| Samut Prakan: Neighboring Temples Brimming With History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UPDATE : 28 June 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| When examining Samut Prakan province's leading tourist destinations, it's important to take a look at the temples of Wat Bang Phil Yai Nai and Wat Bang Phil Yai Klang, which are located along Nam Daeng Road in Bang Phil Yai Nai district. Celebrating Victory Originally called Wat Plubplachai Chansongkram ('Pavilion for War Victory'), Wat Bang Phil Yai Nai was built during the reign of King Naresuan (1590-1605). The monarch, whose rule took place during the Ayutthaya Era (1590-1605), is widely credited with bringing to an end a period of Burmese tributary in the area. The historic temple is widely known for its principal Buddha image of Luang Por Toh, which is said to be one of the country's most revered images of its kind. A Ceremonial Display Every year, residents of Bang Phil hold a ceremony known as the Receiving Lotus Custom. A replica of Luang Por Toh is carried aboard a large boat, which then heads off on a cruise along Klong Samrong ('Samrong Canal'). Folks line up alongside the canal and throw lotus blossoms onto the vessel as a form of offering to the statue. This ceremonial activity actually dates back to the rule of King Rama II (1809-1824). The abbot of Wat Bang Phil Yai Nai provides visitors to the temple with fresh, clean drinking water, which is supplied for free. The temple also established some air-conditioned public toilets, which are estimated to be valued at about five million baht (US$154,226). The facility is extraordinarily clean and boasts its own garden area, including various hi-tech features, such as automatic faucets and sliding doors. While you’re in this vicinity, don’t forget to visit Bang Phil market, which is located alongside the Samrong Canal. Closer Investigation Wat Bang Phil Yai Klang ('middle') is sited very near to Wat Bang Phil Yai Nai ('inside'). The temple has undergone several name changes over the years. Built in 1924, the temple was originally named Wat Klang. The temple's name was later changed to Wat Rat Satthatham and then Wat Bang Phil Yai Klang. Standing proudly behind the pavilion is a brand new ordination hall. I even discovered a small tunnel here that allows visitors to explore the area underneath the hall. This act is supposed to bring good fortune to the person who undertakes the short walk. Transport Connections: Car: From Bangkok, take Highway 3 (Bang Na-Trad Highway) to Samut Prakan province’s Bang Phil Yai district. Once you pass Bang Phil Market for agricultural products, make a U-turn and take the route that bears to the left. Follow this road for three kilometers before turning left into Nam Daeng Road. This road will soon lead you to the temples of Wat Bang Phil Yai Klang and Wat Bang Phil Yai Nai. |
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Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Samut Prakan: Neighboring Temples Brimming With History
Suan Tan Bung Lae: Sweet Inspiration
| Suan Tan Bung Lae: Sweet Inspiration | ||||
| UPDATE : 28 June 2010 | ||||
| Ratchaburi province’s Damneonsaduak district is well known for its floating market, where local vendors gather in their boats to offer locally produced goods for sale to tourists, or exchange them for other items with fellow traders. Located just 100 kilometers southwest of Bangkok, Damneonsaduk boasts another interesting attraction that introduces visitors to the process of collecting the juice produced by coconut trees, which is used to produce coconut sugar. Local Expertise Accessible via the Damneonsaduk Canal, Suan Tan Bung Lae (‘Bung Lae coconut sugar garden’) is located just a few kilometers away from the floating market and provides visitors with a rare chance to see up close how villagers produce the coconut sugar. “If visitors would like to see this part of the process, it can easily be arranged,” says owner Pichai Mungmee, who personally hosts the demonstrations. Pichai sets off with a long knife on his waist and a plastic bottle hung over his shoulder. He uses a bamboo ladder to climb one of the trees to replace a full bottle with an empty one, while slashing several flowers nearby so that the juices can flow more freely. “I encourage visitors to taste it as soon as I collect it from the tree,” Pichai says, “as the taste and smell is so fresh at that point that folks really love it!” The fresh juices are distinctly different even from the boiled juice he serves during the other demonstration indoors. The reason the fresh juice is not provided as a complimentary item for visitors is that it can spoil easily and quickly in the heat. When producing the sugar on a larger scale, Pichai employs local agricultural workers, who remove and then replace the bottles at 4 am and 3 pm. “Our process of making coconut sugar still relies on local labor, so we can present a true picture of our local ways to visitors,” says Pichai. Pichai said that he established the initiative to show younger generations of Thais how to produce the