Thailand, Utflykter

Royal Barges Museum, Bangkok 15 mars 2016

Åkte i morse kl. 08,00 till Bangkok för att besöka ovannämnda museum. Bifogar här texten som jag kopierat från Bangkok.com hemsidan:

Royal Barges Museum in Bangkok

There was a time in Bangkok when the Chao Phraya River and its tributaries were the most important avenue of communication and boats the main mode of transport for all, even royalty. At this museum you can discover eight of the country’s most unique and stunning vessels: the Royal Barges. These boats a reserved for auspicious ceremonies and state occasions like the very rare Royal Barge Procession, and have only made an appearance on the water 16 times in the last 65 years.

Each is carved from huge pieces of teak, their prows engraved with mythical creatures, gilded in gold and intricately decorated with tiny shimmering pieces of glass. Rowed by up to 50 specially trained oarsmen, the boats leave their dry dock at festival times and important state occasions for spectacular processions along the river.