Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DON'T MISS
FOLK MUSEUM, BUDDHA-CASTING FOUNDRY & BIRD GARDEN
A nationally acclaimed expert on Thai folkways, former military cartographer, Buddha statue caster and apparent
bird aficionado, Sergeant Major Thawee Buranakhet has taken from his diverse experiences and interests to cre-
ate three very worthwhile attractions in Phitsanulok.
The
Sergeant Major Thawee Folk Museum
(26/43 Th Wisut Kasat; adult/child 50/25B; 8.30am-4.30pm)
displays a remarkable collection of tools, textiles and photographs from Phitsanulok Province. This fascinating
museum is spread throughout five traditional-style Thai buildings with well-groomed gardens, and the displays
are all accompanied by informative and legible English descriptions. Those interested in cooking will find much
of interest in the display of a traditional Thai kitchen and the various traps used to catch game. Male visitors will
feel twinges of empathetic pain upon seeing the display that describes traditional bull castration - a process that
apparently involves no sharp tools.
In the same compound is a basic
aquarium
featuring fish native to Phitsanulok.
Across the street and also belonging to Sergeant Major Thawee is the small
Buranathai Buddha Image
Foundry
(Th Wisut Kasat; 8am-5pm) , where bronze Buddha images of all sizes are cast. Visitors
are welcome to watch the process, and there are even detailed photo exhibits demonstrating the lost-wax method
of metal casting. Some of the larger images take a year or more to complete. There is a small gift shop at the
foundry where you can purchase bronze images of various sizes.
In addition to the Buddha foundry, there is also a display of fighting cocks, which are bred and sold all over the
country. (The official English name for this part of the facility is 'The Centre of Conservative Folk Cock'.)
Attached to the foundry is
Garden Birds of Thailand
(Th Wisut Kasat; adult/child 50B/free; 8am-5pm) ,
a collection of cages containing indigenous Thai birds, including some endangered species such as the very pretty
pink-chested jamu fruit-dove and the prehistoric-looking helmeted hornbill. Unfortunately, the cages are gener-
ally rather small and don't reflect the birds' natural environments.
The museums are on Th Wisut Kasat, about 1km south of Phitsanulok's train station; a túk-túk here should cost
around 80B.
Sleeping
Kraisaeng Place
HOTEL
$
( 0 5521 0509;
www.facebook.com/kraisaengplace45
;
45 Th Thammabucha; r incl breakfast 400-450B; )
Having more in common with a small apartment building than a hotel, the well-equipped
rooms here are a super bargain, although traffic noise can be an issue.
Lithai Guest House
( 0 5521 9626; 73/1-5 Th Phayarithai; r incl breakfast 300-580B; )
The light-filled 60 or so
rooms here don't have much character but they are clean. Air-con rooms include perks
such as large private bathrooms with hot water, cable TV, fridge and breakfast.
HOTEL
$
