Entries about beauty

Wongburi (or Vongburi) House is a beautiful two-storey teak mansion built during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and now open to the public as museum. Phrae royal genealogy has us somewhat confused but, if we’ve understood correctly, the mansion was the home of Luang Phongphibun and his wife Chao Nantha. Nantha was a princess of the Phrae royal family and Phongphibun was a noble who’d made a lot of dosh out of the profitable teak trade.

The spectacular and beautifully preserved residence, set in manicured gardens, is a classic example of turn-of-the-century Northern Thai style. The architecture isn’t classically Thai but shows European influences, as the French, British, Dutch and others were heavily involved in the teak business in northern Thailand during this period. The two-storey, tile-roofed, high-ceiling and wide-balcony style is somewhat reminiscent of colonial buildings you may see, for example, in Burmese hill stations but the intricate wood carving on gables and balustrades harks back to traditional Lanna style. It’s a Thai take on the ‘gingerbread’ form, a late 19th century colonial invention thought to have originated from French mansions in Haiti. Its elaborate, flamboyant features and use of bright colours is said to resemble model houses formerly built by children out of gingerbread dough.

The same goes for the interiors, which are a fusion of Thai and European, since clearly at the time if you wanted to display your wealth and sophistication you integrated the latest foreign elements while demonstrating the obligatory Thainess. These mansions actually can be seen across North Thailand: Chiang Mai, Lampang and Phayao for instance, where European traders and wealthy locals displayed the profits of the lucrative teak trade. Phrae however probably boasts the best stock of all of these colonial fusion buildings.

One special Thai addition to the style are the dungeon-esque basements frequently found in these buildings but these are generally off limits to the public. The ground and first floors are open and display the furniture and contents of the house as it would have been a century ago as well as plenty of photos and family heirlooms. Explanations in English are in short supply but exhibits largely speak for themselves and demonstrate the luxury and wealth of these noble families.

Certain parts of the house — the kitchen and living room for example — show more recent fittings (the residence remains in the family’s hands and was lived in until recently), including an old black and white TV set, which adds to the effect. The interior is fascinating and make sure you do a circuit of the outside of the building, too.

What a truly beautiful situation for a Wat, by the beach! A totally wooden Wat made of Thai Teak, intricately carved window shutters, each panel carved with devotion and great skill.

Information translated from Thai;

Religious place outstanding with the Ubosot, golden teak wood carved with traditional Thai carving patterns, located close to the beach, next to the Andaman Sea.

The full name of this temple is Wat Tesk Thammanawa. It is located in the area under the supervision of the Royal Forest Department. Given permission to be established as Buddhism and Forest Demonstration Center under the supervision of Wat Prachathikaram In the past, the area around the temple was a forest area filled with pine forests and various tropical plants. They are therefore called "Pa Tha Sai" and this place. It used to be a “cemetery” before. due to the past This Tha Sai Forest Local residents and neighborhoods When someone dies, the body will be cremated or buried in this "Tha Sai forest". Which the villagers call it "Ao Rao" or a basin in the cemetery.

Later, Phra Ajarn Winai Rattanawanno, a student of Luang Pu Tesk Tesrangsi, renovated the area and built a teak church at Wat Tha Sai. It is constructed in a Thai style building modeled after Phra Aranyawasee Ubosot, Tha Bo District, Nong Khai Province, to be built with golden teak wood. The church's bouquet is carved by Chiang Mai craftsmen. The outstanding work of Buddhist art is the window panes that have been carved in the most beautiful traditional Thai patterns. When the window is opened, it opens up to the sea. inside teak church with a wall covering with the chairman's altar Enshrined a Buddha image in the posture of preaching, carved from white jade stone, Indian style. His face is full of mercy.

Music free under creative commons licence from YouTube music library
Credit to: The Sleeping Prophet by Jesse Gallagher

A great stop off on my road trip in December 2021, when the waters were quite low.

In Thailand, however, every little trickling stream seems to be advertised as this or that “waterfall”, and more than once I’ve hiked several kilometres only to find something less impressive than a fountain you might find in front a three-star hotel. At Manora waterfall just north of Phang Nga town, however, you’ll be rewarded by something justly worthwhile.

The multiple layers and refreshing natural pools of Manora are just a short motorbike ride away from Phang Nga town. Upon entering the trail visitors are greeted by a pristine swimming hole with cool, clear water that flows straight from nearby mountain tops. This is where Phang Nga comes to cool off, and if you’ve had it with Thailand’s tropical heat, it’s a welcome sight indeed.
Just beyond the swimming hole visitors will find a wide and relatively deep stream bridged by a fallen tree. If it weren’t for the hundreds of small fish that thrive here, this stream would also be a good spot for swimming. At least it makes for a nice photo.
A little further up the path from the fish stream the first of Manora’s waterfalls comes into view. With less of a roar than those further up, this is a tranquil little spot to enjoy the entrancing sound of water gushing over rocks.

After passing another shallow swimming hole along the path, where you can swing like Tarzan on a vine over the water, Manora’s larger and more dramatic falls are found. Okay, so they’re not Niagara or Angel falls, but Manora is impressive, especially considering that six different sets of falls of different shapes and sizes thunder alongside a winding path of several hundred metres draped in lush jungle canopy.

music free under creative commons licence from YouTube music library
Titile:Vitality by Benjamin Martins

A video collection of my photos from:

Suan Son Pradiphat is a sand beach in Tambon Nong Kae, Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, Thailand. Suan Son Pradiphat is regarded as another popular and well-known marine attraction in Hua Hin, it is about 9 km south of town of Hua Hin.

Khao Takiab hill bisected between these two areas. Its name literally translates as "oak pine garden", because there are many this species of pines in the area.

The beach is located in a military zone under supervision by Infantry Center, Royal Thai Army, therefore, it is a quiet and less crowded beach compared to other beaches of Hua Hin or Prachuap Khiri Khan.

There are restaurant, food court, coffee shop, restroom, and bathroom service. Along the beach is shady with oak pines. A Bryde's whale skeleton is displayed at the entrance to the beach.

SUAN SON PRADIPAT
located on the other side of Khao Takieb about 8km south of Hua Hin town is Suan Son Pradipat beach meaning Sea Pine Tree Garden Beach.

Much quieter than it’s neighbour Hua Hin beach but not without its own charms. The beach and the adjoining land is owned by the Thai Army Welfare Office.

At the north end of the beach nearest Khao Takieb, there are many inexpensive beach restaurants.

The beach is over 6km long and most of the beach is lined with sea pine. The water is shallow and you can walk far out from the beach into the ocean before reaching any depth.