StreetSmart's posts with tag: sukhumvit 21
|  | Even though many parts of present-day Sukhumvit can be described as hyper-modern, there are still pockets of traditional culture and tradition.
One example is the Kamthieng House, located at, of all places, in hyper-kinetic Asoke (Sukhumvit 21), tucked between commercial shops and office high-rises.
The Kamthieng House showcases the key  elements of the traditional Lanna culture and lifestyle. Lanna means "one million rice fields" and refers to the majestic mountainous region in northern Thailand (like Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai).
The traditional house was built next to the Ping River in Chiang Mai in 1848 by Mae Saed, who was the great-granddaughter of a Muang Chae prince.
It was then passed down through the women of the family (matrilineal line) and was given to the Siam Society in 1963 by Nang Kimhaw Nimmanhaeminda, a descendant, and was moved to Bangkok. In 1966 His Majesty the King gave his blessings to turn the  house into an ethnological museum.
The first thing that visitors will notice is that the Kamthieng House is entirely made of wood and is raised on stilts (pictured right).
It is a classic example of a compound house, where different rooms (welcoming area, kitchen, rice storage, etc.) are located separately and connected by pathways.
Inside th e house are stunning dioramas and collections of ancient objects such as a traditional kitchen scene (pictured left), farming equipment, clothes and jewelry.
Each display is accompanied by a brief explanation on how everything in Lanna culture is about the idea that people, places and spirits are all connected in this world, with a special emphasis on nature and the environment.
It is often said that the Kamthieng House still holds the spirits of three women: Mae Thao Kamdaeng, Nang Saed and Nang Kamthieng.
There have been stories about how women wearing old-style Northern attire mysteriously appear there, as well as several "unexplained incidents" in the house.
On the day I visited the Kamthieng House, I didn't see anything out of the ordinary, save for a noisy group of middle school girls on a school trip~!!
But I DID go completely mental and took picture of EVERYTHING...
Anybody see anything "unusual" in the pics~??
P.S. Click to check out another haunted place in Sukhumvit~!!
 lucky lyrical Lanna~!!
streetsmartsukhumvit@gmail.com
 sukhumvit  bangkok  thailand
CLICK ON EACH PIC FOR MORE INFORMATION.
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Gosh, I definitely wouldn't wanna be in this dude's shoes (sorry, I mean BOOTS)~!!
You don't have to look too closely to see that the weather is bakin' hot, the traffic is very busy and the uniform is kinda' TIGHTTTT~~!!!
Miraculously, standing in the middle of the nerve-wrecking intersection inside Asoke (Sukhumvit 21), he stays as cool as a cucumber~!! R-E-S-P-E-C-T~!!!!!!!!! uniforms are cool, man~!! sukhumvit bangkok thailand Import.flv (3.9 MB)
| Start: | Mar 4, '08 6:30p | | Location: | Japan Foundation, 10th Flr. Sermmit Tower, 159 Sukhumvit 21 (Asoke) |
Sakiko goes on an adventure into a labyrinthine jungle, where 500 million yean in cash is said to be hidden.
| Start: | Mar 4, '08 6:30p | | Location: | Japan Foundation, 10th Flr. Sermmit Tower, 159 Sukhumvit 21 (Asoke) |
A young man becomes interested in a new religion and devotes himself for getting new followers.
| |  As mentioned in "Superstition and Spirituality in Sukhumvit" (click HERE to check out the pics), many Buddhist Thais still adhere to their animistic beliefs. One example of this devotion can be seen in the prevalence of "spirit houses".
A spirit house is traditionally designed after Thai temples, built to shelter spirits who will guard the area/property.
Not confined to just guard houses, a spirit house can be found practically anywhere - guarding a shop, a gym, a forest... even naughty places like massage parlors cannot afford not to have their own spirit houses~!! (The fact that these are naughty places means they actually NEED all the "extra" help they can get heh heh~!!)
Called san phra phum in Thai, a spirit house's precise location is typically decided by a Brahmin priest, who will advise on the spirit house's ere ction day. Traditionally, the spirit house is also accompanied by a group of servants (who will serve the spirits). Its color usually reflects the birthday color of the owner: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
Often, a spirit house's appearance reflects the owner's social status. So if you've got a humble home, a small wooden spirit house will suffice. On the other hand, if you live in a spankin' multi-million baht mansion, you better make sure that your spirit house is just as hi-so as yours~!!
Everyday, food, drinks, sweets and other offerings are placed in front of the spirit house to placate and please the guardian spirits, who will in turn ensure good fortune, health and protection from harm for the property owner.
