Betong: Giant postbox

As you can tell I 've been pretty active these past few weekends...
haven't really gotten around to talking about my recent trip to Betong, Thailand.

Let me begin by talking about the reason I made the journey in the first place...
It was all for a postbox... yes you heard me right... a postbox
This one right here...

I first chanced upon the news of this box while researching for my previous Thailand trip... the tallest postbox in the world(though I cannot find any substantial facts to back up this claim)
This postbox was constructed in 1924...
It is made of reinforced concrete, with a total height of 320 cm and circumference of 240cm..
and yes it is actually a functioning postbox.
but no I cannot phantom nor conceive when such a big postbox would ever be used...
note that in order to keep it safe they have even built barriers around it..

 

This landmark is located at another noticable structure in the town.. the clock tower..

The clock tower is a mix of influences but prominently adorned with the golden dragons 

commonly found all over Thailand.

 

This clock tower is located at one of the busiest intersection of the town centre..

Which makes it a great place for long exposure shots... if you had a tripod...

but I'm still quite satisfied with this handheld shot :)

And if you were wondering, no those are not dirt on my sensor but birds...

which I later found out are Siberian swallows which migrate here every year.

So if you were considering taking such night shots, or just a leisurely night walk,

I recommend arming yourself with an umbrella, as for my 5 minutes stop to snap these few photos gave to me three little presents on my head, shirt and pants... 

if only we could train them to use the toilets....

Now you would have thought that was enough of postboxes...but you'd be wrong... after all that ranting.. that postbox is not the tallest in the world...

A short journey to the other side of the town will find you at this place. Now that is one impressive mailbox.

It is so big that the slot for the mail is located near the base!

I'm supposing the constructed this to keep up their reputation of having the tallest mailbox in the world... 

of course I could be wrong...
This newer box is about nine meters tall, and is located at the City Convention Hall (Sala Prachakhom)
The park next to it is frequented by many youth. I was however more intrigued by the huge decorations around the mailbox..

pretty reflection from across the street eh?

and the scene at night is quite beautiful as well

So what do you think? was it worth the trip just to witness a monument of human achievement?