a woman or a man in local dress.

People say that such kind of poles are haunted so, as usual for superstition buyers worships begin.

Even though this incident is not strange in scientific way (sap canals inside the wood ooze when the atmosphere is hot) but what is strange is that once it happens, strange phenomenon always follow.

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Here and there in the 60s

Don Muang Airport

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Kesorn Arcade (I remember a pizza shop around here but can't locate the place)

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Pratoo Num Intersection (before the first flyover in Thailand)

The Citroen is heading to Racha Prasong Intersection

The traffic on right hand side will go to Racha Thevee Roundabout which will pass Indonesian Embassy and Hollywood Cinema

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Racha Prasong Intersection

The white taxi is heading to Siam Square.

The white FIAT is heading to Soi Chidlom (where the future Central Chidlom will be sited in the corner) then British Embassy then Ploenchit Arcade.

The blue truck is heading to Pratoo Num Intersection which will pass Thai Dai Maru on left hand side before crossing a small bridge.

The white truck has passed Kesorn Arcade and will pass Erawan Hotel to Suan Lumpini. AUA is on the way.

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Racha Prasong Intersection (another view)

Erawan Hotel is sighted here. I remember the Hotel set up a small takeaway cake shop on the other side of the hotel. Best cakes ever. Usually my parents forbade me from taking alcohol and these cakes from here had rum mixed but I was allowed.

Note: Tramway tracks. In the old days, tram network covered all around the heart of Bangkok. We call "rod (= car) rang (= railway)". I remember in America, they call "streetcar". I guess they are synonym.

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Trocadero Hotel, Charoen Krung area, in 1929

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Amarin Hotel on Sukhumwit Road in the 70s (one of the best Discotheques was here but I forgot the name)

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Chokchai building (I bet you guys used to taste steaks (Chokchai Steak House's) there)

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The American Presbyterian had had its role in Siam since the reign of King Nung Klao (Rama III; 1788-1824) but not until 1840 did the American Presbyterian set up the foreign division and officially sent groups of missionary to spread its beliefs and also shared the knowledge of western medical treatment including education.

Edna Bruner Bulkley, an American missionary sailed to Siam at 1903 which at that time was ruled by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) with impulsively agreement to teach in a missionary girl school here. That was the determined bravery of a single lady at the age of just 20 years.

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Edna started from San Francisco along with 2 other missionary couples. The big ocean liner spent more than 60 days until it reached its destination after it made a last stop in China to collect more than 1,000 people who, also, wanted to start their lives in Siam.

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It was the incredible and unforgettable journey that inspired her starting a memoir.

The American Presbyterian had set up the first missionary school in Siam named “Kula Satree Wung Lung (Ladies of the Back Palace (back palace was where all the female royalties resided)) School” which has been changed its name to, nowadays, “Watana Witayalai School” and that was where Edna started her career in Siam, teaching.

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In 1906, she moved to work in Petchaburi Province where she met a doctor named Lucius Constant Bulkley. The 2 lovers got married and raised a family until 1909 when the family moved again to work in Trung Province.

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With the world economic recession’s impact, the family was forced to move back home in the USA in 1934 but 2 years later, Dr. Buckley moved back to Siam again until WWII that compelled him to move back to USA again and died there in 1949.

His wife, Edna moved back to Siam as well but after the WWII. This time she did not come as a missionary but the owner of a hotel in Chiengmai Province. Along these times, Edna had never stopped her memoir but it finally stopped when she was diagnosed with a kind of tumor and had to go back to the USA for medical treatment.

Edna dies in 1962 at the age of 79.

30 years later, Mary Bulkley Stanton, her 6^th daughter, found her mother's memoir and one thing led to another, Edna’s memoir was published into a book under the title “Siam Was Our Home: A Narrative Memoir of Edna Bruner Bulkley’s Years in Thailand in the Early 1900’s”.

Love has no borders

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For a long time the Chokchai building was the tallest in Thailand. Families made day trips to BKK to ride the elevator and go to the top of this huge skyscraper.

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Originally Posted by nathanielnong

Edna Bruner Bulkley

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Fascinating . . . there's one copy on Amazon for $8

Since Siam had opened the country welcoming farangs from the west which started in the reign of King Mongkut (King Rama IV; 1804-1868), the lady fashion had been gradually changed and become blooming in the reign of King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V; 1853-1910). The mixture between eastern style and western style created elaborate and magnificent dresses.

00- Pra Piyamawadee (noble name given by the King); she was King Rama IV’s most favourite concubine. Her daughters later became the top three Queens of King Rama V’s including the “Capsizing Boat Queen” being the first. Thus they were also step sisters to King Rama V’s. In this photo, she was in full form of Victorian evening dress.

