Religious Holy Places Part1

1.Wat Phra Sri Ratana Sasadaram(Wat Phra Kaew)

King Rama I,Phra Bat Somdej Phra Phuttha Yod Fa Chula Lok Maha Raja, founder of the Chakri Dynasty, had built the grand palace in 1782 at the same time as Bangkok(Ratakasin) and as the capital of Thailand. When King Rama I succeeded the throne.The construction work took place for three years, and Royal chapel,Wat Phra Sri Ratana Sasadaram is located within beside the Royal residences.

Wat Phra Sri Ratana Sasadaram, generally called the temple of the emerald Buddha, is a temple particularly built to house a Buddha image,Chaophraya Chakri who became king Rama I brought the Buddha image from Vientiane when he captured the city.

He built the temple and enshrined the Emerald Buddha there.The Emerald Buddha temple does not house any monks. It can be concluded that the temple of the Emerald Buddha,the most sacred of Thailand.

Plan of Wat Phra Sri Ratana Sasadaram

1. A Patron Rup Rushi

A Patron is hermit doctor statue of the father of Thai herbal medicine. The Patron regarded as protecting a particular person or place is the patron saint of travelers. The figure is a seated hermit patron of Thai Medicine. The patron is behind the Buddha. It was made in the time of King Rama III.

2. Cloisters with Mural Paintings (Phra Rabiang)

Cloisters can be compared to the temple walls. These Paintings were the first done in the reign of the King Rama I. The Mural Paintings consist of the Ramakien epic in each section. Here is a very brief statement of the story. The Enclosure gallery with mural painting surrounding the Phra Ubosoth shows the Ramakien story.

The Ramakien is very popular in Thailand and other Southeast Asian Nations. Thai arts are filled with the Ramakien. The Word “Rama” in English language for titles of Kings in the present chakri dynasty.

3. The Guardian Giants (Gate-keeping Giants)

There are six pair of demon guardian statutes at the entrance gates to temple in the gallery. These are the main Giants of the Ramakien. They stand facing the Phra Ubosoth meaning they are guarding the Emerald Buddha inside from all evil spririts.

These demon guardians were build in the reign of King Rama III, each one describing an important character in the Ramakien story. The green one describes Tosakanth, the demon King and red one represents Sahassadeja one of Tosakanth's warriors.

4. The Golden Stupa (Phra Sri Ratana Chedi)

The golden stupa is Phra Sri Ratana Chedi, The Chedi is one worthy of veneration as if the Buddha. The King Rama IV, Phra Mongkut has built the golden Chedi and transferred the merit resulting from the construction to his parents.

The golden Stupa is a modal one of three large stupas at Phra SriSanphet temple in Ayutthaya, the former capital city of Thailand. Inside is a small Chedi. Relics of the Buddha have been enshrined in it. The Chedi has a bell shape, which is the Ceylonese style. In the reign of King Rama V, Phra Chula Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua had applied the golden tile mosaics to the stupa.

Bangkok the Capital of Thailand Part3

Bangkok Transport: Public buses are plentiful and cheap with minimum fares of 6-8 bath to most destinations within metropolitan Bangkok.Air conditioned buses have minimum and maximum fares 10-20 bath respectively

Taxi-Meter has become very convenient for visitors to welcome them and go to destination.The taxi charges a minimum of 35 bath for the first 2 kilometres and approximately 5 bath per kilometer after there.

Sky-Trains are designed to high international standards.Doors open and close automatically.BTS sky-trains connect Bangkok’s leading hotels and major shopping areas such as Siam ,Silom and Ploenchit etc. The MRT System starts from Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong) along Rama 4 road, crosses Samyan intersection, Silom intersection and Wireless intersection, turns left to Ratchadaphisek Road at Rama 4 intersection, passing Queen Sirikit National Convention Center to Asoke-Sukhumvit intersection, Asoke-Phetchaburi intersection, Rama 9 intersection, Huai Khwang intersection, and Sutthisan intersection, then turns left to Lat Phrao road at Ratchada-Lat Phrao intersection, faces to Lat Phrao intersection, Phahon Yothin road, Chatuchak Park, Mo Chit Northern Bus Terminal (Old), and turns right to Kamphaeng Phet road, passing The Marketing Organization for Farmers (MOF) market, and finally ends at Bang Sue Railway Station.

Tuk-Tuk are three-wheeled automobiles best used for covering short distances.The Tuk-Tuks are considered as a faster mode transport.Minimum fares for journeys are of up to approximately 25-40 bath.

