Sea Gypsy Cultural Center to be turned into ‘4D’ museum

[webfact]

Sea Gypsy Cultural Center to be turned into ‘4D’ museum
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- A budget of 20 million baht has been injected into the stumbling, soon-to-be animatronic Sea Gypsy Cultural Center, which saw costs of the facility balloon from 2mn baht to 5.4mn baht before it started to deteriorate into a derelict shell of a building that has become a shelter for the homeless.

Located in a small, nondescript soi at Laem Tukkae, out of sight from the beach, where Koh Sireh tourists board speedboats for day trips to islands, the unoccupied multi-million baht center has descended into disrepair: roof panels have fallen off, a mattress lies under a supporting structure and another floats in a pond nearby.

The center, originally slated for completion in 2012, never opened because it was not completed when it was transferred to the Rassada Municipality in May of that year.

In 2013, Rassada Municipality Chief Administrative Officer (palad) Dechakanee Leelanont said a budget of two or three million baht was necessary to finish the landscaping. At that point, the municipality said its job was only to watch the building while the Department of Public Works had agreed to budget for the extra millions.

“The Pubilc Works ended up not allocating any further funds toward the building, so we have had to take it on 'as is' and do our very best to develop an attraction that will be a great benefit to both academics and tourists,” Mr Dechakanee told the Phuket Gazette.

Full story: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Sea-Gypsy-Cultural-Center-be-turned-4D/62091?desktopversion#ad-image-0


-- Phuket Gazette 2015-10-07

[eisfeld]

What is it with museums being built with public funds recently? Same nonsense like the one in Naiharn. Or will these be Chinese tourist traps?

I just don't see how these dozens of millions for museums can be justified while there is huge need for improved roads, flood drainages, law enforcement improvements, ... the list goes on forever.

[Emster23]

4D? Sounds like heading for 3D currently if flattens (width, length and time, but no height). Instead of "animatronic Sea Gypsy" how about hiring some living Sea Gypsies to man the place?

[doremifasol]

Meanwhile nobody gives a dam about the Moken or Sea Gypsy.

This video "Thailand's Sea Gypsy" was shot in 2012 by Giorgio Taraschi

https://vimeo.com/55005603