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Location: Chiang Mai - Thailand Date: 8 Feb 2008

The attention to detail found in the statues at the Wats in Thailand is incredible. How they know what a dragons behind looks like though is beyond me.

Labels: chiang mai, statue, temple, thailand

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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At the St Pancras International station is a statue of English Poet Sir John Betjeman. The sculpture was commissioned to recognise the huge role John Betjeman played in the saving of St Pancras from demolition in the 1960s.



It's hard to believe that this station was threatened with demolition, but during the 1960's it was. During this time Victorian elegance was out and concrete brutalism was in.

Down the road from St Pancras the grand Euston station was demolished, only to be replaced by the abomination that stands today. Betjeman tried to save Euston, but did not succeed. Fortunately his efforts saved St Pancras from the wrecking ball.

If you are at St Pancras to travel or just there to marvel at the roof as Betjeman is apparently doing, go over to Betjeman's statue and give him a pat on the back.

Then over the years as appreciative travellers pat him on the back, may a shiny smooth spot appear on his back as a visible token of thanks from all who pass through this station.

Labels: england, london, sir john betjeman, st pancras, statue, train station

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Manneken Pis is one of the most well known places of Brussels. Some say it's also the most disappointing tourist attraction of Europe. But as it is one of those things you "have to see", people crowd around this diminutive statue.



Manneken Mascot

Manneken Pis is the unofficial symbol of Brussels. Every tourist shops contain Manneken Pis related items.




Other Pis Statues

Continuing the toileting statue theme, there are two more statues to see, the Jeanneke Pis and this one of a dog.

Labels: belgium, brussels, statue

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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On my city map of Tokyo I noticed a dot marked "Godzilla Statue". In my mind's eye I pictured a statue at least one storey high of the lizard, perhaps eating a car, with life size people statues fleeing the scene in terror. With this image in my head I made straight for the said dot.

I have heard that some people are disappointed when they see The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen or the Mannekin Pis in Brussels. They usually say that it wasn't as big as they expected. I don't see how you could have got your expectations so high, seeing that they already tell you that the Mermaid is little, and Mannekin Pis is Brabantian for little man piss after all (its website though must be the most comprehensive for any statue in the world).

So I have to say that I was a little disappointed when I saw the bonsaied Godzilla.

Labels: godzilla, japan, statue, tokyo

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Albert Einstein statue in Ulm, Germany. Einstein was born here on March 14, 1879.

Labels: albert einstein, germany, statue, ulm

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Labels: barcelona, placa de catalunya, spain, statue

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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