The Marble Temple In Bangkok

The Marble Temple In Bangkok
By Pauline Go

The Marble Temple is located close to Dusit Palace. The name Marble Temple is used more by foreigners visiting the temple than the locals. In Thailand, the temple is known as Wat Benchamabophit.

This temple is not promoted as a tourist destination so the number of foreigners visiting it is quite miniscule.

The wat was founded during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) on March 1, 1900. The Ubosoth in the temple was constructed using Carrara marble from Italy. Wat Bechamabophit simply means : the temple of the Fifth King.

The main structure at Wat Benchamabophit is the Ubosoth Hall. It is one of the finest works of architectural art. The Ubosoth has four gables and the east gable is the main entrance to the Ubosoth.

The cloister is located towards the rear of the Ubosoth. In the cloister there are 52 Buddha images. Some of the images are original while others are copies of important Buddha images.

Inside the Ubosoth, the main Buddha image is enshrined. This image is a replica of Phra Buddha Chinnarat at Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat in Phitsanulok province. The image is in bronze and it has an unusual blue lighting around it. Just beneath Buddha’s throne, the ashes of King Rama V are interred.

There are many other structures connected through pleasant walkways in the Wat Benchamabophit compound. These include the Abbot’s residence, Song Dharm Hall, used for laying in state the members of the Royal family and high dignitaries, and the Bell Tower. A visit to the monks quarters is also worthwhile and one will see that the quarters are extremely colorful and well maintained.

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Wat Arun in Bangkok - The Temple of Dawn

Wat Arun in Bangkok - The Temple of Dawn
By Orson Johnson

The famous Wat Arun in Bangkok is known as The Temple of Dawn. It is also known locally by the Thais as Wat Chaeng and is situated on the West side of the Chao Phraya River. This Buddhist temple is a well known landmark and most recognize it by its massive elongated central prang. The tourism Authority of Thailand is proud to announce that the prang is 104 metres high; however others have said it is only around 70 metres high.

History of the Temple

The temple was constructed in the days of Thailand's ancient capital of Ayutthaya. It was a host to two Buddha images; the Emerald Buddha (relocated to Wat Phra Kaew) and the Phra Bang. King Rama II, King Rama III and King Rama IV restored the temple while in reign and it was King Rama IV who named the temple Wat Arunratchawararam.

Architecture

The temple is a beauty, its architecture and fine craftsmanship is of excellence. To date, it is one of the finest and most outstanding temples in Thailand. Wat Arun is decorated by seashells and Chinese porcelain bits whose origins were from the boat's ballast; these boats sailed from China to Bangkok during the rule of King Rama III. The exterior is decorated with tiny pieces of coloured glass, making it extremely spectacular at sunset and at night when the temple is lit.

Touring the Area

Walking up the stairs of the prang to catch a glimpse of the Chao Phraya river is possible, however be careful as the stairs are pretty steep. Walking around the Wat grounds is peaceful; one could view the murals, mystical guardians and Buddha image. Although the area is peaceful, the peace might be disrupted by the locals asking for donations of about 100 baht.

To get the best views and photographs of Wat Arun, it is advisable to wait till evening so as to capture the sun setting behind the attraction. However, due to the closing time (stated below), one could go into some restaurants on the other side of the river to watch the sun set and take some photos.

Opening Times and getting there

This attraction is opened daily from 8.30am to 5.30pm and the easiest way to get to Wat Arun is by taking a ferry through the river. The ferry leaves at every few minutes and it can be taken from the Tha Tien express boat pier (South-West of the Grand Palace).

Orson Johnson writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing Bangkok vacation apartments & Holiday rental accommodation.

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Enjoying Bangkok - The Great City of Angels

Enjoying Bangkok - The Great City of Angels
By Margaret Winfrey

It is very easy to enjoy a luxury Bangkok vacation because the city seems almost to have been designed for tourists. To the Asians it is Krungthep Mahanakhon (Great City of Angels): they do not like the name 'Bangkok' so try to refer to as the locals do when you visit. The official name of this city contains 21 words and 167 characters, and is named by the Guinness Book of records as the world's longest place name. It shall not be repeated here!

