Angkor Wat replica at Wat Phu Man Fah

Angkor Wat replica at Wat Phu Man Fah
This place has been in the media a few times, Cambodian authorities complaining that the temple erects a replica of Angkor Wat. That (replicas of well-known monuments for commercial purposes) is not unheard of: previous post (Leaning Tower of Pisa) and https://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2022/01/euro-park-in-phnom-penh.html, Las Vegas, Macao and many more.

I couldn't see much similarity in the the pictures posted in below articles, which made me wonder: what is all the fuss about? I have to go to see for myself!

https://cne.wtf/2021/07/05/social-media-outraged-by-thai-angkor-wat-copy-construction/

source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2145011/abbot-denies-new-temple-complex-is-copy-of-angkor-wat

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/27/new-thai-temple-controversy-claims-imitates-angkor-wat Fri 27 Aug 2021
New Thai temple sparks controversy over claims it imitates Angkor Wat - Cambodia to send inspectors to see if site is too similar to 12th-century complex that is a national symbol.

https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3147949/angkor-wat-temple-copycat-thailand-sparks-cambodian
A new Thai temple bears a likeness to Angkor Wat, and Cambodian internet users are not happy about it - Pictures of a structure under scaffolding in Thailand were posted online, and commentators in Cambodia were quick to condemn its likeness to their pride and joy - Cultural and political tensions between the two countries have long been complicated when it comes to temples and claims over their sovereignty. (8 Sep, 2021)

Elsewhere, but fits the subject: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501018373/controversy-expected-as-replica-of-world-renown-angkor-wat-built-in-da-nangs-theme-park/ Controversy expected as replica of world renown Angkor Wat built in Da Nang’s theme park. (February 3, 2022)

The place in question is Phu Man Fah Monastery สำนักสงฆ์ ภูม่านฟ้า, with sign on main road (hwy2073) ที่พักสงฆ์พระพุทธบาท ศิลา (ภูม่านฟ้า). The Angkor Wat replica is called Sihanakhon Temple สีหนคร and centered at 14.7404, 102.7953. Buriram province, Nang Rong district.

When we arrive, we realize something much bigger than pictures in above links is going on. So big, can only be capture in full by aerial pictures. Drone pictures thanks to a friend. All pictures N is up. The Angkor Wat replica is the large rectangle of bare earth, with construction of galleries in progress, center just a mound of soil.

Other buildings complete. The stone carving is done on the complete building, giving it a Lego-like appearance before carving. Very unusual, I would think carving is easier done before assembly. Certainly you don't need scaffolding and ladders to carve if you do it before assembly. Which raises the question: were the original Angkor time temples carved first and assembled later?

Here some complete buildings:

The Angkor Wat replica Sihanakhon is being built last.

Comparing sizes in google maps satellite image, distances between centers of corner towers: Angkor Wat 202 m x 168 m, Sihanakhon
225 m x 185 m. The replica surpasses the original in size! 23% larger by area. Satellite images at same scale and orientation (N is up) of Angkor Wat and Sihanakhon:

Visiting during construction allows some insights. Build first, carve later (above) and stone cutting with giant diamond saw blades. This saw blade has a radius of 125 cm and is 8 mm thick, from which I calculate a weight of 300 kg.

More replicas of Angkor Wat: a miniature of Angkor Wat has been in the Royal Palace in Bangkok for a long time (when part of Cambodia, including Angkor Wat, was under Thai rule), and another one in Mini Siam / Mini World in Pattaya, and in Siem Reap in Angkor National Museum, Angkor Panorama Museum (currently closed) and in Miniature Replicas of Angkor's Temples, a private museum. Update info from my loyal reader vinapu: another Angkor Wat replica in Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. Update: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQGwLKUABof/ at New Reoma World, Shikoku, Japan. Update: Window of the World in Shenzhen, China.

