Collector's items

Marine reptile, the Keichousaurus that lived in China some 248 million years ago. It had a long neck and measured 15-30 centimetres.

The `stone with white locks' is a major highlight.

Banyong shows every specimen in its original form _ no trims or polishing _ and glued to a base.

Fine mineral patterns look more like a painting.

Some of the ashtrays on display at the museum.

Old matchboxes, some 90 years old.

The museum displays not just rare stones but also fossils and a variety of antiques.

This rock looks like it's covered with rice grains.

I was amazed to find a collection of rare rocks, fossils, ashtrays, old matchboxes, smoking pipes, cigarette packs and old Chinese publications on display at a private museum only a walking distance from Si Phraya intersection in Bang Rak district of Bangkok.

The Rare Stone Museum is the brainchild of Banyong Lertnimitr, a manufacturer and exporter of garment.

"They are my favourite items collected over decades," he said as he showed visitors around the museum that formerly occupied three floors of the building it currently sits in, but now reduced to a single floor to save operational and maintenance costs.

As a result only a few thousand items - largely rare stones and ashtrays - from his 100,000-plus collection are on show. He even had to sell off some of the items to pay for the rental.

Banyong spent 10 million baht setting up the museum that opened in 1999, and although it hasn't brought him any profit, he is determined to keep it going while he is still around because the museum was conceived as a service to society where he could share knowledge with the visiting public.

Inspired by Chinese poetry and literature, he has been collecting clippings of Chinese articles, old matchboxes and rare stones since he was still young. His first purchase - weird-shaped rocks - some 15 years ago was made at the annual Bonsai Fair at the River City.

"Some people use stones for garden decoration but I just like to keep them. They drive my imagination," he said.

Since then he has travelled the length and breadth of Thailand, China and far away Africa in search of stones. Ninety-five percent of his stone collection is sourced from Thailand, the rest from around the world.

Among them is a black rock that looks like two penguins kissing, a deep-sea stone from Taiwanese waters attached to which are filaments of dry white seaweed that give it the appearance of a head with flowing locks, and a stone that looks like it is implanted with rice grains.

Fossils of a Keichousaurus, an aquatic ancient reptile native to China that lived some 248 million years ago, the skull of a crocodile, sugar apple, a turtle, fish and shells are among the other items on display.

"I love the stones because they teach me to persevere and be tolerant. They have withstood the elements and been stepped upon on countless occasions through the ages, but they still retain their shine and characteristics. They teach me never to give up in life," he noted.

Banyong is also vice president of International Rare Stone Association based in South Korea and adviser to 11 Chinese rare stone solicitations and museums. He regularly attends international exhibitions and he uses the opportunity to further the cause of rare stones found in Thailand.

"I really want to show the value of Thai rocks to the world," he said. "As long as I am alive the Rare Rock Museum will not close its door to visitors," he said with conviction.

More INFO

The Rare Stone Museum is located on the corner of Soi Charoen Krung 26. It opens every day from 9am to 5pm. Entrance fee is 20 baht for Thais as well as foreigners.

To get there, drive down Silom and turn right where it meets Charoen Krung Road. The museum is on the main road in a two-block building on your left. It has limited parking space.

You can also get there by boat. Get off at Si Phraya pier, walk to the intersection by the same name and turn left. The museum is within walking distance from there.

Public buses Nos. 1, 16, 35 and 75 connect the museum.

For more information, call 02-236-5656.
Bangkok Post.