Thing to See at Klong San, Lumphini and Chatuchak
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The
Princess Mother Memorial Park
A Tribute to Mae Fa Luang, “The Mother of us all”
When Princess Srinakarin, the mother of King Rama IX, passed
away in 1995 it was one of the saddest times in Thailand’s
modern history. This remarkable woman was born a commoner,
daughter of a goldsmith in Nonthaburi province and grew
up in Thonburi near Wat Anongkharam. Throughout her life,
she never forgot her humble beginning and devoted her considerable
energy to improving the life of all Thais. The most well-known
of her achievements was the establishment of the Doi Tung
Foundation to assist the northern hill tribes. In 1993,
King Bumipol Adulyadej expressed his wish to renovate the
area around his mother’ childhood home in Thonburi as thanks
to Princess Srinakarin who is still referred to as “Mae
Fa Luang” meaning “The Mother of Us All”. Her original home
had no longer existed so owners of some similar buildings
in the area gladly donated them to the King for his project.
The Princess Mother Memorial Park has a reproduction of the house where she lived as a child set in open space with beautiful gardens. There are two exhibition halls, the first devoted to her life including signed photographs such as the one of her at the age of 14. The photographs with supporting text chronicle her life and finally her cremation ceremony in 1996. The second exhibition hall recounts her active life and many achievements in establishing projects. It includes some very personal items such as a Mickey Mouse needlepoint that she made for The King. A gazebo shelters a statue of the Princess Mother and a small shop nearby sells products manufactured by some of her projects.
Getting there: Bus Routes 6, 43. The park is located
on Soi 3 Somdet Chao Phraya Road, Khlong San.
Opening Hours: Garden – Daily 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. Museum – 9
a.m. – 4 p.m.
Tel: 02-4377799, 02-4390902
Thai Boxing (Thailand’s most popular sport)
Thai kick boxing is a very exciting spectator sport. The
agility of the contestants is simply amazing. In Thailand
people call it “Muay Thai”. Its popularity has spread world
wide and many young foreign men come to Thailand to train
under Thai coaches. Some of these have gone on to become
world champions. “Muay Thai” is thought to have originated
in the early part of the Ayutthaya period as a form of unarmed
combat. Competitions were usually staged at temple fairs
and were accompanied by a small 3-piece traditional music
ensemble. Each contest starts with the contestants paying
respects to their trainers to the accompaniment of the ensemble.
When the bout begins, the tempo of the music increases adding
an aural enhancement to the frantic action in the ring.
Today, it is a professional sport with training camps located
in just about every province. For many poor country boys,
it is the road from rags to riches. Many professional fighters
take on the names of their sponsors. So you will see fighters
with the same name as products such as a can of paint. It
is all part of the uniqueness of this sport. Some of the
Thai beach resort areas have training camps specifically
for foreigners who want to learn the techniques. These camps
usually arrange contests between their foreign students
and Thai exponents of the sport.
Where to see:
Thai Boxing at
Lumpini Stadium
at Rama IV Road Tel: 02-2528765
Shows on Tuesday, Friday Saturday nights at 6:30 p.m. and
Saturday afternoon at 5:00 p.m. Ticket prices at Baht 500,
800 and 1,500 for ringside.
How to get there: Subway train to Lumpini Station.
By Bus routes 4, 13, 22, 45, 47, 74, 141
Thai Boxing at
Ratchadamnoen Stadium
at Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue Tel: 02-2814205 Shows
on Monday, Wednesday Thursday and Sunday nights at 6:30
p.m. Ticket prices for tourists at 1,500 Baht for second
class, and 1,000 Baht for outer circle seats behind a cage,
and 2,000 Baht for ringside seats. The touts outside the
stadium work for the stadium and keep the same prices as
the ticket booth. Thai boxing can also be seen for
free at many smaller stadiums.
How to get there: Bus routes 70, 503, 509
Thai Boxing at Channel 7 Stadium
Behind old Mo Chit Bus Terminal near Chatuchak Park
Tel: 02-2720210 Ext.205 Sunday 1:45 p.m.
Admission Fee: Free
How to get there: BTS Sky train to Mo Chit Station and Subway
to Chatuchak Station
Bus routes 3, 26, 27, 29, 34, 59, 77, 96, 112, 134, 136,
138, 145, 502, 503, 509, 510, 512, 513
Chatuchak Park
This is located at the junction of Phahonyothin and
Vibhavadi Rungsit roads. There are nine pieces of ASEAN
sculptures that enhance the character of the park.
Open : Daily from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Admission : Free
Chatuchak
Weekend Market
This is paradise for bargain hunters. Every Saturday
and Sunday, 9,000 individual booths are open selling
an infinite variety of goods.
It is just about impossible to go to Chatuchak Weekend Market and not buy anything. There is just about everything that bargain hunters, home makers, pet lovers or just browsers can imagine.
Handicrafts are every where including
pottery, hand-made glass models of the Royal Barges,
fluffy toys, colorful tropical fish, singing birds
puppies of many breeds, furniture and lots of new and
second hand clothing, shoes, handbags, belts. There
is so much on offer that even international home decor
wholesales come here to shop. Music lovers can find
unique traditional Thai musical instruments being sold
direct by the artisans who have crafted them to make
the pleasing sounds.
One
rule for all shoppers to observe is “bargain, bargain,
bargain”. This is part of the fun and also gets you
the best prices.
Chatuchak Weekend Market has interesting products from all over Thailand as well as things from far off lands.
You should allow the best part of a whole day to explore the many stalls. You never know what you will find. But this is work that will make you thirsty and puckish, so take a break here and there to cool off with a fresh fruit juice or feast on delicious Thai dishes such as Pad Thai, barbecue chicken, noodles and sweets.
How to get there: BTS Skytrain to Mochit
Station or Metro to Kamphaeng Phet Station
Bus Routes 3, 26, 27, 29, 34, 59, 77, 96, 112, 134,
136, 138, 145, 502, 503, 510, 512, 513
Open : Saturday and Sunday
Admission: Free
Children’s
Discovery Museum
The museum is located inside Queen Sirikit Park and
was established under the royal initiative of Her Majesty
the Queen, in her realizing the significance of creating
a pleasurable learning process for Thai children. Based
on the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s children
and family activities, the Children’s Discovery Museum
took shape in the form of 3 exhibition buildings and
an open-air activity ground covering a total area of
5 rai. The construction was completed in 2001 and undertaken
under the project to celebrate the 60th birthday anniversary
of Her Majesty the Queen. The museum offers exhibitions
as well as funny activities for children to enjoy and
learn about human life, sciences, culture and society,
nature and the environment, including an exhibition
in honour of Her Majesty the Queen. It is open during
9 a.m.- 5 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. on weekends.
Open : Daily (Mon-Fri from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat-Sun
from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
Admission : Adult 70 baht, Child 50 Baht
Tel : 02-6157333 ext. 102, 134, 148
Queen
Sirikit Park
This is situated east of Chatuchak Park on Phahonyothin
Road. It was built to commemorate the 60th birthday
anniversary of HM Queen Sirikit. A big pool in the park
contains three fountains and a fine collection of both
Thai and foreign lotuses.
Open : Daily from 5 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Admission : Free
The State Railway Hall
of Fame
This is a train museum where steam engines, train models,
and miniature trains are exhibited along with the story
of world railway systems. It is located on the western
side of Chatuchak Park adjacent to Kamphaeng Phet Road.
Open : Sat. - Sun. from 5 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Admission : Free
Tel : 01-6155776
Source: Information by Tourism Authority of Thailand