A vacation in Bangkok is an experience of the traditions of the East together with the best of western culture, and this great city has much to offer to those interested in Oriental history and the way of life that people in this part of the world live. It offers some of the best hotels in the East and the Bangkok Oriental is one of the finest hotels in the world. A stay here is worth the vacation itself, but you get much more than that from a visit to this great city. You can enjoy your vacation while retaining the civilization with your are familiar - if that is what you want.

It's a shame that this wonderful city has the unsavory reputation it has gained, but the authorities are taking steps to stop all that, and a Krung Thep vacation can now be enjoyed by everybody, including young families. The food, history, architecture, sports and entertainment has something to offer everybody of all ages. The transportation systems are excellent, with trains, buses and other local means of transport, although due to the river and delta, many people travel in boats.

The Chao Phraya River is the life-blood of this part of Thailand, and a cruise along it is the most pleasant way to see the city on your Bangkok vacation, and it is because of this and its associated waterways and canals that it is dubbed the Venice of the East. The canals and rivers are known as khlong and maenam, and are a vey important means of transportation for many of the people of this part of the country. It is by the river that you find most of the traces that are left of the early Rattanakosin period of Thailand's history.

The city itself is low-lying, only around 6 - 7 feet above sea level, and the monsoons can create many problems with flooding. The entire area lies on a series of delta plains and at one time, each area of land separated by these waterways was a separate district of the city, although that system has now been superseded.

You can use these waterways to enjoy the city and the outlying districts, and you can take anything from a speedboat to a converted rice boat to enjoy a luxurious cruise through the city. Why not finish it off with a wonderful relaxing meal on board or even some Thai dancing and entertainment on your boat? You could even visit the water market, where all the goods are sold from boats, and you need a boat to visit. That's where you will find the real Thai delicacies, though you might be better off not examining some of them too closely!

When visiting this city, you are advised to do so with professional guides and escorts that are familiar with the city and its history, since otherwise it is easy to get entrapped in the popular downbeat culture that many visit the city to enjoy, rather than experience the true history and flavor of this great oriental city. It contains many unique Buddhist temples, or Wats, that are well worth a visit but easily missed without a guide. The Wat Trimitr (Temple of the Golden Buddha) and Wat Po (Temple of the reclining Buddha) are two of the more famous that you must visit.

Thai food is famous the world over, and although spicy has something offer all tastes. Krung Thep has a fabulous selection of restaurants, and if you can't get used to traditional Thai food, then there is also a wonderful selection of restaurants of various types. To finish off, why not enjoy some traditional Thai dancing after your meal.

Perhaps you will be so impressed by the Thai style of cooking that you want to take some of back home? Well, why not learn yourself? Enjoying your Bangkok vacation can also mean learning how to cook Thai food. Visit a local market and choose your ingredient - don't worry, your guide will keep you right. Then cook it in the Thai style and eat it yourself. What could be a better way to enjoy Thai food than to choose the ingredients, cook it and then eat it!

Wouldn't that be great skill to take back home with you? How about that for a great dinner party in Beverley Hills or Brooklyn? You would be the talk of the neighborhood with your new-found Thai cooking skills. It's always good to go on vacation and return home with something that is going to be useful for you, and what more useful than a Thai dinner in a room decorated with all those wonderful Thai souvenirs and decoratives you purchased in Krung Thep - as you can take delight in calling it. It would be a great conversation topic.

A Bangkok luxury vacation is a wonderful experience, and to enjoy this with first class accommodation and the services of your personal courier check out Ultitude Travel where you will be offered the best quality of food and travel to ensure that you and family get the best possible experience from your visit to the Orient. Also be sure to visit Ultitude-Travel.

