Samut Songkhram Mini-Break. Photo Report

[buksida]

Enjoy reading these trip reports and looking at the pics of places I've never been. Getting out of the tourist traps definitely gets you the real prices and a real Thailand and going during the week is the way to go.

Done far too little travelling this year, but that'll all change shortly!

[Big Boy]

Great - enjoy your reciprocal reports as well.

[Big Boy]

It's certainly new as in built this year. I too had heard it is supposedly the largest, but I'm sure I've seen larger ones running up 'temple on a hill' stair cases. Yes, I knew it was a Nga (or is it spelt Naga - I don't know), but I keep calling it a dragon

Picking back up on this discussion, how does one distinguish between a Nga and a Dragon? The Ratchaburi pottery is renown for it;s Chinese Dragons, and if I had to choose between the 2, I'd say they looked very similar.

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HHTel, maybe your daughter can tell us the difference.

[joelle]

It's certainly new as in built this year. I too had heard it is supposedly the largest, but I'm sure I've seen larger ones running up 'temple on a hill' stair cases. Yes, I knew it was a Nga (or is it spelt Naga - I don't know), but I keep calling it a dragon

Picking back up on this discussion, how does one distinguish between a Nga and a Dragon? The Ratchaburi pottery is renown for it;s Chinese Dragons, and if I had to choose between the 2, I'd say they looked very similar.


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HHTel, maybe your daughter can tell us the difference.

The dragon has feet and the naga being a giant snake has none

[PeteC]

The ancient myth about the "Naga" is said to be based upon the Oarfish, which still exists today.

Google "oarfish Thailand" and you'll see many photos and the resemblance. Of course the beast from legend and myth is 20 times larger than real life it appears.

One photo you'll see is about 20 American soldiers along the Mekong River during the Vietnam war holding a dead one which is 20' + in length.

[joelle]

Lots of answers on Google about the difference between Naga and Dragon

[Big Boy]

Right, I think we've discussed the Oarfish on here before, so neither a snake or a dragon. I noticed the beast at Cha-Am has legs and feet, which is why I made the connection to the Ratchaburi Dragons,

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At least, I had taken the blue bits to be feet. Now I look again, I can see what I thought was feet, is actually splashing water.

[Big Boy]

Just a quick update on the building site they call Wat Tham Chaeng. The official opening ceremony is this coming Saturday 9th Sept. Ceremony start time is stated as 17:09. I guess that time must be significant.

[Big Boy]

Apologies, but the photos in the main body of this report have become corrupted. The photos are still there, but you have to click the links to see them. Our technical team is on the case.

On Day 2 Part 1 of the report, I posted a couple of photos taken at Ban Laem Railway Station of an old railway locomotive.

I was browsing the WWW this evening, and came across these photos of the same locomotive:

I think the transformation is really amazing.

[Dannie Boy]

Skill, determination and money can do wonders!! What many might consider fit for the scrap heap has been brought back to life - any idea whether it’s actually capable of moving under its own steam?


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[Big Boy]

I've no idea. I came across the photos on Facebook, and thought I recognise that wall (not the locomotive). When I read further, I realised it was the heap of scrap I'd seen last year. In my report photos there was also the tender, which was just as rundown. That has disappeared, so maybe still away being renovated. I'd guess it needs the tender to complete the unit.

[Big Boy]

Or is the tender on the platform in the 2nd renovated photo?

[pharvey]

Cracking photo's and unbelievable renovation - I just hope no Chinese "Engineers" were involved

I honestly wonder what original parts remained.

[Big Boy]

Skill, determination and money can do wonders!! What many might consider fit for the scrap heap has been brought back to life - any idea whether it’s actually capable of moving under its own steam?

Probably not as eco-friendly as the current diesel locomotive, but imagine the draw for tourists if they could run that baby in to the Railway Market, even if it was just a weekend trip. I reckon the trip would be fully booked months in advance.