When does a model village stop being a quaint tourist attraction and require its own postcode? When does a doll's house stop being a creepy kid's toy and become a viable dwelling requiring planning permission and a broadband connection?
I'd heard about the Ancient Siam open-air museum on previous visits to Thailand, but I wasn't prepared for the scale of its reconstructions of significant historical landmarks from around the country, which in many cases are 1:1. When you build a faux-dilapidated facsimile of a temple or shrine as close to the original structure as possible, what prevents that from being equally revered? The virtues of age and location?
I was a fool to spend two months travelling around Thailand last year, when I could have just cycled around the world's largest open-air museum and ticked off the sights in one afternoon. Plus, some of them are painted in gaudy colours, which is more eye-catching than just loads of old brown. Bo-ring!
I've made it even less hassle for you - you just have to look at my photos and you've basically done Thailand. Is there a difference? I don't understand anything any more.
Ancient Siam,
Samut Prakan
The real Grand Palace is only about 30 minutes' drive from this.
It looks like they even rebuilt the interiors. So much effort just for this!
This is just someone's real house, except I'm allowed to stomp around
The floating market is so authentic, they even sell authentic replica Khao San Road tourist tat
Okay, the Thai hamlet was pretty nice. I'll always be a farm boy
The market town's pretty relaxing too. It's worth paying 500 baht just to get away from the shouty taxi drivers of the real world
I wonder if they build the whole thing first before accelerating its slide into disrepair?
Not seen it (but I've seen this, so I'm still ace)
Pretty sure these don't come in bubblegum pink any more
Chedi medley
They even constructed a massive fake cliff face at the centre of it, just so they can fly a flag.
This place teeters on the edge of Dubai-level insanity on occasion
This reminded me of a Japanese Shinto shrine in a judge's wig
Replica replica house. Or is this just a genuine replica house?
Nice bridge
Nice boat
Nice goblin man thing
