Before entering the temple....
The ancient capital city of Ayuthaya is really something to see. A UNESCO World Heritage site, at its peak it had more than 1 million residents, larger thatn Paris and London combined.
Founded in c. 1350, Ayutthaya became the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai. It was destroyed by the Burmese in the 1767. Its remains, characterized by the prang (reliquary towers) and gigantic monasteries, give an idea of its past splendour.
It is one of those places that, when wandering around it, provides glimpses into the past. There are moments when you can see and feel what it was like 600 years ago. The majority of the ancient city was founded on "The island" that exists between the 3 rivers that merge around it then reform again into the larger Chao Phraya river.
The site was chosen for the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom because of the region's remarkably fertile soil and its strategic defensive position. Unfortunately, a stronger Burmese army lead by hundreds of elephants raided the town in 1767 and the Burmese ruthlessly burned and looted the city. Once covered in gold, the city was laid to ruins.
As in all areas of Thailand, there are bursts of vibrant color to be found throughout the park
Note the beheaded Buddha statures in the picture. Many of the heads have been stolen over the years. Theft of antiquities has plagued Thailand and all of SE Asia for decades. I am having trouble getting my other pictures to upload, so I will end this post here.
Will try to post more regularly about Thailand, buddy.
Read about it at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7366357.stm
Please ask your representatives to exert pressure on the Burmese junta to release her and demand elections. Ask them to put pressure on the junta's crutch supporters - China, India and Thailand. Shame on those governments for supporting such brutality, and on the US extractive industries that continue to do work in Burma. Half hearted, swiss cheese sanctions don't work with dictatorships with additional funding.
Man, I wish I could attend the following event. Please somebody go and report to me about it. And please tell Amy Goodman she is the coolest person alive, on my behalf.
Dear Friends,
Join me at the 2008 National Conference for Media Reform |
We started Democracy Now! for a simple reason: to uncover the truth and to tell the stories that most media ignore. One of the most important stories they are missing is the exciting grassroots movement for better media.
In just seven weeks, thousands of people who are fed up with the dismal state of the media are converging in Minneapolis to make a difference.
Will you join me at the National Conference for Media Reform on June 6 - 8?
Yes, we need to criticize the corporate media, but we also need to keep building independent media that informs, enlightens and empowers. We cannot simply wait around for more hard-hitting, investigative journalism and more diverse, independent media.
We need to do more. And we need you to be a part of it.
Joining me are many inspiring speakers like Bill Moyers, Arianna Huffington, Juan Gonzalez, Van Jones, Naomi Klein, Dan Rather, and thousands of individuals like you leading the charge for media reform.
Please come to this vital (and really fun!) conference in Minneapolis.
You can learn more about the event at www.freepress.net/conference or register online right now.
See you there!
Amy Goodman
P.S. Need help registering? Call 877.888.1533, x210.
Hi, have you heard about the School of the Americas?
The School of the Americas is a U.S. taxpayer funded military training camp for Latin American soldiers. Its graduates are responsible for some of the worst human rights abuses in Latin America.
I just signed a petition calling on the Presidential candidates Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain to commit to close the school if they will be elected President. Please sign below and tell everyone!
http://www.LASolidarity.org/petition
Thank you so much for your help!
PS - We are getting much closer to our goal. We came within 6 votes of closing the school. Up the pressure and lets get this terrible institution closed for good, and help restore US respect worldwide. Learn more at www.soaw.org
Hi, have you heard about the School of the Americas?
The School of the Americas is a U.S. taxpayer funded military training camp for Latin American soldiers. Its graduates are responsible for some of the worst human rights abuses in Latin America.
I just signed a petition calling on the Presidential candidates Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain to commit to close the school if they will be elected President. Please sign below and tell everyone!
http://www.LASolidarity.org/petition
Thank you so much for your help!
PS - We are getting much closer to our goal. We came within 6 votes of closing the school. Up the pressure and lets get this terrible institution closed for good, and help restore US respect worldwide. Learn more at www.soaw.org
