What is going on Bangkok
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Wat Benchamabophit Dusitwanaram Ratchaworawihan |
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Wat Phra Kaeo (The Emerald Buddha Temle) The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, located in a separate complex within the compound of the Grand Palace, is Thailand’s holiest shrine. Offi cially named Wat Phra Si Rattanasatsadaram, the temple complex was modeled on the temples of the Sukhothai and Ayuttaya eras. Even though small in size, the Emerald Buddha is considered one of the most important icons for Thai people. The sacred Buddha was fi rst brought to Thonburi, currently the west side of Bangkok, by King Taksin the Great. In 1784, King Rama I moved the statue to the current location in Bangkok. It should be pointed out that the Emerald Buddha is in reality carved from a large piece of green jade. The word in Thai for emerald means “green colored”. |
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Wat Saket Ratchaworamahawihan (Golden Mountain) Wat Saket’s major feature is the Golden Mount, dating from the mid 19th century. It is an artifi cial hill topped by agilded pagoda, which is 260 feet in height. Begun by King Rama III and completed in the reign of King Rama IV, the golden mountain is one of the most celebrated landmarks in Bangkok’s old area. The golden Chedi houses relics of the Buddha and affords visitors who climb its 318steps a panoramic view of Bangkok from the top. |
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SHOPPING PARADISE
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Thailand is a paradise for shoppers. Regular visitors to Asia know that in many ways Bangkok beats Hong Kong and Singapore for deals in terms of handicrafts, textiles, gems, jewelry, art and antiques. Fixed prices are the norm in department stores, but at most other places bargaining is a common practice and prices may be reduced by as much as thirty percent. Courtesy at all times is appreciated. Shopping in Thailand is an adventure in itself. From modern department stores and shopping plazas, to fl ea markets and roadside stalls where bargaining is obligatory, even visitors with the greatest willpower will no doubt find something to their liking. The average length of stay has been about 8 days over the past 10 years. This fact illustrates that Thailand is the ideal place for a longer stay. Long stay visitors to Thailand are steadily on the rise, thanks to a growing infl ux of retirees and visiting friends and relatives of the large expatriate community in the kingdom. According to Tourism Authority of Thailand statistics, in 2004 a total of 568,620 visitors stayed in Thailand for more than 30 days. This was up by 7.15% from 2003 and comprised 4.88% of The top fi ve markets for long stay tourism were Japan (73,882 visitors, an 8.4% increase), United Kingdom (62,364 visitors, a 6.47% increase), United States (44,498 visitors, a 9.82% increase), Germany (39,151 visitors, a 1.30% increase), and China (33,337 visitors, an 18.33% increase). Another major market is Sweden (17,304 visitors, a 7.99% increase). |
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Thailand Implantologists, prosthodontists