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Published: August 31st 2005
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Before leaving Bangkok and Thailand altogether, here is a few other places I've been over the last few days that I haven't posted with the Wats, Chinatown, Grand Palace, etc.
The Swing
I've lost my notes on this place! And it's not in my Lonely Planet - I'd found it somewhere else. So I'll check later and edit this, but it'll be long after you've read it sorry. Anyway, the swing is lovely. As you may be able to see if you look closely, its also home to some lovely birds at its base.
The Swing is opposite Wat Suthat, which I already put photos of in the posting on many Wats in Bangkok - its the one that has those Buddha stutues, that are actually memorials to the deceased. Wat Suthat also proudly states that it has the 'largest and earliest' cast bronze Buddha inside their main 'largest and most attractive' hall.
So you can see The Swing and Wat Suthat at the same time.
Chee Chin Khor
Moral Uplifting Societies
This is what I learnt about the interesting society I came across when I went wandering away from
Chee Chin Khor
Moral Uplifting Societies a wat I went to visit, but was closed. You often find great things when you just go wandering and/ or get lost somewhere!
Chee Chin Khor is a moral body which is one of the member organisations of Moral Uplifting Societies in Thailand, involved in the dissemination of moral values and charitable works.
Established in 1952, the society set up its first office at Wat Samananam Forihan, Sapan Khao. His Majesty King Bhumipol presided over the opening ceremony of the society of February 25th, 1953. Later the society transferred its office to the preises of Yingsaw Sae-Lee, before moving to a building in Patumwan. Since then, the business of the society has continually developed.
Later on, it bought this plot of land on the banks of the Chao Praya River to construct a temple and its permanent headquarters. Here it was registered as Chee Chin Khor Moral Uplifting for Benefit Foundation. It is the 402nd foundation. Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn presided over the opening ceremony of this temple to the Buddha on April 27th 1993. On August 10th, 2001, His Holiness the Sepreme Patriarch presided over the opening ceremony of the Grand Pagoda, on the
Streets of Bangkok
Notice the love of the Royal Family.
This is just on the divider in the middle of the road. auspicious occasion of the 50th anniversary of the society's establishment. It was built to coincide with His Majesty's 60th birthday.
The foundation disseminates the moral values through Buddhist publications, various cultural collaborations with other foundations around the world, is involved in public donations and charity programs and cooperates with any foundations of the world.
The foundation:
- gives free rice,
- free coffins,
- and free blankets,
- subsidises student lunches at schools,
- cremates unidentified/ unclaimed bodies
- and provides disaster relief.
The society was very welcoming. From the smiley security guard that waved me in, to the lady that wanted me to go inside the temple for a look 'it is very beautiful' and the lady that took photos for me. No-one else was around and I spent quite a while there, including about half an hour or so just sitting and relaxing on their jetty, cause they just didn't seem to care.
Royalty
As you can see from the photos around town, the Thais love their royalty. If you read something about travelling to Thailand, it will inevitably include a warning
Chee Chin Khor
Moral Uplifting Societies to not say anything negative about the royal family to a Thai person.
Above, in the info I got from Chee Chin Khor, you can see Royalty presiding over some event is the HUGEST deal.
And from what I've learnt, such as at the museum within the Grand Palace grounds, the royals really are quite great. The queen is the fabulous person who has spearheaded works within rural Thailand, promoting education in farming and other areas, assisting with providing accommodation, and much much more. There are many photos of her out in rural areas with the people.
THIS IS JUST A TASTE OF WHAT IT'S LIKE BEING IN BANGKOK. HALF THE FUN IS JUST SITTING IN A STREET-SIDE CAFE AND WATCHING THE TRAFFIC. LIKE WHEN I HAD MY HAIR DONE- AND WATCHED THE FAMOUS KHAO SAN ROAD FOOT TRAFFIC FOR TWO HOURS, INCLUDING THE PROSITUTES WORKING IN FRONT OF ME!
EXPERIENCING BANGKOK IS EXPERIENCING BEING APPROACHED BY PROSTITUTES, SELLERS OF ALL KINDS OF THINGS, MASSAGE GIRLS, HOMELESS AND TUK-TUK DRIVERS OR MOTORBIKE TAXIS.
IF I WAS RECOMMENDING ONE OVERALL IDEA TO TAKE WITH YOU TO THAILAND - IT WOULD BE TO SAY YES TO
Chee Chin Khor
Moral Uplifting Societies AS MANY OF THESE THINGS AS YOU CAN, AND TO EXPERIENCE IT ALL - YES, INCLUDING GETTING RIPPED OFF!
This is my last post from this trip. The most I will do now is going in and edit a few things before I save and print my own copy of this - which is now my personal travel journal as well, of course.
I hope you have enjoyed reading whatever you had time for,
and hopefully looking at as many of the photos as you can.
For me, the photos are the most important thing.
And now I've finished this, I'll have to start on my next scrapbook - "Asian Adventure"!!
This trip was difficult for me at times.
I hid my loneliness and everything in my posts.
But there was always the feeling that I HAD to go, to help with the trouble I'd been having.
I had fun while I was away, but of course it continually reminded me that I was alone.
After having travelled with someone for years, it was strange and often hard to travel alone. (Not physically, not about money, not about understanding, language, dealing with trouble guys, that kind of
Chee Chin Khor
Moral Uplifting Societies thing...just the feeling that a year earlier you were doing the same thing with someone, somewhere else.)
I can't explain it...I just wanted to say thank you for listening to my rantings and ravings while I was on my little trip.
and I hope you could get something from it too.
Now I have to be home and figure out what I'm going to do in life now everything has changed - where do I work, where do I live, who do I live with, do I go back overseas.....
I'll tell you when I've worked something out.
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Jo wells
non-member comment
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for sharing your journey/thoughts/photos/etc. Have enjoyed reading, and yes when you're travelling alone you need someone to share things with - it's the only real negative about doing it on your own.