Wat Saket Insight Bangkok

Wat Saket

At the bottom of the Golden Mount stands one of the capital's oldest temples, Wat Saket (daily 8am-5pm free). Upon returning from Laos in 1782 with the Emerald Buddha, general chakri stopeped here and took a ceremonial bath before making his way later changed to Saket, which means "the washing or hair"

      The temple is also associated with a more grisly history as it was used as the old city's main crematorium. Disease epidemics broke out regularly during the 19th century, killing an estimated 60,000 people. The bodies of the dead were taken out of the city to the temple through the Pratu Pii (Ghost Gate) for cremation: if the families were too poor to pay for the ceremony, they were left for the vultures. Be sure to visit the main hall, which is adorned with fine murals and usually ignored by tourists.


      Monks Bowl Village
     Skirting the western edge of the Golden Mount is Thanon Boriphat a street lined with timber merchants and wood carvers, chiseling away at doors, lintels and even birdcages. Further along the some road are the narrow alleyways that run off Soi Ban Baat. This area, know as Monk's Bowl Village, is home to the only surviving community of traditional alms bowl makers, who have been hammering out these metal receptacles here since the capital's beginnings in the late 18th century.

      Early birds may be privy to saffron robed monks walking barefoot along the streets at dawn collecting food offerings from merit-seeking alms givers. The bowl is known as a baat and was traditionally handcrafted from eight pieces of metal, representing the eight spokes in the wheel of Dharma. Cashing in on the tourist market, signs in English Guide you to this small community of skilled artisans, where you hear the distant tap-tap of hammers. finished in enamel paint, the bowls sell for about B500

Phu Khao Thong

Phu Khao Thong (Golden mountain, ภูเขาทอง) is a steep artificial hill inside the Wat Saket compound.

Rama I's grandson, King Rama III (1787–1851), decided to build a chedi of huge dimensions inside Wat Saket. Unfortunately, the chedi collapsed during construction because the soft soil of Bangkok could not support the weight. Over the next few decades, the abandoned mud-and-brick structure acquired the shape of a natural hill and was overgrown with weeds. The locals called it the "phu khao" (ภูเขา), as if it were a natural feature.

During the reign of King Rama IV, construction began of a small chedi on the hill. It was completed early in the reign of his son, King Rama V (1853–1910). A relic of the Buddha was brought from Sri Lanka and placed in the chedi. The surrounding concrete walls were added in the 1940s to stop the hill from eroding. The modern Wat Saket was built in the early 20th century of Carrara marble.

An annual festival is held at Wat Saket every November, featuring a candlelight procession up Phu Khao Thong to the chedi.

Phu Khao Thong is now a popular Bangkok tourist attraction and has become one of the symbols of the city.

Wat Arun

Insight Bagkok : Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan or Wat Arun is a Buddhist temple (wat) in Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok, Thailand, on the Thonburi west bank of the Chao Phraya River. The temple derives its name from the Hindu god Aruna, often personified as the radiations of the rising sun. Wat Arun is among the best known of Thailand's landmarks and the first light of the morning reflects off the surface of the temple with pearly iridescence. Although the temple had existed since at least the seventeenth century, its distinctive prang (spires) were built in the early nineteenth century during the reign of King Rama II.

History

         A Buddhist temple had existed at the site of Wat Arun since the time of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. It was then known as Wat Makok, after the village of Bang Makok in which it was situated. (Makok is the Thai name for the Spondias pinnata plant) According to the historian Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, the temple was shown in French maps during the reign of King Narai (1656–1688). The temple was renamed Wat Chaeng by King Taksin when he established his new capital of Thonburi near the temple, following the fall of Ayutthaya. It is believed that Taksin vowed to restore the temple after passing it at dawn. The temple enshrined the Emerald Buddha image before it was transferred to Wat Phra Kaew on the river's eastern bank in 1785. The temple was located in grounds of the royal palace during Taksin's reign, before his successor, Rama I, moved the palace to the other side of the river. It was abandoned, for a long period of time, until Rama II, who restored the temple and extended the pagoda to 70m