homemade sugar, which was a popular activity among locals right up to the 1980s. According to Pichai, the juice collected from the trees is boiled in a large, deep pan for two hours before being simmered and then stirred for about 20 minutes on being removed from the stove, which condenses the sugar. The sticky remainder is then molded into a round chunk on a flat panel, which is left to dry and cool before being packed for sale. “I’m really proud to show visitors how we produce the sugar,” Pichai says. On arriving at Damneonsaduak Floating Market, visitors can arrange to take this trip by boat, which as well as providing an insight into the coconut sugar production process, also offers the chance to view local life alongside the canal during the journeys to and from Suan Tan Bang Lae. Transport Connections: Car: From Bangkok, head out of the city on Highway 4 (Phetkasem Road). Near the Km 80 marker, turn left into Bangpae-Damnoen Saduak Road and continue along this road for another 25 km. On arrival at Damnoen Saduak, you can hire a local boat to take you to Suan Tan Bung Lae. | ||||
Kirimontra Resort: Focused Approach Delivers 'Total R&R'
| Kirimontra Resort: Focused Approach Delivers 'Total R&R' | ||||
| UPDATE : 25 June 2010 | ||||
| As one of the kingdom's best known resort towns, Hua Hin offers visitors a huge variety of accommodation choices. During a recent trip, I had the chance to stay at a highly original resort called Kirimontra Resort, which also runs meditation courses for guests, providing an ideal opportunity for them to reinvigorate their minds and bodies. Located just 20 minutes from the center of town, Kirimontra Resort occupies a 20-rai (3.2-hectare) plot that's surrounded by impressive mountainous terrain. Designed by Dulphichai Komolvanich, the resort features contemporary Ayutthaya-style architecture. Duphichai is a native of Ayutthaya, who has designed a number of modern buildings in his historic hometown, hence the influence upon his own design work elsewhere. The resort has four villas, as well as sufficient rooms to accommodate up to 40 guests. Ample Space I checked into one of Kirimontra Resort's villa properties, which includes three bedrooms, an impressive private pool, and a multi-purpose living area that comprises a living room, a dining area, along with a kitchen featuring a sizable refrigerator and lots of useful appliances. According to Dr Glaosaung and Monvibha, Kirimontra Resort was originally designed as a holiday home for family members and friends to make use of. But the project was later expanded and transformed into a small resort, tailored towards the needs of guests in search of rest and relaxation. A Chance to Unwind Kirimontra Resort aims to help guests unwind through activities such as yoga and meditation, thus helping them to achieve a balance of the earth's four key elements – air, earth, fire and water, according to Monvibha. Monvibha says that on special religious holidays, such as Visakha Bucha Day and Makha Bucha Day, the resort organizes special meditation sessions. The special meditation sessions organized to mark such occasions are usually held late in the evening in an area on the resort's rooftop, where a small chedi (stupa) containing Buddha relics can also be found. The resort also has its own spacious meditation room, which enjoys a warm and pleasant ambiance. The room has been carefully laid out so that natural light illuminates the room's principal Buddha image. Monvibha personally led the first meditation session I attended, which began by urging us to concentrate on a specific body part. We would then focus on a different body part until we had completed a full cycle and we completed three cycles in total. Monvibha then led us into a deeper form of meditation, which produced an even more profound and peaceful state of mind. An Early Start The next meditation session took place before dawn the next day on Hua Hin Beach. Located about 20 minutes from the resort, this session was led by Dr Glaosaung. Following the session, which helped participants reach a new level of peace and tranquility, we did some gentle stretching before having breakfast, which included a large number of different Thai desserts from well known stores in Hua Hin. For further information and reservation, contact +66(0)8 3709 8181, +66(0)8 1617 6666, or visit website http://www.kirimontra.com Transport Connections: Car: From Bangkok, take Highway 4 (Phetkasem Road) towards Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan province. When you see the road divide into two directions, keep in the right-hand lane and then turn right when you reach Soi Hua Hin 156. Kirimontra Resort is located about 500 meters inside the soi – you'll see it on the right-hand side of the road. | ||||
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Make and edit PDFs easily
Make and edit PDFs easily
- Published: 23/06/2010 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: Database
PDFs are more heavily used every time I look, as they present perfect copies of any work on the computer, easy for anyone to read or save.
