Wat Phrathat Hariphunchai
One of the most beautiful and also important temples in Lamphun Province in Northern Thailand is Wat Phrathat Hariphunchai. According to legend, the Lord Buddha himself once came to this area to collect alms. A local Lua tribesman offered him some "samor", a kind of fruit. The Buddha predicted that a man would later erect a great city on this spot and would call it Hariphunchai Nakhon. This temple is also important for people born in the Year of the Rooster.
University Campus in Thailand
One of the most amazing university campuses that I have visited in Thailand must be this one at the Bang Na campus of ABAC. The site is in the middle of nowhere. Due to the very tall 38 storey block you can see it from miles away. It almost looks like the tower of a grand cathedral juxtaposed with the traditional Thai style sala in the front.
Throwing Lotus Festival
One of my favourite festivals in Thailand is the Lotus Throwing Festival in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan. A revered Buddha image is placed on a boat and as it is taken up and down Samrong Canal local people throw lotus flowers onto the boat.
Thai Police Uniform
It always made me wonder how the Thai policemen managed to squeeze on their very tight uniforms. They also don't look very comfortable. Then I discovered the secret one day when I saw a tailor selling police uniforms at a training session for policemen. Those buttons are not real as behind them is a zip!
Thai Football League
The Thai people have always had a love for football. However, until recent years, the only leagues that they followed were the ones in the UK and the rest of Europe. Now the Thai Football League has a loyal following with a much greater interest from both the print media and Thai television. The seats at this match that I went to watch were sold out.
Open Billed Storks at a Thai Temple
In the grounds of a Thai temple, just north of Bangkok, I took this pictures of open billed storks nesting at the top of a tall tree. There must have been literally thousands of them. They come here during the winter season every year. You can get quite close to them as there is a bird watch tower at Wat Philom in Pathum Thani.
Cowboys in Thailand
When we talk of cowboys, we don't really think of Thailand and the Thai people. However, in the north-east region of the country, there are a number of farms where there are indeed cowboys. Though, admittedly, they are mainly there for the tourists. I took this picture at Farm Chockchai a few years back where you can join enjoyable farm tours.
Leaning Chedi of Koh Kret
If you take a boat north of Bangkok, even beyond Nonthaburi, you will reach an artificial island called Koh Kret. It was really a loop in the Chao Phraya River, but after a shortcut canal was dug in 1772, the only way to reach this Buddhist chedi was by boat. The people living here are of Mon descent and many of the local people make pottery for a living.
Marukhathaiyawan Palace
Between Cha-am and Hua Hin there is a beautiful summer seaside palace called Marukhathaiyawan Palace. It was built in the 1920's for King Rama VI. The main building is built from teak wood.
Thailand's Most Beautiful Buddha
Probably the most beautiful Buddha image in Thailand is "Phra Buddha Chinnarat". It can be found at Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahatat Woramahawihan in Phitsanulok. It is believed to 700 years old and it is very distinctive with its halo above the head. I sometimes stop here when I am driving up to Chiang Mai. Some people from Bangkok even visit here as a day long merit making trip.
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