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01-Queen Sunanta Kumareerat (1860-1880), King Rama V’s first wife (Royal Consort) also known as the “Capsizing Boat Queen”, in traditional Thai dress with western shoes.

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02-Queen Sawang Wattana (1862-1955), King Rama V’s second wife (Royal Consort), in her military jacket blended with western knee high socks and shoes.

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03- Queen Saowapa Pongsri (1864-1919), the Supreme Royal Consort and third wife of King Rama V’s and the youngest of all the siblings, a good example of blending eastern style with western style.

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04-In her western styled gown.

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05-Still elegant in her later years.

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06-Queen Sukumarn Malasri (1861-1927), King Rama V’s fourth wife (Royal Consort) and also his step sister born from another wife of King Rama IV’s, sitting with their favourite daughter who was said to be the most beautiful daughter of all. They both were in another seamless mixture between eastern style and western style.

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07-Pra Wimadater (noble name given by the King; 1862-1929), King Rama V’s fifth wife (Royal Consort) and his cousin. The Princess, with their son, was the King’s personal chef.

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08-Chao Dara Rasami (1873-1933), King Rama V’s sixth wife (Royal Consort). She was the princess daughter of the ruler of the (then) Kingdom of Chiengmai. Though it was a diplomatic marriage but the King respected her honorably. This is an amazing mixture between Lanna style and western style (the color in this photo is computerized).

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Thank you , again.

Do you know why many women in Thailand traditionally wore their hair short, whereas in most (if not all) other societies the hair length was long?)

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Originally Posted by nathanielnong

Trocadero Hotel, Charoen Krung area, in 1929

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An American long term resident of Thailand I knew died in the Trocadero Hotel barbershop in the 80s, allegedly while getting a blowjob. Quite a few of the hotel barber shops offered that service. The late Bernard Trink was a big fan of the First Hotel barber shop on Petchburi.

We all agreed it was not a bad way to go.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shy Guava

Quite a few of the hotel barber shops offered that service.

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Damn! I must have been doing something wrong. I only ever got a haircut. :)

'Blow-dry'?


Anyway . . . back on track - please do carry on Nat

Quote:

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Originally Posted by panama hat

Thank you , again.

Do you know why many women in Thailand traditionally wore their hair short, whereas in most (if not all) other societies the hair length was long?)

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Hot and humid weather made them sweat and hair sticky and greasy while working (house chores especially when cooking food, 3 times a day, using charcoal to igniting fire). Also, back in the ancient days there were no salons let alone air conditioning.

Thanks for your kind support...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shy Guava

An American long term resident of Thailand I knew died in the Trocadero Hotel barbershop in the 80s, allegedly while getting a blowjob. Quite a few of the hotel barber shops offered that service. The late Bernard Trink was a big fan of the First Hotel barber shop on Petchburi.

We all agreed it was not a bad way to go.

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That's funny! :smileylaughing: I wonder if she used a hair blower.

Anyway, I thought this kind of service happened only at "arb ob nuad" places (hope you know what I mean).

An aftermath!

What you guys talked about inspires me of a story...


As having said that I was born in the old capital city of Thailand, Thonburi. Back in my childhood days, it was the area, though close to Bangkok but so far from modernity.

While in school (up to early 70s), we all were young and horny. There were not many that satisfied our lust. We had never known porn movies and "song (whorehouse)" was for adults. The closest thing and within reach was porn magazines and the closet place and within reach to get one was in Sanam Luang area.

Across Sanam Luang, there was the then Court of Justice. Close to the building, there was an area full of bookstalls. It was very famous for all of us. You could find any kind of books (second-handed ones) here including porn magazines.

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(If that duster came nearer to you, it means "Hey, root up. Time to move!". It's a code.)

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You just walked around those stalls, zigzagging along the narrow paths, pretending to look for some specific books (which actually we were). Not so long, a man would sneak up behind you whispering “pok kao”?

Yes, “pok kao” is the term we called porn magazines in those days.

In my days, those covers were plain white hence “pok (=cover) kao (=white) was named. It can easily be guessed that in those days porns were (are?) illegal. Printing vivid photos on the covers would screw us all (sellers, buyers and even publishers). So, on the safe side, plain white covers should do.

Anyway, after noticing us being reluctant, the guy would lead us back to a private, damp and dark area and showed a number of porn magazines for us to choose.

Well, they were not actually in a form of magazines, more like thin pocketbooks. Inside contained mostly stories, various but dirty all the same, and badly printed. That was because they were privately published with not very efficient copying machines.

There were photos as well but very few and all in black and white and so blurry that we had to guess, plus imagine, what they "were" and what they were “doing”.

