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Impressions of Thailand

There is definitely more to Thailand than what we offer here on this page. But, at least for those interested in the country's past and culture, there is a value added in browsing through our commented images, highlighting the main sights in Bangkok, the nation's capital, and in Ayutthaya, the nation's former capital. We take the story in reverse order, and start out with Bangkok, before we travel some 70 kilometres inland to the north to explore the magnificent archaeological site of Ayutthaya, once the centre of political power in Thailand and beyond, only challenged by the rival kings of Burma. Endlessly the two battled each another, with alternating success, until in 1767 Ayutthaya was ultimately destroyed and turned in a couple of days from a brilliant and prosperous city into smoking heap of rubble and abandoned Buddhist temples and monasteries. No shortage though of temples and monasteries in what later became the capital of the Kingdom of Siam, say Thailand, in 1782. And palaces; or shall we say palace complexes, because a residence of 218,000 square metres is not a palace anymore... And in the meantime, the millions of Bangkok inhabitants struggle on, in good humour, for a few square metres of living space in this hot, humid and yet so unbelievably colourful, interesting and attractive city along the wide Chao Phraya River. Here, no ruins, but a lively city that never sleeps. Sinatra should maybe (also) have sung about Bangkok; no offence, New Yorkers, I said 'also' ...

Before visiting the place of your choice:

The Wat Arun temple is named after the Hindu god Aruna and dates back to the mid-17th century and the Ayutthaya dynasty. It is located on the westbank of the Chao Phraya River and near the spot where General Taksin established 'his' capital of Thonburi after the destruction of Ayutthaya by the Burmese in 1767. Taksin planned to restore the Wat Arun temple as part of his capital city project, but hardly had time to do so, because in 1782 Rama I ousted him from power and moved the capital to the other side of the river. The reconstruction of Wat Pho, opposite from Wat Arun, received priority. Finally, his son Rama II undertook the restoration of Wat Arun. Ever since, the king travels each year at the end of the rainy season to the temple in the Kathina Buddhist festival, in a procession of the Royal Barges. Wat Arun is renowned for the colourful faience on the prang, a tall stupa-like spike, typical architectural style element from the Ayutthaya era. A cloister lined with seated Buddha statues and a colonnaded ordination hall are also part of the Wat Arun complex.

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