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  1. #1176
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    Upon his personal journey to a lot of cities in the north of Siam in 1904, there was a time when King Rama V and his entourage paid an anonymous visit at a house in Muang Krung Kao (the old city in Ayutthaya Province today) which was considering big enough to ask for a place to rest and cook dinner.

    The members of this family were very friendly and some even helped the King’s people cook and everything. It appeared that everyone on both sides had great fun that evening.

    The family of the house had no idea whom they were hosting until the King and his men had left a few days later.

    The warmhearted welcome from that family had touched the King so much that on the next personal visit, 2 years later, he decided to drop by at the family’s house again.

    This time the members of the family were aware of who was visiting them. So, the welcoming acceptance was quite formal and… less fun.

    Upon this time, the King brought every one of them presents.


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-aa15-01-jpg
    (The computer colored photo taken by King Rama V shows the said family during his second visit)


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-aa15-02-jpg
    [The B&W photo shows the atmosphere where the King’s people cooked in the house’s kitchen. The hosts, the couple who were the heads of the family, were seen (the man on the right facing the camera and the woman on the left with her back facing the camera).
    Also, in that photo, there is one more person seen that I used to tell his story, Kanung, the maniq boy (page 27/668)]
    Last edited by nathanielnong; 10-11-2021 at 09:43 AM.

  2. #1177
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    Memory Lane (In my own language)-aa07-01-jpg
    (The computer colored photo of which the original B&W was shot in the reign of King Rama IV in 1865)


    Somdet Chaophraya Borom Maha Sri Suriwongse (1808 – 1883) whose original name was Chuang from Bunnag clan was a prominent 19th century Siamese figure who served as the regent during the early years of the reign of King Rama V.

    Thailand has nominated him as an "eminent personality of UNESCO" for 2018.

    Chuang's nomination was to mark the 150th anniversary of his assuming the regency for King Rama V who, at 15, was underage when he took the throne after the passing of King Mongkut (Rama IV), his father, in 1868.

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-aa07-02-jpg



    In his 60s, the senior official performed the role of Siam's regent until King Rama V turned 20 when he was ready to take up his royal duties.

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-aa07-03-jpg



    He was one of a few prominent commoners appointed to the position of somdej chaophraya -- the highest rank bestowed by the king.

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-aa07-04-jpg



    After relinquishing the position of regent, Chuang remained a progressive force in the Siamese court until he desided to retire and moved to settle down in Ratchaburi Province.

    In January 1883, Sri Suriyawongse (or Chuang) fell seriously ill at his estate. His eldest son, Won, had him transported in a steamboat from Ratchaburi to Bangkok for treatment but Sri Suriyawongse died en route at Amphoe Krathum Ban, Samut Sakhan Province on 19th January 1883, aged 74. His funeral was held in manners and honors of a royalty.

    The statesman was a versatile person who was recognized for opening up old Siam to modern trade, and was instrumental in the inking of the Bowring Treaty with Great Britain in 1855.

    The nomination was put forward by Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University, as the campus in Thonburi District was located on the land once belonging to the former regent. The University is also named after the former statesman's noble rank.

    ‘The Paris-based selection committee on Anniversaries of Great Personalities and Historic Events accepted the nomination last month (in 2018) and will make a decision in April’ said the university vice-rector, Phisanu Bangkheow.


    Note: Time has passed quite long and I still cannot find out the result of this nomination. I guess he seems lost to someone else.

    I don’t know under what conditions used for considering the winner but if views such as personal life (which surely can affect working life) or else are involved I doubt that Sri Suriyawongse could won.

    From what I have read from various sources, his personal life created issues. Some sources are not revealed in only Thai language. Some are in English which means ‘worldwide’ such as the book titled ‘The English Governess at the Siamese Court’ written by Anna Leonowens who shared the same timeline as Sri Suriyawongse’s.

    Whether her words are true or false but she has spread it around. There is no smoke if there is no fire.
    Sadly I cannot find the parts mentioned given freely for general readers.)

    More Note: Related story on page 32/781
    Last edited by nathanielnong; 11-11-2021 at 09:07 AM.

  3. #1178
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    Memory Lane (In my own language)-a01-jpg



    The royal ‘koat’ (more story on page 9/212) that were used to cremate dead bodies of the royalties were made of sandalwood because sandalwood has been considered a noble wood which is suitable for noble people. When being caught with flame, it will give off good smell that can get rid of the stench of the corpses as well.

