Historical ruins beg attention

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Two historical sites in Chanthaburi, long abandoned and in a state of neglect, are in need of urgent restoration, or the country risks losing these national treasures for good.

Chedi Itsaraphap and two old cannons are found in the hill without proper care at Laem Sing District. ARTHUR JONES DIONIO

The first in Laem Sing district comprises two forts built in the reign of King Rama III and a chedi built during King Rama V's reign; the other is a former shipyard in Muang district of the province.

The forts are Phairee Pinat that sits atop a hill, and Phikat Khasuek, by the bank of the Chanthaburi River, built to defend Chanthaburi against Cambodians. The latter was demolished by the French in 1893, and on its site they built Tuek Daeng, a red building, that served as their military headquarters.

The hilltop fort, however, has only two cannons left laying abandoned on the ground. These are the only indications that the fort once stood here.

According to the district office in Laem Sing, the bases of the cannons were visible two years ago, but nowadays they are buried under the soil.

"We asked the provincial administration for funding two years ago but without success. We hope that assistance comes in time before the cannons get completely buried," said one official.

Not far from the cannons are stone steps leading to chedi Itsaraphap, built by King Rama V to commemorate Chanthaburi's liberation from the French. But the chedi inside a forest has been left unattended for long. "It's unfortunate that both historical treasures remain neglected. If no action is taken soon, they could be lost for good," added the official.

The second site, King Taksin Shipyard, at Ban Samet Ngam in Muang district is now a tourist attraction, although very little is there to see.

Chanthaburi was a turning point for Phraya Vachiraprakan, who later ascended the throne as King Taksin, where he went to regroup, and later assemble a 5,000-strong force before sailing with his fleet of newly-built ships in 1767 to Thon Buri and defeat the Burmese army.

The shipyard, where remains of an old fighting vessel and other artefacts of war have been found, carries great historical significance. The Fine Art Department, custodian of national treasures, had a pond built there where the vessel is kept for public view.

But the pond is so dirty that visibility under water is poor, and there are no signs to help visitors identify what objects to look for, and where. Beside the pond there is an exhibition hall built to display ancient items found in Ban Samet Ngam, but for most part it is empty.

But Sayan Potipat, deputy chairman of the local administration, disclosed that a major rework was in the pipeline now that the Tambon Administration Office (TAO) in Nongbua had received a funding of 3 million baht, which would be used to change water in the pond and build booths around it, selling goods and handicraft native to the province.

"We will also ask the department (Fine Art) to pitch in with ancient artefacts which could be used to fill up empty shelves in the exhibition hall," he said.

At present, people driving the dirt road from town to the former shipyard often leave the site feeling disappointed, for there isn't much to see except a monument dedicated to King Taksin, an old takian tree (Dipterocarpaceae), and an area where locals keep their old wooden boats.

THAI adds new Boeings

Thai Airways International (THAI) has added six new Boeing 777-200ERs to its fleet of aircraft.

The aircraft has 292 seats of which 30 are in business class. Each seat is 20-inch wide and can fold 170 degrees, and equipped with a 15-inch screen.

Seats in economy class can bend up to 122 degrees and come with 9-inch TV screen and adjustable mood lighting system.

THAI plans to operate the new fleet on Bangkok-Oakland, Bangkok-Sydney, Bangkok-Melbourne, Bangkok-Athens, Bangkok-Moscow and some domestic routes. With the addition of new aircraft, THAI's fleet of Boeings now number 87.

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