ASIA 2002

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#3366CC" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="093006e0ezthpx.gif"> <div> <B>The Haslams of Sandy, Utah U.S.A.</B></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="thHTOWNstuff"><U><B>Home</B></U></A><B> | </B><A HREF="reed_haslam.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reed Berg Haslam"><U><B>Reed</B></U></A><B> | </B><A HREF="sherry_haslam.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sherry Westberg Haslam"><U><B>Sherry</B></U></A><B> | </B><A HREF="robbie_haslam.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Robbert Reed Haslam"><U><B>Rob</B></U></A><B> | </B><A HREF="jared_haslam.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jared Lee Haslam"><U><B>Jared</B></U></A><B> | </B><A HREF="mike_haslam.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michael Dean Haslam"><U><B>Mike</B></U></A><B> | </B><A HREF="angie_haslam.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Angela Haslam Home Page"><U><B>Angie</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#66FFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="094bec00egerxs.gif"> <div> <A HREF="http://www.theHaslams.com/SandyWeather/current/Haslam_Monitor.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.theHaslams.com/SandyWeather/c"><U><B>Sandy Utah Weather</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="missionary_service.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Haslam Family Missionary Service"><U><B>Missionary Service</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.theHaslams.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.theHaslams.org"><U><I><B>theHaslams.org</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.theBergs.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.theBergs.org"><U><I><B>theBergs.org</B></I></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Haslams Vacations"><U><B>Vacations</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id221.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photo Album"><U><B>Photo Album</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.LDS-Thailand.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.LDS-Thailand.com"><U><B>LDS Church in Thailand </B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.translatingscripture.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.translatingscripture.com"><U><B>Translating Scripture: The Thai Book of Mormon</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Favorite Links"><U><B>Favorite Links</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id234.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Archive Index"><U><B>Archive</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B>   </B></I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#333399" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>ASIA 2002</B></div> <div> Commentary and Photographs from the Haslam's</div> <div> Trip to <B>THAILAND</B> and <B>JAPAN</B></div> <bR> <div> As our photographs are cataloged and published the text below will become links to the pictures. We took over 600 pictures during our 18 day trip to Asia.</div> <bR> <div> THAILAND Photographs</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.theHaslams.com/PhotoAlbum/Asia2002/Thailand/Church/image001.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.theHaslams.com/PhotoAlbum/Asi"><U>The LDS Church in THAILAND</U></A></div> <div> The growth of the church in Thailand has been slow but steady.  In 1975 all of the branches were small and all but one of them had an LDS missionary as branch president. Today the Thailand Bangkok stake is 7 years old and is composed of several strong wards.  In 1975 there was only 1 church owned meeting house (Asoke). Today there are 12 church owned buildings throughout the country.  The growth in the northeast (Isan) continues to be remarkable. If the cities there were closer together perhaps another stake could be created. For more on the church in Thailand see Thailand Bangkok Mission.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.theHaslams.com/PhotoAlbum/Asia2002/Thailand/Church/Chapels/image001.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.theHaslams.com/PhotoAlbum/Asi"><U>LDS Chapels in Thailand</U></A></div> <div> Most of these photos are not mine but were sent to me by Wisan Wisanbannawit. I particularly like the chapel in Ubon where I'm told regular church attendance now tops 100 each week.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.theHaslams.com/PhotoAlbum/Asia2002/Thailand/Bangkok/image001.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.theHaslams.com/PhotoAlbum/Asi"><U>Bangkok</U></A></div> <div> How Bangkok has grown in the last 27 years!  Skyscrapers can be found everywhere!  The new Bangkok Sky Train is a wonderful addition allowing people to escape from the crowed streets and be taken along above the roads in air conditioned comfort. A new area east of Bangkok called Srinakarin has expanded the city much further eastward. Also new are elevated toll roads that also allow people to escape the crowded streets (for a fee).</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.theHaslams.com/PhotoAlbum/Asia2002/Thailand/Grand_Palace/image001.