    Each sandalwood koat for a dead royalty is carved in very beautiful and delicate patterns. It is always set behind the actual elegant koat in the funeral procession.

    At the time of the cremation, royal officers will remove the real koat’s elegant frame and assemble around the inner koat instead with sandalwood frame thus, becomes a sandalwood koat ready for the cremation.

    In the old days, hardly anyone could glimpse how beautiful the sandalwood koat was because they were all burnt down. Until the reign of King Rama IV, when cameras arrived in Siam, later generations have had the opportunity to see the beauty of them.

    (Note: The sandalwood koat of the Supreme Queen Consort of King Rama V, a computer colored photo)

  4. #1179
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    The Siamese insignia is considered to have its origins in the reign of King Rama IV because he was granted such kind of decorations from western countries, including from Emperor Napoleon III of France. Therefore, the King wished to modernize Siam, his country, up to be equal to those countries in the west and set it amongst the great nations in the civilized world.

    The selection of the white elephant as the main symbol was according to the ideology of Southeast Asia that has been inherited from India.


    The creation of the insignia by the command of King Rama IV has made Siam the first country in Asia to apply the use of insignia according to international principles.

    The very first sets of insignia were created in 1861, the same year the Siamese embassy traveled to France (related article on page 46/1127). Therefore some of them, as shown here, were selected to be brought to present to Napoleon III, the Emperor of France too.



    Memory Lane (In my own language)-001-04-01-jpg


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-001-04-02-jpg
    (King Rama IV wearing the Star of Airaphot (?) and surrounded by the presents from Emperor Napoleon III)

  5. #1180
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    Memory Lane (In my own language)-02-01-jpg


    ‘Suan (= General term calling a place for relaxation usually with trees involved) Tao (= General term calling testudines or sometimes, just turtles)’ is a name calling a small man made pool which was located within ‘Siwalai Garden’, a place inside the Grand Palace that used to contain a compound of throne halls (more details on page 44/1095).

    The purpose of making this pool was to give it to the female and children royalties who resided in the inner section to relax and have fun. The pool contained freshwater animals such as fish and various kinds of testudines. When the water in the pool was full those royalty would entertain themselves as seen in the photos.

    There once was a story mentioned within themselves about one of King Rama V’s Queen Consorts (seen at the center in the 1st photo on page 24/580) who loved to come and enjoy seeing those people having fun in the pool.

    One day, when the fun was over and everyone was up and away washing and getting dressed but the Queen still sat there by the pool without moving. One of her subjects noticed that she was looking straight across the pool toward a big tree on the opposite side.

    The Queen was silent for a while until she came to herself then spoke softly to her subject that when everyone was up from the pool and went away on the same direction but there was one lady who was up from the pool like the others but walked away to the opposite side and disappeared behind that big tree.

    “She has long and black hair. I could not recall who she is” the Queen described.


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-02-02-jpg
    (Shot inside the pavilion by the pool, one of the popular postures in the reign of King Rama V)


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-02-03-jpg
    (Shot in later times when the heyday was gone)
    Last edited by nathanielnong; 15-11-2021 at 08:29 AM.

  6. #1181
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    Memory Lane (In my own language)-03-01-jpg



    Wat Ratchaburana Ratchaworawihan or usually shortened to Wat Ratchaburana commonly known as Wat Leab, is located at the foot of the Memorial Bridge (Sapan Put) near Pak Klong Talad.

    The Wat was built in the late Ayutthaya period by a wealthy Chinese merchant named "Leab", hence comes the local name of the Wat.

    In Thonburi period, the Wat was the residence of ecclesiastical dignitaries.

    In 1793 during the reign of King Rama I, a prince who was one of the King’s nephews had the Wat restored with the King's support. After being finished, it was then upgraded to be the royal Wat and the name was changed to "Ratchaburana..." (literally means: restored by the king).

    During WWII in 1945, the Wat was seriously damaged (the Power Plant close by was the main target) and deleted from the official list.

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-03-02-jpg


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-03-03-jpg



    Later, the then abbot of the Wat and local people helped to rebuild the Wat. The present ubosot (= ordination hall) was built in 1960.

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-03-04-jpg



    The most outstanding building of this Wat is the Prang (Khmer-style pagoda), which was built in the reign of King Rama III and survived though left with bad shape during the WWII had been restored in the 1962 and again in 2007 by the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA).

