Gingerbread houses in Phrae
A century ago counted Thailand vast teak forests and Phrae was known as the teak capital of the country. By 1991, the area of teak forests had shrunk to 25.000 square kilometers, which is also threatened by illegal logging.
That Phrae was the teak capital can still be seen from the approximately 100 old teak houses in the city. Of these, 20 are worth seeing and the Phrae Architectural Club is making every effort to preserve them.
In 1883, Britain obtained a concession to cut teak in Thailand's northern provinces, which were then semi-autonomous under the rule of local princes. A handful of British timber companies settled there, including one owned by the son of Anne Leonowens, known for the controversial film The king and I.
The wood was exported to England where so-called gingerbread houses were popular at the beginning of the twentieth century. Gingerbread houses also arose in Phrae with their characteristic decorated eaves, front roofs and window sills. Although Thailand has never been colonized, the cultural influence from Europe was considerable during that period.
One of Phrae's top attractions is Khum Chao Luang, the residence of Lord Pirayatheppawong, Phrae's former governor. It was built in 1892 in a mix of European and Thai architectural styles. The Lord had two wives, who didn't get along very well. The eldest therefore built his own residence, Vongburi House, which is now one of Phrae's most popular gingerbread houses.
In 1960 the teak trade was banned and in 1989 a ban on logging followed, which caused the demand for second-hand teak to skyrocket. As a result, more than 100 teak houses in Phrae have been demolished in the past 20 years and the wood has been sold to contractors. Illegal cut teak is regularly confiscated, because the hardwood is still very popular.
(Source: Bangkok Post, March 20, 2012)
I myself live in the middle of the country, but there is also a lot of robbery going on there.
When I drive through Don Khui, there is guaranteed to be a pile of wood at every house, which is usually used to make charcoal.
In the vicinity of Wang Pong you also see old tractors passing by loaded with wood every day, which is why a round of cycling has become a highly unhealthy adventure.
While the rubbish is burned everywhere and piles of wood disappear for charcoal, people continue to moan about the resulting floods.
Beautiful Thailand is rapidly deteriorating.
Yes at a rapid pace, still unclear why they 1 don't intervene harder and 2 stare at money regardless of the costs just like with burning everything here in the North. I don't think Thailand is for me. Maybe one in between phases but I lack interest in purity and sometimes think of “lloret de mar”, that wasn't my thing either. Should it become a place where you can live with ease and lose all its radiance? I thought to find spirituality here and there. Unfortunately, what is beautiful also perishes. Got a stamp today with an M3 cap on 8 hours in a mini van to Chiang Rai / Mae Sai. Always a good time to think and talk about something other than food and the weather.
Indonesia, Taiwan… or just Holland, I don't know for a while but I'll stay, I'm going to study Thai.
I have been coming to Thailand regularly since 1979.
The difference with now is indeed big.
I haven't found my place yet either.
Currently we are in Isaan south of Udon Thani.
It is still quiet in the villages.
It really is all about money though.
Yes, I also see it where I live (Nakhon Pathom) there around Wath Chedi and the large market in that area it is dying of furniture shops (all nice) but I sometimes wonder what has been cut for that!
The strange thing is that in most cases you only see the furniture for sale, you do not see the processing itself.
That happens in large companies, of course, and that's where the tangle lies, that's the purest crooks mess because that's a dangerous world. And yes, a lot of money is involved, but don't forget that big heads in the government will become wiser despite the ban.
It's also nice stuff. But we shouldn't buy it, that's for sure. I love animals for example, but because of that I don't take romance and pure love, there is a difference.
Romance is not love Have a look at the movie about this topic. Beautiful film, I must say as a film freak, but the message is gloomy. Still, I'd rather that what's true than close my eyes.
Please pay attention to the following!
A film without words about the words written above.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQkpTSXUsJE&feature=share
Coincidentally, I also watched the above (frontier scientific ;)) film today………a must!!!!!
Makes you really think even though this mainly concerns Indonesia (even though the link can be made easily)