PDF24 operates as a virtual printer. Select it to ‘‘print’’ your document and it will then pop up many additional choices to use before saving your new PDF file.
A type of software known as a printer driver has been available for years to make PDFs easily, but the new PDF24 Creator expands on this is wonderful ways, giving you all kinds of new options to edit your PDFs.
The download is almost 11MB, but actual installation is smooth and quick. You will be asked to reboot the computer in order to start using PDF24.
When finished, you will have another "printer" attached to the computer. The installation sets PDF24 as the default printer, meaning anything you print will try to use PDF24 rather than your Epson or HP.
To undermine this minor arrogance, open Control Panel, then Printers, and right click on the printer you want as default.
Meanwhile, you can now choose to make a PDF from virtually any document you see on your screen - a Microsoft Word letter, a photo, a spreadsheet. If you can print it, you can also make a PDF by choosing to "print" it with PDF24.
This is where it all gets different from regular print drivers such as the PrimoPDF I have touted for a while.
PDF24 pops up a menu with a number of choices including to save, show, editor or email the PDF you are making. Choosing "Edit" provides a number of attractive choices. These include making a photo out of the PDF, extracting text and photos separately, splitting or combining pages of the file, and securing and signing the document.
Usually, these require an advanced PDF editor, which probably would cost money. PDF24 provides them for free and also makes ordinary PDFs into the bargain.
PDF24 Creator is written up and available for download at en.pdf24.org.
Email:
About the author
- Writer: Wanda Sloan
- Position: Reporter
A beautiful game for online World Cup fans
A beautiful game for online World Cup fans
Internet games, social media spice up tourney
- Published: 23/06/2010 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: Database
The Fifa World Cup is every football fan's dream, and this year followers can interact with the event by playing online games and using social media.
Google Maps can help fans find venues near them which are broadcasting World Cup matches.
Broadcaster RS is also co-operating with Google to use location-based marketing to help football fans locate each other so that they can gather to cheer on their favourite teams.
Visa , a Fifa partner and the preferred card of the 2010 World Cup, has also launched its Visa Match Planner, a social media application allowing users to create customisable, dynamic match schedules to share with friends via social networking channels such as Facebook.
The planner is available in four languages and can be customised for each of the 32 participating countries.
In addition to building a customised match-viewing schedule, the application also lets users organise parties, chat with friends, track scores and standings, and obtain exclusive offers from merchants on fifa.com.
Somboon Krobteeranon, Thailand country manager at Visa, said social media provides a unique platform to help football fans express their views and connect with friends around the world.
"Through dynamic social media extensions of the Go Fans campaign, Visa is able to strengthen our connection to the World Cup and enhance every fan's experience with engaging content," he said.
Meanwhile, Adidas has launched http://www.adidasnewsstream.com for football fans to download news updates, high quality photos, video clips and interviews with football players, referees, or even the African artist who painted the portraits of 32 players from the 32 competing nations.
