| UPDATE : 20 July 2010 | ||||
Set in a serene locale within Ratchaburi province's Bang Phae district, Siam Cultural Park makes for a fascinating destination, which provides visitors with lots of learning opportunities, particularly with regard to architecture and sculpture. The park also provides visitors with some rather more general insights into how residents of the kingdom have lived throughout the country's history. Based within a 42-rai (6.72-hectare) plot, the park features lots of trees, including tropical kinds, along with flowering varieties that are deemed auspicious in accordance with Thai beliefs. The park is divided into six 'stations', which are interconnected by means of some nice, shaded pathways.
The Hall of Fame is a form of waxworks, featuring representations of important Thais and foreigners from throughout history who have been responsible for great achievements for the benefit of humankind as a whole. Among these figures you will find wax-based representations of the late, great classical musician Montri Tramod (1900-1995), the late conservationist Seub Nakhasathien (1949-1990), and the renowned and respected educator ML Pin Malakul (1903-1995). The Hall of Fame also includes waxwork models of the late Vietnamese Communist Revolutionary and respected statesman Ho Chi Minh (1890-1969 [pictured, above]), the late humanitarian Catholic nun and Christian missionary Mother Teresa (1910-1997), as well as the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping (1904-1997), who served as paramount leader of the People's Republic of China (PRC) from 1978 to 1992. Along a pathway nearby you'll see three large Buddha images, set upon separate plinths, which represent the sculpturing forms known as Ayutthaya, Sukhothai and Chiang Saen, respectively.
At the next station, visitors get to experience a man-made cave area, which features waxwork images from the Vessantara, one of the Jataka tales, which refers to the last reincarnation of the Lord Buddha before he is born as the Buddha. This composition is known as The Great Sacrifice. Thai architecture and design are the principal attractions at the next two stations. The fourth station, for example, features a display of wooden residences used to provide shelter for monks in the northern, northeastern, southern and central regions. Inside each building are waxwork images of highly revered monks from around the kingdom. Lifelike Representations The park's next station includes houses originating from four of the country's regions, each with its own spacious yard. Inside the houses are waxwork models of ordinary Thai folk going about their daily activities. Thanks to the inclusion of various forms of furniture and decorative items and ornaments, visitors can get an insight into people's lifestyles in each of these four regions. There are some features that all these buildings have in common, such as an open-air terrace area, a spacious kitchen that is separate from the main dwelling space, along with the use of raised floors. Before reaching the final section, you'll notice that there is a nice coffee shop up ahead of you where you can enjoy a drink, or just freshen up. The coffee shop includes some log-based seats on its wooden terrace, which overlooks a nice, gentle stream and well maintained landscaped gardens. The final section of the park features a large Bodhisattva ('enlightened being') statue, which illustrates the benefits of Buddhist morality and the cultivation of wisdom. The artistic style reveals characteristics of Mahayana Buddhism, such as a highly ornamental body taking the form of the sitting posture.
Siam Cultural Park opens from Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4.30 pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 8.30 am to 5 pm. For further information, call Tel: +66 (0)32 381 401-2. Transport Connections: Minibus: A minibus service to Ratchaburi’s Bang Phae district operates regularly from the area in front of Central Pinklao. | ||||
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 22 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2553
Siam Cultural Park: A Wealth of Knowledge
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