Thread: Memory Lane (In my own language)

[QUOTE=Shutree;4142111]

Originally Posted by nathanielnong

Thank you. Interesting. Over the past few years I have participated in many of the merit making food offerings around Isan and I can say that everyone, always, removes their shoes. That can be in the temple or in the village street or in schools. Maybe Isan people cling to their traditions more strongly.

You are right. It is old tradition. Even some places in Bangkok, people still remove theirs.

May I suggest you do something. Next time you participate, notice what they do before giving away food to the monks who are waiting before them. If possible, ask them "What are you doing and why do you do that?".

Kinnari Nava in Lumpini Park


In 1960s, in the middle of the lake was the famous floating restaurant named Kinnari Nava. It was a distinctive construction in the shape of a big boat (nava). On top of the bow was fixed with a topless Kinnari (a creature of half-woman/half-bird according to the Hindu mythology).












The sight of the Kinnari created controversy among the people given the reason that it is inappropriate, obscene, for a Buddhism country such as Thailand. Many people gave nicknames to the restaurant such as “Brothel restaurant” and etc.

There were more problems such as people complained that the restaurant dropped garbage including leftover food in the lake that caused foul smell all over and even crossed over into the area of Chulalongkorn Hospital sited on the opposite side of the road where the park was. Though, the restaurant rejected all the accusations.

However, all of the controversies ended when the restaurant was all burnt down on August, 1971. The cause was by a short circuit happened in the kitchen.




Note: In the picture, you can see people were watching. In Thai, we call them "Thai mung".

Golden Mount; Then (King Rama IV’s reign; 1804-1868) and Now

At first glance, this photo looks like somewhere in Europe in the 60s




Actually it was taken inside Soi (lane) Charoen Krung 40 where the Oriental Hotel is sited (shot from the Chao Praya River looking towards Charoen Krung Road)

I bet some of you guys used to get drunk there...

The building looks so shabby to me. Might be its later years??






I really like that American car; 1959 Chevrolet Impala

Taken in the year 1906 (King Rama V's reign) looking at the Ratchadumnoen Nai Road franked by Sanam Luang (right) and the, then, "Prison for Minor Crimes Department" (left) which later has been demolished and replaced by the statue of "Mother Earth twisting her hair" in the corner and Ministry of Justice Building.





That is Pan Pipob Leela Bridge built in 1902, one of the three beautiful bridges along the Ratchadumnern Road, crossing the old moat surrounding the old city. Very peaceful atmosphere.

Nowadays... The beautiful wrought iron on each side of the bridge and the lamp posts are gone, so sad.

Not many farangs know this story…




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.

On June 9, 1946, young King Mahidol (King Rama VIII) died in his palace bedroom from a single gunshot wound to the head. It was never conclusively proved whether his death was murder, accident, or suicide. Nevertheless, two royal pages and the king's personal secretary were convicted and executed for the crime of assassination.

Adulyadej's uncle was appointed his prince regent, and Adulyadej returned to the University of Lausanne to finish his degree. In deference to his new role, he changed his major from science to political science and law.

Just as his father had done in Massachusetts, U.S.A., Adulyadej met his wife-to-be while studying overseas. He often went to Paris, where he met the daughter of Thailand's ambassador to France, a student named Mom Rajawongse (a Thai royal rank) Sirikit Kitiyakorn. Adulyadej and Sirikit began a courtship, visiting Paris' romantic tourist sights.

In October 1948, Adulyadej rear-ended a truck and was seriously injured. He lost his right eye and suffered a painful back injury. Sirikit spent a lot of time nursing and entertaining the injured king. In the meanwhile, the king's mother urged the young woman to transfer to a school in Lausanne so that she could continue her studies while getting to know Adulyadej better.

On April 28, 1950, Adulyadej and Sirikit were married in Bangkok. She was 17 years old; he was 22. The King was officially crowned one week later, becoming Thailand's monarch and officially known thereafter as King Bhumibol Adulyadej, King Rama IX the Great, the most beloved of all the Thai people ever.

Originally Posted by nathanielnong

I bet some of you guys used to get drunk there...

The building looks so shabby to me. Might be its later years??






I really like that American car; 1959 Chevrolet Impala

The place had a bit of a reputation as a "remount post" after the normal bars had closed. A couple of times I was there (for academic research), there was a European woman who seemed to have a permanent reservation for a corner table. The table had a big white tablecloth and the shoeshine boys would reluctantly crawl under there to perform their assignment while she handed money down to them and glared with challenge at any watching customers . I felt sorry for the poor little tykes when they crawled out spitting on the floor and picking foreign objects out of their teeth. Had the appearance of a regular business arrangement though as the kids looked to be resigned to their task without any instructions.

p.s. My apologies if I have inadvertently insulted anyone's Mum.

Some of the photographs taken during the era of King Mongkut (Rama IV) between 1865-66 by a Scottish photographer John Thomson, one of the earliest Western photographers in the Far East who arrived in Bangkok on September, 1865.

Thomson was special because he was the first (western) photographer to be allowed in the grand palace and to take photos of King Mongkut. The King was very much impressed with his skill of taking photos.

The photographs were developed from the original glass plate negatives at Wellcome Institute London, and show spectacular detail of Thailand more than 150 years ago

The Memorial Bridge is a bascule bridge over the Chao Praya River in Bangkok. It connects the districts of Pra Nakorn Province and Toneburi Province. These two provinces are now combined and called Krung Tep Mahanakorn or Kor Tor Mor (in short) or Bangkok (still used in farangÂ’s language). It is the second bridge that serves this duty.




The bridge opened on 6 April 1932 by King Prachatipok (King Rama VII) in commemoration of the 150^th anniversary of the Chakri Dynasty and the foundation of Krung Tep (or Bangkok in farangÂ’s language), the capital, shortly before the Siamese coup de tat of 24 June 1932.




In English, the bridge is commonly known as Memorial Bridge. However in Thai, it is most commonly known as Pra Puttayotfa Bridge, after King Praputtayodfa Chulalok (King Rama I), the first king of the Chakri Dynasty. The name is more commonly shortened as Sapan (bridge) Put.

Construction of the bridge was started on 3 December 1929 by Domanlong, Middleborough, England, under the supervision of Italian technicians from SNOS (SocietÃ[at] Nazionale Officine Savignano). The bridge used to have a double-leaf bascule-type lifting mechanism, which is now unused.




During the bombing of Bangkok in WW II, some significant locations close by were destroyed or at least damaged. The Memorial Bridge was one of them.




In 1982, the bridge has its sister named Pra Pok Klao Bridge which was constructed on the 200th anniversary of Rattanakosin or Bangkok nowadays.