The Associated Press recently offered its free app, AP 2010 World Cup Coverage, for download from iTunes and Ovi by Nokia, and other app stores.
The application provides users with access to the latest player and team news, match previews, post-match analysis, stadium and regional information, photos and exclusive video from the resources of the AP news agency. It is currently supported on the Nokia Series S60 and iPhone.
It will be supported on the Nokia S40, 5th an 6th editions, and N900 Maemo device; Sony Ericsson S60 devices; Android platform supporting Flash Lite 3.1 in the browser; Android platform supporting Flash Player 10.1 (Droid/Milestone and Nexus One); BlackBerry in the browser; AIR Desktop and a Wap site.
Research In Motion's South Africa on BlackBerry application, is available from BlackBerry App World. Users can download the app for free and stay up to date on the soccer tournament, as it allows international fans access to the stats and scores they crave from their BlackBerry smart phones.
There are many other free and paid-for mobile applications related to South Africa 2010 available via iPhones and handsets running the Android platform.
Isra Taulananda, general manager of True Digital Plus, the exclusive publisher of Fifa Online 2 in Thailand said,the company has localised EA Sports Fifa Online 2 extension mode - 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa - to allow Thai football fans to play this free sports game through their PC.
Players can log in to play through http://www.gg.in.th or http://www.fol2.in.th and play with 199 teams, including Thailand, which feature character designs of real footballers.
It is free to play the basic game but the company earns money buy selling items such as team strips, shoes, first aid kits for injured players, and so on.
Currently, there are 400,000 active users playing the extended version of the games, which accounts for 20 percent of Fifa Online's overall user base of 2 million.
Meanwhile, Artyt Lerdrakmongkol, RS Online Business Vice President, said holding the exclusive World Cup broadcast rights in Thailand has attracted Google to choose RS as its partner to launch a new service called The Best Place to Watch the Match.
The service helps football fans to find the nearest place to them which is showing a particular match, from a database of 5,000 restaurants and entertainment venues with RS broadcast rights.
This is a global campaign from Google, while RS is its local partner to provide the information and bring this as a valued-added service for location-based marketing .
To access this campaign, users can type "world cup" into the search field at google.co.th or go directly to http://www.google.co.th/worldcup/maps via their PC or mobile phone.
About the author
- Writer: Suchit Leesa-nguansuk
- Position: Reporter
Fine-tune your printing calibration
Fine-tune your printing calibration
- Published: 23/06/2010 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: Database
A few months ago, I interviewed Danai Chutinaton at Blue Pano, whose nice panorama images are used by several local companies for promotion purposes. He recently got in touch and sent me links to panoramas of the Siam area. He told me he had taken delivery of a new 44" Epson printer, which was installed in his new office near Samitivej Hospital. A few days later I called in, just in time to see a print job being wrapped up (http://www.bluepano.com).
Calibration profile
When talking about producing high-grade images, he showed me a number of test prints and explained his ideas about colour quality, enlightening me about the morning light having blue tones and the light in the evening yellow.
As part of this explanation, he gave me a quick lesson on calibration, allowing me to compare printed samples against a card he had that showed true black. He later offered me the chance to try one of the X-Rite devices he is agent for.
Danai used the example of a car from the factory: there is nothing wrong with the engine (in the computer's case, the hardware), but the car may require tuning for the fuel, its use and the terrain. The computer monitor is fine as installed, but to get the best performance, calibration may be needed.
The Eye-One comes as a hardware package with an installer disk. There is the calibrator, a white plastic stand and a weight that goes over the USB cable to make sure the calibration device remains close to the screen. The whole package comes to around 12,000 baht. There are cheaper ones (Danai has one for about 4,000 baht) and some that are considerably more expensive. If anyone is working in colour for print output, part of the quality control package should be screen calibration.