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A Cruise on Bangkok's Sea

A Cruise on Bangkok's Sea
By Naveen Marasinghe

An interesting tourist activity that can be enjoyed a little way out of the city of Bangkok is an expedition on the Bangkok Sea. Though located roughly 20 kilometers away from the city, it can be an interesting experience for tourists or a wonderful day out for Thai residents. The small pier that offers boat or in local parlance Klong rides to a small restaurant that only be termed as primitive when compared to the chic cafes and elegant restaurants in the city. Yet the gastronomical delights, the amazing view of the ocean coupled with the novelty of dining out, perched on bamboo stilts in the middle of the ocean is an experience one should not miss.

Visitors to this attraction can park their vehicles and board a long tail boat that transports them up the canal and into the open ocean, the whole trip last for about half an hour. The water of the canal is clean and docile; the greenish tinge is due to algae growth because of organic matter in the water. The trip is relaxing and peaceful and offers great insights into the lives of Thais that live on the banks of the canals.

The Klong trundles along in to the expansive ocean up to a peculiar shaped marker that I suspect has some sort of historical significance, however I was unable to verify my suspicions. The marker apparently signifies the outer boundary of Bangkok and the boat ride is a great way to see the coastline of the city.

The boat later does a rather dramatic u turn and heads to the restaurant that is located in the middle of the ocean, the rickety restaurant is actually built on tall bamboo stilts that have to be replaced periodically. Don't be put off by the Spartan appearance though the food here is fit for a king! A number of seating options are available from European style cutlery and proper chairs and tables to a short table and no chairs which is the traditional Thai manner of eating.

The food is cooked in the most authentic Thai tradition with plenty of spices, using a lot of sea food. The food is extremely good and can be described as a gastronomist's delight. A limited continental menu is also on offer but the traditional Thai food is recommended. Located slightly outside Bangkok this is a great place for tourists who stay for extended periods. For long stay tourists and executive long stay accommodation, a service apartment in Bangkok is an excellent option.

Naveen Marasinghe is an Online Marketing Executive at eMarketingEye which is a search engine marketing company that offers PPC Management and SEO services and specializes in serving the online travel and hospitality industry.

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Let's Have Fun - Bangkok Clubs

Let's Have Fun - Bangkok Clubs
By Larry Willis

Bangkok clubs are know world round for their food and music, which helps to make Thailand a hot spot for tourists. Bangkok alone draws millions of visitors from around the world each year. Exotic beaches and hotels are another reason Thailand is famous for vacationing. As far are partying is concerned, Bangkok is truly one of the most popular.

Major cities in the world have regular flights for Bangkok. Bangkok is well connected with the capitals of almost all the major economies. There was a time when Bangkok was popular just for its cheap shopping areas and Thai food. However, with time, Bangkok has emerged as one of the most happening cities in the world.

The best thing about visiting Bangkok is that living in this city is much cheaper in comparison to staying at other famous tourist destinations in the world. If you are a 'party-freak', then you would not like to miss being at the amazing discotheques, pubs and jazz bars of Bangkok.

You can find hundreds of pubs and discotheques in Bangkok. Unlike other cities, a visit to Bangkok would not cost you much. You can get vodka, tequila, whiskey and all other types of liquor at cheap rates at the pubs and bars of Bangkok. There are innumerable dance bars in Bangkok too which arrange for live 'belly-dance' shows every night.

Entry to most of the clubs and discotheques in Bangkok is free if you are a 'couple'. However, for 'stags', entry-fee is applicable. The nightlife at "Bangkok clubs" will leave you asking for more. There are hundreds of "Bangkok clubs" which will impress you with their lively music and mouth-watering delicacies.

Most of the discotheques in Bangkok have huge dance floors which can accommodate thousands of people at the same time. Moreover, you can look forward to witnessing some world-famous "DJ" (read disc jockeys) playing hip-shaking numbers. Most of the "Bangkok clubs" start operating in the evening. However, if you want to have some 'real' fun, then you should visit the "Bangkok nightclubs" after 8 in the evening.

Although Thailand has many lovely cities, if you are a social night owl, you must check out the bangkok clubs. Since there are so many nightclubs in Bangkok, a Bangkok club guide can be helpful. The variety, style, glamour, and affordable high energy of Bangkok's many nightclubs, bars, and discotheques await your discovery.

