...รัฐบาลไทยเราให้ทุนโครงการอนุรักษ์อะไรมากหลาย ตามที่นายฝรั่งสั่งมา เช่นอนุรักษ์ตึกโบราณสมัยอาณานิคมฝรั่ง...

I went on my tour of 'Khom Cities West-to-East' last year. I looked for 'Khom gardens' (or any ancient gardens) and I was utterly disappointed. Apart from certain garden features at นครศรีเทพ, all other 'Khom' historic sites only (proudly) show (piles of) stones. Surely, when we build grand temples, great monuments and land marks we don't just build structures, we landscape or build gardens surrounding the structures too. So, what trees they grew in ancient times? How do they irrigate? ? ? ?

I wonder if our archeologists are more interested in old rocks than old plants. And in some sites, restoration and landscaping work are going on. Some old and new rocks are used to make pavement, retaining walls, garden edgings and so on. In short, evidence of any ancient gardens are currently being destroyed by well-intention exhibitionists.