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The latest museum to open in Bangkok, called the Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall , is probably also one of the best. Located on Ratchadamnoen Road, it is not your traditional kind of museum. It is very much interactive and hands-on and uses modern techniques to teach you about the history of Bangkok in an entertaining way. The name of the exhibition hall comes from the original name of the capital before it was changed to “Krungthep Mahanakorn”.

A 60% Gold Sukhotai style Buddha, a 200 year old Chinese/Thai temple, the first school ever built in Thailand and all just five minutes walk from the Khao San Road. One wonders how this missed all the tour books.

Yesterday morning being Saturday, I ventured down to the local government offices that were burnt to the ground by out of control red shirt protestors. There had been a quick decision to hold a ceremony and clean the grounds. People had arrived early and made merit by giving alms (food) to some monks

The following are pictures of the local government offices that have been totally destroyed. I ventured there last night and local people were there, many in tears and most condemning what had been done.All pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them. Police Box Front of government offices

Nalada Thamthanakorn (Thai: ณลดา ธรรมธนาคร น้องมิค) is the winner of the 13th Miss Tiffany’s Universe 2010, Thailand’s most popular transsexual beauty pageant. The 19 year old transvestite was named Thailand’s most beautiful katoey (ladyboy or woman-of-the-2nd-category) late Friday night in a glamorous event that was telecast live on Thai TV Channel 7 from Tiffany’s Show Theater in Pattaya, Thailand’s most popular tourist destination. (S)he received 100,000 baht cash and a new Honda Jazz car. Nong Mick was contestant No.

Miss Tiffany’s Universe Contest 2010 is organized between April and May 2010. The finals will be broadcast live on Thai TV Channel 7, on 7th May, 2010 from 22.30 - 00.30 hrs. Miss Tiffany’s Universe 2010 beauty pageant earlier held a night event called “The Miss Unlimited Sexy Star” pageant

Red-shirted supporters of fugitive Thai former premier Thaksin Shinawatra hold boards and shout slogans as they join a mass rally in downtown Bangkok on March 14, 2010. Tens of thousands of red-shirted supporters rallied amid tight security in Bangkok to demand that the government step down.

A total of 5,000 red guards are believed to be deployed at the rally site in Bangkok and at 30 other locations in the area. This includes 200 mobile units on motorcycle.

The mass red shirt rallies organized to topple the Thai government have now started. Today, red shirts from provinces surrounding Bangkok took part in mini rallies in their local areas. Tomorrow, they will march into Bangkok to be joined by countless thousands of red shirts from every region of Thailand for the big rally starting on Sunday.

One of the most important events in the Thai Buddhist calendar is Makha Bucha Day (sometimes spelled Magha Puja). It takes place on the full moon day of the third lunar month which is usually late February or early March. This year it was today, 28th February 2010. Like many Thai people, I was up early this morning before the sun rose to go and visit my local temple.