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Thai Street Food

Thai Street Food
By Napatr Lindsley

Thailand is well-known as "the land of smiles." Thais are friendly and well-known as "food lovers." Many say "Thais love to eat. Thais eat several meals per day." In response to these comments, I have to say, yes, Thais love to eat but we eat 3 meals per day just like the rest of the world. The difference is that Thais love to snack. Our snacks range from fresh fruits to deep-fried food. In Thailand, it is so easy to find food. Street vendors are everywhere. If there are people, there are food. One of the greatest joys of living or traveling in Thailand is the abundance and variety of food.

Street vendors, street food, roadside stands, food stands, food stalls or whatever you would like to call it, simply involves something mobile that allows an owner (or a cook in most cases) to push them around, from home and back. Many people may think that street food is not clean, but in fact with many vendors it is clean. And many of the owners are unpretentious. The owners push a cart from home to their selling location and then back home and clean the cart every night. Street food offers an incredibly cheap price and some offer incredibly good taste. Sometimes it is even better than a famous restaurant.

Some street vendors offer such good food that you will have to wait for a table along the street. Particularly in these cases, street food is not only for poor or middle class people - you will often find a businessman or wealthy people ordering the street food. Do not expect a menu from a street vendor because there are not any. Most street vendors only offer one dish, just their specialty. Street food offers a wide variety of choices - curry, fried rice, noodle dishes, stir-fried, salad, fresh fruits, desserts, etc. Basically you name it. You might be able to even find grilled lobsters in China town at a reasonable price. Of course, I cannot forget to mention all the bizarre food like deep-fried frogs, deep-fried birds, deep-fried grasshoppers, etc.

The following are the top 10 street food dishes that I think are better than what restaurants have to offer. In other words, you should buy the following food from a street vendor rather than from a restaurant.
Som Tum - Spicy shredded green papaya salad with peanuts and tomatoes

Larb - Spicy minced meat with chopped shallots, onions, chilies and coriander

Khao Mun Gai - Steamed chicken with rice cooked in chicken stock and garlic

Jok - Rice porridge with ground pork, fresh ginger and green onion (some may add egg)

Lad Nah - Stir-fried thin or wide rice noodles with light gravy bean sauce and Chinese kale

Hoi Tod - Fried oysters in batter with egg on a bed of beansprouts

Pad Thai - Stir-fried medium rice noodles with egg, dried shrimp and fried bean curd sprinkled with peanuts (served with beansprouts)

Satay - Slivers of chicken or pork grilled on a stick, served with sauce and cucumber

Khao Moo Daeng - Chinese-style red pork with rice, boiled eggs and cucumber

Khao Tom - Rice soup with a selection of meat and vegetable side dishes

There is so much more street food than I can list here. The above 10 dishes are those I particularly think are better to buy from a street vendor. One of the greatest joys of living in Thailand is the opportunity to try out food from different places at a reasonable price. I grew up in Bangkok and I have to say that Bangkok has bad traffic. I mean very bad traffic. You can literally sit in a car or a bus for hours and hours. Even though people in Bangkok live with bad traffic, most people will travel a long way through heavy traffic just to eat street food. I have to say I was among them.

Another type of food vendors that I want to mention are not on land, but instead on canals (called Klong in Thailand). Along Klongs, you may find sellers paddling their boats selling fresh fruit and vegetables, noodle dishes, curries, etc. just like street vendors. The quality can be just as good as the street vendors.

Street food can be as good as restaurant food. It is fresh, cheap and good. Part of the fun of living in Thailand is the chance to find street food that is even better than food in restaurants. Some street food may not be as clean, but in many cases, vendors do a good job of making sure the food is clean. There is certainly food for working class people, and food can be found in a wide variety of locations. Next time when you smell some mouth-watering food, stop by and give it a chance. You will not only experience good food, but friendly people as well.

Napatr Lindsley

Get authentic Thai recipes at http://thaicookinghouse.com/

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