Sunday 11 December 2011

Damaged to Ayutthaya for seven years.

A crack has greatly widened on the base of Wat Ket, a deserted ruin that played a role in the execution of prisoners in the ancient city

RAVAGED RELICS: This gallery of Buddha images once stood at Wat Thasai, a deserted ruin that has now been annexed by Wat Rachapraditstan on the main city island, and the same gallery after a vicious storm caused the roof to collapse on them in 2010, right. HEAD ABOVE WATER: Many small statues and images in Ayutthaya were almost totally submerged, including this one at Wat Nang Kui,

RAVAGED RELICS: This gallery of Buddha images once stood at Wat Thasai, a deserted ruin that has now been annexed by Wat Rachapraditstan on the main city island, and the same gallery after a vicious storm caused the roof to collapse on them in 2010, right.

A crack has appeared on both sides of the legs of this popular reclining Buddha image at Wat Lokaysuttharam


Ancient City Ayutthaya WRESTLING WITH DESTRUCTION

ILL-PREPARED: Many ruins are located on the property of municipal sites in Ayutthaya, such as Wat Prasart, which has suffered from the flooding along with the nearby hospital.

WATERLOGGED: The foundations of Wat Sanam Chai were weakened after the temple was left underwater for two months.


IRREPLACEABLE: Inset, hidden in a small neighbourhood on the main city island Wat Sam Jin showcased a prang-like chedi. Left, Wat Sam Jin after the floods caused it to collapse.

RAVAGED RELICS: This gallery of Buddha images once stood at Wat Thasai, a deserted ruin that has now been annexed by Wat Rachapraditstan on the main city island, and the same gallery after a vicious storm caused the roof to collapse on them in 2010, right. HEAD ABOVE WATER: Many small statues and images in Ayutthaya were almost totally submerged, including this one at Wat Nang Kui,

Ayutthaya's 'forgotten' temples damned by deluge

WATERY GRAVE: Left, dozens of skeletons were found at the site of a Portuguese settlement in Ayutthaya in the 1970s. Right, the burial pit as it looks now after waters inundated the area.

A classroom at Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya Rajabhat University. The university plans to tear down the building due to severe damage.

A small chedi at a deserted ruin known as Wat Singharam on the main city island, and the same chedi after it collapsed due to two months of heavy flooding, above right.

Flooding widened cracks at this small deserted ruin, which is all that remains of a  former Buddhist temple known as Wat Mongkut north of the main city island. It now may topple over.

Friday 9 December 2011

Central region gears up for post-flood tourism

Wat Chaiwattanaram, Ayutthaya. Photo courtesy of the TAT CENTRAL REGIONAL OFFICE

In photo above aircraft sit up to their bellies in water at Don Mueang air force base last month. 

Elephants from the Ayutthaya Elephant Kraal help clean the grounds at Wat Phra Si Sanphet near King U-Thong statue in central Ayutthaya after the floodwaters receded last month. It will indeed be a mammoth task for the government to properly supervise the vast rebuilding and rehabilitation projects across the country.

Vast portions of the Central Plain were inundated by the huge amounts of water released by the major dams.

The 6th Essilor Bangkok Eco Challenge takes place at Fishing Park-Korean School of Bangkok.

anam Chandra Palace, Nakhon Pathom.

Flood's human side in pictures

Bangkok Art and Culture Centre presents "Water+Empathy 2011", an exhibition of 213 photographs which portray the recent floods in Thailand from many angles.

The works on show are selected from a total of 1,711 entries submitted by amateur and professional photographers keen to share their feelings and emotions stirred by the tragedy.

Payao Sapprasong, 84,emerges from her rented house in Muangdistrict of Nakhon Sawan. The flood crisis destroyed most of her belongings.Sheused toworkasamasseuse toearnenoughmoney to send her grandson to school and pay the rent—nowshe is jobless. 

The Landmark's Teddy Bears help flood victims


Tuesday 6 December 2011

Royal Birthday, King calls for unity, stability

His Majesty the King thanks members of the royal family and dignitaries from many sectors of society who gathered at the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace yesterday to deliver their best wishes to him on his 84th birthday. 

Flag-waving well-wishers line both sides of Ratchadamnoen Avenue to catch a glimpse of His Majesty the King as he passes by in a van.

Fireworks light up the Bangkok sky at Sanam Luang as thousands of people light candles for His Majesty the King. 

His Majesty the King smiles as he leaves the 100 Years Building at Siriraj Hospital to go to the Grand Palace yesterday morning.

Naval officers fire an artillery piece during a 21-gun salute to honour His Majesty the King in front of the Trat provincial hall yesterday.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, left, Parliament President Somsak Kiatsuranont and Supreme Court President Pairote Wayuparp extend their best wishes to His Majesty.

Well-wishers pack Sanam Luang to participate in a candlelight ceremony at 7.19 pm yesterday.

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