Chris Backe's Blog, page 99
March 15, 2015
Destination: the most bizarre war museum in Thailand (near the River Kwai, Kanchanaburi)
Near the Bridge over the River Kwai, this World War II museum is simply the most bizarre war museum I’ve ever been to. The Rough Guides actually recommendsagainst going because of its bizarreness… which is exactly why I wanted to go!
Note: this one got lost in the drafts folder until rather recently. We originally visited in April 2013 – if you’ve been more recently and see anything that’s change, I’d appreciate a quick heads-upif anything is out-of-date.
First things first, however: despit...
March 12, 2015
Destination: the Siam Fighting Fish Gallery – the only one of its kind in the world
Ahh, Siamese Fighting Fish – animalsyou’re far more likely to see in pop culture than a real life fish fight (they don’t always fight to the death, however). Also known as betta splendens, these territorial fish typically get their own tank (or soda water bottle) to prevent any accidental fighting.
Before we get there, however, let’s back up. Arriving here requires crossing the Chao Phraya river to arrive on theBangkrachao peninsula, the peninsula that thinks it’s an island. Despite technica...
March 10, 2015
Destination: Wat Puet Udom – a freaky, colorful hell temple (NSFW)
Like many other hell temples in Thailand, Wat Puet Udom (also spelled Wat Pheut Udom,Peuch Udom, and Wat Phut Udom) is a graphic look into Buddhist hell and intriguing look into Buddhist beliefs. It’s not for the faint of heart, however – somewhere in this heaping pile of skeletons and animals is a person getting eaten and torn apart.
Go on, ride the rooster. You know you want to. One of the enforcers from the underworld is on top, though I’m not surewhy he’s riding it.
Meander around the templ...
March 8, 2015
How to get to Koh Jum / Ko Jum – take a step back in time
Call it the island that time forgot about – until recently.
Ko Jum’s main attraction is its ruralness –asingle daily ferry makes the rounds for tourists from Krabi. No ATM’s, limited cellphone coverage, and potentially limited electricity means you really are getting away from it all. Electricity only came to the island in 2008, and the slower pace of rural island life can still be seen across the board. If you came to the island to takeup anything more ambitious than a casual stroll along the...
March 5, 2015
Destination: the temple showing heaven – and hell? (NSFW)
Yet another hell temple offering looks at Buddhist heaven and hell, anyone? Why so many, Chris?Well, Iam writing a book about them, after all, so naturally seeing as many of them as I can goes to help. Research, and stuff – bear in mind this post and other posts about hell temples are NSFW.
Wat Ban Waeng is famed for enshrining Luang Pho Phra Sri, a Buddha image revered by locals. Stolen several times during the 19th and 20th centuries, it was eventually returned each time. In the midst of our...
March 3, 2015
Nang Talung Museum: Thai shadowplay made awesome
Shadow play and shadow puppets used to be the way to tell a story.
With all the technological advances made in recent times, it can be interesting to see how stories were told long ago. Founded in 1987, the home of National Artist Suchart Subsin is now a small museum – a rather humble collection of hisartistic legacy. To get this story started, however, we need to go all the way back to 1938.
Born in 1938, Suchart Subsin showed a talent and interest inNang Talung, or shadow puppet play, since h...
March 1, 2015
Destination: Baan Teelanka, Phuket’s upside-down house
Quite a few things are backwards in this upside-down house.
Well-known oddball places are somewhat uncommon, but the Upside Down House in Phuket can be seen along one of the island’s main roads. Whether you opt to stop on the side of the road and get a quick picture or head in to see the inside, it’s a kid-friendly place to get some intriguing photos.
Baan Teelanka is the name in Thai, though you’d have to look a bit harder to find the Thai script around the site. Behind the house (and convenie...
February 26, 2015
Destination: Phuket Seashell Museum
I wasn’t inclined to like it at first. Then, I saw something incredible that changed my mind.
A mainstream destination in the middle of one of Thailand’s most-touristed (and arguably, over-touristed) city?Chris, what the hell are you doing here?
What can I say? Sometimes a mainstream place offers surprises – and we had some time to kill. Why not?
Some larger examples of theSiratus Alabaster – an uncommon shell found anywhere from Japan to the Philippines. While somewhat faded, the English signag...
February 24, 2015
Destination: Chalong Bay Rum Distillery
Every so often, a place takes me by surprise in an amazing way.
Ko Samui makes rum.Chiang Mai makes vodka. Here in Phuket, theChalong Bay Rum Distillery is a surprisingly offbeat look at how to make some proper rum. Using local sugar cane (Thailand is the fourth largest sugar cane producer behind Brazil, India, and China) and French distillation techniques, the distillery marries the two heritages / traditions into one superb rum.
Before starting on one of the hourly tours, enjoy a mint mojito...
February 22, 2015
The sex parks of South Korea (NSFW)
Let’s face it – if you’re ready for weird stuff, sex parks are right up there with hell temples in my book. Although I’ve written about each of these places individually, it’s time to roll them up into one awesome post. Here we go!
Haesindang Park (Samcheok, Gangwon-do)
Call it ‘Penis Park’ if you prefer the more common name. Mentioned in some mainstream guidebooks as a sidebar, Haesindang Park is all about the penis. It won’t take long to see why:
For one thing, they’re everywhere. They’re inco...