Architecture

      The main feature of Wat Arun is its central prang (Khmer-style tower) which is encrusted with colourful porcelain. This is interpreted as a stupa-like pagoda encrusted with coloured faience. The height is reported by different sources as between 66.8 m (219 ft) and 86 m (282 ft). The corners are surrounded by four smaller satellite prang. The prang are decorated by seashells and bits of porcelain which had previously been used as ballast by boats coming to Bangkok from China. The presiding Buddha image, cast in the reign of Rama II, is said to have been moulded by the king himself. The ashes of King Rama II are interred in the base of the image.

        Construction of the tall prang and four smaller ones was started by King Rama II during 1809-1824 and completed by King Rama III (1824–1851). The towers are supported by rows of demons and monkeys. Very steep and narrow steps lead to a balcony high on the central tower. The circumference of the base of the structure is 234 metres, and the central prang is 250 feet high. The central prang is topped with a seven-pronged trident, referred to by many sources as the "Trident of Shiva". Around the base of the prang are various figures of ancient Chinese soldiers and animals. Over the second terrace are four statues of the Hindu god Indra riding on Erawan.In the Buddhist iconography, the central prang is considered to have three symbolic levels—base for Traiphum indicating all realms of existence, middle for Tavatimsa where all desires are gratified and top denoting Devaphum indicating six heavens within seven realms of happiness. At the riverside are six pavilions (sala) in Chinese style. The pavilions are made of green granite and contain landing bridges.

        Next to the prang is the Ordination Hall with a Niramitr Buddha image supposedly designed by King Rama II. The front entrance of the Ordination Hall has a roof with a central spire, decorated in coloured ceramic and stuccowork sheated in coloured china. There are two demons, or temple guardian figures, in front.[8] The murals were created during the reign of Rama V

Mythology

The central prang symbolises Mount Meru of the Hindu cosmology. The satellite prang are devoted to the wind god, Phra Phai. The demons (yaksha) at the entranceway to the ubosot are from the Ramakien. The white figure is named Sahassa Deja and the green one is known as Thotsakan, the Demon Rāvana from Ramayana.

Travel

Wat Arun can be easily accessed through the Chao Phraya River, and ferries travel across the river towards the Maharaj pier. For the foreigners, the temple charges an entrance fee of 50 baht (as of March 2013). Wat Arun figures in one of Thailand's most colourful festivals, the Royal Kathin and the king travels down in the Thai royal barge procession to present new robes to the monks after their three-month lent period.

The Old City insight Bangkok

    Insight Bangkok's Old City is embellished with yet more gilded temple stuctures and hitoric monuments that recall its chequered history. To the north is the area of wide boulevards and open space known as Dusit, the enclave of the Thai monarchy and government


     Dominated by the wide boulevard of Thanon Ratchadamnoen. this section of the "Old City" contains all the peripheral buildings and temples that lie just outside Ratanakosin island. The area once marked the outskirts of  the city, with the canals of Khlong Banglamphu and Khlong Ong Ang ferrying in supplies from the surrounding countryside. At the turn of the 20th century hardly any roads cut into the landscape, with the neighborhood occupied by traditional craftspeople and performing artisans. Devotional structure were the main protrusions on the skyline.

     Time has drastically altered the area's visual appeal, yet there is still a strong sense of the past, making this is one of the city's most pleasant areas to explore. Aside from tourist attractions, most foreigners head to the district of Banglamphu for cheap accommodation and entertainment in the well-known back- packers haven of Thanon Khao San.

       Thanon Bamrung Muang 

     Thanon Bamrung Muang was once an old elephant trail and was one of the city's first paved tracks. A one-stop shop for all your Buddhist accessories, the stores may be drab in design, but the scores of gold and amber cloth-shrouded Buddha images, candles, alms bowls and other religious paraphernalia make for excellent photography.