After carefully chose for such thing was not cheap. It had to be worth our money. Generous as we were, we did not keep it to ourselves but brought it with us to the school. After the alarm screamed, a swarm would quickly materialize at the back of the class.

“Is that her pussy?”
“Not sure, more like a face”
“Where are her eyes then?”
“Probably close”

or

“Wow, he is using a cigar with her. What a pervert!”
“No, that’s his dick. You idiot"

or

“Hey, stop poking your stupid dick at my back, will you? I can’t concentrate”


Anyway, we were content and it was enough to satisfy and arouse us all.

Those good old “and wet” days.

Note: that’s not my collection…

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:rofl: Brilliant . . .

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nathanielnong

That's funny! :smileylaughing: I wonder if she used a hair blower.

Anyway, I thought this kind of service happened only at "arb ob nuad" places (hope you know what I mean).

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You used to be able to get a bj in the old Don Muang airport departure lounge. There was a barbers shop there that provided 'extras".....

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Originally Posted by nidhogg

You used to be able to get a bj in the old Don Muang airport departure lounge. There was a barbers shop there that provided 'extras".....

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It was at the start of the walkway between terminal 2 and domestic

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Originally Posted by lom

It was at the start of the walkway between terminal 2 and domestic

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May have ben more than one. The one I knew of was in the International departures.

There were 3. The one I used to go to was in the transit area, distinguishable by having 2 rooms with old West style saloon doors on them that were painted white. Use to make sleeping on a long-haul all that much easier but I'd also go there before flying to somewhere close like Singapore too :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nidhogg

You used to be able to get a bj in the old Don Muang airport departure lounge. There was a barbers shop there that provided 'extras".....

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Wondering when someone was gonna mention this.
There was a couple locations in the old DM terminal.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Headworx

There were 3. The one I used to go to was in the transit area, distinguishable by having 2 rooms with old West style saloon doors on them that were painted white. Use to make sleeping on a long-haul all that much easier but I'd also go there before flying to somewhere close like Singapore too :)

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WoW!!! A Brand new window to me. Got to tell...

You guys are veterans!

Salute to you all!

Now, let cross over to visit (my) God...


Speaking Buddha

Sukhothai Kingdom was an ancient kingdom in the area around the nowadays, Sukhothai Province. The Kingdom existed from 1238 until 1438. The old capital, now in Tambon Mueang Kao, is in ruins and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Historic Park.

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There are a number of significant sites dotted around and one of the most photographed of those sites is Wat Sri Chum which houses a giant seated Buddha figure.

The Buddha figure here is known by two different names. The name ‘Pra Achana’ means ‘Buddha who is not afraid’ whilst the other name and more well-known to people is ‘Pra Pood Dai’ which means the ‘speaking Buddha’.

This second name was given by a role that the temple and its Buddha figure was given a part to play.

In the ancient Ayuthaya Kingdom (1350-1767), among many of rulers who fought for control of various parts of Siam. There was one, King Naresuan the Great (1555-1605), who was famous in creating campaigns against the Burmese who ruled parts of Siam during his time.

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According to legend, during an important battle, King Naresuan set up a camp at Wat Sri Chum. With his army low on confidence, King Naresuan selected one of his soldiers to stand behind the Buddha image and make a speech.

With, out of the blue, the appearance of Buddha figure talked directly to the troops, it boosted the morale among the King’s army.

Truth be revealed that there was a ‘secret staircase’ on one side of the Buddha which led to a small opening behind the Buddha’s head where somebody could stand and speak without being seen by anybody else in attendance before the Buddha or at the temple.

This acoustic sound would give the impression like it was the Buddha himself who was speaking.

The original temple which was said to be constructed approximately 700 years ago had fallen into ruin but was reconstructed in the 1950s.

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Approaching Wat Sri Chum on foot, visitors catch their first tantalizing glimpse of the gigantic sitting Buddha who peers through the slit in the specially designed ‘mondop’. That presents an imposing sight.

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At over 11 meters wide and almost 15 meters high, the ‘Speaking’ Buddha figure dominates the roofless building where it is housed. This means there is limited space for visitors, but this just serves to add to the experience. The staircase enclosed within the 3-metre thick walls to the left of the image is usually closed to tourists, but look for the elegantly tapered fingernails in classic Sukhothai-style.

Buddhists place gold-leaf on the fingers when making merit and the hands of this Buddha are one of the most well-known images of Thailand reproduced on postcards and paintings.

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More information below:

เที่ยวสุโขทัย อิ่มอกอิ่มใจ มีอะไรทำตั้งมากมาย - Pantip

The first Postal Department and Post Office in Thailand (August, 1883; King Rama V’s reign). The building was built on a location by the Choa Praya River near the Memorial Bridge; now demolished.