Ferry Services are traveling by ferry. A fun way to cross the Chao Phraya river operates a regular boat service up and down Chao Phraya river.

Chao Phraya express boat operates a regular boat service up and down river.Fares are very cheap.The new Chao phraya Tourist boat uses more comfortable boats serving just those piers of interest to the tourists.

Bangkok Travel Guide: When visiting Bangkok, keep in your mind that the National language is Thai atone language with its own alphabet. You may find many Thais who speak enough English for you to communicate with.

When visiting the grand Palace and most Buddhist temples, one must be dressed respectfully:No shorts, no open shoulder shirts and sandals are permitted.

The most Bangkok Citizens are quite formal, especially in regard to the manner of dress. One must be dressed appropriately to get into most indoor venues.

Thais are almost always Buddhist, reflecting the strong cultural influence from Buddhism. Bangkok is full of small reminders of strong influence of Thai Buddhism across all societal level.

Bangkok the Capital of Thailand Part2

Ratanakosin Island is the most heavily visited area,Bangkok’s old city lying on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya river.Here you’ll find historical architecture such as the Grand palace,Wat Phra Kaew,Wat Pho,Wat MahaThat,The Golden Mount,Wat Suthat and Wat Ratchanaddaram etc.The city’s founding pillar is found in this district including the National Museum,National theatre and the Sanam Luang area is the Political capital of Thailand.

Bangkok Attractions:There are many attractions for you to experience while traveling about Bangkok.Sometimes,you may want to book a tour,so that you can catch all of the sites.This is an advance as you can go and see more details those sights that particularly appealed to you.

There are lots of tours: You can take in Bangkok,Maybe you would like to experience a boat tour,you could take along tail water taxi for about 300-500 bath per hour.To start ThaChang Ferry Pier near the Grand palace to enjoy khlong Bangkok Noi and Bangkok Yai and the Royal Barges etc.

The Grand Palace is attraction for you to explore.You could easily spend the whole day touring the ground including the Emerald Buddha and the Throne rooms etc.

Wat Pho is located next the Grand Palace and houses a gold plasted reclining Buddha which is measured as being over 120 feet long.

Bangkok Nightlife is plenty of choices to choose in the entertainment department when you visit Bangkok.You can experience the city’s Jazz bars,Cabaret,theatre and dance.You may choose to enjoy a nice evening cocktail which can be found at many lobby bars etc.

Bangkok the Capital of Thailand Part1

Bangkok or Krung Thep Maha Nakhorn, is the capital of Thailand.  Bangkok is one of Asia's most cosmopolitan cities. Bangkok is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya river. It is the political, culture, commercial, spiritual, education and diplomatic. 

In 1767, when the Thai capital of Ayutthaya fell to the Burmese, the Royal family established a new capital in Thonburi on the west bank of the Chao Phraya river. In 1782 King Rama I of the present Chakri Dynasty moved the royal residence to the east bank of the Chao Phraya and named the new capital "Krung Thep".

Bangkok can be divided into main geographic areas of follows:

The riverside to the city's east is Silom, Siam and Sukhumvit, young Thais and Keen Shoppers head to the area around Siam Square, Siam Paragon, Mabunkhrong, central word etc.Heading each along Ploenchit Rd. and Sukhumvit Rd. there is plenty of shopping which spring up around the beginning of Sukhumvit and stretch Soi Asoke,Central Chidlom and Emporium

Central Bangkok is the Siam Square district of the city.This is Bangkok's most western feeling shopping district.Pratunam next to Silom is also great for shopping. Sukhumvit Road is night time heart of bangkok.

Dusit District also offers plenty of tourist attractions : Vimanmek Palace,Wat Benchamabophit and Dusit Zoo are found here.

Northern Bangkok’s highlife for tourists is Chatuchak weekend market,best reached by catching the Sky-Train. Morchit bus terminal is located at the same stop.

Sathorn ,Silom area is a financial district.The area has a number of Embassies and hotels such as Sukhothai hotel,Dusit Thani hotel,if you reach west along Sathorn or Silom,you’ll come to Charoen Krung road and the Chao Phraya rivers side again.This riverside is popular hotel area,the city’s beast hotels including the Oriental hotel,the best hotel in the world ,the Shangrila and the Royal Orchid Sheraton.

North along the river’s way is Chinatown,Pahurat and Indian district.Here you’ll find Wat Trimit,The Golden Buddha is head over to Chinatown .This attract tion is elieves to be the world’s largest solid gold Buddha statue.

