WELCOME TO THAILAND

Information and images of famous tourist attractions
Bridge over the River Kwae
Temple of the Emerald Buddha
Grand Palace
Beaches and Islands in the South
Ayuthaya Ruin
Chiang Mai new
Loy Krathong Festival new
Ploughing Ceremony new
Thai Boxing new

The Bridge over the River Kwae
It is located in Karnchanaburi, the province on the Central region of Thailand. It was built some time
during the World War II. In 1941, the Japanese war machine rumbled into Kanchanaburi and decided to construct a railway line across to Rangoon, Burma, to boost their war efforts. Their biggest problem was to build a bridge over the River Kwae, which they finally did at much cost of human life. They put the allied prisoners of war to work and construct 415 kms. of rail leading to the Three Pagodas Pass at the Burmese border. It is estimated that nine thousand British, American, Australian, New Zealander, Indian and other Allied prisoners of war lost their lives due to beatings, starvation, overwork and malaria when construction the railroad.
The original bridge no longer stands as it was blown up by British and American bombers, but a plague has been erected at the base of the bridge saying : " Any work that creates unity is admirable." Behind the railway station is one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Southeast Asia. It features a large white cross and row after row of neat white headstones in memory of the Thousands who building the ' Death Railway.'
( source: Utawanit, Kanitta. Communicative English For Tourism. Bangkok : Thammasat Press, 1994 . )

The Royal Chapel or Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which is usually called Wat Phra Kaeo and officially named Sri Ratana Sasadaram Temple, is the most interesting and famous of Bangkok's temples. Since its foundation in 1785 A.D., it has never been allowed to fall into decay. This collection of chapels, halls, towers, etc., can be divided into two parts : The Chapel of the Emerald Buddha proper, and the small edifices which stand around, viz., three small chamber's on the west, twelve salas, the belfry on the south, and a small chapel in the southeastern corner. The central chapel was erected by King Rama I, according to the usual plan of Thai temples, for the purpose of keeping the famous Emerald Buddha, which is placed upon a magnificent altar. The upper part of this altar, which is as old as the chapel itself, is raised on a base added by King Rama III. On either side is a standing image of the Buddha, and these are said to personify the first two kings of the present Dynasty.
The buildings on the platform to the north of the chapel include the Library in the northeastern corner and a small chapel in the northwestern corner. The nucleus of this second or northern group of buildings is the Mahamandapa, a square pavilion erected by King Rama I on the site of the ancient Library which was destroyed by fire as soon as it was completed, This pavilion was built for the purpose of keeping the sacred Scriptures and was restored by King Mongkut ( Ram IV). One should not fail to see in this Library the magnificent bookcase in lacquered teak inlaid with mother-of-pearl, which was made by order of King Rama I and is considered to be the best specimen of this kind of work. The covered gallery which runs round the temple courtyard is interesting on account of the wall paintings which represent episodes from the Ramakien ( the Thai version of the Indian epic Ramayana). They were made during the reign of King Rama I , renewed under King Rama III, and again under King Mongkut. Besides the buildings just mentioned, the precincts of Wat Phra Kaeo contain several objects of interest : giants, bronze images of lions, elephants, oxen, and monkeys of good modern workmanship. Eight towers stand in a row on the eastern side of the main temple. The colors of the glazed tiles with which they are covered are different for each tower.

The Dusit Maha Prasat, which is considered the finest building inside the Palace and is certainly one of the jewels of modern Thai architecture, was erected for ceremonial purposes such as for Lying-in-State of Kings and Queens and for the annual Coronation Day Ceremony. The Coronation of King Rama I took place in the Dusit Maha Prasat, but after his death the golden urn containing his remains was exposed in that Hall. The Amarindr Vinichai Hall is the anterior part of a system of chambers. In the old days the hall was the formal audience hall where the King met his officers for state business. Now it is used for many ceremonies such as their Majesties' Birthdays and Coronation Day. The middle hall, Phaisal Thaksin, where important ceremonies such as coronation and solemn audiences take place, contains Phiman Hall, the last of these halls, was originally used as a place of residence. The Chakri Maha Prasat Hall is an imposing building constructed after the plans of a British architect in a Victorian style, but covered with a roof of pure Thai style. Most of it is occupied by the Throne Hall.

The most notable attractions of the South are the beaches, some being gradually developed as international resorts and others as yet little touched by foreign tourism. The South's biggest draw to sunshine is Phuket, an island province that offers modern hotels as well as a calm, relaxed atmosphere on its many beaches. One can take scenic tours around the island, climbing hills, visiting pearl farms and a tin dredge, but by far the most rewarding excursion is to Phang- Nga, the nearby province. The bay is scattered with weird, towering limestone islands with cliffs that rise straight up from the clear blue waters. One island, Panyi, has a Muslim fishing village on stilts and another, Phingkan, was the location for filming the James Bond adventure, ' The Man with the Golden Gun'. Another island that is worth visiting is Koh Samui, the Coconut Island, off the coast of Surat Thani. There is little to do except soaking up the sunshine, exploring the many beaches and watch trained monkeys scampering up palms to harvest the coconuts.

The ruins of Ayuthaya stand as a fascinating link with Thailand's past. In 1350, Ayuthaya became the capital of Siam and the city expanded into a great trading center with China and Europe. It prospered for four centuries until 1767 when the invading Burmese, after four years of fighting, completely destroyed the city, leaving only the ruins which can be seen today. The Burmese were finally expelled by Tak Sin, who became King and moved the capital down the river to Thonburi.

An hour's drive away is the Mae Sa Valley, offering an elephant training school for watching elephants at work and taking short safari trips into the forest, and a valley resort with cottages and traditional bamboo huts providing a comfortable base for visiting a nearby Meo village (one of the hill tribes) and an orchid farm.

It is one of the most beautiful of Thai festivals which is to give thanks to the " Mother Goddess of the Waters." People float ' krathongs' made of banana leaves holding a candle, a coin, incense and flowers, on rivers and canals. It is said that if the candle stays alight one's wishes will be fulfilled. Traditional Loy Krathong scenes are seen all over Thailand, on the full moon night of the 12th Lunar month, which is in November. The most beautiful is at Sukhothai province, amid the ruins of the ancient kingdom where the festival began.

It is held in May at Sanam Luang at the beginning of the planting season, presided over by the king on a date determined by Brahman priests. Thousands of anxious farmers watch as a sacred plough is pulled by flower garlanded Brahman bulls, rice seeds are blessed and sown, Buddhist monks chant, and predictions are made for the success of the year's harvest.

Thai boxing originated in the Ayuthaya period. From a self defensive art, it was transformed into a spectator sport. A curious combination of balletic grace and murderous ferocity, accompanied and whipped up by music, makeds it a thrilling sport to watch. A fighter can use his knees, feet, elbows, and shouders. A small build is no measure of a Thai boxer's capacity to inflict injury. A well-delivered kick either to the groin or the head can floor an opponent; it is an open secret in martial arts' circles that a good Thai boxer is virtually unstoppable.