Directions: Hard to miss
Phone: unknownIf you see something every day and look at it for long enough, you may become accustomed to it. You may come to like it, see it as fashionable: you may even grow to love it - or at the very least draw comfort from its constancy. I used to call this my “rubber thong” theory. Thongs, flip flops, jandals, - were at one time- deemed “poor taste” foot wear in my home country. Eventually, through familiarity, endurance or some other surprising pathway they came “in” and so much more. Following the same path are Ugg boots- cosy winter slippers once worn only in secret by fashionistas. Uggs have now had their moment in the spotlight, as evidenced by paparazzi pictures of Hollywood stars on sunny Rodeo drive.
So it is with the frolicking stallions of Ciputra. I see them every day. Mostly I just go about my business supervised by their quiet steely glaze. Though if I think about it, I would have to admit I love them, too. Their powerful arched necks, curved muscular flanks, flared nostrils and the illusion of movement, rooting, rearing, snorting, whinnying and stampeding. Like Snellopy, I thrill at the first glimpse of the herd in the distance. At last I am nearing my journey’s end - almost home, and they are a welcoming beacon signaling a safe harbor: a soft place to fall, a familiar place to rest.…… But not for me the trophy of the stallions’ heavy brass balls. One dark night, when the blue uniformed guards are distracted, crouching low to smoke a secret cigarette, I will find a bamboo ladder, clamber high atop the proud steel shoulders - and I will ride. I’ll ride, ride, and I’ll ride.
I like the horses. Every time I come back from holidays, once I am going past the horses, I feel that I'm finally back home. Landing at Noi bai isn’t being home. Someone picking their nose openly in public isn’t home. A taxi driver leaning on his horn and swerving between lanes isn’t home. Frolicking horses is home. Sure they're big and silly looking, but I have sympathy for them, as I'm silly looking too.
But I especially like the ones not on the big main entrance to Ciputra (that no-one seems to use), I like the ones dotted around the roads inside Ciputra. If you look under them, some of them are stallions, and some are mares. And the boys are not just little boys, but hung like horses. I keep thinking next time I go to JAFA I am going to take a hacksaw (and plenty of patience) and get a real souvenir that can take pride of place on the mantle piece - a Vietnamese dong ;)
On a somewhat recent trip, we took a group of well-read tourists past the gate. Comments ranged from Brandenburg?, Huh?, Beautiful, some laughter, outstanding and where are we now?
As a curiosity, I'd say the monument merits a four. Regarding beauty, well it's in the eye of the beholder.
This place gets two stars because my initial feelings of horror while passing it have gradually evolved into laughter, and everyone likes to laugh. They've even added some funky new lights to the thing! Appalling stuff.
Agree with dominic. The first time I saw this gate years ago, I thought it was inspired by Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.
They built it years ago for the whole South Thang Long residential area plan which will be finished years later. Ciputra is a part of it that's why the gate seems ridiculously connected to Ciputra.
1 star for the waste of money.
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If you like Monument to Triumphant Frolicking Stallions - Gateway to Ciputra...