Usually situated in the northern side of a property (where the property's shadow is least likely to touch it), a spirit house today can be made of wood, concrete, even glass, like this real beauty found in Asoke (Sukhumvit 21):
Reflecting the Thais' tolerance of different beliefs, the major inhabitant of a spirit house can also be various:
- Nang Guak (the Thai version of the "beckoning cat", usually guarding a shop to attract money and customers)
- Hindu gods such as Shiva (the Destroyer) and Ganesh (the god of Knowledge)
- a trio of Chinese gods representing Long Life, Health, Happiness and Prosperity.
CLICK ON INDIVIDUAL PIC FOR A CLOSER LOOK.
streetsmartsukhumvit@gmail.com
and I'll put in a good word for 'ya~!!
sukhumvit bangkok thailand |
| Start: | Feb 28, '08 7:30p | | Location: | Siam Society, 131 Asoke (Sukhumvit 21) |
This project, started around ten years ago by H.M. Queen Sirikit, had a modest beginning. The original aim was simply to find an appropriate location to exhibit the collection of local textiles acquired by The S.U.P.P.O.R.T. Foundation during the many years of Her Majesty’s annual visits to remote areas throughout the kingdom, together with examples of textiles that have been promoted by the Foundation in order to show the evolution of traditional designs in Thai textiles. A decision was made to construct the museum within the compound of the Grand Palace; and a committee for the establishment of the Textile Museum was formed three years ago with much grander vision. The aim now is to build a textile institute that will serve as the regional center for textile research and restoration with a fully equipped modern laboratory; at the same time, the collection will expand from local textiles to the royal collection dating back to King Rama I that has never before been seen in public. This royal collection will include selections from Her Majesty’s personal wardrobe and jewelry. Acharn Smitthi Siribhadra, Council Member of the Siam Society and Member of the Textile Institute, will present a lecture on this fascinating project which will be profusely illustrated with photographs from this unique collection. For more information, please contact Khun Arunsri at: Tel: (02) 661 6470-7 Fax: (02) 258 3491 E-mail: info@siam-society.org Office Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 9.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. Non-Members Donation: 200 baht
| Start: | Feb 29, '08 6:30p | | Location: | Japan Foundation, 10th Flr. Sermmit Tower, 159 Sukhumvit 21 (Asoke) |
Directed by KURISAKI Midori (1978) 112 mins In this adaptation of a classic work of the puppet theater, Tokubei falls in love with a courtesan named Ohatsu but is forced to get married to a relative of his uncle's wife. Tokubei resists his family’s decision, and his defiance leads the story to a tragic ending. Thai subtitles.
| Start: | Feb 23, '08 6:30p | | Location: | Japan Foundation, 10th Flr. Sermmit Tower, 159 Sukhumvit 21 (Asoke) |
Directed by TOGASHI Shin (2002) 103 mins Sei, a sixth grader falls in love with Naoko, an eighth grader. He manages to arrange a date with her but it was unsuccessful. It is his most discouraging experience of his life. Still, he continues... Thai subtitles.
| Start: | Feb 22, '08 6:30p | | Location: | Japan Foundation, 10th Flr. Sermmit Tower, 159 Sukhumvit 21 (Asoke) |
Directed by MATSUOKA Joji (1992) 103 mins Shoko and Mutsuki marry in part to satisfy their worried parents. Mutsuki is a homosexual and Shoko tries to bring him and Kon, his lover back again after their marriage. The unusual relationship between the three of them is another interesting case we should learn from. Thai subtitles.
| Start: | Feb 19, '08 6:30p | | Location: | Japan Foundation, 10th Flr. Sermmit Tower, 159 Sukhumvit 21 (Asoke) |
Directed by MATSUOKA Joji (1990) 95 mins This is one of many recent films in Japan directly adapted from manga or Japanese comics. More than most films, Swimming Upstream reveals its origins through its bald manipulation of adolescent desire. The story primarily centers on a love triangle between young boys and girls. Thai subtitles
| Start: | Feb 15, '08 6:30p | | Location: | Japan Foundation, 10th Flr. Sermmit Tower, 159 Sukhumvit 21 (Asoke) |
Directed by SOMAI Shinji (1983) 108 mins Yusuke arrives in Tokyo from Kyushu to enroll at a famous high school and moves into a rented house. To his surprise, his housemate turns out to be Kei, his classmate and the most beautiful girl in the school. Both of them live in fear that their arrangements will be discovered by school officials. Unable to express their feelings to each another, they eventually develop a romantic relationship. Eventually, however, their living arrangement is discovered. Thai subtitles.
