Rare Stones Museum in Pathum Thani
พิพิธภัณฑ์หินแปลก
Location of entrance:
14.005103, 100.563966 = 14°00'18.4"N 100°33'50.3"E
The museum used to be in Silom and moved to Pathum Thani in 2008. There are still maps on the internet that show location in Silom (and various other wrong places), and there is still an official road sign in Silom road pointing to the museum.
Address:
29/2 Moo 1 Rangsit - Pathum Thani Road, Ban Klang, Amphoe Mueang Pathum Thani 12000
29/2 ม.1 ถนน รังสิต-ปทุม, ตำบล บ้านกลาง, อำเภอ เมืองปทุมธานี, จังหวัด ปทุมธานี 12000 ประเทศไทย
open every day 9-17, entry adult 60 Baht, child 40
No public transport that I know of. From Rangsit railway station, it is 5.0 km along hwy 346, or from Future Rangsit 6.5 km, in both cases westwards.
Landline zero-two-five-eight-one-four-eight-three-five didn't work when I called, but on 092-564-4561 I got confirmation that the museum is open.
Not a museum in the European sense that there are explanations and you can learn something, rather a collection of oddities mostly without comment.
Upon asking, I learnt that these green, blue and purple obsidian come from Bo Ploi (Kanchanaburi province). I knew only black obsidian before. Most pieces in the exhibition have a price tag.
Beside stones, there are ashtrays, cigarette cards and matchboxes as well:
We spent an hour in the museum, and it was well worth the time and money.
further reading:
https://rarestonemuseum.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/rarestonemuseum
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rare_Stone_Museum
http://www.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/Rare-Stone-Museum--2292 (wrong location)
Copyright 2017 ChristianPFC
Blog about sightseeing, public transport and gay life in Thailand. Not politically correct. May contain explicit description of homosexual activities and strong language as a stylistic means. If that offends you, you can go here: http://www.imbecile.me/
Saturday, 18 February 2017
Wednesday, 15 February 2017
Royal Barges Museum in Bangkok
Royal Barges Museum in Bangkok
National Museum of Royal Barges
พิพิธภัณฑสถานแห่งชาติ เรือพระราชพิธี
Location:
13.761955, 100.484557 = 13°45'43.0"N 100°29'04.4"E
Easily accessible by bus 19, 57, 91, 127, 146, 149, 157, 169, 177. From main road (Thanon Arun Amarin ถนนอรุณอมรินทร์) it's about 300 m walk, with many turns, through a slum. Signs at every turn. The museum has a pier, but no public boats stops there.
Open 9-17 every day, entry 100 Baht, for taking pictures additional 100 Baht.
All explanations are in English and Thai.
The museum seen from the pier (high water level in Nov):
I went with a friend, we spent half an hour in the museum, and there were few other visitors.
When passing on main road, I spotted royal barges on the western side (the museum is on eastern side), and satellite image shows royal barges in the open (the museum I went to is the large white/metal roof, there might be another with the multiple small red rooves/roofs, requires further reseach):
further reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_Royal_Barges
http://www.bangkok.com/attraction-museum/royal-barges-museum.htm
update 2mar2017: the other museum has a website
พิพิธภัณฑ์อู่เรือหลวงเฉลิมพระเกียรติ ๘๔ พรรษา
http://www.rtnd-museum.com/
Copyright 2017 ChristianPFC
National Museum of Royal Barges
พิพิธภัณฑสถานแห่งชาติ เรือพระราชพิธี
Location:
13.761955, 100.484557 = 13°45'43.0"N 100°29'04.4"E
Easily accessible by bus 19, 57, 91, 127, 146, 149, 157, 169, 177. From main road (Thanon Arun Amarin ถนนอรุณอมรินทร์) it's about 300 m walk, with many turns, through a slum. Signs at every turn. The museum has a pier, but no public boats stops there.
Open 9-17 every day, entry 100 Baht, for taking pictures additional 100 Baht.
All explanations are in English and Thai.
The museum seen from the pier (high water level in Nov):
I went with a friend, we spent half an hour in the museum, and there were few other visitors.
When passing on main road, I spotted royal barges on the western side (the museum is on eastern side), and satellite image shows royal barges in the open (the museum I went to is the large white/metal roof, there might be another with the multiple small red rooves/roofs, requires further reseach):
further reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_Royal_Barges
http://www.bangkok.com/attraction-museum/royal-barges-museum.htm
update 2mar2017: the other museum has a website
พิพิธภัณฑ์อู่เรือหลวงเฉลิมพระเกียรติ ๘๔ พรรษา
http://www.rtnd-museum.com/
Copyright 2017 ChristianPFC
Sunday, 12 February 2017
Khanesha Gallery in Hua Hin
Khanesha Gallery in Hua Hin
คเณชา แกลเลอรี หัวหิน
Khanesha is alternative romanization of Ghanesha, the elephant-headed Hindu god.
Khanesha Gallery
15/1 Chomsin rd, Hua Hin 55
Hua Hin, Prachaup Khirikhan, Thailand, 77110
http://www.khaneshagallery.com/
https://www.facebook.com/khaneshagallery/
open Mon-Thu 11-20, Fri-Sun 10-20
entry Thai adult 150, Foreign adult 300, free for children under 120 cm, monks, students with ID, disabled.
I got a ticket for 100 Baht, valid one year, at their booth at travel fair in Queen Sirikit Center.
Tour starts on 5th floor (with large windows, view over Hua Hin), some pictures I took of the artwork displayed:
All the art is by Rachan Saengthong ราชัน แสงทอง, here biography from book at the exhibition:
Shop:
More pictures above reception:
1st floor (=ground floor) reception, 2nd floor shop, 3rd-5th floor exhibition. I spent there , time and money well spent. No busy, I was the only visitor during my stay.
Copyright 2017 ChristianPFC
คเณชา แกลเลอรี หัวหิน
Khanesha is alternative romanization of Ghanesha, the elephant-headed Hindu god.
Khanesha Gallery
15/1 Chomsin rd, Hua Hin 55
Hua Hin, Prachaup Khirikhan, Thailand, 77110
http://www.khaneshagallery.com/
https://www.facebook.com/khaneshagallery/
open Mon-Thu 11-20, Fri-Sun 10-20
entry Thai adult 150, Foreign adult 300, free for children under 120 cm, monks, students with ID, disabled.
I got a ticket for 100 Baht, valid one year, at their booth at travel fair in Queen Sirikit Center.
Tour starts on 5th floor (with large windows, view over Hua Hin), some pictures I took of the artwork displayed:
All the art is by Rachan Saengthong ราชัน แสงทอง, here biography from book at the exhibition:
Shop:
More pictures above reception:
1st floor (=ground floor) reception, 2nd floor shop, 3rd-5th floor exhibition. I spent there , time and money well spent. No busy, I was the only visitor during my stay.
Copyright 2017 ChristianPFC
Thursday, 9 February 2017
New songtheo lines in Pattaya
New songtheo lines in Pattaya
On 24dec2016, songtheos in Pattaya have been organized into lines. There are 4 lines named 4,5,6,7 (sic!).
4 Bali Hai pier - Banglamung
5 Charoenpattana village - Na Jomtien
6 Circle line
7 North Pattaya - Central Pattaya
They are all dark blue and bear the name of the line on front:
(They all have line number and end points in Thai on the side, but these have long been abandoned.)
Price remains at 10 Baht (there were discussions to raise it to 20, which I find outrageous - songtheos everywhere else in Thailand cost between 7 and 10 Baht update - except Chiang Mai 20 Baht, see comment), but you still don't know if a passing songtheo is regular or hired.
Best map of old baht-bus routes is here:
http://www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com/expats/docs/pattaya%20blue%20baht%20bus%20routes.pdf
Map of current lines (the colors are arbitrary, all songtheos in Pattaya are dark blue; but elsewhere they are color-coded):
from: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960043-baht-bus-route-signs-new/ (with separate map for each line and list of places they pass in Thai; despite search in English and Thai and by picture, I couldn't find another source)
In my opinion, an improvement from the previous situation. Let's see how long these lines stay. Remember what happened to the designated areas to stop for getting passengers on and off?
Other baht-bus lines around Pattaya:
1631จ (Joo Jaan) white Nakluea - Sattahip นาเกลือ - สัตหีบ
6079 dark red Nakluea - Siam Country Club
นาเกลีย - สยามคันตรีคลับ (via Sukhumvit Pattaya Soi 53, not Soi Siam Country Club)
6085 light blue Nakluea - Pattaya Tai - Lotus - Chak Ngaeo
นาเกลีย - พัทยาใต้ - โลตัส - ชากแง้ว
do my readers know more?
Language note: baht-bus = songhteo สองแถว literally "two rows (of seats in the back of a pick-up truck)". Baht-bus because they cost 1 Baht when they were introduced?
The subject has been discussed on forums, e.g. Thaivisa (see link above) and here: Major changes for Pattaya baht bus system ?
