The Ruins

Posted by Miles , Sunday, March 28, 2010 10:00 AM

THE RUINS
Talisay City, Negros Occidental, Philippines

The inscriptions read as follows, "The Structure of the mansion of the sugar baron Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson (1865-1948) is of Italianate architecture with neo-Romanesque columns."

"In New England, they often were homes to ship's captains with shell-like crowns around the top of the mansion. It is believed that the father of Maria Braga, who was a captain of his own ship, had much influence in the design and architecture of the mansion. It was built after the death of Maria Braga (+1911) and became the residence of their unmarried children. It was the largest residential structure ever built at that time. The structure met its sad fate in the early part of World war II when the USAFE (United States Armed Forces in the Far East), then guerilla fighters, burnt the mansion to prevent the Japanese forces from utilizing it as their headquarters or garrison. Despite the inferno that it underwent, bringing down the roof and the solid wooden floors, the structure has withstood the ravages of time mainly due to the oversized steel bars and the A-grade mixture of concrete used in its construction."

Here are 3 of the pictures I have taken around The Ruins:

2 comments

Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year

Posted by Miles , Sunday, February 14, 2010 8:00 PM


VALENTINE'S DAY
and
CHINESE NEW YEAR
Celebrated together in Bangkok, Thailand




Celebrating Valentine's Day in Central Bangkok, Thailand for the first time was really an exceptional experience.  I really invite everyone out there who's got the chance to visit Thailand, to make it a point to join the Thai people in celebrating the Special Day of the Hearts which is altogether celebrated with the Chinese New Year and thus, you can expect a really grand treat from them.

2 comments

Dusit Zoo Thailand

Posted by Miles , Sunday, January 17, 2010 8:00 PM

From Phra Nang Klao, Bangkasor, Nonthaburi, we took a free ride via bus number 18 to Dusit Zoo; although, normally, the bus fare was 7 baht per person.  We paid the required entrance fee and enjoyed the child and adult-friendly ambience of both people and animals.

Dusit Zoo is situated at Khao Din Park in Bangkok's Dusit Distric next to the Parliament House and Dusit Palace.  This zoo is the oldest zoo of the Kingdom of Thailand and was built by King Chulalongkorn, otherwise known as Rama V, being his private garden adjacent to the royal palace.  When the king died, the said garden had been unattended for years.  In 1938, Rama VIII or His Majesty Ananda Mahidol from the 2nd monarch of the Chakri Dynasty, gave this park to Bangkok City Municipality to be open as a public zoo in response to the request of the revolutionary government.  Rama VIII himself willingly donated deers and a number of various animals from the palace for public exhibition.  Bangkok City operated the zoo from 1938 to 1954 and has transferred its handling and governance of the zoo to the state Zoological Park Organization which is the same organization operating the Khao Khiao Open Zoo, Songkhla Zoo, Chiang Mai Zoo and Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo.

0 comments

Welcoming the New Year at Esplanade Cineplex

Posted by Miles , Thursday, December 31, 2009 11:00 PM


ESPLANADE CINEPLEX
Bangkasor, Muang Nonthaburi, Thailand


It was my second time to celebrate and to welcome the New Year 2010 in Nonthaburi and this time, my family and I opted to hold our celebrations at Esplanade Cineplex in Nonthaburi. It was fun. My niece was very excited when she saw her first pair of boots (rented from the cineplex, by the way) and was very happy when she first set foot on the ice skating rink. Weeeeeh! It was nerve wrecking for everybody - seeing our niece for the first time to ever walk and glide on ice. We also watched a dance presentation at the rink as freely offered by the cineples. It was a different way of celebrating new year - quite oddly compared to the Philippine's celebrations of New Years - we had serenely happy celebrations, indeed!

0 comments

Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre

Posted by Miles , Tuesday, December 22, 2009 9:00 AM


Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theater, otherwise known as Sala Chaloem Krung, was opened in 1933.  To get to this theater, you have to be at the corner of Charoen Krung Road and Triphet Road.  If you take Saen Saep Canal Ferry, it will take you just within walking distance of the theater.  Then you can take an air-con bus numbers 73, 48 and 8 which pass through the west of the Charoen Krung.

The theater opens every day at 10:00 in the morning and closes at 6:00 in the evening.  Admission fee is dependent on what show is being presented on stage.  It specializes in performances of 'Khon' or traditional Thai dances for around 2 hours and which carries a storyline based on the aspects of Thai history and ancient Thai myths and legends.

0 comments

King Prajadhipok Museum

Posted by Miles , Monday, December 21, 2009 7:00 PM


KING PRAJADHIPOK MUSEUM
Bangkok, Thailand
King Prajadhipok Museum, otherwise known as Rama VII Museum, is a museum located in Bangkok, Thailand.  The museum is a very essential tool in giving both visiting locals (especially the new/younger generations) and foreigners have a deeper understanding about the reign of Rama VII or King Prajadhipok who was the last monarch who enjoyed absolute power in Thailand.

The museum's structure was designed by Charles Beguelin who was a French-Swiss Architect with a new-classical style.  In 1995, the museum was declared as a National Heritage Site.  Its renovation project was completed in 1999 and was noted as King Prajadhipok Museum in 2001.
 
The museum displays the biography and lifework Rama VII with His Majesty's essential memorabilia before he came to the throne and even the king's life after his abdication. 

One way of going to this museum is through a boatride via Banglampuu Pier.  Road trip via bus or taxi is also another option in reaching the place.

0 comments

Wat Saket (The Golden Mount)

Posted by Miles , Saturday, December 12, 2009 8:00 AM

WAT SAKET (THE GOLDEN MOUNT)
Bangkok, Thailand


 Wat Saket or The Golden Mount is also one of the most visited attractions in Bangkok, Thailand because of its notably spectacular views.

Wat Saket dates back to the Ayutthaya Era when it was yet called Wat Sakae.  The temple or wat was restored under the regime of RAMA I (1782-1809).  The said temple was used for cremation ceremonies which were otherwise prohibited inside the walled city.  When there was a plague during the reign of King Rama II (1809-1824), about 30,000 bodies were brought here.

To reach the top of the Golden Mount, you must climb up the very exhausting 318 steps.  When you go there on one fine day, you could view from atop the old Rattanakosin Island and the rooftops of Bangkok.

0 comments
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Powered By Blogger