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Bangkok attraction
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Frommer's Review |
The Erawan Shrine is not old, but it is an interesting testament to
faith (or superstition, perhaps) in Thai society. Built in 1956 next
to what is now the Grand Hyatt Erawan, it stands defiantly at the
center of a busy corner plot, right next to fume-belching buses and
overshadowed by the BTS. In a sumptuous pavilion at the center of
this yard, a gilded statue of the four-faced Hindu god of creation,
Brahma, named Phra Phrom in Thai, is enshrined. Its construction is
believed to have put a stop to all the accidental deaths of workers
involved in the hotel site, and due to such mystic powers, it is
today one of the most revered spots in the kingdom. The area is
crowded with worshippers wafting bunches of incense. It is common to
see people giving a wai as they pass by. The shrine made news very
recently when a mentally deranged Thai man decided to take an ax to
the statue.
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Jim Thompson's House |
American architect Jim Thompson settled in Bangkok after World War
II where he worked for American Intelligence and became fascinated
by Thai culture and artifacts. He dedicated himself to reviving
Thailand's ebbing silk industry, bringing in new dyes to create the
bright pinks, yellows, and turquoises we see sold today. It was Jim
Thompson silks that were used by costumier Irene Sharaff for the
Oscar-winning movie The King & I starring Yul Brynner.
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Royal Barge Museum |
If you've hired a long-tail boat on the Chao Phraya, stop by this
unique museum housing the sumptuous royal barges. These elaborately
decorated sailing vessels -- the largest measures over 46m (50 yd.)
-- are used by the royal family on state occasions or for religious
ceremonies. The king's personal barge, the Suphannahong, has a
swan-like neck and central chamber; the boat itself is decorated
with scarlet and gold carvings of fearsome mythological beasts.
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The Grand Palace |
The number-one destination in Bangkok is also one of the most
imposing and visually fascinating. Though it's seen by thousands of
tourists -- who arrive at the gates in busloads -- its immensity
still dwarfs the throngs. After passing muster with the fashion
police at the main gate (rules are inconsistently enforced, but many
have been turned away for inappropriate dress), and queuing at the
turnstiles for your ticket (keep it safe for admission to other
sites), you'll be directed to the temple entrance on the left of the
kiosk.
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The National Museum |
The National Museum, just a short (15-min.) walk north of the Grand
Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, is the country's
central treasury of art and archaeology (32 branches are located
throughout the provinces). Some of the buildings are themselves
works of art.
The current museum was built as part of the Grand Palace complex
when the capital of Siam was moved from Thonburi to Bangkok in 1782.
Originally the palace of Rama I's brother, the deputy king and
appointed successor, it was called the Wang Na ("Palace at the
Front"). The position of princely successor was eventually
abolished, and Rama V had the palace converted into a museum in
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Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) |
Formerly known as Wat Jaeng, the 79m-high (260-ft.), Khmer-inspired
tower was renamed the "Temple of Dawn," by King Thaksin, Bangkok's
founder. He was keen to signal the rise of a new kingdom after
Ayutthaya was decimated, and so borrowed the name -- which means
dawn -- from the Hindu God, Aruna. Fittingly, it's at its most
wondrous as the sun rises and sets.The original tower was only 15m
(50 ft.) high but was expanded during the rule of Rama III
(1824-1851) to its current height.
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Wat Phra Kaew |
Sitting to the east of the enormous compound of palaces, lawns, and
old tamarind trees at the Grand Palace is the royal chapel Wat Phra
Kaew, or "Temple of the Holy Jewelled Image." The temple, more often
called "Temple of the Emerald Buddha," is one of the most revered by
Thai people. The temple's name refers to the petite jadeite (not
emerald) statue that sits atop a huge gold altar in the temple's
main hall, or bot. The Buddha, like many others in Thailand, is
clothed in seasonal robes, changed three times a year to correspond
to the summer, winter, and rainy months. The changing of the robes
is an important ritual, performed by the king, who also sprinkles
water over the monks and well-wishers to bring good fortune during
the upcoming season. The statue is the subject of much devotion
among Thais; bizarrely, it is also the religious icon to which
politicians (accused of corruption) swear innocence.
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Wat Po |
Wat Po is among the most photogenic of all the wats in Bangkok; it's
also one of the most active. Also known as the Temple of the
Reclining Buddha, Wat Po was built by Rama I in the 16th century and
is the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Bangkok. The compound,
divided into two sections by Chetuphon Road, is a 15-minute walk
south of the Grand Palace. The northern area contains the most
important monuments, and the southern portion is where monks
reside.Most people go straight to the enormous Reclining Buddha in
the northern section.
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Bangkok Travel Information
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