Tuptim Penis Shrine

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Tuptim Penis Shrine is somewhere that I first found out about from reading Bizarre Thailand by Jim Algie. The original shrine was next to the khlong which runs alongside the Nai Lert Park Heritage Home.

"The Chao Mae Tuptim shrine was created in the first quarter of the 20th century by Thai businessman Nai Lert (1872-1945), who found a spirit house floating in the klong and placed it on the bank of his property. In Thailand, the phallus is considered to be a symbol of good luck and also a representative of fertility. The shrine is one of the best examples of intentional phallic architecture in the world.

The shrine is named after Chao Mae Tuptim, a pre-Buddhist Southeast Asian tree spirit, who is said to bestow blessings on those who worship her at the shrine. The site attracts women from all across Thailand and even other east Asian countries."

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/

Certainly an interesting place to visit and visit Lady L for a coffee.

TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com - Tuptim Penis Shrine

Songkhla Lake

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Songkhla Lake is in the south of Thailand near Hat Yai. As an aside I read that it is not a lake but is actually a lagoon and we did not see an Irrawaddy dolphins but I read that there are some here. We were staying in Phattalung and we chose to get up early to watch the sunrise over the lake. 

And the fish sellers were out early as well!

We took a long tail boat as the sun began to rise - some nets were still in the water

and a lot more were waiting to be put into the water.

Some bison were taking an early morning dip.

There were some putting their nets into the water.

A lot of them were happy and smiling.

The flowers in the lake were lovely.

Like my wife and daughter.

There was a brief stop for a shrine in the middle of the lake - I could get a coffee.

Jemma stuck with the nibbles we brought with us.

This is what it means by a traffic jam.

And then we were on the way home.

TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Songkhla_Lake-Songkhla_Songkhla_Province

 

Wat Tamru

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Wat Tamru วัดตำหรุ was somewhere we saw on the way to Samut Prakan and we chose to visit on the way back.

From the outside it was a typical beautiful Wat - okay there was a difference - there was Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk and a dragon near the front.

And Buddhist statues.

 


Then entering the adjacent temple I found something else - floors of reflecting beauty. It was stunning.

Wonderful.

Then at the top of the building...

And more statues...

But it was certainly something that I had not seen previously - wonderful.

Devasathan (Brahmin Temple)

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Devasathan (Brahmin Temple) is adjacent to the Giant Swing and a number of other attractions.

Unfortunately no photographs were allowed to be taken inside. But there were three temples of Hindu origin here and it was quite peaceful.

TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com - Devasathan (Brahmin Temple)

 

Santi Chai Park and Pom Phra Sumen

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I saw ศาลเจ้ามูลนิธิธรรมกตัญญู (The Santi Chai Park (สวนสาธารณะสันติชัยปราการ) and Pom Phra Sumen Fort I viewed when I took the Chao Phraya river taxi so I got off the river taxi at Phra Athit pier. On getting off here you walk down a tight alleyway which is full of 'those tourist bits' which can be quite entertaining. Walk down this alleyway onto the main road and turn left and you will be there in 5 minutes.

This is a very small park and is close to the Khao San Road and you are able to see the Rama VIII bridge from here. I believe that there also used to be a sugar factory on this spot but I could find no physical evidence.

Then in this park is the 'Phra Sumen Fort' - and there not many of them left in Bangkok - 

from the original 14 that were built in the reign of King Rama I.

After this view then visit Pipitbanglamphu - the Local Heritage Museum - this is their Facebook Page. Unfortunately I did not have time to go here - maybe next time?

As an aside I believe that the idea of the fort in the park translates as "the park with a fort that symbolized the victory of peacefulness". Then there are apparently two important trees but I did not find them - Lam Phu Tree and Papal Tree.

 

Vihara Sien

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Vihara Sien is a beautiful Chinese Temple which we saw as we driving to Pattaya. Goodness me - it was quite spectacular!!!

It is no longer a Chinese Shrine but it is a Chinese Art Museum. 

This explained why it is so big and I could have continued taking photographs.

There was the grounds outside the temple - trees and sculptures. There are a number of Chinese granite gods, goddesses, zodiac figurines.

The first floor was similar to a museum and there was just so much to see and I could have kept going.

Walking upstairs I came to a place for prayer.

Then outside I looked down on the raised courtyard and it was like was a game of chess being played by all of these figures....