Ancient City

The Ancient City, Muang Boran in Thai language, is located in Samut Prakan, between Bangkok and the coast. On their own website is a good description of how to get there.

Het museum has the same shape as Thailand, and it is vast. More than hundred buildings are on their premisses, and new ones are added.
We have been there twice, in 1987 and in 1989. The first time just the two of us, we went by bus. From Bangkok you have a convenient connection, but the museum is so vast, you don't have enough time to see everything. The second time we went with Pia's family, by car. It's possible to use your car inside the museum, so you can see a lot more, but even by car, you need more than one day to see everything.

What struck us was the good condition the buildings were in. And, as far as we could see, the craftmanship with which the building were constructed or rebuild. A number of buildings do not exist anymore in modernday Thailand, for example the palaces from Auytthaya. By using old documents and painings, the museum has succeeded to make very good replica.

A number of buildings, like the Khao Phra Wihan has been reduced to a 1 to 4 scale. This makes it possible to get a good impression of these somtimes huge historical monuments of Thailand. What's very special is that you can enter each building.

The parts of the museum we are particularly fond of.
The first one is a village build along a khlong, it's called The Floating Market. It reminds us of Hua Ta Kee, a village near the house where Pia's mother lives. But the village in the museum is older, more authentic. Wooden houses, often shops and little businesses, and in front, half above the water, a wooden gangway. Very nice to stroll around.
The second place is an old marketplace, The Old Market Town. Here you will find old stone houses, hidden under the green vegetation. One of the houses has a large verande, surrounded by trees, where you can sit, have a drink and dream of a beautifull world.