FEBRUARY 2, 2026
I am covering two sites into one because the Ancient City had a replica of the Sanctuary of Truth, which we saw a couple of days later.
The Ancient City is the world’s largest outdoor museum. It is privately owned and was established in 1972. It covers 200 acres (320 hectares), in the shape of Thailand. It has 15 km of roads and trails to take you to the 116 replicas of famous monuments, temples and palaces, showcasing the artistic and architectural heritage of the country from the 5th century to modern times. You can rent a golf cart, but we chose to walk.
The layout of the park roughly follows the geographic shape of the kingdom, with monuments positioned in their corresponding real-world locations. Some structures are life-size replicas of existing or former sites, while others are scaled-down versions. It was like touring the whole of Thailand in one day. Brilliant!
The walk was pleasant and took us past ponds and along tree lined paths.
It was also informative. One street took us along a row of stupas, to show how their designs changed throughout Siam’s history.
Building designs also changed with time.
Some of the temples had piped in monk’s chants. I could have sat and listened to them for hours. At the gift shop I asked if it were possible to buy a CD. They looked at me like I was crazy. NO!!
Some of the displays were not anything historical. They were merely artists renditions of their imagination.
Not all parts of the park were well kept. We found more than a few beautiful sculptures all but hidden in overgrown shrubs. There were also little paths and bridges that suffered the same fate.
Some replicas were so beautiful. They must have been a sight to see in real life, in their former glory.
There was even a display of royal boats on a canal.
We spent the entire day there. By the time we got back to our hotel we were knackered.
SANCTUARY OF TRUTH – PATTAYA
FEBRUARY 5, 2026
The SANCTUARY OF TRUTH is the world’s largest unfinished wooden building. Construction began in 1981. It is 105 meters (344 ft) high covering an internal area of 2,115 square meters (22766 sq ft).
EVERYTHING is hand carved. We walked through the workshop and saw the process from the sketches, to the layout, to the actual carving. There is not one metal nail in the place. It is made from several different types of wood, giving different textures. Ironwood was used to build the main post and expected to last for 600 years.
Although it looks like a temple, it is really a museum. It focuses on Hindu and Buddhist concepts and the circle of life. Each lesson is depicted in wooden carvings across every inch of space. The good vs bad stories were carved into giant pillars opposite each other.
One of the main features is the four-faced Hindu creator god Brahma on the rooftop for showing respect to father, mother, teacher, and the king, and the elephant-headed god Ganesha.
It is hard to describe the beauty and intricate detail there is in this place. To watch the wood carvers at work, then to see other workers installing the carved pieces was amazing. The path to the museum was also lined with wooden sculptures hidden in the bushes.
I read a review criticizing this project and the amount of wood being used to build it. It has to be remembered that wood carving is an ancient skill passed down from generation to generation. It is a skill that is being lost to automation. The workers employed here are keeping the tradition alive. The building will stand for generations. There will always be the need to upkeep certain pieces, thereby keeping the tradition alive still. Trees grow. Traditions die.
Initially, we were not going to go to Cambodia because of the ongoing war with Thailand. However, we met a couple who had just returned from Cambodia. They said it was fine, and safe. We flew to Siem Reap the next day.
An Old Lady with a Backpack 
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