Entries about antique

The City Pillar Shrine in Surat Thani, Thailand is a sacred shrine that houses the city’s revered city pillar, which is believed to be the protector of the city and its people. The shrine is located in the heart of the city, near the Tapi River, and is considered an important spiritual and cultural landmark in Surat Thani.

The City Pillar Shrine consists of a central structure, which houses the city pillar, as well as several smaller shrines and prayer halls. Visitors can enter the central shrine to pay their respects to the city pillar and offer prayers and offerings.

The city pillar itself is a wooden post that is believed to embody the spirit of the city and its people. It is decorated with intricate carvings and engravings, and is considered a symbol of the city’s history, culture, and identity.

Throughout the year, the City Pillar Shrine hosts various festivals and ceremonies, including the annual City Pillar Festival, which celebrates the city’s founding and heritage. During these events, the shrine is adorned with colorful decorations and offerings, and visitors can participate in traditional Thai cultural activities, such as music and dance performances, parades, and food fairs.

Overall, the City Pillar Shrine is an important and sacred site in Surat Thani that offers visitors a unique insight into the spiritual and cultural traditions of the city and its people.

During my visit to Surat Thani recently I stopped by one of the most stunning City Pillar shrines I have ever seen.
It is located near the Tapee River which runs alongside the road that separates it from the busy road, and you can get a good look at the suspension bridge from by the gates.

This city pillar is made from wood of the Golden Shower Tree (CasiaFitsula). (it actually looks like white marble). The top of the pillar is carved into a 4-faced Avalo kite. Vara Bodhisattva looking in the 4 directions.

This is a common style of the city pillars around Thailand. On the large hair curls, there is a Buddha image in the attitude of meditation, which is considered as the guardian of the direction, according to Srivijaya’s belief. Moreover, wood carving of this pillar shows delicate floral motifs in Srivijaya style.

A well-kept shrine which is considered by many to be the symbol of the city, the City Pillar Shrine or San Lak Muang is located in the heart of the city. Standing near the Tapee River, this shrine is lit up colourfully at night and is a great spot to spend some time in the city.

Wat Phra Borommathat Chaiya stands as the most elaborate example of Srivijaya influence remaining in Thailand today. Built around an eye-catching Javanese-style chedi, the site is thought to have been established when Chaiya was an important regional centre of the Srivijaya kingdom around the eighth century CE. Today the chedi features on the Surat Thani provincial symbol and is mimicked by the provincial capital’s City Pillar shrine.

Many scholars believe that the Srivijaya’s linguistic legacy can still be heard in the Old Malay derived languages spoken in modern Indonesia and Malaysia. Srivijaya subjects also may have been the first to introduce Buddhism to what’s now Thailand and Cambodia, though their Mahayana-dominated form would eventually lose out to Theravada Buddhism from Burma and Sri Lanka. The chedi at Wat Phra Borommathat is one of a handful of ancient Srivijayan monuments that can still be seen in the Chaiya area, with two others found at nearby Wat Kaeo and Wat Long.

First constructed out of brick and vegetable mortar some 1,200 years ago, the chedi was twice restored in the early 20th century. Some alterations were made, including the addition of Thai artistic elements, but the original shape was largely preserved. Those who have explored ancient Javanese temple sites will notice a strong resemblance to the sanctuaries of Prambanan and others. Rising from a square base, its five patterned tiers include shelves, niches and points leading up to a lotus and topped by a slender spire. Buddhist relics are said to be enshrined inside.

Surrounding the chedi on all four sides are ceramic-roofed cloisters filled with Buddha images of various shapes and sizes. Near a Bodhi tree on the other side of the cloisters, a trio of sandstone Ayutthaya-era Buddha images in the Subduing Mara posture sit side by side, exposed to the elements. Local lore claims that these images prefer to be outside, evidenced by a lightning strike on a building they were once placed in.

The temple grounds also include a medium-size ordination hall which, surprising given the importance of the temple, has no murals and only a small collection of typical-looking Buddha images. Stroll to the temple’s northern section and you’ll find a cluster of attractive old wooden buildings that appear to hail from around a century ago.

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Spirit of Fire by Jesse Gallagher

During the summer break and trying to dodge tropical storms, On my way home from Krabi we stopped at this much missed, but beautiful calm place . A real gem and worth the visit. We had the place to ourselves and felt like explorers! Lovely being able to take your time and look at all the paintings without feeling rushed or watched. So here is a record of what I saw, I hope you like it?

It's in Tambon Tham Nam Phut, Muang District, Phang Nga province
This cave is the lime stone cave.

The paintings are all at the front of Tham Sam cave, a wide open space that’s essentially a large overhang. From this, a long, but not very large shaft cut by flowing water leads back into the limestone outcrop.

According to the sign at the entrance of the cave, it is mentioned that this cave has presented the art in early Rattanakosin era during B.E 2394 - 2453.
(Buddhist calendar).
It is said that the painting of birds and flowers are represented as the heaven. Next is the Earth where man lives, lastly, is a guess it is hell, with monsters and ghouls.

Made with natural pigments – probably derived from tree sap. These consist entirely of red, white, and black and the lively results from the limited palate are a testament to the great skill of the artist or artists.

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Title ;Night Snow by Asher Fulero

From my trip in January 2020 to the hills of Kathu, I found the Phuket Mining Museum.

Stunning grandiose drive to this magnificent building. Which actually was more interesting on the outside than the inside. Most f this video is just that!

The outside and the inner quadrant of the mansion.

Something to view whilst stuck at home and remind ourselves of sunnier days out!

Phuket Mining Museum (or Kathu Mining Museum) was built with unusual grandeur in a very remote and isolated location behind the Loch Palm Golf Club of Kathu, somewhere in the hills before Patong. Museums in Phuket are not precisely living spaces where artists exhibit their creations, but this one gives you a pretty good vision of what Phuket was famous for during the tin mining era.

Driving through the Phuket Mining Museum massive double arch entrance gate and along the lake will lead you to a monumental Sino-Portuguese pink building.

Once you walked through the whole Phuket Mining Museum building, which doesn’t take long despite its size, you can explore the park around and have a look at some other mining remains and machine spare parts as well as a beautiful view on the nearby hills. As shown in this video.