I & my blog

       

                   We all have childhood dreams that are secretly hidden somewhere deep in our mind. Today I tried to digging  into my childhood memories. There I found about 10 Journal books hidden in my storage room. It was like the time machine has taken me deep into the past and introduce my younger self. I started to open the journals and read each page. Lots of sketches and really clunky handwriting. Most of the stories written about classical Greek and Roman periods with picture cut from monthly archeological magazine ( Tuay Toon Special). I still remember it was mostly mystery stories for kids, the language is was so simple. I had bought them from the bookstores along my bus stop in Soi Udomsuk. But you could also find old books for twenty THB each. 30 years later I still find them on Facebook, they are still in print but now sold 150 THB each. The stories remain the same Greek mythology, Trojan War, Tutankhamun's tomb, Titanic and others, just like they were when I got them as a kid. 

   

                 From Journal book V onwards, my research took a fascinating turn. It delved into the rich tapestry of southeast Asian history, predating the rise of The Thai sate. The deeper I went, the more I reveled in uncovering these forgotten stories. Back then fueled by childish dreams, I imagined myself as indiana Jones, braving lost jungles, sleeping under the stars and piloting rickety planes through sandstorms. Sure maybe fighting Nazi wasn't on the agenda! (haha) But that's the beauty of childhood dream, isn't it? Reality of course, has a way of settling in. 

                   Doing the research at the National Library back then was a challenge. Photocopy was the only option and surprising number of relevant books were in French, which I couldn't understand at the time. In addition, the copies I made from the documents were black and white. (it was a long time ago) and usually ended up dark and illegible. So I had to reply on my drawings and whatever I could glean from the limited visuals, all the while deciphering a foreign language. 

                    Despite these hurdles, I wasn't easily discouraged. The library held other treasure beyond the French-text -such as old Thai books! One tale recounts a fantastical romance. An the Indian Brahmin, guided by dream and his genie's command, boarded a boat bringing a sacred bows. He sailed east and fate led him to meet Queen Naga. They fell in love and their union laid the foundation for mighty FU NAN Kingdom. Another tale chronicles the adventures of monk seeking merit along the silk road and maritime trade route. His journey stretched from China to India, weaving through the remnants of ancient kingdoms: Linyi, Funan and the enigmatic Dvaravati - a kingdom that existed in the region that comprised present-day Thailand. Even today, scholars debate its heartland, with some placing it in the Chao Phraya River Basin and others speculating Si Thep. 

  

                      I used to have a long list of history books I want to read and countless ideas for places I'd explore when I grew up. However, my interest shifted again in high school. This wasn't entirely unexpected, as my interests naturally changed over the time. But the one constant influence remained: Steven Spielberg with Jurassic Park, his impact, like my childhood pre-historical clay creations continues to inspire me. Now, my current passion is to be a film director. 

                     Unfortunately, film wasn't an option when I entered university, so I opted for advertising. However after I graduation, my business foray into field wasn't successful. I spent years bouncing between careers, trying my hand at jewelry photography, accounting and finally Video editing. Yet, somewhere deep down, a familiar voice kept calling me " archeology, archeology" Now after all these years, that voice has returned, reigniting a passion I had thought dormant. 

                    One surprising thing is that for the past 30 years, even though my career path has changed, my media consumption preference for archeology remains constant. My favorite publishers are river books, I'm a devoted collector of their archeological titles Whenever a new book is released I grab a copy right away. 

    However, I've noticed price fluctuations, especially with certain tiles. For the instance "Bayon New Perspective has dubbed in price at one retailer over the past two years. Thankfully, buying directly from the publisher often keeps the cost under 1,000 THB. For White Lotus publications, National book week is a great opportunity to find deals. I recently attended and scored a fantastic haul. 

                    I've always been fascinated by archeology, but life took me on the a different path. Until now and I'm again excited to embark on a new journey - a journey of exploration and sharing through this archaeology blog. while I haven't formally studies the subject, I know there are others out of there who share my curiosity about the past. This blog is for them and for anyone curious about wonder of archeology. 

    I won't be diving deep into academic complexities, but I will be sharing my travel experience to various archeological sites I hope I will be able to get to. Through personal storytelling, I will try to bring the past to life and ignite a spark of curiosity among my readers.      

                                            

     

              

Hello from Bangkok, I am Jacques or Peerapong Changthong. Thank you for visiting my blog. Hope you find interesting....  

Inform Facebook user: Jacques Changthong and business page: Jacques Changthong Travels with History, I can't log in, and recover the page. Right now I have only this jacqueschangthong.blogspot.com. and Facebook jacquesandpeerapong changthong