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Sgt.
Maj. Thawee Folk Museum
Sgt.Maj. Thawee at
work.
The Sgt.Maj. Thawee
Folk Museum is a fascinating private museum and it is a must-see attraction
in Phitsanulok province.
This fascinating museum is spread throughout five traditional-style
Thai buildings with well-groomed gardens, the displays are all accompanied
by informative English descriptions.
The museum was set up by Sgt.Maj. Thawee Buranakhet in 1983 featuring
tools and utensils formerly used by local people.
The artifacts were collected from various regions especially in Nakhon
Sawan, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Kamphaeg phet, Phetchabun, Tak, Sukhothai
and Uttaradit
and the museum has attracted more and more tourists from home and abroad
in recent years.
As a Buddha image
caster, he travelled extensively to remote areas of Thailand to install
Buddha images in temples.
He found a large amount of old farm tools abandoned by local villagers
and he brought them back home.
As the years went by the size of the collection continued to grow, so
he decided to set up his own museum.
Those interested
in cooking will find much of interest in the display of a traditional
Thai kitchen and the various traps used to catch game.
Male visitors will be undoubtedly disturbed by a display that describes
traditional bull castration, a process that apparently involves no sharp
tools.
Just across the
road is the Buranathai Buddha Casting Foundry (admission free), where
you can see the carving and casting of large Buddhas,
most of which are copies of the Chinarat Buddha image from Wat Yai.
The foundry is also operated by Mr. Thawee,
as is the adjacent Thai Bird Garden (daily 8:30am-5pm; admission 50B),
which contains examples of some of the country's most colorful species,
including a hornbill and a silver pheasant.
Over the years,
Sgt. Maj. Thawee Folk Museum plays a significant role in education and
helping people to understand their history and its rich cultural heritage.
The museum is
open everyday from 8 am till 16:30 pm; Closed on Monday; Entrance fee
= 50 Thb
Photogallery