        Thanon Giant Swing

        Thanon Bamrung Muang intersects a large square with the City Hall at is northern end and Wat Suthat and the Giant Swing opposite. In former days, the Giant Swing (Sao Ching Cha) was the venue for an annual Brahman ceremony dedicated to the god Shiva. As crowds gath ered, four sturdy men would pump themselves back and forth th set the giant swing in motion, trying to grabbags of coins suspended on a 15 metre (49-Ft) tall pole with their teeth Not surprisingly, many plummeted to the ground, either in juring or killing themsleves, and the festuval was halted in the 1930s during the reign of Rama VII. with the swing itself now removed, the tall red painted timber frame has become little more than a curious street marker.

        

Wat Suthat

        Standing tall behind the Giant Swing. Wat Suthat is considered one of the country's six pricipal temples (daily 8.30 am - 9 pm; admission charge). Begun by Rama I in 1807, it took three reigns to compete. The temple is noted for its enormous bot, or ordination hall, said to be the tallest in Bangkok, and for its equally large viharn (sermon hall), both of them surrounded by cloisters of gilded Buddha images

        The 8 me-re (26-Ft) tall Phra Sri Sakyamuni Buddha is one of the largest surviving bronze images from Sukhothai, and was transported by boat all the way from the nortern kingdom. The base of the image contains the ashes of King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII), older brother of the present king. The wall murals date from the reign of King Rama III; most intriguing are the depictions of sea monsters and foreign ships on the columns.

Live Music bars and Pub Insight Bangkok

         

    Live Music  Insight Bangkok

      Fron-line international acts are returning insight Bangkok after a lull caused by the economic crash in 1997. Most gigs - recent ones include Norah Jones, Alicia Keyes and Sting - are held at Impact Arena or BEC Tero Hall.

         Local music in bars varies tremendously. The huge Tawandaeng German Brewhouse on Thanon Narathiwat features local band Fong Nam on Wednesday evenings. Led by American Bruce Gaston, the band combines the music of traditional Thai phipphat orchestra with rock. It's not everyone's cup of tea but give it a listen if you're in the neighbourhood. Likewise, visitors may find Thai rock and country a novel experience and prefer to stick to standard Western staples like R&B, blues,rock, reggae, and jazz all of which ate yours for the picking


       T-PoP(thai pop music) is full of plastic looking Luk kreung (half-thai,half-western) stars like Tata Young, singing bubblegum tunes to doey-eyed teens. Far more entertaining ate the indie bands that gave been grabbing attention since the 1990s. Indie labels like Hualampong Riddim and Panda Records provide recording opportunities outside the mainstream, and their bands play regular gigs Small clubs and party nights feature acts such as Apoartment Khunpa and Futon Playing a repertoire that includes metal, electronica, ska, thrash and grunge. Every November, local and international indie music takes centre stage when Bangkok's coolest radio station Fat Radio (104.50FM) stages its two-day Fat festival at various venues.

       To add the the mix, during the cooler months, ourtdor beer gardens have Thai and international bands playing a diet of pop covers.

      Bars And PUB Insight Bangkok

     Upmarket bars with international sensibilities are found all over central Insight Bangkok. Try skyhigh champagne and caviar (both in price and sltitude) at the roof-top bar distil on Thanon Silom, or cocktails at the exquisite modern Thai restaurant Mahanaga (Sukhumvit Soi29 ) or Face Bar (Sukhomvit Soi38). The Conrad Bangkok, on Thanon Withayu, has one of the coolest hotel lobby nars imaginable in the Diplomat Bar, while the Sofitel Silom offers reasonably price bottles of wine with 37th-floor city panoramas at V9. The hip Thai scene comstantly shifts with the whims of local image mavens, but increasingly centres on the major Sukhumvit thoroughfares of Soi Thonglor and Thanon Ekamai.

