Comments on: What’s This!? http://absolutelybangkok.com/whats-this/ Welcome to Bangkok Thailand, Airport, Politics, Food, Nightlife and Thai Culture of the Big Mango! Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:43:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Edgar http://absolutelybangkok.com/whats-this/#comment-5167 Edgar Mon, 17 Aug 2009 06:42:39 +0000 http://absolutelybangkok.com/?p=3923#comment-5167 Dear All, Actually these markers were put by Phraya Bhakdi Noraset (Nai Lert) in 1915 when he acquired the land in this whole area to mark the boundaries of one of the first real estate developments in Bangkok. When he later on sold some of this land to the British Embassy, they decided to leave it for its historical significance (there are unfortunately so few remaining items of Bangkok's history in the central business district). Even though not necessarily esthetically pleasing, the history is there so I believe it should be conserved and maybe why not renovated. To my knowledge this is the only remaining marker that I heard delimited an area between the BTS line and Saen Seap canal which extended from the current Chidlom to Sukhumvit 5. More information can be found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nai_Lert Hope this helps clarify. Edgar Dear All,

Actually these markers were put by Phraya Bhakdi Noraset (Nai Lert) in 1915 when he acquired the land in this whole area to mark the boundaries of one of the first real estate developments in Bangkok. When he later on sold some of this land to the British Embassy, they decided to leave it for its historical significance (there are unfortunately so few remaining items of Bangkok’s history in the central business district). Even though not necessarily esthetically pleasing, the history is there so I believe it should be conserved and maybe why not renovated. To my knowledge this is the only remaining marker that I heard delimited an area between the BTS line and Saen Seap canal which extended from the current Chidlom to Sukhumvit 5. More information can be found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nai_Lert

Hope this helps clarify.

Edgar

]]> By: chang dek http://absolutelybangkok.com/whats-this/#comment-4244 chang dek Tue, 09 Jun 2009 19:58:44 +0000 http://absolutelybangkok.com/?p=3923#comment-4244 Ok, my bad, it's a milestone. I thought a milestone was supposed to precicely mark a definitive measure. That tub of lard is so fat one would need a GPS to find the center. And a walkie talkie to get safely around the corner. Maybe it should be crowned as the primal example/template of how to destroy a safe corner in Bangkok by building air conditioned police boxes, from where most of Bangkok's lovely traffic is orchestrated. A pedestrians haven. By the way, the Thai word for pedestrian isn't flattering. Just deafening. Ok, my bad, it’s a milestone. I thought a milestone was supposed to precicely mark a definitive measure. That tub of lard is so fat one would need a GPS to find the center. And a walkie talkie to get safely around the corner. Maybe it should be crowned as the primal example/template of how to destroy a safe corner in Bangkok by building air conditioned police boxes, from where most of Bangkok’s lovely traffic is orchestrated. A pedestrians haven. By the way, the Thai word for pedestrian isn’t flattering. Just deafening.

]]> By: chang dek http://absolutelybangkok.com/whats-this/#comment-4242 chang dek Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:00:41 +0000 http://absolutelybangkok.com/?p=3923#comment-4242 Nai Lert mysterium: In their informative answer, the British Embassy spokesperson failed yet to state what the purpose of the "landmark" object was. We could pose them another question, as communications manager, the British Embassy has very sensitive listening devices (I know, I tried using microphones for interviews there once) maybe they eavesdrop on sounds at the hotel next door? Wrong embassy to being pursuing kung fu onanistic justice? Nai Lert mysterium: In their informative answer, the British Embassy spokesperson failed yet to state what the purpose of the “landmark” object was. We could pose them another question, as communications manager, the British Embassy has very sensitive listening devices (I know, I tried using microphones for interviews there once) maybe they eavesdrop on sounds at the hotel next door? Wrong embassy to being pursuing kung fu onanistic justice?

]]> By: BangkokDan http://absolutelybangkok.com/whats-this/#comment-4239 BangkokDan Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:16:43 +0000 http://absolutelybangkok.com/?p=3923#comment-4239 And finally, an email from the British Embassy: "Dear Mr. XXXXXXX, I do apologise for the delay in replying to your email. In the photo is the milestone of the former owner of our land, Phraya Pakdi Noraseth. He was popularly known as Nai Lert, who at that time owned the whole of the park between the Ploenchit Road and the large klong which runs parallel with the Petchburi Road. The British Government acquired about half of this park, or some 12 acres (28 rai) from Nai Lert. Regards, Pantibha Pantibha Chansorn / Asst Communication Manager / British Embassy, Bangkok" <a href="mailto:absolutelyBangkok@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">BangkokDan</a> And finally, an email from the British Embassy:

“Dear Mr. XXXXXXX,

I do apologise for the delay in replying to your email. In the photo is the milestone of the former owner of our land, Phraya Pakdi Noraseth. He was popularly known as Nai Lert, who at that time owned the whole of the park between the Ploenchit Road and the large klong which runs parallel with the Petchburi Road. The British Government acquired about half of this park, or some 12 acres (28 rai) from Nai Lert.