Background Part3

Thailand is divided into 76 provinces, which are gathered into 5 groups of provinces by location and districts, sub-districts and villages. An appointed governor administers each provinces. There are also 2 special governed districts: the capital Bangkok and Pattaya, which Bangkok is at a provincial level while Pattaya is a part of Chonburi province.

Thais are tolerant of most kinds of behavior . Theravada Buddhism is central to modern Thai identity and belief. However, in the Southern most parts of Thailand, Islam is prevalent. Several different ethnic groups are: Laos, Burmese, Malaysia, Cambodia and Mon have maintained distinctly traditional way of life despite strong Thai culture influence.

Ethnic Chinese also are from a significant part of Thai society. Bangkok's Chinatown is located on a Yaowarat road.

Workship of ancestors is a large part of Thai spiritual practice  as well as charity towards Buddhist monks. Seniority is a very important concept in Thai culture. Thais respect the elderly so much. They give honor to the eldest family.

Thai food blends five fundamental tastes: spicy, sour, sweet, salty and bitter. Some common ingredients used in Thai cooking include garlic, lemon juice, chilies, fish sauce, basil, coconut milk etc.

The standard currently unit is the baht, and it is divided into on hundred units called stang. Coins are used as 25 stang, 50 stang, 1 baht, 2 baht, 5 baht, 10 baht and paper currency is issued as 20 baht, 50 baht, 100 baht, 500 baht and 1000 baht.

The national anthem is played on all ceremonial occasions of national importance and while the national flag is being raised each morning at 8.00 a.m. and lowered each evening 6.00 p.m.

Thailand's national flag has three colours consist of red band meaning of nation, blue band meaning of monarchy and white band meaning of religions. 

Basically Thailand is an agricultural country with about 80% percent of population engaged in farming or related occupations of agriculture. Rice is the major export item.

Background Part2

Climate in Thailand is warm and rather humid tropical country and with long hours of sunshine. There are three seasons: summer season from March to May, rainy season from June to October and winter from November to February.

The population of Thailand is approximately 66.5 million (2010). The population includes 75% Thai, 14% Chinese, 3% Malays and also Khmer, Mon, Lao, Karen minorities, Vietnams, Indian and  others.

Buddhism, the national religion is the professed faith of 94.7% of the population. Theravada Buddhism is the state religion. Practically some-Thai males enter monkshood once in the lifetime to study the teachings of Load Buddha. The rest of the population embraces Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and other. There is absolute religious freedom. The King of Thailand under the constitution and in practice is patron of all major religions.

The official national Language spoken by almost 100% of the Thai population is Thai. The Thai language has its own alphabet. It is a tonal language. The most polysyllabic words in the vocabulary have been borrowed mainly from Khmer, Pali, Sanskrit. The other languages are Chinese and Malays. English is also well understood in most cities for visitors to communicate or bargain. The English language as subject is widely used in public school and Universities.

Thailand is governed by a constitutional monarchy with the bicameral Thai parliament into the National Assembly, which consists of a House of Representatives of 500 seats and senate of 200 seats. The head of government is the Prime Minister who is appointed by the king from among the members of the Lower House of parliament usually the leader of the party that can organize a majority coalition government.

Background Part1

Thailand's origin is traditionally tied to the short lived kingdom of Sukhothai founded in 1238, after which the larger kingdom of Ayutthaya was established in the mid 14th century.

Siam is the name, which the country was known all over the world until 1949. On May 1949, an official proclamation changed the name of the country to "Thai" or Thailand.

Thailand contact with various European powers became in the 16th century. Thailand was never colonized by a European power because there are two reasons:

First, it is left as a buffer state between parts of Asia that were colonized by the French and the British.

Second, Thailand has been a number of very able rulers in the 1800s. However western influence including the threat of force,  led to many changes in the 19th in century and major concessions to British mercantile interest.

This included the lost of the 3 Southern Provinces which later became Malaysia's 3 northern states.

The geographical Thailand located in the Southeast Asian on the gulf of Thailand that covering area of 513115 sq. km. and shares boundaries with Laos on the east and Northeast, Cambodia on the Southeast, Malaysia on the South and Myanmar on the west and Northwest.

Topographic Thailand is divided into four natural regions:

The North is mountainous region comprising natural forest.

The Central is the basin of the Chao Phraya Rive. It is the richest and most extensive rice producing area in the country.

The Northeast is known as "Isan" that is a huge region with over 20 millions inhabitants; the most of them are engaged in agriculture.

The Southern is hilly to mountainous with thick forest and rich deposits of mineral and ores. This region is the centre for the production of rubber.