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-03-06-jpg


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-03-05-jpg



    During the WWII, one of the most valuable assets of the history of old Siam was utterly destroyed, it was wall paintings inside the (old) ubosot’s walls which were the works of various artists (records say that each painting had its artist's name inscribed under) who lived in the reign of King Rama I, II, III and IV. The most famous one named Khrua In Khong who was a monk and said to live during the reign of King Rama III or IV.

    An example of one of the wall paintings (a computer colored photo) which was shot in 1925 is shown below.

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-03-07-jpg
    Last edited by nathanielnong; 16-11-2021 at 09:23 AM.

  7. #1182
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    Flood in 'Wung' River, Lumpang Province, in the 20s exposed illegal timbers


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-20swangriverlampangflood-01-jpg


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-20swangriverlampangflood-02-jpg


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-20swangriverlampangflood-03-jpg


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-20swangriverlampangflood-04-jpg


  8. #1183
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    According to the story on page 23/562, Prince Maha Vajirunhis, the 20th child of King Rama V and the eldest son of the Royal Consort, Queen Sawang Watanawas granted the title of “Crown Prince of Siam”.

    The Crown Prince Maha Vajirunhis underwent the royal top-knot removing ceremony in 1890. Later on 10th September 1892 at the age of 14, the King granted an ordination ceremony for his son with the purpose that the Crown Prince receive religious education as a novice monk as required by the royal tradition.

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-a05-01-jpg



    The royal ordination ceremony took place at Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram (Wat Phra Kaew) within the Grand Palace. The King invited 20 high-ranking monks, including the Supreme Patriarch who was his half-brother, as well as other members of the royal family to attend the ceremony.

    In this occasion, the Supreme Patriarch was the chairperson, and also the preceptor of the ceremony. The Crown Prince then went to reside at Wat Bowonniwet Vihara for five months before resigning from monkhood.

    This computer colored photo shows a boat, a gift to the Crown Prince Maha Vajirunhis for the Great Sermon on the occasion he was ordained as a monk.

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-a05-02-jpg



    A part of a memoir noted by a Princess says “(my own translation)…The large boat was made entirely of sugar canes. It was as big as a real junk. People could go up there and walk around. Almost everything used in the boat was made of food. Human figures were made of shrimp paste and rock sugar. The bottom of the boat contained baskets of snacks, fruits and various dry goods. Outside around the big boat, there were various kinds of aquatic animals such as fish, sea elephants, seahorses, crocodiles and etc. All of them were made of bamboo trusses and decorated beautifully with various kinds of food. The small boats around were also carrying food even some parts of these boats were made of rock sugar which were edible…”

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-a05-03-jpg
    Last edited by nathanielnong; 18-11-2021 at 09:05 AM.

  9. #1184
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    Memory Lane (In my own language)-a01-jpg
    (The computer colored photo)

    King Rama VII, while visiting the northern part of Siam in 1925, always stopped to film. The King had been an amateur cinematographer since the first arrival of cameras in Siam.

    When he traveled both domestically and internationally, he would bring cinematic cameras along in the procession.

    Wherever he went, he always filmed the way of life of the people and the atmosphere of the places as seen in many of his movies.

    He used a make a short movie titled ‘Wan (= ring) Wiset (=magic)’ using a pseudonym as ‘Nai (= Mr.) Noi Sorasak’. It is pitiful that no one knows where this film is.

  10. #1185
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    King Rama VII in his film about his visiting Pitsanulok Province in the year 1926

    <font size="4">

  11. #1186
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    A documentary (photos not included) titled: First advertising

    Advertising arrived in Siam not long after the American physician and missionary Dan Beach Bradley gave the Kingdom, on July 4, 1844, its first newspaper, the monthly Bangkok Recorder. Just seven months later, the periodical published an advertisement, “Quinine for Sale”, on its back page.

    The ad was simple: easy-to-read printing with no photo or illustration.

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-05-01-jpg

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-05-02-jpg


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-05-03-jpg


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-05-04-jpg


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-05-05-jpg


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-05-06-jpg


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-05-07-jpg



    Silpakorn University lecturer Anantachai Laohapan wrote in Pasa Lae Nangsue (Language and Books) magazine in 1989 that that advert for malarial comfort should – along with the Recorder’s own front-page subscription promotion in its first issue – be regarded as the first advertising in Siam.

    It appeared that the monthly Recorder lasted only a year, so “Quinine for Sale” disappeared with it.