http://gaybuttonthai.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8174
Copyright 2017 ChristianPFC except maps
On 24dec2016, songtheos in Pattaya have been organized into lines. There are 4 lines named 4,5,6,7 (sic!).
4 Bali Hai pier - Banglamung
5 Charoenpattana village - Na Jomtien
6 Circle line
7 North Pattaya - Central Pattaya
They are all dark blue and bear the name of the line on front:
(They all have line number and end points in Thai on the side, but these have long been abandoned.)
Price remains at 10 Baht (there were discussions to raise it to 20, which I find outrageous - songtheos everywhere else in Thailand cost between 7 and 10 Baht update - except Chiang Mai 20 Baht, see comment), but you still don't know if a passing songtheo is regular or hired.
Best map of old baht-bus routes is here:
http://www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com/expats/docs/pattaya%20blue%20baht%20bus%20routes.pdf
Map of current lines (the colors are arbitrary, all songtheos in Pattaya are dark blue; but elsewhere they are color-coded):
from: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960043-baht-bus-route-signs-new/ (with separate map for each line and list of places they pass in Thai; despite search in English and Thai and by picture, I couldn't find another source)
In my opinion, an improvement from the previous situation. Let's see how long these lines stay. Remember what happened to the designated areas to stop for getting passengers on and off?
Other baht-bus lines around Pattaya:
1631จ (Joo Jaan) white Nakluea - Sattahip นาเกลือ - สัตหีบ
6079 dark red Nakluea - Siam Country Club
นาเกลีย - สยามคันตรีคลับ (via Sukhumvit Pattaya Soi 53, not Soi Siam Country Club)
6085 light blue Nakluea - Pattaya Tai - Lotus - Chak Ngaeo
นาเกลีย - พัทยาใต้ - โลตัส - ชากแง้ว
do my readers know more?
Language note: baht-bus = songhteo สองแถว literally "two rows (of seats in the back of a pick-up truck)". Baht-bus because they cost 1 Baht when they were introduced?
The subject has been discussed on forums, e.g. Thaivisa (see link above) and here: Major changes for Pattaya baht bus system ?
http://gaybuttonthai.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8174
Copyright 2017 ChristianPFC except maps
Monday, 6 February 2017
Pattaya 30jan-1feb2017
Pattaya 30jan-1feb2017
Monday 30jan2017
Bus from Bangkok to North
Pattaya Bus station. I’m lucky and instantly (but had to wait long on other
occasions) get a songtheo that passes on North Pattaya road and goes to Walking
Street for 10 Baht (at the bus station they ask for 50).
My favorite place Baan Dok
Mai is booked out, so I have to look around for some place to stay. Marina Inn,
Ting Tong red, Baan Lek, the Thai place (advertisement “room for rent” only in
Thai) diagonally across all full, finally Ben Sri has rooms for 800.
I haven't paid that much for a room since 2010, but size and standard of the room is good, and I don't want to walk around any longer looking for room. 1000 Baht deposit, and originally they even wanted to keep my passport at reception, but waive that when I refuse. All boys I brought had to leave their ID at reception, and when they left alone reception called me in my room.
I haven't paid that much for a room since 2010, but size and standard of the room is good, and I don't want to walk around any longer looking for room. 1000 Baht deposit, and originally they even wanted to keep my passport at reception, but waive that when I refuse. All boys I brought had to leave their ID at reception, and when they left alone reception called me in my room.
Nice Boys 20:22-21:01. Orange
juice 150 Baht (no pineapple juice). 7 boys and no customers when I arrive.
Boys in individual underwear (trunks, briefs) and closed shoes. Some cock on
display. #12 (tattoo on right upper arm) is the cutest, tip him 100 Baht and
check skin temperature: ok. Might take him another time. When I leave, 10 boys
and 5 customers.
Say hello to Farang friends
in Sunee. I should have opened “No handshake, I just touched a boy’s cock.”
Witty reply would have been “In that case, I want to suck on your fingers.”
Pass Boys-Boys-Boys, one very cute,
tall slim boy in jeans outside. Several tattoos, one a stylized depiction of