        The English and Irish pub scene is mainly concentrated on Thanon Silom and Thanon Sukhumvit, with notable venues being Bull's Head on Sukhumvit Soi 33, The Dubliner and O'Reilly's. There are also a few American-style sports bars, such as Guliliver's (Thanon Khao San) and microbreweries like Londoner Brew Pub (Corner of Sukumvit Soi 33). All these places have variations on the usual pub grub and games formula.

        Opera and Classic Music Insight Bangkok 

    Multi-talented Cambridge graduate Somtow Sucharitkul, who has written  Hollywood horror scripts and several books in English, including the excellent Jasmine Nights, set up the Bangkok Opera in 2002. Among its three or four yearly productions of classics, like the Magic Flute, are Somtow's own works such as Mae Naak, which is based on Thai ghost story. His works are mainly staged at the Thailand  Cultural Center.

     The Insight Bangkok Symphony Orchestara, as well as providing many of the musicians for the Bangkok Opera, plays regular concerts throughout the year, often at the Thai Cultural Centre, Off Thanon Ratchadapisek, and on Sundays in Lumphini Park during the cool season.

       The International Festival of Dance & Music brings international acts for a season of opera, classical music, contemporary dance and ballet every October to November, while the Thailand Cultural Centre hosts regular concerts.

Insight Bangkok After Dark

     Insight  Bangkok by night isn't all unbridled sleaze, bump-and-grind bars and boozy cruising. There are lots of hip dance clubs and cool bars, plus a thriving live jazz and indie music scene. Less well know are its highbrow classical and modern dance and theatre events

    Many visitors' expectations of Bangkok nightlife extend no further than the much-hyped up Patpong go-go bar options for entertainment once the sun goes down. The Thai craving for sanuk (fun) has in recent years seen booms in microbreweries and bars offering everything from Cuban cigars and art on the walls to clubs specialising in music as diverse as jazz, Latin, hip hop, house and mind-numbing techno, often all on the same street. In addition, there is traditional dance, theatre, opera, classical music, indie films and evening sports aplenty. Bangkok really comes alive under the cover of darkness, and never before has it offered so much choice to the nighttime reveler.

     Nightlife Zones 

     That's the good news. The bad is that the Bangkok nightlife scene has taken a hit since 2001 when the government introduced a Social Order Campaign with confusing Nightlife Zoning laws and draconian policing of entertainment venues. Bent on clamping rampant drug abuse and under-age drinking, the government has designated three nightlife zones: Thanon Silom, Thanon Rachadaphisek and Royal City Avenue (RCA), where venues with valid dance licences can stay open until 2am. The rest must close at 1 am. Of the three, the only zone found in downtown Bangkok is Silom, which means the acclaimed nightlife sport found along Thanon Sukhumvit - like Q Bar, Bed Supperclub and Myustique - all close painfully early at 1 am.
                                   
      The Silom zone includes the famous Pat Pong red light district and night market as well as numerous pubs and restaurants, but little in the way of dance clubs outside Soi 2 and Soi 4. Thanon Ratchadaphisek has been the traditional stomping ground of huge clubs and even larger massage parlours, visited mainly by Thais and Asian trourists, but recently, a clutch of smaller new bars are attracting young Thais Of the three zones, it's RCA - long maligned as a tortuous teen hangout - that has the most scope to develop into a mature club scene.  The signs are evident that it's at last responding, with venues like astra, Code and the revamped Route 66, offering varied international music styles and brand-name DJs.

    Thanks to the party-pooping Social Order Campaign, be prepared for the occasional police raid when revelers are urine-tested for drugs. During such raids, the police may ask foreigners to show their passports. Many clubs, including Bed Supperclub, Q Bar and Mytique, won't let you in without one. To get around the miserably early closing time, do as what most Thais are forced to do : start your evening early, say by 10.30pm, so there is ample time to wind down bye the time the clubs close.


Nighttime Sports

        Bangkok at night isn't all booze and boogie. Hip hop kids gead to the Red Bull Skate Park on Thanon Sathorn for roller blading and skateboarding, and there's disco bowling - to music and flashing lights - at several bowling alleys in the city, RCA has an indoor go-kart track and some snooker clubs allow after-hours beers.

