Bangkok
is one of Asia’s most cosmopolitan cities. Created as
the Thai capital in 1782 by the first
monarch of the present Chakri dynasty, Bangkok is a national
treasure house and Thailand’s spiritual, cultural, political,
commercial, educational and diplomatic centre.
Bangkok exceeds 1,500 square kilometres in area and is home
to one-tenth of the country's population. Major tourist attractions
include glittering Buddhist temples, palaces, timeless “Venice
of the East” canal and river scenes, classical dance
extravaganzas, and numerous shopping centres.
You could spend all days during the Meeting at Bangkok.
Attraction Hilights
Also called the Castle in the Clouds, Vimanmek Palace
is the summer palace built entirely out of teakwood commissioned
by King Rama V. The 3-story, 81-room mansion houses impressive
furniture and royal jewelry and objects of interest that were
actually used by the king.
The most important landmarks in the City of Angels are the
Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
The Palace is a large walled complex comprising several buildings
dating back 200 years that are used for specific occasions.
The royal temple houses the most revered Buddha image in Thailand,
exquisitely carved from a block of jade.
Close by is the Wat Pho, one of Bangkok's
oldest and largest temples, made popular by housing the gigantic,
gold-plated reclining Buddha. The temple has the largest collection
of Buddha images and is the center for the teaching and preservation
of traditional Thai medicine. You can study massaging techniques
or get one here.
Across the Chao Phraya River is the Temple of Dawn
(Wat Arun). The temple predates the city's founding
and is beautifully adorned with glass and ceramic mosaics.
Jim Thompson's House retains the remarkable
Thai style architecture and contains a valuable South East
Asian art collection. Jim Thompson was an American who revived
the Thai silk industry after WWII and later disappeared mysteriously
into the Malaysian jungles. The house has been left the same
since his disappearance.
Muay Thai is Thailand's indigineous sport
where contestants' every body parts can be used as weapons.
Fights are regularly held at two venues - Lumpini Stadium
and Ratchadamnoen Stadium.
Rent a long-tail boat and tour the Floating Market
off of Bangkok's numerous canals. The market is open
daily in the mornings and interesting wats and daily life
can be seen off the banks of the canals.
Dine on the 77th floor of the Baiyoke Sky
Hotel, the world's tallest hotel, at the Observation Deck.
Spectacular view of the city that can't be topped.
The Royal Barge Museum houses the elaborate
barges that are used for royal and governmental functions.
The most beautiful and famous one is the Suphanahongse, a
golden swan barge used solely by the king.
Amidst high-rises, Bangkok has ample space for parks, with
Lumpini Park being one of the largest one. A large,
artificial lake with row boats, well manicured gardens and
walking path makes it a great escape. Get there early in the
morning and join in the T'ai chi exercises. |
