Siriraj Medical Museums - Medical Exhibits that Could Make You Queasy
24.11.09
The Siriraj Medical Museums in Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok
display exhibits relating to pathology, forensic medicine,
parasitology, anatomy and the history of medicine in Thailand.
Siriraj Hospital is the first public hospital in Thailand
established by King Rama V in 1886 and named after one of
his sons who died of dysentery at the age of two. The Faculty of
Medicine here, set up in 1890, is also the oldest medical school
in Thailand.
Six separate museums make up the Siriraj Medical Museums:
Ellis Pathological Museum
Songkran Niyomsane Forensic Medicine Museum
Ouay Ketusingh Museum of History of Thai Medicine
Parasitology Museum
Congdon Anatomical Museum
Sood Sangvichien Prehistoric Museum & Laboratory
Let's start our tour of the Siriraj Medical Museums with the
Ellis Pathological Museum
named in honor of Professor A G Ellis, the first
pathologist in Thailand who worked in the Pathology
Department in 1921 and stayed on as Director of Siriraj until
1938.
The babies preserved here are either stillborn or dead shortly
after birth. There're dissected sections of babies, Siamese twins
showing their joined organs and babies born with one eye.
Some have external or internal deformations arising from
various diseases or with organs protruding outside the body.
Specimens of preserved organs used for pathological tests are
displayed with organs infected by various diseases. Medical
students were scribbling away in their books, though not all
visitors were as enthusiastic.
One visibly shaken woman visitor
was seen sitting out the tour.
Our next stop in the tour of Siriraj Medical Museums was the
Songkran Niyomsane Forensic
Medicine Museum named after Professor Dr
Songkran Niyomsane, a pioneer in forensic medicine who
started the museum.
The latest addition to the museum records the efforts by Siriraj
Hospital during the December 2004 tsunami, when pathology
teams assisted in the disaster victim identification. The scenes
are simply gruesome.
The rest of the displays cover skulls, bones, damaged organs
and photographs of murder and accident cases used in
investigations, including the preserved bodies of a couple of
rapists/murderers!
I gather that the founder, Dr Songkran's skeleton is also on
display in the museum, though I couldn't quite identify it!
The Ouay Ketusingh Museum of
History of Thai Medicine started by Professor
Ouay Ketusingh, who headed the Departments of Physiology
and Phamacology, was started in 1979.
The traditional Thai medicine shop display was a pleasant
relief. Also featured are the traditional practice of child
delivery by village midwives and the quaint practice of getting
the new mother to sleep by the fire for quick recovery.
In the Parasitology Museum
started in 1970 by Dr Vichit Chaiyaporn,
Department of Parasitology, you'll be exposed to every
conceivable form of parasite or worm infecting every movable
form of edible life.
Lungworms, pinworms, roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms
infecting livestock, fish, crustaceans, vegetables and viruses
causing food poisoning are identified here.
So are the
mosquitoes that cause Elephantiasis, an enlargement of the leg
and the scrotum.
If it's not what you eat, then pay heed to the venomous snakes,
spiders, scorpions, centipedes and tarantulas.
The last two Siriraj Medical Museums are in the Anatomy
block. The Congdon Anatomical
Museum was started in 1927 by Dr Edgar D
Congdon, Professor of Anatomy and father of modern
Anatomy in Thailand.
Row after row of showcases display skeletons, skulls, organs,
dissected sections, preserved nervous, muscular, arterial and
venous systems.
Being the oldest museum, the creaking
floorboards added to the creepy air about the place.
By the time we reached the last of the Siriraj Medical
Museums, the Sood Sangvichien
Prehistoric Museum & Laboratory, it was
closed for lunch. This was just as well, as we've had an
overdose medical museums by then. As it turned out this
museum, started in 1972 by Professor Dr Sood Sangvichien,
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, dealt with evolution!
For those keen on anatomy, pathology, forensic medicine, the
Siriraj Medical Museums could probably be a wealth of
information.
These museums were in fact set up as resources
centers for medical students.
If you can indifferent to preserved corpses, dissected sections,
organs damaged by disease or violence,, thailand travel, you'll probably be able
to cope with the tour.
If you're not, we strongly suggest you skip the Siriraj Medical
Museums and go straight for lunch.
If you really want to go there, here's how,
map to the Siriraj Medical Museums.
For something that's really different, visit the Siriraj Medical
Museums.
They're some of the many Bangkok Museums
covered in Tour Bangkok Legacies, a
historical travel site on people, places and events that left their
mark in the landscape of Bangkok. The author Eric Lim, a
free-lance writer, lives in Bangkok Thailand.
Posted byKhannayao at 11:12 AM 0 comments
Labels: siriraj medical museums
Restaurants in Korat
Korat is not a above day-tripper destination and there are almost few expats active in this breadth of Thailand so amuse do not apprehend an cutting alternative of restaurants which serve western appearance food.