    Advertising soon returned, though, when the Bangkok Recorder being re- launched in English in January 1865 and the Thai-language Jodmaihet Bangkok Recorder appeared three months later.

    This time there were company announcements and adverts for insurance agents and hotels, including the Union Hotel, which claimed to be Bangkok's oldest established inn, and the Oriental Hotel, which dubbed itself Bangkok's newest. The content remained simple throughout the era of King Rama IV, but gradually became more colourful – sometimes extraordinarily so.

    In the Sixth Reign, one advertisement grabbed the reader's attention with a tale about a woman with 500 husbands! It turned out to be selling a bottle herbal concoction that promised to keep a woman feeling fresh and, yes, strong.

    Anake Nawigamune, a veteran observer of Thai arts and culture, wrote that illustrations appeared among newspaper ads early in the reign of King Rama V. Most were paintings. The soon-common halftone printer's blocks weren't invented until 1880 and even then were rare in Siam apart.

    Touted most often in print advertising between 1865 and 1910 were furniture and other items for the home and factory, and food from Europe and America.

    You could browse the newspapers for engines, clothing, sundry decorations, alcohol, ice and medicine – or make plans to see the circus. A few locally made products were among the treasures flogged.

    Advertising from Japan also began flooding in while King Rama V was on the throne, and 1913 brought the country's first Japanese-Siamese newspaper, Yamato, which was managed by Japanese. It advertised Japanese imports, including clothes, hygiene products, medicine, mosquito coils and photography services, and listed new films playing at the local theater, also run by Japanese.

    Inevitably, Siam also soon had its first all-advertising “newspaper”, the Siam Daily Advertiser, published by Reverend Samuel J. Smith. It appeared through 1868 then folded in 1871. Alongside, from 1868–1878, Smith published the Siam Weekly Advertiser and, from 1869–1874, the Siam Repositories.

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-05-08-jpg



    Advertising has long since expanded into every media as each was invented. Quinine was obviously something most Siamese needed back in those vulnerable early days, whereas now we struggle to resist the lure of ads for even the most dubious of devices and silliest of sops. Times do change.

    (More pictures on page 34/834)
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Memory Lane (In my own language)-05-02-jpg   Memory Lane (In my own language)-05-03-jpg   Memory Lane (In my own language)-05-04-jpg   Memory Lane (In my own language)-05-05-jpg   Memory Lane (In my own language)-05-06-jpg  

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-05-07-jpg  
    Last edited by nathanielnong; 22-11-2021 at 08:53 AM.

  12. #1187
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    In the old days, there was a lady who was assigned from the king to be the head of an official group whose jobs were to maintain peace and order within the inner section of the Grand Palace (the section for female and children royalties). The assignment included guarding the palaces’ gates, arresting and punishing offenders and blocking the local people in the streets when the royalties from the Palace’s inner section came. So, she was formidable. Wherever she went everyone looked at her in awe.

    This position was called ‘Luang Mae Chao’ or simply known as the Head of the policewoman.

    From the ancient tomes, in the reigns of King Rama V and VI, there appeared only 2 ‘Luang Mae Chao’.

    This computer colored photo shows ‘Luang Mae Chao’ named ‘Kum Dee’. Record says that she was born in the reign of King Rama III, a Laotian lady who was forcibly emigrated to settle down in Siam, Chonburi area. No explanation about how come but she moved to Bangkok and was hired to do a government service within the Grand Palace in the reign of King Rama IV. Anyway, she had worked herself up to become ‘Luang Mae Chao’ eventually.

    Record says further that she had held this position until her death in the reign of King Rama VI. After that, this position was abolished.



    Memory Lane (In my own language)-aa10-jpg


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    Memory Lane (In my own language)-60shousesriver-01-jpg


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-60shousesriver-02-jpg


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-60shousesriver-06-jpg

  14. #1189
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    See Kak Praya See, 1904-now

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-1904-2014seekak-jpg



    Société Anonyme Belge (S.A.B.), CharoenKrung Rd., 1920 - now

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-1920soci-t-anonyme-belge-s-b


  15. #1190
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    Memory Lane (In my own language)-a02-jpg


    ‘Kub Mai’ is a kind of exclusive music performed by a trio, one singing, one playing a fiddle (‘soh sum sai’), and the third playing a percussion instrument (‘bun-doh’) as shown in the computer colored photo of which the original B&W version was shot in front of the National Museum in the reign of King Rama VII.

