Let's set aside bad news and look to the bright side of tourism.
There are still places of interest in the country that are off the tourist focus because they're not commercially-oriented and properly publicised. One of them is the Rare Stone Museum in Bang Rak district of Bangkok between Charoen Krung (New Road) between Soi 26 & 28.
The privately-owned museum belongs to Mr Bunyong Lertnimitr who invested several years and huge cash building his collection of 10,000 pieces of rare and precious stones from all over the world.
Opening five years ago, it's the first and its only kind in Thailand, and according to its owner, the biggest in Asia. Some of the objects on display there will fire your imagination no ends.
The main attraction is the "Immortal Tortoise", measuring 150x70cm weighing more than a ton and 72cm tall. Then there is the "Python", about two metres long, followed by the "Kissing Penguins" that signifies natural beauty. The are other pieces of various shapes and sizes resembling human and animal forms.
For more information about the rock gallery, visit www.rarestonemuseum.com.
Bangkok Post May 2005 www.bangkokpost.com