| Start: | Feb 8, '08 6:30p | | Location: | Japan Foundation, 10th Flr. Sermmit Tower, 159 Sukhumvit 21 (Asoke) |
Directed by SAWAI Shinji (1988) 104 mins Akira, a young school teacher, falls in love with Yumi, a fourteen-year-old student who has leukemia and who has only six months to live. When Akira learns about the illness from Yumi’s mother, he decides to do whatever he can to make her happy and to stand by her till the end. Thai subtitles.
| Start: | Feb 5, '08 6:30p | | Location: | Japan Foundation, 10th Flr. Sermmit Tower, 159 Sukhumvit 21 (Asoke) |
Directed by OMORI Kazuki (1986) 98 mins This story is of a young woman’s first love, told from the woman’s point of view. Surrounded by various people who are all experiencing love in different ways, she gradually awakens to her own feeling as a woman. Thai subtitles.
| Start: | Feb 1, '08 6:30p | | Location: | Japan Foundation, 10th Flr. Sermmit Tower, 159 Sukhumvit 21 (Asoke) |
Directed by ASAMA Yoshitaka (1988) 95 mins Kakujiro,a taxi driver who is divorced with two children meets Koyuki, a geisha at a year-end party. He is impressed by her exceptional beauty and refinement. And when she suddenly sings "La Traviata" , Kakujiro is completely captivated. Find out at the end of the film if they can fulfill their love to each other. Thai subtitles
| Start: | Feb 19, '08 7:30p | | Location: | Siam Society, 131 Asoke (Sukhumvit 21) |
Historic conservation is now an accepted norm in this country, but not so 40 years ago. When the speaker returned home in the 60’s after a long absence abroad, he was mortified to see the wholesale destruction of Ayudhya (by Thais and not the Burmese!) and other historic sites including old temples, city walls, moats and old buildings. He became the first “activist” in historic conservation, protesting and organizing protests against cultural destruction. He also started to institutionalize conservation programmes by setting up the Fine Arts Commission at the Association of Siamese Architects (ASA), the Arts Committee of the Siam Society (with the late Khun Sirichai Narumitrekhagarn), the Society for the Conservation of National Treasure and Environment (SCONTE), etc. These organizations naturally involved other notable conservationists who contributed a great deal to the early conservation movement. In this talk, he will relate his own experience as a crusader who fought to save historic sites and buildings. They range from the historical parks of Ayudhya and Sukhothai to historic houses such as the residence of Phra Rajvarindra who later became King Rama I, Saranrom Royal Palace, Tha Phra Palace, Bang Khun Phrom Palace, the old Governor’s residence in Songkhla, Prince Bovordej’s Palace (the Dutch ambassador’s residence), the old Russian Embassy or the former family home of Chao Chom Uam, mother of Prince Kitiyakara and ancestor of Her Majesty the Queen, etc, all of which were on the point of being demolished. He will also discuss the changing concept of conservation which led to the idea of re-cycling or adaptive re-use of historical sites and buildings. The message here is that conservation can become not only sustainable but also an important income generator for the communities and the nation, and beyond that an indicator of the country’s maturity. Dr. Sumet Jumsai, a former Cambridge don, is a member of the French Académie d’ Architecture, an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and a National Artist (Arch.) He has recently retired from architecture to painting. For more information, please contact Khun Arunsri at: Tel: (02) 661 6470-7 Fax: (02) 258 3491 E-mail: info@siam-society.org Office Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 9.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. Non-Members Donation: 200 baht
| Start: | Feb 14, '08 7:30p | | Location: | Siam Society, 131 Asoke (Sukhumvit 21) |
One of the most striking characteristics of Bhutan’s political history is that the monarchy, starting with the first king in 1907, has been the main factor of change, modernization and very recently democratization. This lecture considers in an historical perspective the changes that the monarchs initiated in Bhutan up to the present fifth King and how contemporary Bhutan owes its identity and political system to the long-term vision of the rulers. The lecturer proposes to demonstrate that modernization and innovative ideas have been long a royal tradition and could be called a hallmark of the kings of Bhutan, culminating in 2008 with the path to democratization and elections. Dr. Françoise Pommaret is an ethno-historian, Director of Research at the CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research, Ministry of Research and Higher Education), Paris, and lecturer at the National institute of Oriental and African Studies (INALCO), Paris. For more information, please contact Khun Arunsri at: Tel: (02) 661 6470-7 Fax: (02) 258 3491 E-mail: info@siam-society.org Office Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 9.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. Non-Members Donation: 200 baht
| |  Sukhumvit is bidding farewell to the last days of 2007 and ushering 2008 with glittering, dancing, twinkle-twinkling lights.
Buildings, poles and even trees are all a-glow~!!
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My message to everybody:
Hip Hip Hurrah~!!
sukhumvit bangkok thailand |
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