The calibrator was the size and shape of a mouse, with a hard plastic back. The side that contacts the screen had a centre light sensor and 30 tiny suction cups in two circles. These adhere gently to the screen so that it does not move about. When I was finished, the device pulled away with the merest reluctance. There were no marks on the screen of either MacBook Pro I tested: the older one has the softer liquid crystal display.
The disk provided had two folders, marked PC and Mac. The Mac installation was a simple package and after entering passwords took about a minute to install on my 2.66Ghz MacBook Pro. The application is in a folder with several sub-folders, log files and other related files. To avoid the clutter, I dragged the application icon to the Dock. There was an update (v 3.6.3) for the Mac software to support OS X 10.6 and I downloaded that, but it was not a tidy install using older installation software, and it put a second application alongside the first. I simply ignored that.
I started up initially without the hardware attached but all device icons were greyed out. I noted that as well as the screen icon, there were icons for projector, scanner, printer and camera. The software I was using shares some of the features of the higher level package, so calibration for these other devices was not included.
When I attached the device, the software recognised this as a screen calibration. I clicked on the screen icon and was offered two options: Easy and Advanced. Each step offers an easy-to-understand text. We advance to the next step by clicking on an arrow. We may also go back using another arrow.
I selected the Laptop option (others are LCD and CRT) and placed the device on the monitor. The weight hangs over the back of the screen to ensure stability. I started the calibration process and the display went through a couple of white, then grey screens, and then a series of coloured panels: red, green, blue, black, followed by other colours with some subtle variations. A small progress bar was displayed top right of the screen.
The Easy calibration was completed in under five minutes and a new profile was saved. If I had access to the device all of the time, I would be reminded at intervals (the default was weekly) and could recalibrate each time.
Before finishing the process, there are buttons that allow a user to compare the before and after state of the monitor output: using this, I was able to see a clear difference in the display. My untrained eyes would never have been able to see the lack of vibrancy in images, for example.
The new profile is saved in the Displays preferences of System Preferences and a panel in Eye-One indicates the name of the profile, also telling the user the software will quit as the job is done.
There is no limit on the number of devices you may calibrate.
Graham K. Rogers of Mahidol University's Engineering Faculty, has OS X flavoured web pages, with links to an RSS feed and a weekly podcast at
About the author
- Writer: Graham K. Rogers
- Position: Writer
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Phetchaburi: Wat Mahathat Worawiharn’s Inspiring Spires
| Phetchaburi: Wat Mahathat Worawiharn’s Inspiring Spires | |||
| UPDATE : 6 May 2010 | |||
| Located about 160 kilometers southwest of Bangkok, Phetchaburi province's best known attractions are Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park and the coastal town of Cha-am. But few visitors are aware that the province's main town is also home to the ancient temple of Wat Mahathat Worawiharn. While there are no written records to confirm the precise date of the temple's establishment, bones and other items discovered on the site suggest it was built between the Dvaravati period (500-1200) and the Sukhothai period (1238-1438). In 1916, King Rama VI promoted Wat Mahathat Worawiharn to the Worawihan class of Royal temple. Architectural Flair The temple's most outstanding architectural feature is its intricately carved Phra Prang Ha Yod ('Five Peak Prang [Spire]'), which is formally known as Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat. The tallest spire reaches a height of about 54 meters, while each of the spires contains important Buddha relics. The spires are surrounded by a viharn kod (a kind of gallery with a roof) and 193 Buddha images. Most of these Buddha images take the form of the late Ayutthaya architectural style. During one renovation, ancient silver and gold Buddha statues were discovered, along with Buddha relics stored inside. To access