    There is no exact record of when this kind of performance started but it became well-known in the era of Ayutthaya Kingdom and has since been used until today (though in rarer occasions as time goes by).

    Kub Mai is considered a high class performance played only for the high Royal Ceremonies. The most well-known performance is used for cerebrating the kings’ royal white elephants (on which occasion I couldn’t find it).

    As if today, it is said that the only one true Kub Mai band has been left. It is owned by the Fine Arts Department. The performance has been inherited directly from the royal band in the reign of King Rama VII.


    (Starting from 1.42 onwards)
    Last edited by nathanielnong; 25-11-2021 at 09:23 AM.

  16. #1191
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    Memory Lane (In my own language)-a08-jpg


    The computer colored photo shows young Prince Chulalongkorn (sitting on a chair) with his brothers (no explanation provided who are they, biological or half- brothers) surrounded by his personal courtiers.


    These people later on, after the Prince took the throne and became King Rama V, were appointed by him to run various important offices in the Bureau of the Royal Household. A lot of them had served and shown their trustworthy and were granted high to highest rank added to their noble names such as Chao Praya + or Praya + and etc.

    The photo was taken in front of Anantasamakom Throne Hall inside the Grand Palace. This Throne Hall was the old one (page 44/1095) which later on, was demolished.



  17. #1192
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    Fully-functional mini Cadillac

    The brain behind the little car was Frederick S. Bennett, an Englishman who played a pivotal role in establishing Cadillac’s success in the UK.

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-10-01-jpg
    (With his prototype)


    He commissioned J. Lockwood & Company of Islington, north London, to build a one-third sized, battery-powered, two-seater replica of a Cadillac roadster to promote a new Delco’s revolutionary electric starting system on its 1912 Model Thirty. The car was exhibited at the 1913 Paris motor show.

    Journalists affectionately labeled Bennett’s brainchild the “Baby Cadillac”.

    Though weighing nearly 400 lb., the Baby Cadillac was capable of about 15 miles on one charge at speeds of up to 12 mph.

    Driven along Pall Mall that year as a publicity stunt, the little car attracted royal attention and was bought for £62 by Queen Alexandra of Edward VII’s, who gave it as a gift to her grandson, Prince Olaf of Norway.

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-10-02-jpg



    Later, a slightly larger version of the vehicle was commissioned because the young prince had outgrown the original.

    Though still owned by the Norwegian royal family, this baby Cadillac is on permanent loan to the Norsk Teknisk Museum in Oslo.

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-10-02-01-jpg



    Wilifred Leland, the son of Cadillac’s founding father, had been interested in the car since he first heard of its existence. He had a copy of the car shipped to America and presented it as a gift to his son, Wilifred Leland Jr., on his fifth birthday and is now understood to be in the hands of a private collector in America, but it might not have survived. The last recorded sighting being at a California swap meeting 25 years ago.

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-10-03-jpg



    In 1916, another baby Cadillac was delivered to King Rama VI of Siam and this particular piece wound up in the hands of the King’s favorite nephew, Prince Chula Chakrabongse (page 16/383).

    Prince Chula’s vehicle reportedly stayed within the Thai Royal Family until the mid-1990s, at which point it was supposedly sold to an unidentified private collector from Japan.

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-10-04-jpg


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-10-04-01-jpg
    [The two future Kings’ of Thailand, King Rama VIII (page 7/164) and IX, riding Prince Chula Chakrabongse’ s baby Cadillac under Prince Peera (page 16/388)’s good supervision in 1938 at
    Paruskavan Palace (page 31/761), the palace that belonged to Prince Chula Chakrabongse’s father, Prince Chakrapong (page 16/376)]


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-10-05-jpg


    Last edited by nathanielnong; 27-11-2021 at 02:17 PM.

  18. #1193
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    The personal doctors for King Rama VI were all farung. This one shown in the computer colored photo was a Siamese. Among the farung doctors, he was the first ‘big’ Siamese doctor at Siriraj Hospital (page 22/546).


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-aa05-jpg


  19. #1194
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    Memory Lane (In my own language)-06-01-jpg
    (The computer colored photo of Krom Pra Ratchawang Bowon Sathan Mongkhon colloquially known as the Front Palace or Wung Na. His original name was Prince George Washington. This photo was shot with the insignia presented by Francis Joseph I, the Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and many more in 1869)


    The ‘Wung Na (Front Palace) Crisis’ was caused by fire happened at a gas plant named ‘Rong Hong Lom Pra Pratheep’ located inside Grand Palace (related story on pages 25/604 and 32/778). The crisis occurred from 28th December 1874 to 24th February 1875.