two people in intercourse on his abdomen. Does anyone know him?
Spot 3 available boys on
Beach Road.
Cupidol 21:48-22:47.
Pineapple juice 160 Baht. Up to 20 boys on stage and 5 sitting with customer,
in white individual underwear (briefs, trunks), bare feet. About 20 customers.
The place is full, stage and audience. Two cute boys: #40 Tor whom I know from
before and #51, but crab ladder. Tip Tor 100 (we chatted on Line a month ago,
can get him directly when I want).
Have a look into 360 degree
bar: about 5 boys in jeans on stage, didn’t spot any customer. Tell mamasan
that I want to see boys in underwear. The very cute boy with big cock and owl
tattoo on chest, whom I was enamored with on my last visit, is there again,
sitting outside, but doesn’t notice me.
Dream Boy 22:58-23:24. Hot
tea 170. Only 5 boys and no customer when I enter, but one of the boys is worth
a closer look. Individual underwear, closed shoes. Staff says they had 15 boys
when they opened, but now most taken off. I chatted with the cute boy Pet on
hornet Aug-Dec 2015, now I see him in real life first time, and take him off
(400). As soon as I call the boy over, staff who was sitting next to me gets up
to get him a drink without waiting for my confirmation. But I don’t want to sit
and drink, I want to get the boy back to my room. When the bill comes, I refuse
to pay the boy drink (200), and it is taken off my bill without discussion.
Pet speaks some English, so
we do all chat in English. I spot 844 unread messages on his hornet. He is
surprised that I have his old hornet (where we chatted Aug-Dec 2015) on my
phone. Gayromeo deletes these abandoned accounts, but on hornet they
accumulate. He is not on gayromeo, but we exchange facebook.
Screenshot of his old hornet (current is @dy4w6):
Very shapely and talented, but medium size dick (didn’t get hard) and balls/crotch too hairy for my taste. 1000 well deserved. From Lao; I have had at least 5 Lao money boys in Thailand, and all good. Out 00:22, and after that I sleep.
Tue 31jan2017
Visit two Farang friends in
Huay Yai, then go to a temple. Back in hotel 19:30. I should have booked only
one night and left my luggage at reception, then I could return to Bangkok now.
But with another night paid
for, I have to do something. Tor (#40 Cupidol) takes the decision out of my
hands. He remembered me and found our chat on Line and wants to come. On time
21:00, dinner first, then to my room. The best mannered boy I have met, excuses
for using his phone during dinner, later asks if he can smoke (that’s a clear “NO”
from me). Very shapely, big cock, no hair on balls or crotch, but I can’t
rekindle the excitement when I met him first time on 12nov2014: http://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2014/11/pattaya-11-13112014.html
Nonetheless, 1000 well deserved. We leave 22:35, too early for me to sleep.
Walk past Good Boys, many
boys and several I would take, same as yesterday.
Power Boys 22:50-23:25. Hot
tea 135 (no pineapple juice). 8 boys on stage, 3 customers who have 5 boys
sitting with them. Individual underwear, bare feet. When I leave 11 boys on
stage and 3 sitting with customers, 7 customers.
Both days on hornet
surprisingly low number of messages, about 5 boys wrote to me. Find some old
acquaintances again on hornet.
New Queens bar closed, there
is a long dark stretch now at night (places next to it vacant as well).
Former Funny Boys (gogo bar)
now converted to a beer bar Prism.
Wed 1feb2017
Ferry to Hua Hin, reported
separately: http://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2017/02/ferry-between-pattaya-and-hua-hin.html
Copyright 2017 ChristianPFC
Friday, 3 February 2017
Ferry between Pattaya and Hua Hin
Ferry between Pattaya and Hua Hin
A lot has been written about the ferry in the news and on the forums:
http://sawatdeenetwork.com/v4/showthread.php?18282-Pattaya-Hua-Hin-ferry-to-begin-on-New-Year-s-Day
http://www.huahinforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=29428
and now it’s finally running, I got onto the first commercial trip on 1feb2017 (in January it was free for trial).
For news and schedule (changes with tides) see their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/RoyalPassengerLiner/
(my questions were answered within reasonable delay).

