
# The House of Iron in Thailand

> *One of the central provinces of Thailand – Ang Thong, is known for local craftsmen who make not only refractory bricks and wickerwork, but since 2011, figures from scrap metal.*

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Ban Hun Lek or the House of Iron in English was the result of the creative idea  Mr. Pairote Thanomwong, who used old engine parts to create various figures. Thanks to his skill he managed to create from seemingly already used material hundreds of superheroes from world-famous movie universes including Transformers, Star Wars, Terminator and others.

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The territory of the museum, which houses exhibits ranging in size from 2 to 4 meters, is divided into several parts. Almost at the entrance there is a room where a number of models are behind glass, despite the fact that most of the figures of the complex are publicly available - you can touch them, you can take pictures with them. The building houses several variations of Iron Man as well as various xenomorph species from the Aliens universe.

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For more than 20 years, namely since 2000, Thanomwong has been producing new exhibits. It is noteworthy that initially it was an ordinary hobby, the figures were created, as they say, for home use. However, many people liked them so much that some of the works were bought or immediately made to order. In 2004 the first steel figures for export were made and in 2011 the factory was moved to Ang Thong.

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In addition to another hangar with exhibits, the House of Iron has an open area with a lot of figures, from where you can also see the factory where visitors can get acquainted with the handcraft production process. There are several 4-meter transformers on the site as well as figures made from car tires. The exhibits are assembled not only from metal but also from rubber. Most often this may be a monkey, such as King Kong, or another animal with abundant hair such as a lion.

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The museum has a souvenir shop where in addition to small figurines you can buy tools and spare parts made of chocolate. These can be wrenches, pliers, wire cutters or screws, bolts and gears. The taste of local chocolate may seem peculiar but the children at the end of their journey through the House of Iron will like it at least due to its appearance. The very thought of eating chocolate rebar sets the taste buds in the right way - the main thing is not the taste, but the process.

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**Author: Zimenkov Grigory**

One of the central provinces of Thailand – Ang Thong, is known for local craftsmen who make not only refractory bricks and wickerwork, but since 2011, figures from scrap metal.

The House of Iron in Thailand


# Red Lotus Lake: Thailand's Famous Natural Landmark

> *Many have heard of the Red Lotus Lake in the province of Udon Thani but probably not everyone has seen the natural attraction with their own eyes. The largest natural reservoir in the northeastern part of the country which arose as a result of geological processes is called Nong Han Kumphawapi.*

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The lake was formed over a long time and the first mention of it is found in ancient chronicles.

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Red lotuses are a traditional symbol of Thailand representing purity and enlightenment in Buddhist beliefs. They bloom in freshwater bodies of water with certain conditions, including temperature, lighting, and soil composition. The locals often visit the lake for spiritual reasons.

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The reservoir still plays an important role in the life of the local population. The province of Udon Thani has long been an agricultural region of the kingdom and the lake was a source of water for irrigating the fields. Over time local residents noticed the abundance of red lotuses on the lake and began to draw the attention of tourists to this striking natural phenomenon which lasts about 5 months - from October to February. During this period the lake is filled with thousands of blooming lotuses turning it into a canvas of bright red hues.

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The reservoir attracts thousands of travelers every year who want to see this unique place and enjoy its beauty. Local authorities and residents do not forget about the preservation and protection of the lake's ecosystem so that it can continue to delight future generations. Visitors can take a boat trip to fully enjoy the beauty of the reservoir as well as take memorable photos. Local boaters offer trips lasting about an hour long.

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The reservoir is remarkable not only for lotuses but also for the various animals and birds inhabited here. While exploring the lake there is a great chance to see different types of birds, including herons, cormorants and kingfishers. In addition grazing water buffalo can be found on the banks of Nong Han Kumphawapi.

![](https://static.qvedo.com/qvedo/static-pages/blog/red-lotus-lake-thai/1/47c829de-4b4f-40c9-8bb4-f36c94251451.jpg)

**Author: Zimenkov Grigory**


Many have heard of the Red Lotus Lake in the province of Udon Thani but probably not everyone has seen the natural attraction with their own eyes. The largest natural reservoir in the northeastern part of the country which arose as a result of geological processes is called Nong Han Kumphawapi.