         Nobody who comes to Thailand should miss the sport of muay thai, frenzied kickboxing accompanied by the wailing of traditional music and animated betting on the outcome. Lumphini Stadium, the mecca of world Muay Thai, where all the best fighters appear, will move at the end of 2005 to a new location on Soi Nang Linchi3. Another venue is Ratchadamnoen Stadium at Thanon Ratchadamnoen Nok.

Jim Thompson's Thai House

            Insight Bangkok city increasingly dominated by Western architecture, this offers a glimpse of Thailand's rich cultural heritage

      Jim Thompson began his collection shortly after World War II, when the value of Thai antiques was still unknown. His assemblage includes precious Buddha image, porcelain, traditional paintings, and finely carved furniture and panels collected from old homes and temples throughout Thailand. The traditional Thai house where his collection is contained is painted with the red-brown hue characteristic of Thailand. The house features a dramatic outward-sweeping roof covered with rare tiles designed and fired in Ayutthaya. curving gracefully in ngo, the wide roof allows the airy rooms to remain open all year long, sheltered from the downpours of the rainy season. The entire struture, enveloped by lush tropical greenery, stand elevated a full storey above the ground as protection against flooding.




THE KING OF THAI SILK

       One Easter day in 1967 Jim Thompson went for a walk in the jungles of the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia and never came back. After year of speculation the mystery of his disappearance is still unsolved. Born in Delaware, USA, in 1906, Thompson worked as an architect before joining the army in 1939. He fought in Europe and Asia during World War II, and when the war ended, he served in Bangkok in the Office of Strategic Service (the forerunner of the CIA). Thompson later returned to Bangkok, where inspired by swatches of silk he had collected during his trips in Thailand, decided to track down traditional silk weavers. He found one lone community of Muslim weavers at the canal side Ban Khrua (he eventually built his own house just opposite the canal).

        Utilising new techniques and dyes that raised the silk's quality to unrivalled standards, he set up the Thai Silk Company, later exporting his creations around the world. Thompson is one of the most celebrated farang (Westerner) in Thailand and his silks remain a treasured part of Thailand's culture

THONBURI Insight Bangkok

 

  This small area of winding canals had a brief moment of glory as the country's capital in the 19 th century : the royal connection left behind a legacy of exquisite temples in a placid landscape and a lifestyle defined by the canals and the river



     Insight Bangkok's original heart and veins is the mighty Chao Phraya River and the canals work of waterway for several waterborne tours, which show how entwined the city and its riverine life was indeed still is. It's a very different world to the sights inland and provides a more tangible view of Bagkok's humble origins.

      Thonburi

  Established by King Taksin after the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, Thonburi served as Thailand third capital for 15 years prior to Bangkok establishment in 1782. Taksin spent most of his reign conquering factions of rebels after his reign to embellish his city. Thonburi, as many residents understand, means "Town of Riches" It was not until 1971 that Thonburi was combined as a part of Bangkok Metropolis. It can be reached by numerous bridges, the oldest of which is Memorial Bridge (or Phra Buddha Yodfa Bridge).

       While Thonburi is short on major tourist attractions and only has a few high-end hotels, it has a more easy-going atmosphere than frenetic Bangkok across the Chao Phraya River. Bereft of the gleaming tower blocks of downtown Bangkok, life in this residential half of the capital primarily revolves around the network of canals and the river 

       The Canals worth exploring include khlong Bangkok Noi, which winds into Khlong bangkok Yai downstream, as well as connecting to Khlong Om upstream. Once floating markets at Wat Sai and Laling chan have become little more than tourist souvenir stops these days. The further down the canals you venture, the narrower and calmer the waterway become. With rickety teak houses, vendors selling produce from boats, fishermen dangling rods out of windows and kids frolicking in the water, the sights along Thonburi canals are reminiscent of a more peaceful bygone era.