My trip in logical order. Buy ticket at ticket office in parking building at Bali Hai pier (2nd floor, north-west corner). Promotion 999 Baht for economy throughout February. (No ticket booth in ground floor - where tickets for Koh Larn are sold - or on the pier.)


Go to pier, the ferry is here:
12.929050, 100.867752 = 12°55'44.6"N 100°52'03.9"E

Go through security.


I have to leave my pocket knife with staff, who take it on the boat and return it in Hua Hin. Alcohol is not allowed either, someone else had to leave a can of beer.
Find your seat. Ticket has seat number, however at under 20% occupancy, I take a seat closer to aisle.

Business class is on upper floor and has tables:

Ferry leaves on time 10:30 without any announcement. Passengers have to stay inside throughout the trip, pictures taken through window.

Screenshot from google maps on my phone (notice no mobile connection on the ferry, I didn't ask about WiFi):

12:20 mountains appear vaguely on the horizon.
12:25 mountains are clearly visible.
12:30 can clearly recognize Khao Takiap.

12:40 ferry is at the pier at
12.513340, 99.980940 = 12°30'48.0"N 99°58'51.4"E
12:48 I step on the pier.
A pleasant ride, I wish them success and I will take the ferry again whenever I can combine Pattaya and Hua Hin.

The same spot, picture taken on 1jan2017 during a recce trip in that area:

There is no signage for the ferry at the soi that leads to the pier.
ซอยอ่าวหัวดอน 3 Soi Ao Hua Don 3 (in google maps as
ซอย อ่าวตะเกียบ 1 Ta-Kiap Bay 1 Alley, I submitted correction).
There is a Family Mart เลขที่ 13/93 4435 สาขา หัวหิน เขาตัเกียบ Family Mart Branch 4435 Hua Hin Khao Takiap at the corner.

Getting to and from the pier in Hua Hin Khao Takiap leaves passengers with a transportation problem. Green songtheo Airport - Khao Takiap ends here 12.518906,99.976186 = 12°31'08.1"N 99°58'34.3"E which is 1.0 km walk to/from the pier.
I was lucky, there was a green songtheo standing and people with suitcases were boarding. I asked them if they hired it or if it is a regular songtheo: regular. But obviously, they didn't know the difference (they showed their hotel bookings to driver, which means they hired the songtheo). Nonetheless, I stay on and see where it leads me. A quick ride along hwy4, then into Soi 65 to Wannara hotel where some get off and pay 180 Baht per person as far as I understood. Then songtheo turns around and drives south, I press the bell, get off and give the driver 10 Baht, which he takes with a disapproving remark. From here, I can easily walk.
There is a fishing pier centrally located in Hua Hin (between soi 53 and 55), with construction work going on, I hope this will become the ferry pier in Hua Hin:

