Entries about khao

Ratchaprapha Dam, also known as the Cheow Lan Dam, is a large hydroelectric dam located in Surat Thani province, southern Thailand. The dam was built in the 1980s to generate electricity for the region and to regulate the flow of the Klong Saeng River.

The Ratchaprapha Dam is also known for its stunning natural beauty. The dam is surrounded by lush forests and towering limestone cliffs, creating a scenic and peaceful atmosphere. The reservoir created by the dam is called the Cheow Lan Lake and is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.

Visitors to the Ratchaprapha Dam can take a boat tour of the Cheow Lan Lake to explore the scenic surroundings and spot wildlife, such as monkeys, birds, and fish. The lake is also a popular spot for kayaking, swimming, and fishing.

Near the dam, there is also a small village where visitors can learn about the local culture and sample traditional Thai food. The village also offers a variety of eco-tourism activities, such as hiking, camping, and bird watching.

Overall, the Ratchaprapha Dam and the Cheow Lan Lake offer visitors a chance to explore the natural beauty and rich cultural heritage of southern Thailand while also providing an important source of electricity for the region.

Nong Yai Wooden Bridge at the Nong Yai Park Chumpon.
The park came about following the devastation caused by Typhoon Gay back in November 1989. 529 people were killed, 160,000 became homeless, with 7,130 km2 of farm land destroyed. Under Royal Initiative a system of flood control measures were implemented.

The main flood management system is a diversion canal running from the Tha Taphap river in the west of the park to the Phanang Tak river in the east, which is near the sea. In times of heavy rain, water can be diverted through the canal preventing/reducing any flooding in the area around Chumphon town.

It is a fantastic Park and a great place to go and walk and you can also see Javan rusa deer

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.

Music free under creative commons licence from You tube music library
Title ;Night Snow by Asher Fulero

Chinese style temples in Thailand are and can be called ;
Sanjao, San Chao, or ( ศาลเจ้า ).

They may belong to the community, perhaps donated by wealthy benefactors, or to private foundations of a pious and charitable character. Even when private property, they are normally open to the public on daytime. Their name is normally preceded by the title Sanjao ( ศาลเจ้า ), meaning shrine or spirit house. It is the same name given to miniature spirit houses Thai people love to keep in their gardens or homes.

They consist of at least one small building hosting the main shrine. Often they include also one external shrine in the form of a concrete table, and an external incinerator in the shape of a small tower. More rarely, one or more additional buildings with accessory shrines and votive objects, including holy rolls, and a votive pole. When located inside internal courts, they are marked by one or more decorated portals on the main street. All those additional parts are normally decorated following the same pattern for each temple.

For this particular shrine the History is as below, I would like to add that they have actually built an extension , a massive meeting and event hall, which appear in the last frames of this slide show.

Info
Around 1890 in the area that the shrine stands today was a inlet from the nearby sea. One day a Chinese man came ashore in a Junk bringing with him an image of the Emperor Guan Yu. The man built a small house and was seen to pay respects to the image of Emperor Guan Yu. After some time the Chinese man disappeared and the local villagers saw that he had left behind the image of Emperor Guan Yu. The villagers continued to worship the image and eventually gathered together enough money to build a better shrine.

Guan Yu or Kuan Yuis also known as Kuan Ti and is often referred to as the God of War due to his military successes however he is revered for his loyality and justice and is worshipped as a guardian deity.