Regards,
Pantibha

Pantibha Chansorn / Asst Communication Manager / British Embassy, Bangkok”

BangkokDan

]]> By: BangkokDan http://absolutelybangkok.com/whats-this/#comment-4038 BangkokDan Mon, 04 May 2009 11:14:15 +0000 http://absolutelybangkok.com/?p=3923#comment-4038 Guess the mystery is solved - submitted by a reader: The stumbling block's a boundary stone. Usually they're a meager 50 cm high and of cylindric shape. But the owners back then, the very very rich family Nai Lert, thought it was adequate to erect a show-piece of a boundary stone. Many couldn't take it and wanted it taken away. But the land department refused, as it was an official marker. <a href="mailto:absolutelyBangkok@gmail.com" rel="nofollow">BangkokDan</a> Guess the mystery is solved – submitted by a reader:

The stumbling block’s a boundary stone.

Usually they’re a meager 50 cm high and of cylindric shape.

But the owners back then, the very very rich family Nai Lert, thought it was adequate to erect a show-piece of a boundary stone.

Many couldn’t take it and wanted it taken away. But the land department refused, as it was an official marker.

BangkokDan

]]> By: chang dek http://absolutelybangkok.com/whats-this/#comment-3417 chang dek Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:51:26 +0000 http://absolutelybangkok.com/?p=3923#comment-3417 Must have been a drinking water font for all those Siamese queing up outside the embassy waiting for a visa to Albion ... Must have been a drinking water font for all those Siamese queing up outside the embassy waiting for a visa to Albion …

]]> By: ATM http://absolutelybangkok.com/whats-this/#comment-3415 ATM Wed, 28 Jan 2009 08:24:13 +0000 http://absolutelybangkok.com/?p=3923#comment-3415 Drinking water storage vessel, put (donated) there by a king I'm told. Drinking water storage vessel, put (donated) there by a king I’m told.

]]> By: Joomz http://absolutelybangkok.com/whats-this/#comment-3413 Joomz Wed, 28 Jan 2009 05:30:27 +0000 http://absolutelybangkok.com/?p=3923#comment-3413 This concrete thing has been the topic of conversation in a few places over the years. Might have even seen some short article about it in some section of the Bangkok Post ages ago ... If I remember correctly (and I could be completely wrong with this), they all seemed to come to a similar conclusion that it was built to look like an upturned cannon of some sort, possibly symbolizing non-aggressive relations between Thailand and Britain. Possible use: water storage tank? But then again that could all be wrong again. :P This concrete thing has been the topic of conversation in a few places over the years. Might have even seen some short article about it in some section of the Bangkok Post ages ago … If I remember correctly (and I could be completely wrong with this), they all seemed to come to a similar conclusion that it was built to look like an upturned cannon of some sort, possibly symbolizing non-aggressive relations between Thailand and Britain. Possible use: water storage tank?

But then again that could all be wrong again. :P

]]> By: chang dek http://absolutelybangkok.com/whats-this/#comment-3406 chang dek Tue, 27 Jan 2009 07:29:30 +0000 http://absolutelybangkok.com/?p=3923#comment-3406 While on the subject of your phallus, just up the road from yours is the fertility shrine Chao Mae Tuptim, there, just behind the Nai Lert/Swissotel on Wireless Road ... worth checking out. While on the subject of your phallus, just up the road from yours is the fertility shrine Chao Mae Tuptim, there, just behind the Nai Lert/Swissotel on Wireless Road … worth checking out.

]]> By: Peter Hall http://absolutelybangkok.com/whats-this/#comment-3405 Peter Hall Tue, 27 Jan 2009 06:43:36 +0000 http://absolutelybangkok.com/?p=3923#comment-3405 Ghosts and hard evidence? Unlike "is the pope Catholic?" the stories that were bandied around when the new airport was being built (on top of a graveyard) were certainly worthy of an airport lounge novel ... Of course Thaksin was to blame for upsetting the ecosphere at Cobra Swamp and the spirits have yet to be placated ... take it away JoJo! Ghosts and hard evidence? Unlike “is the pope Catholic?” the stories that were bandied around when the new airport was being built (on top of a graveyard) were certainly worthy of an airport lounge novel … Of course Thaksin was to blame for upsetting the ecosphere at Cobra Swamp and the spirits have yet to be placated … take it away JoJo!

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