In Utanede, about 20 km from my home, in the forrest close to the river Indalsälven you can find one of the real great anomalies in Sweden. The only Royal Thai Pavillion outside Thailand lies there as a memorial building for king Rama V or Chulalongkorn, as he was called. He visited this area in 1897 when the World Fair was held in Sweden. His name was left in the memory of the locals thanks to the name on a short stretch of road that King Chulalongkorn walked on his way to the flat-bottomed boat that was transporting him and his three sons downstreams Indalsälven, after having paid a visit to Sollefteå and surrounding areas. In 1975 a dance troup visited Bispgården, where this place is situated, and when they were asked if they would like to visit King Chulalongkorns Road , they didn´t believe their ears. King Chulalongkorn is almost considered a God in Thailand. He was the one to abolish the slavery, and also the bigamy (although he himself had about 30 wifes and a hundred kids... He died at the age of 57, I believe....)
After the visit from this dance troup rumour about this place reached Thailand, and the story began. After a number of years the pavillion stood ready at its place, greeting the Thai and the Swedish, and beeing the most remarkable memorial I believe in Sweden.
Look it up at : http://www.ragunda.se:81/thaipav/paviljong/pav_frame2.html
http://www.orbville.com/member/penang/bilder/82949 http://www.orbville.com/member/penang/bilder/80449