the spires and the gallery, visitors need to walk through a hall called Viharn Luang, which was constructed during the reign of Somdet Phra Chaoyuhua Boromakot (1732-1758) towards the end of Ayutthaya period (1351-1767). The hall features mural paintings that recount certain periods of the life of the Lord Buddha. The incredibly-detailed main Buddha statue is dressed in an ancient Royal costume, including decorative items, such as a necklace and crown. Nearby is the ordination hall and a small pavilion known as Viharn Noi ('the small hall'). In here sits a large Buddha image called Luang Por U-Thong. Another architectural feature that makes this temple stand out from many others is the white stucco that adorns the Luang and Noi viharns. The stucco that decorates the doors, windows and roofs was originally formed into the shapes of angels or demons, along with some characters from the epic poem Phra Aphai Mani, penned by Sunthorn Phu, Thailand’s best known poet. Visitors can also visit the temple’s museum, where many ancient Buddha images, artifacts and examples of porcelain are on display. Wat Mahathat opens daily from 7 am to 9 pm. Car: Route One From Bangkok, take Highway 4 (Phetkasem Road) all the way to Phetchaburi province’s Muang district. Keep left when you pass through the downtown area and turn left in front of Phetcharat Hospital. Follow Bandai-It Road until you reach a T-junction, where you should turn left. You will see the temple on your left. Route Two From Bangkok, take Highway 4 (Phetkasem Road) all the way to Phetchaburi province’s Muang district. Highway 4 then divides. If you bear right, you'll head towards Hua Hin, so continue straight ahead, which will lead you into the province's main downtown area. Make a right turn at Khiriratthaya Road and head towards a T-junction. Turn left here in the direction of Bandai-It Road. On arrival at the next T-junction, turn left into Damnoen Kasem Road. You’ll soon see the temple on your left. Route References You can find a map of the neighborhood here. http://maps.google.co.th/maps?hl=en&q=13.10549%2C%2099.94734%20%20&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl POI: 13.10549, 99.94734 | |||
Minibar Royale: Metropolitan Finesse
| Minibar Royale: Metropolitan Finesse | |||||
| UPDATE : 22 June 2010 | |||||
| Since both sides of Bangkok's busy Sukhumvit Road offer attractive locations for businesses looking to set up a flagship bar, club or restaurant, there seems to be a virtually constant supply of new outlets opening up along the capital's principal thoroughfare. Minibar Royale is an über trendy bar and restaurant, established by a group of close friends who once lived together in New York City, who aim to provide their customers with a friendly 'home from home'-style atmosphere. 'No Fuss, Just Chill' Since opening its doors to the public almost two years ago, Minibar Royale has been busy establishing its concept of 'No Fuss, Just Chill' in the form of a trendy French brasserie with a New York-style ambiance. In terms of what's on offer at Minibar Royale in terms of dining and refreshment, the management is looking to provide tasty French delicacies and enjoyable drinks in a New York-style setting. Carefully Prepared I decided to accept a recommendation and ordered a plate of Seafood Angel Hair Pasta with White Wine sauce, which was totally delicious. The al dente pasta went very nicely with the perfectly blended sauce, while the flavorful prawns and squid were just the right consistency. My dining companion ordered a Cold Cut Open-Faced Sandwich, which comprises a single slice of bread with what would otherwise be considered fillings placed on top. Sweet Stuff As a big fan of Tiramisu, I decided to try a portion of Minibar Royale's Brandy Tiramisu. The brandy-laced coffee used to prepare this dish had an utterly delectable aroma, while the chef blended this expertly with the Mascaponae cheese, managing to fully exceed my already fairly high expectations. Minibar Royal opens daily from 6.30 am to midnight. Lunch or dinner can be ordered from 10.30 am to midnight. Dishes at Minibar Royal start from about 120 baht (US$4).
Transport Connections: Minibar Royale is located at 37/7 Citadines Bangkok Hotel, Sukhumvit 23. Train: The easiest way to reach Minibar Royale is to take the BTS skytrain to Asok, or the MRT subway to Sukhumvit and take a taxi or motorcycle taxi to Sukhumvit Soi 23. Minibar Royale is located on the left-hand side of the street. | |||||
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