Red Lotus Lake: Thailand’s Famous Natural Landmark


# Koh Mak: Thailand's first low-carbon destination for tourists?

Koh Mak located 38 km from the mainland in the Gulf of Thailand. It became known to the tourist market of Thailand in 1974. However then it was an exotic destination covered with rubber and coconut plantations where people came with backpacks and tents. Since then dozens of resorts have been built there to accommodate the steadily growing number of travelers which in turn has left the island's environment vulnerable to waste. In 2022 the active implementation of the concept of a circular economy in waste management on Koh Mak began through their sorting and recycling - local waste is effectively disposed of with the support of various sectors of the island and recycled garbage is reused.

In June 2022 a number of government departments and the administration of Koh Mak signed a memorandum of cooperation regarding the further development of the island. The purpose of the arrangement is to become the main focus of the country with low carbon emissions. In addition as part of a three-year project the parties to the agreement agreed to work in the Thai Blue Carbon study program at seagrass area on Koh Mak and nearby Koh Kradat. The project also involves the development of the area into a sustainable tourism site. The seagrass area was found to be a source of high marine biodiversity.

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At the same time the Thai government is promoting Koh Mak as an eco-friendly tourist destination where the use of bicycles and electric vehicles is encouraged and food containers made of Styrofoam or other polluting materials are encouraged to be avoided. The authorities of the island are confident that it is able to generate income which is distributed among local residents while providing tourist facilities with everything necessary in terms of safety and comfort. It is noteworthy that there is no nightlife on Koh Mak - there are no karaoke clubs or noisy discos and all public and personal transport is gradually being electrified. Among the entertainment there are no jet ski rides, but there are relaxing boat trips with snorkeling, as well as Tie-dye.

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The main souvenir from the island that you can take with you is a fabric dyed with natural dyes created from plants, coconut husks and mud. The coloring procedure itself is very popular among foreign tourists and is called Tie-dye. The local art studio Roja invites everyone to learn how to create clothes with unique designs. Thanks to your own imagination or its absence a piece of matter can be folded as you like, then tied or clamped with improvised means and then immersed in a tank of paint. After a few minutes the fabric must be removed from the container, the paint squeezed out of it and left in this form for some time in the sun then straightened, dried, rinsed in water and finally dried, obtaining a unique pattern.

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For a long time the main visitors to the island or about 60% are Thais. Road to the island is not so easy - 50 minutes by plane from Bangkok to the city of Trat or 5 hours by car to the pier from where another 40 minutes by speedboat which runs several times a day. At the same time the total number of rooms in about 40 Koh Mak hotels allows to accommodate 500 people which is equivalent to the population of the island. The booking price in the hotels of the island varies from $15 to $1,500 per day. A number of restrictions set the tone for visiting Thailand's first low-carbon destination rather than being an insurmountable obstacle with the majority of travelers to Koh Mak being returning customers.

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Local residents of two villages – Ban Ao Nit and Ban Laem Son - are engaged in hospitality and a number of locals are engaged in fishing and the cultivation of rubber and fruits. Koh Mak is also rich in coconut plantations. Local authorities emphasize that the COVID-19 pandemic has had little effect on the work of the island's enterprises - most have restored their activities, new types of businesses are opening, mainly related to the rental of motorcycles. The plans for the development of the direction include the installation of solar panels but for now electricity is supplied via an underwater cable stretched from the mainland and not from the neighboring Koh Chang.

**Author: Zimenkov Grigory**


Koh Mak located 38 km from the mainland in the Gulf of Thailand. It became known to the tourist market of Thailand in 1974. However then it was an exotic destination covered with rubber and coconut plantations where people came with backpacks and tents.

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The House of Iron in Thailand

Red Lotus Lake: Thailand’s Famous Natural Landmark

Koh Mak: Thailand's first low-carbon destination for tourists?

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