I would about like to point out that there are absolutely a amount of accomplished restaurants in boondocks which are able-bodied account visiting. If you anytime do appointment Korat again amuse do try and appointment one of the accomplished enactment listed down below.
Chez Andy
This able-bodied accepted Swiss Chef operates restaurants in both Koh Samui as able-bodied as in Nakhon Ratchasima.
His bounded enactment is amid aural walking ambit of the anytime so accepted night bazaar and serves top superior European and Asian dishes. It is aswell one of the alone venues in the breadth breadth you can get top superior Japanese beef and it is aswell home to one of the best wine collections in town.
Dr. Pizza
I absolutely adore acceptable pizzas and if you are searching for a abode which offers them again do appointment Dr. Pizza which is amid on the outskirts of boondocks in the Choho area.
It has a able Italian brick appearance copse oven and the buyer uses alone the best and freshest ingredients. What I aswell like about this dining, thailand travel, area is the actuality that it has a admirable and adequate terrace breadth you can sit and adore a nice algid alcohol and a chaw to eat.
Amporn Restaurant
My admired abode for European aliment is Amporn which is aswell amid in the centermost of Korat. This admirable dining enactment is endemic by addition Swiss adolescent and Gaston absolutely knows how to blemish his customers.
They aswell accept a ample awning breadth you can watch reside antic contest and they aswell accept circadian reside folk music.
The Frog
One of the newest restaurants in boondocks is The Frog. It is endemic and managed by a Thai chef who formed in assorted arch New York hotels. The card offers both Thai and European dishes and the amount to superior accord is artlessly outstanding. It is accessible circadian from 10:30 until 20:30.
Big Chili
One of the a lot of accepted places in boondocks is Big Chili which is the alone Mexican restaurant in the region.
Although the beanery is endemic by a Thai couple, the aliment is decidedly accurate and outstanding.
Posted byKhannayao at 10:53 AM 0 comments
Labels: Korat
River Kwai Bridge Week
13.11.09
Date : 27 November - 8 December 2009
Venue : River Kwai Bridge, Mueang District, Kanchanaburi
Each year in late November to early December, the world famous River Kwai Bridge built by Allied prisoners-of-war
during World War II, becomes the focal point of celebrations.
Event highlights include historical and archaeological exhibits, a carnival, folk and cultural performances, rides on
World War II vintage trains, and a spectacular light and sound presentation re-enacting the bridge’s World War II legacy.
Watch the light-and-sound show in remembrance of the bridge and the construction of the "Death Railway" during World War II
(There are 4 sets of headphones available in English, Japanese, Chinese and German). A wealth of entertainment and Exhibitions are on display.
Contact :
- TAT Kanchanaburi Office, Te l : 66 (0) 3451 1200, 66 (0) 3451 2500
Fax : 66 (0) 3451 1200, E-mai l: tatkan@tat.or.th
- Kanchanaburi Provincial Administration Office, Tel. : 66 (0) 3451 1778
website : www.tourismthailand.org , www.Kanchanaburi.go.th
Posted byKhannayao at 1:06 PM 0 comments
“Ayutthaya World Heritage and Red Cross Fair 2009”
12.11.09
Miss Chutathip Chareonlarp, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Office said that, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, in cooperation with the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Administrative Organization, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Municipality, Fine Arts Department, TAT Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Office, and relevant public and private agencies, will arrange the “Ayutthaya World Heritage and Red Cross Fair 2009”, during 11-20 December, 2009, at Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park to celebrate the occasion that the UN World Heritage Committee announced the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park as a Cultural World Heritage Site in 1991.
In this event, there will be many interesting activities. Firstly, the Lord Buddha relics at Chao Sam Phraya National Museum for the public to pay respect. Furthermore, there will be exhibitions and booths to sell OTOP products and well-known goods from 16 districts. Visitors can see an aqricultural exhibition, flowering and decorative plants, and attend a food fair. The Community and Village Leaders’ Thai Country Song Singing Contest, floating market activities, cultural performances, Thida Krungkao Contest, Red Cross booths, as well as buying a Red Cross lottery for donation, are also some other features of this event.
Vistors should NOT MISS to experience the peaceful atmosphere of the ancient people’s way of life in the imitation marketplace of the Ayutthaya Period and use a replica of an ancient coin, Phot Duang, to exchange for food and desserts. Admire the light and sound performance, “Krung Si Ayutthaya : The Great Kings” (15 rounds; 10 days 10 nights). The opening ceremony will be arranged on Friday,11 December, 2009. The ticket costs 200 baht and 500 baht.
TAT Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Office would like to invite tourists to visit the “Ayutthaya World Heritage and Red Cross Fair 2008”. For further information, please contact TAT Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Office at Tel: 0 3524 6076-7 or the Provincial Administration Office (Chief of Finance and Accounting Group) at Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya City Hall, 2nd Floor, Four-storeyed Building, Tel: 0 3533 6563.