    Since the location of the gas plant was closed to a lot of important buildings, it finally became a political crisis between Grand Palace and Wung Na because they blamed each other on the incident.

    The incident ended with the reconciliation offered by British Sir Andrew Clarke, the Governor of the Straits Settlements, American Admiral Alfred Ryder who commanded the HMS Valiant.

    King Rama V, Governor Clarke and Admiral Ryder met at the home of the American missionary Reverend J.H. Chandler, whose service as a translator was needed in the final document. The document itself ended with words from the King to Prince Boworn Wichaichan or Lord of Wung Na:

    "I and the people who sign these Articles of Reconciliation beg you to have full faith in me that I will assuredly devise no mischief whatever to Krom Phra Rachawang [Wichaichan] which would be unjust and I will keep to these Articles in every respect."

    On the evening of 24th February, Clarke and Ryder dining at the British Consulate finally met with Wichaichan. The Governor put before him the terms of the offer.

    After much complaint, the humiliated Wichaichan was forced to accept King Rama V's terms in full. For he had come to realize that these were the most favorable terms he could hope to receive and that the hospitality of the British was finite.

    That evening the King wrote to Clarke: "My good Friend, my private secretary has reported his conversation with Your Excellency. I am glad to agree that my cousin shall return to his palace quietly in the early morning, and come to me at eleven o'clock, when, as I must meet the wishes of my own people. I think it better that only Siamese should be present at our reconciliation, Your faithful friend, Chulalongkorn Rex Siamensis”

    After spending a day and a night as guests of the King at the Grand Palace, Clarke and his company returned to Singapore.

    The final agreement stripped Wichaichan of the title of Vice King, although he could retain the title and office of Wung Na (Front Palace). He was allowed to keep 200 guards of small weaponry. From then on, the King also had a monopoly on all ships, weapons and ammunition.

    The King also pledged to guarantee and take responsibility for Wichaichan's financial rights and interests once he had. The agreement greatly reduced the powers of Wichaichan, it also deprived the nobility and the conservatives of a leader who could really challenge the king and his reforms.

    After the crisis, Wichaichan was consigned to his palace and his role in the administration of the Kingdom of Siam ceased to exist.

    The crisis also led to the decline of Chao Phraya Sri Suriyawongse (Chuang Bunnag) who was a member of the powerful Bunnag clan which had dominated the running of the Siamese government since the reign of King Rama II.

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-06-02-jpg



    As a starter for this crisis, Suriyawongse tried to persuade King Rama V to appoint Wichaichan to succeed the Prince’s late father King Pinklao (the second King in the reign of King Rama IV) but the King refused instead he elevated the Prince to, just, Prince Bowon Wichaichan which meant Wichaichan was only made Lord of the Front Palace but not the actual title of Front Palace.

    Actually after this crisis came to the conclusion, Sri Suriyawongse was appointed by the King to expedite the term of agreement to Wichaichan but he was reluctant with an excuse that he was too old and seized an opportunity to disappear to his home in Ratchaburi Province.

    This incident not only affected the decline of Sri Suriyawongse but also had created a huge effect to the decline of the Bunnag nobility in the future.

    Sri Suriyawongse quietly withdrew from politics and retired after the crisis ended (related story on page 48/1177). The crisis also brought the end to the councils of the nobility, from then on only those in the Privy Council were given any role in the administration of the kingdom.

    The ignominious ending of the dependent relationship between the King and his nobles meant that from then on all ministers of state, high-ranking military and government officials were drawn not from the nobility but almost exclusively from the House of Chakri (primarily of King Rama V's own brothers).

    Prince Boworn Wichaichan died on 28th August 1885 at the age of 47. His body was cremated with great ceremony on the field of Sanam Luang on 14th June 1886.

    After his death the office of Front Palace was left vacant until 14th January 1886, when the King's son with Princess Consort Savang Vadhana was made Crown Prince.

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-06-03-jpg



    The title of Front Palace, the heir presumptive to the throne, which was first created in 1688 by King Pet-Racha of the Ayutthaya Kingdom was thus abolished and replaced with an heir apparent whose succession is to be based on the principle of male primogeniture. The new invented title brought Siamese succession in line with the European tradition.

