 | Bangkok Royal Barges Museum Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 13 |  |
 | |  |  | Royal Barges Museum: To the barges................. | Tip Rating:   |  |  | |  |
This was definitely one of those outings planned for the male members of the group - who did lots of things for the girls - mostly shopping. So, we all set out for the Royal Barges National Museum - not particularly full of anticipation. Boats are, after all, mostly a boy thing. We took a ferry to Tha Rot Fai on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya, and walked on to the museum - past poverty and amazing housing arrangements. You actually walk along little alleys - no footpath - and, any windows open reveal what life is going on inside - eg. a very elderly, sickly and frail looking old lady who was bedridden - of course, photographs not even considered, and utmost respect attempted, as you really feel like you are walking through their houses.
Amazingly, in someone's "entry", there might be an esky full of meat, basic grocery items and fresh vegetables, which, I guess is a sort of equivalent to the "corner store". I really felt intrusive walking by - but, typically, the Thai people here were unhassled, acted as though it happens all day every day (which it must!) and either continued dozing or lazily nodded and smiled in response to our smiles.
Then - the museum is upon you - full of gold and the wealth abundant in any cultural association with royalty and religion in Bangkok. Of course we all enjoyed it when we got there - and, as with most places you wander in Bangkok, plenty of interesting things to see along the way.
If you visit the museum, be prepared to have to buy a pass and the right to photograph the barges as well. Phone: (02) 4240004
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| | | | Royal Barges Museum: Royal Barges in the Barge Museum | Tip Rating:  | | | | |
The Royal Barges are moored up in sheds in the Museum on Bangkok Noi Canal (Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya).
Not the barges that carry coal and stuff. Nope, these are golden, covered with fragments of glass and are fantastically decorated with carved prows (front bits). Our British Queen, Liz, has a big golden carriage she uses to open Parliament. The Thai King, Bhumipol, has a flotilla of barges? got the idea?
The most impressive barge is Suphanahong, the King?s personal. Subanahongsa, (golden hamsa) refers to the swan-like mythical steed of the Hindu god Brahma, of Thai lore during the Ayutthaya period (around 400 years back). When Brahma wasn't using his elephant, Erawan.
In the museum we also get treated to the century old one, and it is holding up well? built in 1911 to resemble that important river bird. 50 metres long? it is huge!!!! Hewn from one single teak tree. You can tell the barges the royal family use, they have golden pavilions on board to keep the baking sun off. 54 oarsmen are needed to get the largest rolling, paddling away to the beat of a drum. There are also five "smaller" (!), but not much, barges on display. The prows have various themes - all referring to gods - and must have taken an age to carve, paint, stick the glass bits on. With canon poking out front between the "gods' " parts. Beautiful.
I?ve only seen the flotilla on the river on TV once, the Kings 72nd birthday bash. It was hard to get a good view down on the river itself. 50 plus boats gliding through the water with over 2,000 oarsmen for three kilometres. Almost as good as watching the Head of the River the week before the Boat Race on the Tideway, London. Glad I don't have to stroke the things at full stretch, race rating. Leave a Comment Directions: Take a Chao Phraya Express Boat to Rod Fai Pier. (Or hire your own longtail boat as part of a tour of the Thonburi back canals). Two minutes away from the pier the locals will be able to give you directions. Open everyday there is a 20THB entry fee.
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| | | | Royal Barges Museum: The Royal Barge | | | | | |
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