Pa Sak Jolasid Dam, Lopburi Province, Thailand
The second leg of the journey takes us up to the huge reservoir created by the damming of the Pa Sak River, a project, completed in 1999, that resulted is the biggest lake in Thailand. It's history seems interesting; as with many 'big picture' projects in Thailand the idea of damming this powerful and untamed river, which starts some 500 km further north before flowing lazily through the fertile plains of the Lopburi and Saraburi provinces, came from a proposal from His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The Pa Sak River is a tributary to the Chao Phraya River, joining it slightly further on at Ayutthaya, and during the monsoon season when the water head builds up, uncontrolled surges were apparently the source of much flooding in Bangkok, although conversely on a bad year it would dry to a trickle and farmers in the region, which depended on the river for their livelihoods, would see their crops fail. The King saw the building of a dam as a solution to manage the erratic water supply in the region and alleviate the flooding problems in Bangkok, promoting environmental management and responsibility, creating a steady supply of water all year round for irrigation and creating a new local ecosystem which would allow fishing to flourish. Anyway, after much hands-on involvement in the proposals, in early 1989 the King gave the green light to the Pa Sak River Basin Development Project and ten years, later the Pa Sak Jolasid Dam, which can hold up to 960 million cubic meters of water, and with royal seal of approval for the name, was in operation. The train takes us through Pa Sak Jolasid Dam station from where the railway line snakes north, but rather than running on the land it snakes across the water on long sections of bridges, briefly cutting onto solid land as it crosses the many jutting headlands. After a couple of kilometers the train pulls up in the middle of one of these long sections and everyone scrambles out to take photos in this interesting setting, a photo op that one would be unlikely to be offered on a train trip in the West. The waters of the reservoir lap under the narrow bridge which is just a single track, while the sun relentlessly beats down. After climbing back on board, the train continues another kilometer or so to the station of Khok Salung where the locomotive is uncoupled and moved round to the other end so we can return the way we came. Back down the lake to Pa Sak Jolasid Dam Station once more and the final break of the day lets everyone explore this area, which has become a key recreational spot. There is food stall after food stall and giant car parks to cater for the mass of Sunday afternoon leisure seekers. The top of the dam has been turned into a recreational park with a tall observation tower, from which I am told the view over the surrounding area is excellent at night, a museum that traces the history of the dam building project and the surrounding area, and attractions dotted down to the water's edge. Schools of fish snap up food that is thrown to them while there are various amusements for children. Small road trains haul visitors across the dam, and these incessantly pass by and are all packed out. The lack of time prevents anything more than drinking in a quick snapshot of the scene, going down to the where the water laps the banks, and seeing the vast lake rolling out as far as the eye can see. Soon its back onto the train for the last leg of the journey, retracing our steps back to Bangkok and our final destination in the cavernous Hua Lamphong station. The journey goes smoothly, aided by the sight of a glorious deep red sunset, and by early evening we chug back into the terminus station. It's been a very pleasant day out and a word must be mentioned for the staff on the trip (numbering at least one to every coach) who have been pleasant and helpful.
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Added: 672 days ago by
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This video is a tribute to Thailand--its beautiful people, land, and culture. Images from Google. Spiritual songs created for healing, relaxing and meditation. Composer: Chamras Saewataporn Album: Morning Track 1: Harvest Across the gleaming rice field, each of the fertile grain has shaped a way of life Knowledge, beliefs and customs of Thailand since the dawn of time We harvest not only the ripened grain but also the warm breath That blows love and care from one generation to the next From one brother to other brothers of the world
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Added: 793 days ago by
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King of Thailand's 82nd Birthday
Sunday saw the final day of a week long celebration of the revered King's 82nd birthday and, almost by accident, I found myself in the midst of tens of thousands of people packed into the vast Royal Plaza watching a spectacular 4D light show that wrapped the majestic Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall in a moving fresco of colours, sounds and images while an orchestra belted out music in front, dancers danced and singers sung. It was a spectacular tribute to King Bhumibol Adulyadej who is revered by the Thai people and the vast Plaza in front of the hall was packed from end-to-end with people, many of whom had travelled from distant parts of the land to come to pay their respects to the man they call their Father. King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the world's longest-serving monarch: he ascended to the throne on March 9, 1946, and today his approval ratings are staggering: usually touted in the mid-90 percents. His birthday, December 5, is also Father's Day, emphasising the way the Thai people view him, for most he has been a constant figure throughout the whole lives, and is seen as someone who can bring everyone together in a country where there are dividing lines. This year sees his 82nd birthday and he has been ill for sometime, recently residing at the sprawling Siriraj Hospital on the other bank of the city's Chao Phraya River. For the Thai people the birthday celebrations this year meant even more, creating the perfect chance to wish him a speedy recovery, and express their devotion to their King, and form a tangible outlet for their worry. From Victory Monument BTS Station I took a creaking bus down towards the Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall. As soon as we hit the junction and level crossing at the Chitlada Palace the bus shudders to a halt and we are turfed off. Trees and lampposts are festooned with bright lights and the road is a milling mass of people. Each evening this week a royal convoy whizzes down this road and the people line the with boulevard to pay respects to their monarchy. Everyone is wearing pink. Thailand has embraced colours to symbolise positions, seas of red and yellow shirts are embedded into consciousness here, and pink has been decreed as the colour to wear for the King's birthday as astrologers a couple of years ago deemed this the distinct hue that would reflect good health for the King. We don't have long to wait as within minutes, and with the roads lined with a solid blanket of pink shirts of Thais sat cross-legged, and with glittering lights draped from the trees, the royal cavalcade speeds past. Once the cars have passed we continue down Si Ayutthaya Road, which is closed to traffic, and at the intersection with Ratcha Damnoen Nok Rd a solid sea of people and plastic chairs begins, wave after wave that stretches right down the vast acres of Royal Plaza as far as the Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall, a sea of people interrupted only by the towering equestrian statue of King King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), one of the country's most beloved of past monarchs; astride his horse he rises imperiously from the gathering of humanity, evocatively timeless. Floodlights illuminate the scene, there is a temporary stage on the right where a band playing and the corners of the Palza are bookended by two giant TV screens that flicker through images from the entertainment interspersed with sweeping panoramas of the crowd that are grabbed up by several shadowy booms that lazily sweep above this throbbing scene. It really feels as if most of Thailand has turned up here tonight. The images also reveal that the vast boulevards that roll up to this square are now packed with people.
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Added: 863 days ago by
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY KING BHUMIBOL Long Live KING Here's to Thailand
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Added: 912 days ago by
thaigerd
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