After settling my mother into her hotel room, it was time to explore. However, I kept our outing short in case she woke up hungry or wanted to attend the "Sea Food Eat Local Meet Local" event at Laem Sing Beach, which started at 11:00 AM. This way, I could return promptly and avoid keeping her waiting.

We passed by the chicken coop in the middle of Laem Sing several times, so we looked for a suitable place to park and went down to take a look.

Is it true that one must enter a chicken coop backwards? Is this a common belief?

The Chicken Dung Prison, also known as the Kook Khai Kai, is an ancient prison built in 1893 by the French during their occupation of Chanthaburi province. It was intended to house Thai prisoners who resisted French rule, but it was never used for this purpose. The prison is located next to the Red Building, and the upper floor of the Red Building was used to raise chickens whose droppings were then dropped onto the heads of prisoners held below.

Outer Wall and Air Vent

The Chicken Dung Prison is a square-shaped building with a side length of 4 meters and a height of 10 meters. It is located in Moo 1, Pak Laem Sing Subdistrict, Laem Sing District, Chanthaburi Province.

Internal air duct

The Chicken Cage Prison is currently a popular historical tourist destination, attracting a steady stream of visitors.

Not far from the Kook Kai Prison, we will see a peculiar structure, the "Red Building." This historical landmark stands as a testament to the Franco-Thai conflict during the Paknam incident of 1893. The Red Building is located in Pak Nam Laem Sing Subdistrict, Laem Sing District, Chanthaburi Province, near the end of the Pak Nam Laem Sing pier.

"Red Building": Historical Evidence of French Presence in Chanthaburi Province

The Red Building, constructed in 1893 by the French, stands on the former site of the Pachamith Fort, which dates back to the reign of King Rama III. Following the French occupation of Chanthaburi, the Pachamith Fort was demolished, and its bricks were used to construct the Red Building.

Exterior of the red building

The Red Building is a single-story structure, slightly elevated from the street level. It is rectangular in shape, constructed with brick and mortar, measuring 7 meters wide and 32 meters long. The entire building is painted red. The roof is covered with tiles imported from France, while the roof structure is made from railway tracks brought from Vietnam. The building is surrounded by a veranda with open wooden railings. The doors and windows are made of wooden louvers. The interior is divided into 5 rooms, all connected by doors.

A car accident involving a red building.

The Red Building was constructed as a residence for French soldiers stationed at Laem Sing Pier. After the French withdrew their troops and departed from Chanthaburi in 1904, the Red Building was abandoned. It was renovated in 1984 to serve as a library and non-formal education center for Laem Sing district. Currently, it operates as a museum showcasing the historical significance of the Red Building.

The interior of the Red Building and the submerged French cannons in the area.

Bronze cannon, weighing approximately 4 tons.

The interior of the hall houses a bronze cannon weighing approximately 4 tons, along with a number of round iron balls and large iron chains. This French cannon bears the emblem of Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France, in the form of an eagle stamped on its barrel. The cannon was discovered submerged in the Chanthaburi River after the French had completely withdrawn their forces from Thailand.

Exhibition of Chanthaburi in the Past at the Red Building

Leaving the Red Building, one could not help but be struck by the historical artifacts on display, a tangible reminder of what we learned in our childhood. The harmonious blend of old and new was truly captivating. With time still on our side, we decided to continue our exploration.

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A 3-day, 2-night trip with my mother to Chanthaburi: The Chicken Coop Jail and the Red Building during the R.S. 112 crisis.

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