Old pictures & postcards etc.

[ncr]

Anyone know what that rather big colonial-style building behind (north of) the bridge was? (It doesn't exist anymore.)

(http://www.hdamm.de/reise/rtt1-31.php)

Apart from that, Heinrich's excellent virtual walk has some more old aerial photos:

*National Gallery, http://www.hdamm.de/reise/rtt2-01.php
*Democracy Monument, http://www.hdamm.de/reise/rtt2-06.php
*Golden Mount, http://www.hdamm.de/reise/rtt3-21.php
*and, maybe most interesting, Phan Fa Lilat Bridge seen from the northeast (Lan Luang/Nakhon Sawan Rd), with the Sala Chalerm Thai Theater in front of Wat Ratchanadda/Lohaprasat that was torn down in 1990 to make place for the little Rama III Park.

http://www.hdamm.de/reise/rtt3-20.php

By the way, the "John Sampson Shop House" (the one with the little tower) has recently been made into a museum depicting the interesting life of King Prajadhipok (Rama VII), Thailand's first constitutional monarch.

*also nice: photo from around 1903 showing the 'dense traffic' at Sanam Luang (Note the absence of the Mae Thorani Fountain which was erected here on the site of a former prison in 1905 according to Heinrich's information.)

http://www.hdamm.de/bkkab/brck-a01.php

[admin]

That's the old Public Relations Department building. At some point a new building was built to replace it, although I do not know the year. The new building was burned during the 1973 protests and then all the buildings on that corner were gutted during the protests in 1992. Then the intersection was reconfigured once again.

Just wait til you see the collection of photos we will soon post of that intersection over the years...

[hdamm]

According to the book "Bangkok now & then" by Steve Van Beek (which was a valuable source for some of my researches) this builing was at the turn of the last century the "Badman's Department Store". (I wonder if they sold anything - with that name? )
In the 1920s there was a Legal College. On 3rd May 1933 it became the government's public relation office. The building was finally torn down and replaced by a new building for the public relation office. Later it was, like Ron said above, ...

... burned during the 1973 protests and then all the buildings on that corner were gutted during the protests in 1992. Then the intersection was reconfigured once again...

[ncr]

This seems to be King Mongkut (Rama IV) and family - though the estimated date is "ca. 1870s" and Mongkut died 1868, but it's definitely not King Chulalongkorn. Also compare this painting. Therefore, probably a very rare item, or when did photography first come to Siam?

What we can also see in the collection is "the brother of the King of Siam with a minion and two slaves" and more slaves at the feet of a minister's wife.

[Pas]

Thanks for the photos Nil. That's definitely King Mongkut ... though he has many more children?
I remember reading that King Chulalongkorn abolished slavery.

[ncr]

Pas,
They are not "my" photos, though; this link was posted on the 2B main page on 19 April. I just wanted to make a comment on some of them.

[ttaaee]

Originally Posted by ncr

This seems to be King Mongkut (Rama IV) and family...

It looks like a set of stereo images. Compare the bottom left corner of the window frame right behind the head of the royal child sitting in the back row next to King Mongkut in both images.

[ncr]

Originally Posted by ttaaee

It looks like a set of stereo images. Compare the bottom left corner of the window frame right behind the head of the royal child sitting in the back row next to King Mongkut in both images.

Good observation, Rapee! Yes, that seems possible. And I was wondering why the heck all those photos are double, and didn't get it..... So, maybe if you print it out and try to look at it with your left and right eye separated, you can see the scene in 3-D.

By the way, any chance you'll join one of the upcoming 2B metings?

[ttaaee]

Originally Posted by ncr

So, maybe if you print it out and try to look at it with your left and right eye separated, you can see the scene in 3-D.

Khun NCR,

I think you might need a pair of these to get the 3d effect. But you can always try without using them. You might not want to expect a dramatic 3d effect like those from computer generated 3d images that look like they are popping out of the backgrounds.

Of course, I would love to come to one of the meetings if I can manage my super tight schedule. No, I'm no CEO. Never been too busy for a daily dose of 2bkk.com, though.

[GWR]

http://www.siam-cigarettecard.com/

[ncr]

Oh yes, she was on the way to Thailand (as "American Star"), but never arrived.......

Found her on Google Maps (fortunately high-res coverage):

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=28.34...5402&t=k&hl=en

Been to Lanzarote (the neighboring island to the north) and Fuerteventura in 1995 and passed through/stopped in Betancuria, Pajara and Tuineje (see the map) on a bus tour, and I remember the guide mentioning the wreck (just one year old then), but of course we didn't get down to the beach.......

Quite a lot of information and a nice image gallery (at the bottom) in the German Wikipedia.

[ncr]

Maybe it's worthwhile to add the following to highlight the remoteness of the wreck's location: Fuerteventura (possibly from "fuerte aventura" = strong adventure), of volcanic origin like all the Canaries, is a real desert island with extensive dune fields, and the least densely populated part of Spain, if I am not mistaken.

The main town, Puerto de Cabras (which translates as "goat harbour", hinting at the populations traditional source of livelihood), was only recently (early 1980s?) renamed to the religiously inspired, but still somewhat more fashionable Puerto del Rosario (=rosary).

The west coast is especially rugged, with strong winds and currents and high cliffs. Nowadays a paradise for wind surfers, but not without dangers.

Around the 1920s to 1930s, the island served as a penal colony / place of forced exile for regime critics, similar to Ko Tarutao in Southern Thailand. Most famous prisoner: writer Miguel de Unamuno.

[ncr]

More SS America links:

http://www.flare.net/users/e9ee52a/S.S.%20America.htm
- with this great image of the ship breaking in two (1994). Not to mention this and this.

http://www.ss-australis.com/
- with this recent shot (early November 2005?, "the day after the port side collapsed"), showing that the end seems to be drawing near for the once proud wreck. (From here, then click "Australis Today".)

[ncr]

(From here, then click "Australis Today".)

Updated images from late November are now available on the same page. Including this, this, and this magnificent shot.

She's finally succumbing to nature's force after 12 years. And it's only the beginning of the winter storms.....

[airlana]

Passport Stamp?

Think the seller has got things a bit mixed up. Perhaps the wrong photo.

The stamp shown is a Registration Stamp from the post office

airlana