Copyright 2024 ChristianPFC except linked image

Pisa tower replicas in Thailand

Pisa tower replicas in Thailand
A list and pictures of replicas of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Thailand, by decreasing size. Thanks to a friend for drone pictures.
The original for size and leaning comparison:

source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Tower_of_Pisa.jpg

Toscana Piazza (Nakhon Ratchasima, Khao Yai)
This one is about 65 m high, a bit taller than the original 56 m.

The ground is not level, giving an optical illusion that the tower is leaning when you are nearby. From further away, you expect it to be leaning and you see it leaning. However, the following drone picture perpendicular looking down, tower in center, shows it is completely straight.

Here pictures that give the impression the tower is leaning:

source: https://www.bigstockphoto.com/image-385739789/stock-photo-khao-yai%2C-nakhon-ratchasima%2C-thailand-april-14%2C-2019-%3A-toscana-piazza-is-inspired-by-the-leaning-t

source: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/leaning-tower-pisa-khao-yai-thailand-750977026

Terminal 21 in Pattaya
And probably other Terminal 21 elsewhere in Thailand.

Mini Siam in Pattaya

source: https://depositphotos.com/editorial/cathedral-group-of-pisa-and-tower-of-pisa-in-mini-siam-park-193111756.html

Pranburi in Prachuap Khiri Khan province
I don't know which business this replica is related to. Next to hwy4 at 12.3941, 99.9183.

Vespa Ayutthaya
Belongs to Vespa (Italian scooter) sales office in Ayutthaya. 14.3496, 100.6041.

These are all I know of. There might be more. There is none in Wat Tha Chedi วัดท่าเจดีย์ in Suphanburi (but Big Ben and Eiffel Tower), Siam Venezia = The Venezia in Hua Hin, Palio Khao Yai, Venice Di Iris = Venice Shopping Plaza in Bangkok, or Euro Park in Phnom Penh (but Eiffel Tower and Sydney Opera House). There use to be The Rome Restaurant on Phetkasem at 13.7072, 100.3595, long demolished and now empty plot of land, but some 360 degree view remain on google maps and show a part of facade of colisseum? Big Ben and Eiffel Tower replicas warrant a separate post once I have finished my research.

Update: There is one in Window on China Theme Park in Taoyuan, Taiwan. Pisa Tower is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, and in several theme parks in India: Seven Wonders Park in Ajmer, Waste to Wonder Park in Delhi, possibly in Waste to Wonder Gurgaon. Window on World Theme Park (Taoyuan Taiwan), Window of the World (Changsha China).

Copyright 2024 ChristianPFC except linked pictures

Boeing 747 in Thailand

Boeing 747 in Thailand
A list and pictures of Boeing 747 used as decoration in Thailand. Previous posts in this series: https://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2016/01/aircraft-used-as-decoration-1.html and https://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2016/05/aircraft-used-as-decoration-2.html

Bangkok Latkrabang 747 Cafe

One wing is accessible and there are stairs to, and a platform inside, where the engine used to be.

Bangkok Ramkhamhaeng gone
It's gone now (last seen on google earth xxx), and I don't know where it went. Pictures here: https://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2016/01/aircraft-used-as-decoration-1.html

Pattaya Runway88
Was stored in parts on a field outside Pattaya for years:
https://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2017/09/airplane-construction-kit-in-pattaya-on.html Now between Pattaya Soi 5 and 6. Pictures from 2022 and 2023, might now be open to public as a restaurant.

Nakon Pathom
At the junction of hwy346 and hwy375 at 14.039, 100.094. Pictures from Jul2016, I don't know the current status (accessible to public?). Update: Meeting Market Boeing 747. Imagine you drive along the highway, an airplane is appearing on the horizon and it's getting closer and closer:

Nakon Ratchasima Airplane Park
Used as a cafe. So far, this is the only airplane there. Is "airplane park" meant singular or plural? Elsewhere there are parks with several.

