Taking only photographs – leaving only footprints
Between the famous Grand Palace and my not so grand hotel on Khaosan Road I came across this four headed elephant statue. It stands on the Phan Pl Pop Junction, in the city centre of Bangkok. The elephant is an important animal in South East Asia, as well is in the Hindu and Buddhist religions. This ornate statue didn’t have any sign or information around it but is obviously carved from marble and is used by locals and tourists as a landmark on the junction.
Thotsakhirithon is the giant demon outside the Na Wua Gate of the Grand Palace in Bangkok. This building has been the official residence of the King of Siam / Thailand since 1782. Situated in the heart of Bangkok, it is quite a shock walking into the peaceful and immaculately clean palace grounds. This was taken from next to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
Wellington Botanic Gardens has a mix of native New Zealand plants, modern sculpture and traditional English influenced formal gardens. This statue is surround by a small, circular pool. As you can see the small frogs on the edge. The statue depicts a young child with three birds sitting on her. The bright colours of the flowers behind the statue caught my eye. Sadly, I don’t know anymore about this statue than what we see here.
Gumboots or Wellington boots are the icon of the small rural town of Taihape in the North Island of New Zealand. So much so that each Tuesday after Easter since 1985 they host Gumboot Day. This includes the famous gumboot throwing contest. This photograph shows a huge gumboot statue on the side of the highway. At about three metres high it is hard to miss it.