Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ing than the display of regional handiwork crafted by members of the Promotion of Sup-
plementary Occupations & Related Techniques (Support) foundation, an organisation
sponsored by Queen Sirikit.
Near the Th U Thong Nai entrance, two large stables that once housed three white ele-
phants - animals whose auspicious albinism automatically make them crown property -
are now the
Royal Thai Elephant Museum
( 0 2628 6300; Th Ratchawithi, Dusit Palace Park;
9.30am-4pm Tue-Sun)
. One of the structures contains artefacts and photos outlining the im-
portance of elephants in Thai history and explaining their various rankings according to
physical characteristics. The second stable holds a sculptural representation of a living
royal white elephant. Draped in royal vestments, the statue is more or less treated as a
shrine by the visiting Thai public.
Because this is royal property, visitors should wear long pants (no capri pants) or long
skirts and shirts with sleeves.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
BIZARRE BANGKOK MUSEUMS
If looking at stuffed tigers and Buddha statues just isn't doing it for you, then consider a visit to one of these
quirky institutions.
(2nd fl, Adulyadejvikrom Bldg, Siriraj Hospital; admission 40B; 9am-4pm Mon-Sat; Tha Wang Lang
(Siriraj)) This gory institution contains the various appendages and remnants of famous murders, including the
bloodied T-shirt from a victim who was stabbed to death with a dildo. If you're still with us at this point, you'll
probably also enjoy the adjacent
Parasite Museum
. The easiest way to reach the museum is by taking the river-
crossing ferry to Tha Wang Lang (on the Thonburi side) from Tha Chang. At the exit of the pier, turn right to
enter Siriraj Hospital, and follow the green signs.
»
Ancient City
(Muang Boran;
www.ancientcity.com;
296/1 Th Sukhumvit, Samut Prakan; adult/child 500/
250B; 8am-5pm) Claiming to be the largest open-air museum in the world, the site covers more than 80 hec-
tares of peaceful countryside littered with 109 scaled-down facsimiles of many of the kingdom's most famous
monuments. It's an excellent place to explore by bicycle (per day 50B), as it is usually quiet and never crowded.
Ancient City lies outside Samut Prakan, which is accessible via air-conditioned bus 511 from Bearing BTS sta-
tion at the east end of Th Sukhumvit. Upon reaching the bus terminal at Pak Nam, board minibus 36, which
passes the entrance to Ancient City.
Mon-Fri; 508, klorng taxi to Tha Phan Fah) Learn about the painful world of Thai-style punishment at
what's left of this former jail. Life-sized models re-enact a variety of horrendous executions and punishments,
encouraging most visitors to remain law-abiding citizens for the remainder of their visit.