Ubon Ratchathani University
15.237, 104.82. The same situation as in Nakon Pathom. You are driving along the road, and then you realize you are driving directly onto this: 

Not clear what it will be used for. The pale red letters are "Ratchathani University Demonstration School RTUDS". I first noticed this airplane in Jan2019. When I passed there in Nov2023, construction work was going on, allowing me a look inside. Lower deck and upper deck; cockpit was locked.

Thanks to a friend for all aerial pictures in this post. That's all Boeing 747 that I know of in Thailand. Many more airplanes used as decoration, even entire airplane parks, but no Boeing 747 there. Why do all airplanes in this post and others in Thailand had their engines removed?

Update: Nong Khai 17.8528, 102.7512 at Chic Chic Market.

Elsewhere in the world
https://simpleflying.com/what-can-you-do-with-a-retired-boeing-747/
https://inhabitat.com/boeing-747-airplane-restaurant-sits-abandoned-in-korea/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/275071489713811134/
https://aviationhumor.net/the-worlds-first-boeing-747-converted-to-a-restaurant/
https://simpleflying.com/lufthansa-boeing-747-coach-airways-retail-outlet/

Copyright 2024 ChristianPFC

China impressions Dec2023

China impressions Dec2023
A detailed description of my trip to China 7-20dec2023 is beyond the scope of my blog, but here some short impressions.

Sightseeing
A lot of world-class, but little known outside China, sightseeing. Mountains that eclipse everything I have seen before. My trip was Chengdu, Emei, Leshan, Chongqing, Fengdu. Few foreign tourists. In my two weeks, I spotted 4 other Whites. In Thailand, stopping in Lotus Prasart (Surin province) for lunch, I spotted 4 Whites. But local tourists, even in low season: people, people, everywhere people!

Leshan Buddha, source: internet.

Emei mountain, source: internet.

Language
Very little English spoken. But I have been studying Chinese for some years. Without Chinese, it would have been difficult to get around. Geographical situation is similar to South America (an entire continent where no English is spoken). Both have a large domestic market and far/long/expensive to get from from three sides. South America has Antarctica in the south and oceans east and west, only to the north other countries, and they speak Spanish as well. China has vast empty land north and west and ocean east, only to the south and Japan other countries.

Recent interesting articles on the subject of language learning:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/27/english-world-power-language-linguistic-justice
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/dec/29/the-costs-and-benefits-of-english-as-a-lingua-franca

Money
Money exchange in bank and withdrawing money from ATM works the same as elsewhere. They use banknotes and coins, but you can get around easily without using coins. Many ticket machines are for digital payment only, but still some that take cash. Elsewhere as well, cash can be used everywhere to pay, and digital in many places.

Infrastructure
Great infrastructure. Especially the high-speed trains are cheap, fast, run frequently, on time, clean. Applies to subway and mono rail as well. Puts German railway services to shame. A trip from Chongqing Shapingba to Chengdu East is 250 km by air, cost about 20 USD and took 1 h 10 min with a maximum speed of 346 km/h. Amazing!

Hotels
Decent hotels, bookable on western platforms (agoda, trip.com), even cheaper than elsewhere in SEAsia. I set a new record for best value for money.

The Great Chinese Firewall
Accessible websites: tripadvisor, checkfelix, skyscanner, onwardticket, thetaiger, pattayamail, irrawaddy.com, gayguides, sawatdeenetwork, shamelessmack, stickmanbangkok, hornet, blued, gayromeo. Search on internet with bing.com, use bing maps and mapcarta. Bing is a Microsoft service, why is this allowed, whereas google is blocked? Agoda app works but when I want to make a booking, a Chinese note appears and I have to “register to book”. When I use WeChat to register, I get into a loop. Instead, I did my hotel bookings with trip.com.

Blocked websites: all google services (googlemail, googlemaps), wikipedia international (Chinese version works), Facebook, Instagram, Facebook messenger, Twitter (now X), Line. Bangkokpost, christianpfc.blogspot.com (not personal, blogger is a google service), Utopia Asia, archive.org, grindr. I used ExpressVPN, it didn't work to get around the firewall.

