This palace is called Phra Nakhorn Khiri, translates into ‘hilltop palace’ and it was built in the town of Petchburi as a cool retreat from broiling Bangkok, by King Rama IV
(a.k.a. King Mogkut, 1851-1868, the monarch depicted in ‘The King and I’.
It was intended as a bucolic island in the sky where the king could indulge his passion
for astronomy, hence the observatory that was built there.
Interestingly enough, it was near here that his passion precipitated his demise.
In 1868, after predicting a full eclipse of the sun and being met with
skeptic response- especially by foreigners resident in Bangkok-he bundled a large contingent of Europeans and courtiers into a boat and sailed to Prachuab Khiri Khan,
the next town to Hua Hin.
To their astonishment, his prediction was correct.
Unfortunately, he was bitten by a malarial mosquito and died one week later in Bangkok.
Interesting?
Special thanks to Steve for this information and all other Thailand
historical information on my blog.
Click on this image (above) to enlarge. Then read this sign.
Can you read it without laughing?
Nevada’s assignment for us:
High Contrast.
These two images were part of the ‘contrast’ assignment.
George liked them…
These monkeys meant business. I kept getting closer, but knew I shouldn’t.
This guy clearly wasn’t happy!
Who would think that this would have worked as high contrast?