Someone commented somewhere that ferries in Thailand walk a fine line between sinking from overcrowded and not economically viable due to lack of passengers.
Update: more reports can be found on the forums
http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/topic/10842-hua-hin-report-by-ferry/?hl=ferry
(and indeed, I noticed that there are different numbering systems for seats, but didn't point it out in this post)
http://gaybuttonthai.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8191
Copyright 2017 ChristianPFC
A lot has been written about the ferry in the news and on the forums:
http://sawatdeenetwork.com/v4/showthread.php?18282-Pattaya-Hua-Hin-ferry-to-begin-on-New-Year-s-Day
http://www.huahinforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=29428
and now it’s finally running, I got onto the first commercial trip on 1feb2017 (in January it was free for trial).
For news and schedule (changes with tides) see their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/RoyalPassengerLiner/
(my questions were answered within reasonable delay).
My trip in logical order. Buy ticket at ticket office in parking building at Bali Hai pier (2nd floor, north-west corner). Promotion 999 Baht for economy throughout February. (No ticket booth in ground floor - where tickets for Koh Larn are sold - or on the pier.)
Go to pier, the ferry is here:
12.929050, 100.867752 = 12°55'44.6"N 100°52'03.9"E
Go through security.
I have to leave my pocket knife with staff, who take it on the boat and return it in Hua Hin. Alcohol is not allowed either, someone else had to leave a can of beer.
Find your seat. Ticket has seat number, however at under 20% occupancy, I take a seat closer to aisle.
Business class is on upper floor and has tables:
Ferry leaves on time 10:30 without any announcement. Passengers have to stay inside throughout the trip, pictures taken through window.
Screenshot from google maps on my phone (notice no mobile connection on the ferry, I didn't ask about WiFi):

12:20 mountains appear vaguely on the horizon.
12:25 mountains are clearly visible.
12:30 can clearly recognize Khao Takiap.
12:40 ferry is at the pier at
12.513340, 99.980940 = 12°30'48.0"N 99°58'51.4"E
12:48 I step on the pier.
A pleasant ride, I wish them success and I will take the ferry again whenever I can combine Pattaya and Hua Hin.
The same spot, picture taken on 1jan2017 during a recce trip in that area:
There is no signage for the ferry at the soi that leads to the pier.
ซอยอ่าวหัวดอน 3 Soi Ao Hua Don 3 (in google maps as
ซอย อ่าวตะเกียบ 1 Ta-Kiap Bay 1 Alley, I submitted correction).
There is a Family Mart เลขที่ 13/93 4435 สาขา หัวหิน เขาตัเกียบ Family Mart Branch 4435 Hua Hin Khao Takiap at the corner.
Getting to and from the pier in Hua Hin Khao Takiap leaves passengers with a transportation problem. Green songtheo Airport - Khao Takiap ends here 12.518906,99.976186 = 12°31'08.1"N 99°58'34.3"E which is 1.0 km walk to/from the pier.
I was lucky, there was a green songtheo standing and people with suitcases were boarding. I asked them if they hired it or if it is a regular songtheo: regular. But obviously, they didn't know the difference (they showed their hotel bookings to driver, which means they hired the songtheo). Nonetheless, I stay on and see where it leads me. A quick ride along hwy4, then into Soi 65 to Wannara hotel where some get off and pay 180 Baht per person as far as I understood. Then songtheo turns around and drives south, I press the bell, get off and give the driver 10 Baht, which he takes with a disapproving remark. From here, I can easily walk.
There is a fishing pier centrally located in Hua Hin (between soi 53 and 55), with construction work going on, I hope this will become the ferry pier in Hua Hin:
Someone commented somewhere that ferries in Thailand walk a fine line between sinking from overcrowded and not economically viable due to lack of passengers.
Update: more reports can be found on the forums
http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/topic/10842-hua-hin-report-by-ferry/?hl=ferry
(and indeed, I noticed that there are different numbering systems for seats, but didn't point it out in this post)
http://gaybuttonthai.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8191
Copyright 2017 ChristianPFC
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