Maps
Worldwide except China I do all my navigation with google maps. Google maps is blocked in China, and in addition coverage is poor, and road network is misaligned by about 500 m from satellite image. Three good reasons to use the Chinese equivalent Amap = gaode.

Amap has all bus and train schedules and current location as well. Whereas google maps does not fully cover public transport in Thailand and Vietnam, and doesn't have bus lines in Phnom Penh at all. Wherever I go, I download local apps for buses.

Only drawback of Amap, there is no English version (not a problem for me, I can read Chinese) and satellite image is poor. Here the same area on google maps and Amap:

To get a better satellite picture, I use mapcarta or bing maps. Mapcarta has better elevation lines than google maps. AllTrails app has hiking trails in China, and some in Thailand that I didn't know of.

Climate
I misjudged the climate. I thought it would be 10-15 C, but it was 5-10 C. A bit cold for me, and next time I will plan better according to climate. The same day, temperature could be – 30 C in Harbin and + 30 C in Hainan.

Expenses
My general formula for SEAsia works here as well. Per day I spend on average 15 USD on accommodation, 10 USD on food and 10 USD on travel and sightseeing. That can be one day a 20 USD train ride or entry fee, and another day walking around in town for free.

Food
Delicious local oranges, kumquat, radish, Lay's with lime flavor. In Chengdu and Chongqing, there are a few high-priced Italian restaurants, but no middle-class as you find dozens elsewhere in SEAsia. I spent the full two weeks without pizza or pasta.

Here a menu. Everything in red (I don't like chilly) and brown (a lot of meat, I don't like that either) is unsuitable for me. But the boiled leek and pork dumplings (with garlic and leek dipping sauce) are delicious!

There is no tea in China
In Myanmar it is standard that free hot tea is served in restaurants, and it's delicious! I could get drunk on that tea. In Thailand it's rare, and during my stay in China I haven't seen tea served for free anywhere. 

Gay venues and encounters
Search on bing in English leads to https://www.travelgay.com/chengdu-gay-bars MC Pub 1F Haicheng Dasha, 6 Tianxianqiao N Rd, Jinjiang, Chengdu, China. Marked as “closed” on travelgay, but in walking distance to my hotel, so I went there and a local told me it (bar and only gay sauna in Chengdu) closed years ago.

Search on baidu in Chinese 成都同志 gave only few results either.
https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/381402019?utm_id=0
No.2 Tata 地址：一环路东五段87号阳光新业5楼橙天嘉禾影院旁
Picture looks promising. I find the address on Amap, can easily walk from my hotel. However at that address there is another business (SINTA), closed when I'm there about 9 pm.

If search on a Chinese website in Chinese doesn't give anything useful, there is nothing more I can do. I give up.

Online dating doesn't work either. Grindr is blocked. Hornet and blued only few profiles. Blued is from China, and works well in SEAsia, so I thought that would be the app. But within 300 km from Chengdu, that would cover a population of over 30 m, there are only 30 profiles. And scrolling a bit further, I get: "There are no more guys, please check it later." 

I have scrolled to the end of blued!

In some way, my approach is completely wrong. Is there an international version of blued that I'm using and a local version they are using? Ask on gay forums and that is confirmed.
https://www.gayguides.com/forums/topic/40403-chengdu-and-chongqing/
https://sawatdeenetwork.com/v4/showthread.php?23162-Chengdu-and-Chongqing

On the other hand, in 2021 in Cambodia I met two Chinese who didn't speak any English and were using the international version of blued.

Summary
Good reasons to come again. Sightseeing (Danxia Mountain in Shaoguan, Fanjingshan, Zhangjiajie, each of them alone worth a trip to China any season, and in summer Bejing and Shanghai would suit me by climate) and continue my search for gay life in China.

Copyright 2023 ChristianPFC