CY-2019-072 A SIAM SOCIETY STUDY TRIP A Weekend in Province Saturday 15 to Sunday 16 February 2020 g With Khun Euayporn Kerdchouay Senior Consultant of The Siam Society

Map of cities and islands in the Gulf of Siam From the book: Buddhist Cosmology Thonburi Version)

Chanthaburi, situated 245 km from , is a major gem-trading and fruit-growing centre located in the fertile plain of the between the southeast uplands and the sea. On the east bank of the Chanthaburi River is the largest Roman Catholic Church in Thailand, the Church of the Immaculate Conception, also known as the Cathedral of Notre Dame, built by Vietnamese refugees from 1898 on the site of an earlier mission church. In the early history, Chanthaburi seems to have been one of the outposts of Angkor Empire as early as the 10th century and there are some of Khmer-style stone artefacts found in the vicinity. By the end of the 14th century Chanthaburi had been incorporated in the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, the governor of Chanthaburi rebelled against Phya Tak, the commander of Siamese forces, who later established his court in Thonburi. In 1893, after the Pak Nam incident, where French gunboats forced the defences at Pak Nam (Samut Prakan) at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River and sailed up the river to Bangkok, the French occupied the two Thai seaboard provinces that bordered (Chanthaburi and ). Today, there are two French buildings remaining from the time of the French occupation, at . Chanthaburi has very good hotels, a fine museum, interesting temples, and good restaurants; the surrounding mountains add much charm to the luxuriant gardens in the vicinity. On Saturday 15 to Sunday 16 February 2020, The Siam Society is arranging a Study Trip for members to visit some sites of interest in Chanthaburi Province. The group will leave The Siam Society by bus on Saturday 15 February at 7.30am and we expect to return to The Siam Society on Sunday at 8pm Tentative programme will be as followed: Day 1: Saturday 15 February 2020 7.30am Depart The Siam Society for Chanthaburi province by bus. 11am Arrive in Chanthaburi province. - Visit Noen Wong Fort and the National Maritime Museum (Underwater Archaeological Museum). - Visit Wat Plub. Noon: Lunch at a seafood restaurant at Tha Chalab Afternoon: Visit Wat Thong Thua and Khmer ruins at Phaniat. - Visit the mural painting at Wat Nearn Soong. - Dinner and overnight at D Varee Diva Rimnaam, Chanthaburi Hotel Day 2: Sunday 16 February 2020 - Breakfast at the hotel 8.30am Check out and proceed to the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception of Chanthaburi. - Visit mural painting at Wat Philom and then proceed to Leam Singh district. En route: Visit mural painting at Wat Thabon Nai. - Visit two historical buildings at Leam Singh and proceed to Laem Sadet and Khung Kraben Bay RDSC (Royal Development Study Center, established in 1981). Visit the Natural Study Center at Khun Kraben Bay. 3.45pm Depart Khung Kraben Bay for Bangkok. 8pm Arrive at The Siam Society.

The Siam Society reserves the right to change the programme as necessary.

The contribution of THB 8,500 (THB 9,500 for non-members), Single room surcharge THB 950. will cover transportation as mentioned in the programme, accommodation for 1 nights (two persons per room), meals as mentioned in the programme, gratuities and other costs incurred to make this trip possible. There is a 4% surcharge for credit/debit card payment to cover bank charges. Please pay by cash or cheque payable to “The Siam Society”. Alternatively, you can transfer the money to The Siam Society travel account at TMB Bank, Asoke Branch, saving account no. 053-2-18000-7. Please fax or e-mail the deposit or transfer docket to us. For further information and bookings please contact Khun Prasert at Tel. 02-661-6470-3 ext. 504 or Khun Supanut Tel. 02-661-6470-3 ext. 506, Fax.02-258-3491 or email: [email protected]. The Society office is open from 9am to 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday.

The Siam Society uses any financial revenue arising from its study trips to support the activities of the Society in its library, museum and publications programmes. The partner organisation of THE SIAM SOCIETY in conducting Study Trip in Thailand is Wishing Group Co. Ltd., License 11/06066