    The Front Palace compound itself was partly demolished, parts that remain were given to Wichaichan's consorts, daughters and sisters as residences (sons were excluded).

    Today all that were left remained have been made up to the main buildings of the Bangkok National Museum. Lands from the demolished parts were given to the new Royal Siamese Army (which was founded in 1874 and benefited from the merger of the troops of the Front Palace to that of the Grand Palace’s) as barracks and to the ministries of the new government. The Front Palace navy was also merged to that of the Grand Palace’s to form the Royal Siamese Navy in 1887.

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-06-04-jpg


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-06-05-jpg


    Last edited by nathanielnong; 30-11-2021 at 08:57 AM.

  20. #1195
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    City walls and moats that surrounded Chiengmai Kingdom used to stand proud and resist the opponents successfully for so many times in the ancient days.

    After King Taksin of Thonburi Kingdom (Nai Sin, back then – page 19/472) liberated Siam from Burma who caused the downfall of Ayutthaya Kingdom in 1767, he beat Chiengmai Kingdom in 1774. The Kingdom was caught between the continuous wars between Siam and Burma.

    The Kingdom was left abandoned during 1776-1796 before King Kawila came to rebuild the Kingdom and decided to side with Siam for protection.

    Time went by until the European Threat came. The pattern of wars was changed. The city walls and moats became incompetent and useless. They were left dilapidated as seen in the computer colored photo whose original B&W was shot in the reign of King Rama V.


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-001-05-01-jpg


  21. #1196
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    Memory Lane (In my own language)-001-0890-03-jpg
    1899 - View shot, probably on the great Prang, from Wat Chaeng (Wat Aroon-racha-wara-ram), Thonburi seeing Grand Palace on the opposite side of the Chao Praya River


    Memory Lane (In my own language)-001-1890-08-jpg
    1890s - Bumrung Muang Road is seen straight to the Giant Swing, on the left which was the former location, with the Golden Mount in the background, far left
    Last edited by nathanielnong; 02-12-2021 at 09:18 AM.

  22. #1197
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    Memory Lane (In my own language)-001-02-jpg

    The royal urn of Princess Lamom (a daughter of King Rama III who had raised King Rama V since he was a child for his mother died very soon) and the royal urn of Prince Chaturonrasmi (a son of King Rama IV and King Rama V’s biological younger brother) enshrined at Wat Bowon Sathan Suttawart in 1900, the reign of King Rama V.

  23. #1198
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    This computer colored photo was presumably shot around the same time as the previous article, 1191 above (ignoring the computered color added to the clothes). The people in the photo are the same but there is a special one, a farung boy, added to the right.

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-a09-01-jpg


    He was Anna Leonowens (hired by King Rama IV to be a teacher to his children, see page 26/647)’ youngest child named Louis T. Leonowens (1856-1919).

    After sending other children (?) to England to get a British education, his mother took him to Bangkok.

    He was raised in the Grand Palace for nearly six years and was schooled by his mother alongside the royal children. Until 1867, he was sent to Europe to complete his education.

    By 1874, Louis was in the United States with his mother, but he had accumulated debts. He fled the U.S. and had been estranged from his mother for the next 19 years.

    In 1881, at the age of 25, he returned to Siam and was granted a commission of Captain in the Royal Cavalry, by King Rama V.

    Louis left the military in 1884 and entered the teak trade. He went on in 1905 to found the Louis Thomas Leonowens Company in Siam, which became Louis T. Leonowens Ltd, an international trading company. This company remains a leading exporter of Malayan hardwoods and an importer of building materials and general merchandise.

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-a09-02-office-jpg
    (His office [can’t find out where])

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-a09-02-lampanghouse-jpg
    (His home in Lampang Province)


    He became less involved in the operations of the company after 1906 and left Siam for the last time in 1913. Louis died in 1919 during the global influenza pandemic.

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-a09-03-jpg



    In the 1944 novel ‘Anna and the King of Siam’, Louis was the basis of a major character, as well as other fictional works based on it.

    Memory Lane (In my own language)-a09-04-jpg
    (From the 1956 movie “The King and I”)
    Last edited by nathanielnong; 06-12-2021 at 08:26 AM.

  24. #1199
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    Wonderful thread, Nat. Always enjoy your photos and history lesson.

  25. #1200
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    Quote Originally Posted by misskit View Post
    Wonderful thread, Nat. Always enjoy your photos and history lesson.
    Memory Lane (In my own language)-1-jpg

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