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.theHaslams.com/PhotoAlbum/Asi"><U>Grand Palace</U></A> - </div> <div> Construction began in 1782 when the first King of the Chakri dynasty (current dynasty) (Rama I) moved the Thai capitol to Bangkok from across the river in Thonburi.  The temple of the Emerald Buddha is located in Wat Phra Kaeo which was built to be the King's private temple for worship. Temples for Royalty are the only ones with the blue color in the roof.  Since the time of the democracy revolution in 1932 - no one lives at the Grand Palace but many ceremonial events are held here. Tourists now pay $5 each to see the magnificent grounds.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.theHaslams.com/PhotoAlbum/Asia2002/Thailand/Queen_s_Birthday/image001.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.theHaslams.com/PhotoAlbum/Asi"><U>Her Majesty Queen Sririkit's 70th Birthday Celebration (August 12, 2002)</U></A></div> <div> Two of the biggest annual celebrations in Thailand are the birthday's of the King (December 5) and Queen (August 12). This year the Queen celebrated her 70th birthday. Each of them have worked tirelessly to increase Thailand's prosperity. While they have little real power under the constitution of Thailand the high level of respect paid to them by the Thai people provides considerable informal power.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.theHaslams.com/PhotoAlbum/Asia2002/Thailand/ChiangMai/image001.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.theHaslams.com/PhotoAlbum/Asi"><U>Chiang Mai</U></A> - Thailand's Jewel of the North</div> <div> Thailand's second largest city is located in the far north near Laos and Myanmar (Burma). Since it is north of Bangkok and the gulf of Thailand and located in a beautiful valley 1200 feet above sea level Chiang Mai is cooler and somewhat less humid than Bangkok. This enables Chiang Mai to grow more temperate zone crops like corn and strawberries. In Chiang Mai we visited Wat Doi Suthep at the top of Suthep mountain, and the beautiful valley of the Sa river north of the city. This valley has become a tourist magnet featuring such things as an elephant showplace, snake showplace, orchid farm and at the top home to some of the hill tribes (local indigenous people of the area). <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >               </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.theHaslams.com/PhotoAlbum/Asia2002/Thailand/Ayuthaya/image001.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.theHaslams.com/PhotoAlbum/Asi"><U>Ayuthaya</U></A> - The capitol of Thailand from 1350 - 1768</div> <div> Following the Sukothai period, Ayuthaya was the capitol of Thailand for some 418 years; founded by King Uthong in 1350. Ayuthaya is located about 50 miles north of Bangkok along the Chao Phraya river. Today tourists flock to Ayuthaya to see  the ruins of the ancient city. In the 1760's the neighboring Burmese attacked and destroyed most of the city.  Even though the Burmese are also Buddhists they destroyed many of the Buddhist temples and even beheaded many of the statues of Lord Buddha.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.theHaslams.com/PhotoAlbum/Asia2002/Thailand/BangBaIn/image001.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.theHaslams.com/PhotoAlbum/Asi"><U>Bang PaIn</U></A> -  (Ayuthaya Province)</div> <div> The King's Summer Palace (a short distance south of Ayuthaya) is more beautiful than ever. Queen Sririkit in 1996 rebuilt of the residences that burned down in 1939. The grounds are immaculate.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.theHaslams.com/PhotoAlbum/Asia2002/Thailand/Thai_Culture/image001.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.theHaslams.com/PhotoAlbum/Asi"><U>Thai Culture</U></A></div> <div> Elephants, Buddhism, Muay Thai and other customs.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.theHaslams.com/PhotoAlbum/Asia2002/Thailand/Countryside/image001.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.theHaslams.com/PhotoAlbum/Asi"><U>Countryside</U></A></div> <div> Scenes of the countryside in Thailand between Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Mountains, jungles, and rice paddies.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.theHaslams.com/PhotoAlbum/Asia2002/Thailand/FloatingMarket/image001.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.theHaslams.com/PhotoAlbum/Asi"><U>Floating Market of Dumnern Saduag</U></A></div> <div> Thonburi on the west side of the Chao Phraya River from Bangkok used to be the place where tourists went to see the famous "floating market".  Mostly produce and other food items were the main items sold early in the morning along the canals. Twenty-seven years ago the floating market in Thonburi had just about disappeared. Today a vibrant new marketplace for tourists has appeared about 100 km west of Thonburi at Dumnern Saduag.  Canals such as these are commonplace though out the Bangkok area and the surrounding central flatlands. Transportation along the canals is also common, after all the canals are not as crowded as the streets.</div> <bR> <div> JAPAN Photographs</div> <bR> <div> The LDS Church in Japan</div> <div> Tokyo</div> <div> Kyoto</div> <div> Osaka</div> <div> Hemeiji </div> <div> Nagoya</div> <div> Elder Robert R. Haslam returns home                    </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>