Click Here For : Schedules of the Light and Sound Performance & Tour Programme of the World Heritage Site, Ancient Market, and Light and Sound Performance “Ayutthaya World Heritage and Red Cross Fair 2551”
Posted byKhannayao at 12:18 PM 0 comments
Bangkok Marathon draws a record turnout
Bangkok Marathon draws a record turnout
The 22nd Standard Charter Bangkok Marathon, 22 November,
at the front of Wat Phra Kaew on Sanamchai road, Bangkok.
The Standard Charter Bangkok Marathon, 22 November, is now a firm fixture on the Asian marathon circuit attracting top runners and thousands of enthusiasts many of whom travel with their families for a welcome holiday at the close of the race.
But before the holiday can begin, runners need to cover 42 km on a course that wends its way through historical districts, past city landmarks, such as the National Museum and the Chao Phraya River to a finishing line in front of the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha) on Sanan Chai Road, close to the vast parade ground known as Sanam Luang.
On two scores, this marathon is special. It attracts an enormous turnout of more than 50,000 participants, at all fitness levels and categories. It is also one of the few marathons in Asia that beats the tropical heat by starting at 0200, when Bangkok’s usually grid-lock streets are almost deserted.
The event has a time limit of seven hours for all participants with staggered starts that take into account the various performance levels of the runners.
For example, runners who estimate they can finish the course in five to seven hours assemble at the starting line on the road next to the Grand Palace at 0200. They have to be back at the same point by 0900, the cut-off time for all participants.
Wheelchair participants in the full marathon start at 0320, while elite runners with times of less than five hours leave at 0330
It makes for a very sensible and healthy solution that beats most of the heat and humidity with the last participants crossing the finish line three hours after sunrise at the very latest.
The event has some high powered support from Tourism Authority of Thailand, National Jogging Association of Thailand, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and they have determined that this event should show case the city’s tourism appeal and be open to the widest possible participation.
Not surprisingly, the event has a strong appeal to not only semi professionals racing for gold and enthusiasts determined to improve on their best times, but also to ordinary folk, who have set themselves an easier goal related to their favourite sport of jogging.
There are five categories including the 42.195-km Marathon; 42.195-km wheelchair. For those who are less ambitious they can join a 10.55-km quarter marathon, which is no mean feat as the pace is much faster and competition tough at all age levels. To appeal to the widest audience possible there is also a 5 km Walk-Fun Run and a Walk for Health and Environment. The award ceremony starts at 0800 for the marathon itself followed by presentations to winners in all other categories
Posted byKhannayao at 12:15 PM 0 comments
Party tricks courtesy of Lopburi’s monkeys
The 21st Monkey Party, 29 November, at Phra Prang Sam Yod, Mueang district, Lopburi province.
This is perhaps the most comical event you could witness on holiday, a claim that can be attested by the video clips that have found a place to park even on You Tube. A local businessman started this bizarre grand bash in the small historical town of Lopburi that stands on the northern rail line, about 150 km from Bangkok.
He was concerned about the welfare of the town’s monkey population residing in one of town’s historical pagodas. But he was also wondering why this town that played a prominent role in the country’s history in the 17th century is largely ignored by international tourists.
So he set about organising a grand party for the monkeys that roam freely around the town’s historical centre near the railway station. Of course, the monkeys take the buffet spread in their stride feasting with great relish on the finest Chinese cuisine the town can provide, all under the spotlight of TV channel crews, who run in circles trying to gain the best angle possible.
They have to be quick. Monkeys are not well known for table etiquette and despite the fact that this annual party is now in its 10th year, they haven’t learned any manners at all.
It is all part of the local’s community scheme to get some attention for a “living museum” town centre, where visitors can visit former palaces and buildings that were once used by one of the country’s revered monarchs during the golden Ayutthaya period.
Although the city dates back 1,000 years or more, to when it was simply called Lavo, it is best known as Thailand’s second capital. In 1666, King Narai, the Great, built a summer palace and resided in the town for around eight months of the year. It was here that the King granted an audience to the French Ambassador as well as other foreign dignitaries who travelled by boat up the Lop Buri River from Ayutthaya, the formal seat of government. Including temples and government administration buildings, the palace was used until the King passed away in 1688. In the early 60s the complex and gardens was renovated and turned into an interesting museum.
Today, very few foreign tourists spare an overnight to explore the town’s historical assets. They usually visit on day trips, many of them arriving on the early morning train from Bangkok. They tour the sights and catch the train in the evening on an overnight trip that takes them to Chiang Mai.
Lopburi, from a historic perspective is worth more than an afternoon peep and that is apparently why the monkeys are treated to a party to give this largely forgotten destination a plug in the media.
At least that way we get to see what we have missed both in historical attractions and the Chinese delicacies that are served by the town’s best kitchens.(Tourism Authority of Thailand)
Posted byKhannayao at 12:12 PM 0 comments
