2008-06-11

H.M.Queen Srikit Park in Thailand

SMALL FOREST IN THE CITYThis lush and colorful 56-acre park was builtto commemorate Her Majasty the Queen’s fifth cyclee birthday in 1992. Basically, it’s massive botanical garden with some value-added features like an actual forest, devoted to the Queen’s banevolence. The premises also serve as a recreation area for the public and a the environment. The gardens, which reveal Mother Nature’s artistry in a painter’s palette of colours, are divided into a number of correctly classified groups of water lilies,hibiscus, bananas and rare species of plants from all over the country. Located vin the city of Bangkok, near Chatuchak Market and park , this family-friendly facility boasts an array of attractions, like the Children’s Discoery Museum, as well as gushing fountains and fairy tale-like gazebos. Come and enjoy the enchanting atmosphere.EXHIBITION IN HONOR OF H.M> THE QUEEN "S SIXTH CYCLE BIRTHDAYThis multimedia museum was established to pay tribute to Her Majesty’s life but also her long-abiding interest in projects that sustain the environment and support homegrown handicrafts. One of the main attractions is a video that shows the Queen’s dedication to her subjects while documenting her travels throughout the Kingdom. The video and many of the photo captions are inThai only, butthese images speake louder than words. Also on display are photos of the country’s exotic flora and a showcase of eye-catching handicrafts, sush as wood carvings and basketry, which prove Her Majesty is a real matron of the arts.PROVINCAL TREE GARDENTake a mini-tour of Thailand ’ s remarkable flora by visiting this garden, which is shaped like a map of Thailand and contains 76 smbolic tree stands (one for each province), which were donated officially by H.M. the Queen. All of the different species, from the Yellow Saraca that is the provincial tree of the south’s Yala province to the flame Trees of the north’s Chiang Mai province, are lableled so you can see their vernaculars and Latin names.ROYAL PONDSPractically the park’s centerpiece, this haven of serenity is mapped out like a combination of the English letter "s" and the Thai equivalent. If you’re looking at a map, or from the air, these two ponds, connected by swirls of canals, spell ot a lovely homage to the Queen’s first name: Sirikit. The grassy banks of the pond make for an ideal picnic place.LOTUSES & WATER LILLIESThe sacred water-lily is revered by many Thais and Indians because of its age-old roots in buddhism and Hinduism. In the latter faith, it is a symbol of heavenly beauty; Vishnu is called the "Lotus-Eyed One". In Buddhism , it symbolizes the purity of body, mind and soul, because it’s rooted in the mud but the flowers float on the surface. Take the time to enlighten yourself by taking in this incredible collection of closely related aquatic plants that come in shades of white, pink and royal blue. So visitors can get a closer look, some of the flowers have been put in earthenware pots.HIBISCUS YARDIdle awhile in this idyllic spot near the Lotus Garden. No doubt you’ve seen these flowering plants before. All over the tropics, they’re grown as ornamental plants. The reason is clear as sunlight: the hibiscus has large, trumpet-shaped flowers - red, yellow and purple - which look like they should adorn a flag. Indeed, one species of the 200-ood species that make up this genus, the "Chinese hibicus," is the national flower of Malasia, while another is South Korea’s natural emblem. This is an excellent place to pose for photos.

BANANA GardenThe banana us a Multipurpose fruit in Thailand, whether its grilled or deepfried, whether is leaves are used to wrap food or its flower served on the side of Pad Thai. In the "Banana Garden", the park has built up one of the collections of this fruit in the entire country. There are more than 100 varieties, from the finger-sized to the just plain huge. In fact, the pseudostem of some of these plants can grow up to eight-metres high.PLUMERIA YARDThis lavishly landscaped area pays tribute to a staple of the tropics and subtropics. These flowering trees are better known as frangipani. But in India they’re called "temple trees" and in Thailand the "tree of sorrow". Throughout Asia, plumeria are associated with the supernatural. You will find the world’s several species here, as well as some places to sit and relax and admire them.
CHILDREN’S DISCOVERY MUSEUMThis multi-storey facility is a playground for the body and mind. Outside there are swings and slides for kids to play on. Inside are displays on science and art that make learning fun. Many of them are interactive. That means kids can bang on drums, look through microscopes at living organisms, and even see how a real TV Station works. These ’lessons’ are interspersed with some amusing optical illusions and fun-park mirrors. On the weekend, clowns entertain children outside ; and other booths are set up for art classes.(www.bkkcdm.com)HOW TO GET THEREIf you take the skytrain to the Mor Chit Station, or the subway to the Chatuchak Station, H.M. Queen Sirikit Park is shot walk. The park is open from 5 am. until 6:30 pm. Admission is free. Please refrain from smoking or drinking in the park.NEARBY ATTRACTIONS CHATUCHAK PARKOpened in 1980, this is one of the oldest public parks in Bangkok. The park’s main attraction is a manmade lake. Many bridges span the lake. After shopping in the hectic and raucous market, come here for some peace of mind. On weekends, the Railway Museum is open from 4:30 am. until noon.ROTFAI PARKThe only public park in Bangkok with cycling trails where you can also rent bicycles, this green lung is extremely photogenic. Another popular attraction here is the Bangkok Butterfly Garden and Insectariums (8:30 pm.-4:30 pm. Tues-Sun; free admission). Combining academia with aesthetics, the center offers visitors an opportunity to learn more about the insect world through multimedia presentations and enjoy all the beatiful butterflies flying right past them in the special enclosure with the glass dome.
From:www.tourismthailand.org

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