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The uniforms through time:

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Great thread. Thanks, nat!

Sorry for coming late to your wonderful stories and pictures I have a remark to the below building: visiting Bang Pa-In it first time almost 40 years ago I was said that this Chinese style residential hall (very nice for relaxing) was a gift to the King Rama V by Chinese merchants as a gratitude for his generosity to allow them making business in Thailand.

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Originally Posted by nathanielnong

Bang Pa-In Royal Palace

Bang Pa-In Royal Palace also known as the Summer Palace, is a palace complex formerly used by the Thai kings. It lies beside the Chao Praya River in Bang Pa-In District, Pranakorn Sri Ayuthaya.

King Prasart Tong from Ayuthaya period (approx. 1350-1767) constructed the original complex in 1632, but it fell into disuse and became overgrown in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, until King Mongkut (King Rama IV) began to restore the site in the mid-19th century. Most of the present buildings were constructed between 1872 and 1889 by King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V).


4.Pra-Tee-Nung Wae-Hard Chumroon - Chinese style residential hall.
https://teakdoor.com/attachments/the...nguage-004-jpg

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by nathanielnong

In March 1935, King Prachatipok (King Rama VII) abdicated in favor of his 9-year-old nephew, Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej's older brother Prince Ananda Mahidol.

The child-king and his siblings remained in Switzerland while two regents ruled the kingdom in his name. Ananda Mahidol returned to Thailand in 1938, but Bhumibol Adulyadej remained in Europe. The younger brother continued his studies in Switzerland until 1945, when he left the University of Lausanne at the end of World War II.

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What I have learned from some sources years ago - not sure whether it was correct: In the time when King Prachatipok abdicated it had not been known for quite long who will be the next king. There had been long discussions at the Royal court before the choice had been at last directed to the family living that time in Lausanne.

And when Ananda Mahidol came to Thailand in 1938 - enthusiastic welcome by the population - whenever he was travelling he always insisted to be accompanied by his younger brother. Finally, both of them returned with the family to Switzerland where they stayed during the whole war years.

The Giant Swing is a religious structure formerly used in an old Brahminism ceremony.

The place is sited in front of Wat Sutat in Pranakorn District, Bangkok.

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It was recorded that the Giant Swing was constructed in 1784 in the reign of King Paputtayodfa Chulalok (Rama I; 1737-1809) in front of the Brahmin temple or called today as Tewasatan shrine.

During the reign of King Paputtalerdla (Rama II; 1767-1824), the swing ceremony was discontinued as the swing had become structurally damaged by lightning.

In 1920 (the reign of King Wachirawut (Rama VI; 1881-1925)), it was renovated and moved to its current location in order to prepare the former space for a gas plant construction.

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The ceremony was again performed until 1935 when it was finally discontinued in the reign of King Prachatipok (Rama VII, 1893-1941) after several fatal accidents.

The last renovations were done in 1959 and after many, many years of exposure to the weather the wooden pillars were showing signs of serious damage.

A major reconstruction began in April 2005. Six teak tree trunks were used. Two of them used for the main structure of the swing. The remaining four used for support. The total height is 21.15 meters standing on a giant round white stone covered with red tile platform 10.50 meters in diameter. The swing was taken down in late October 2006. The work finally finished in December of the same year.

The rebuilt swing was dedicated in royal ceremonies presided over by King Pumipol Adulyadej (Rama IX) in September 2007. The timbers of the original swing are preserved in the Bangkok National Museum.

In 2005, the Giant Swing, together with Wat Suthat, was proposed as a future UNESCO World Heritage site.

In the old days, the annual swinging ceremony known locally as "lo-ching-cha (pulling the swing (= ching cha)) began as according to an ancient Brahminism relating that after God Brahma created the world, he sent God Shiva to look after it.

It is said that Goddess Uma was worried that the earth would meet its doom soon but God Shiva thought otherwise so a bet was on.

The mighty Naga was asked to tie himself between the two giant trees rooting in a vast river. God Shiva then would stand on one foot on Naga's mid trunk. Then the Naga would swing himself back and forth. Even on one foot, God Shiva stood still without fall or even sway. That meant God Shiva won the bet and also meant that the earth God Brahma had created was safe.

For the swinging ceremony, two giant poles represent two giant trees. The platform represents the river. The swing represents the mighty Naga and the Brahmin priest represents God Shiva.

After the ceremony, the Brahmins would swing, trying to grab a bag of coins placed on one of the pillars.

It was said that fatal accident happened every year but the swingers did not mind. They believed that dying while performing the sacred ceremony would grant their afterlives in heaven.

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Originally Posted by misskit

Great thread. Thanks, nat!

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