Facing the Phra Maha Monthien Group at the Royal Grand Palace complex in Bangkok. The impressive premises were for about 150 years not only the home of the king and his court, but also the entire administrative seat of government. Thai kings stopped living in the palace full time around the turn
of the twentieth century, but the complex remains the seat of power and spiritual heart of the Thai kingdom. Quite a remarkable place to visit.
Image scanned from a colour slide taken in July, 1980.
Giant guardians at the Royal Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand. Image scanned from a colour slide taken in July, 1980.
Giant demon guardian at the Royal Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.
Image scanned from a colour slide taken in July, 1980.
The Chakri Maha Prasat to the left, situated in the Outer Court of the Royal Grand Palace in Bangkok, was for about 150 years not only the home of
the king and his court, but also the entire administrative seat of government. Thai kings stopped living in the palace full time around the turn of
the twentieth century, but the complex remains the seat of power and spiritual heart of the Thai kingdom. Quite a remarkable place to visit.
Image scanned from a colour slide taken in January, 1979.
Worshippers burning incense and candles at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Image scanned from a colour slide taken in January, 1979.
The Golden Buddha at the Wat Traimit Temple in Bangkok is the world’s largest solid gold Buddha image.
Weighing in at five and a half tons, the 15-foot tall seated figure is worth in the neighbourhood of
US$ 14 Million. Quite a stunning sight. Image scanned from a colour slide taken in January, 1979.
Relatives cooking breakfast while waiting for the fishermen to return from night fishing at Ko Samui, Thailand. Only a few backpackers visited
the island at that time, but today mass tourism has taken over with modern hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops everywhere.
Me, overlooking the picturesque Chaweng Beach at Ko Samui, Thailand, January 1979. Image scanned from a paper print.
Small wooden fishing boats at the mouth of the Chaweng River at Ko Samui, Thailand. The 9km long Chaweng Beach is visible in the background.
Image scanned from a colour slide taken in 1980. I applied a few filters from Topaz Studio to achieve a painterly effect.
In the background, a line of small rentable huts for backpackers (named First Bungalow), located on the beach between
the Gulf of Thailand and the Chaweng River at Ko Samui, Thailand. Image scanned from a colour slide taken in 1980.
Picturesque scenery up the Chaweng River at Ko Samui, Thailand. Image scanned from a colour slide taken in 1980.
My travel companion, Susanne, cooling herself in the tropical heat at the Chaweng Beach, Ko Samui, Thailand.
Image scanned from a colour slide taken in 1980.
My travel companion, Susanne, approaching the Long Beach Bungalow at the Chaweng Beach, Ko Samui, Thailand. The small cottages in
the background could be rented very cheaply and a little restaurant served excellent seafood, vegetables and fresh fruit for the
relatively few backpackers who had discovered this little paradise. Oh, and not to forget the powerful homegrown Thai sticks
that were also available and helped making the tropical evenings even more magical.
My travel companion, Susanne, posing at the Na Muang Waterfall, Ko Samui, Thailand.
Image scanned from a B/W negative, taken in 1980.
The Big Buddha statue at Wat Phra Yai, Ko Samui, Thailand. Image scanned from a B/W film taken in 1980.
Below some more from the same location.
Steps to the Big Buddha Temple at Wat Phra Yai, Ko Samui, Thailand. Image scanned from a B/W film taken in 1980.
The famous Big Buddha statue (height: 15 meters) at Wat Phra Yai, Ko Samui, Thailand.
Image scanned from a B/W film taken in 1980. I applied a few Topaz filters
to improve clarity and achieve a special effect.
Keld Bach Photography 