Preserve our heritage, don't leave it to rotRecent news reports that a bust of Chao Phraya Kosathibodi (Kosa Pan), one of the first Siamese ambassadors, was "stolen" from its plinth on the Rue de Siam in the French city of Brest shocked cultural enthusiasts. Fortunately, the Kosathibodi bust was returned to the place it was taken from less than 24 hours after disappearing. The French king returned the goodwill the same year when he sent a delegation led by Chevalier de Chaumont to Ayutthaya where he was received by the 17th century Siamese king. While Thais take a great interest in the "Rue de Siam" in Brest, not many know there is another road bearing that name. Over the years, Thailand's "Rue de France" has literally become "lost", littered with garbage and lined by stalls.

Source: Bangkok Post July 10, 2020 23:26 UTC