Canal and River Cruising

     The major canals are serviced by public longtail boats. But as services can be erratic at certain times of the day -- most commuters travel into the city in the mornings and return in the afternoons --- it might be better to hire you own private longtail boat for a more leisurely exploration of the canals.

      Getting from pier to pier along the Chao Phraya River is best served by the Chao Phraya Express boats, which operate from the southern out skirts up to Nonthaburi in the north. For shuttling from one side of the river to the other, make use of the cheap cross-river ferries : these can be boarded at the many jetties that also service the chao Phraya Express boats.

Chainatown Insight Bangkok

 Bangkok's Chinese and Indian communities have made Chinatown their own by building shrines and temples as well as thriving businesses that serve both their people and the Thais. Loud, boisterous and frenzied, this is Bangkok at its visceral best

      Chainatown was settled by Chinese merchants in the 1780s, after being asked to relocate here so that the Grand Palace could be built. In 1863, King Mongkut built Thanon Charoen Krung (New Road), the first paved street in Bangkok, and Chinatown soon began mushrooming outwards from the original dirttrack of Sanpeng (now officially Soi Wanit 1). Other adjacent plots of land were given to the Indian and Muslim communities. Later, a third artery, Thanon Yaowarat, was built between Charoen Krung and Sampeng roads, in the process becoming the main artery of Chinatown and the Thai mane for the area.


    Naturalised as Thai citizens, the Chinese still manage to retain a distinct character to this day, creating a multicultural mix that pervades all levels of society. The influence of the Chinese upon Bangkok's and indeed the country's economic development cannot be overstated. Their work ethic has taken them from pulling rickshaws and slaving as coolies to the highest ranks, with the nation now governes by Thai-Chinese telecommunications magnate, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

    With narrow roads and lanes teeming with commercial bustle this is one of the capital's most traffic clogged districts. Exploring on foot allows you to soak up the mercantile atmosphere. Away from downtown's plush mega-malls, Chinatown is a raw experience of Bangkok past and present: old shophouses, godowns (warehouses), temples and shrines, all swelling with activity.

Som Tam (Green papaya salad)

     Green papaya salad Green papaya salad is a spicy salad made from shredded unripe papaya. It is of Lao origin but it is also eaten throughout Southeast Asia. Locally known in Cambodia as bok l'hong , in Laos as tam som or the more specific name tam maak hoong in Thailand as som tam (Thai: ส้มตำ, pronounced ), and inVietnam as goi du du. Som tam, the Thai variation, was listed at number 46 on World's 50 most delicious foods compiled by CNN Goin 2011.


Preparation

         The dish combines the five main tastes of the local cuisine: sour lime, hot chili, salty, savory fish sauce, and sweetness added by palm sugar. The ingredients are mixed and pounded in a mortar; The general Lao name tam som literally means "pounded sour", however, the more specific Lao name tam maak hoong literally means "pounded papaya". In Khmer, the name bok l'hong also means "pounded papaya". In Thai, the name som tam, (a reversal of the Lao name), literally translates as "sour pounded".

         However, other pounded salads in Thailand are consistent with the Lao naming convention in which the word tam ("pounded") is listed first. Despite the use of papaya, which one may think of as sweet, this salad is actually savory. When not yet ripe, papaya has a slightly tangy flavor. The texture is crisp and firm, sometimes to the point of crunchiness. It is this that allows the fruit to withstand being beaten in the mortar. In Laos, green papaya salad is one of the traditional staples of the Lao. Pounded salads in Laos all fall under the parent category of tam som, which may or may not contain green papaya, however, when no specific type of tam som is mentioned, it is generally understood to refer to green papaya salad. For absolute clarity, however, the name tam maak hoong may be used, since this name means "pounded papaya".

         In Thailand, it is customary that a customer ask the preparer to make the dish suited to his or her tastes. To specifically refer to the original style of papaya salad as prepared in Laos or Isan, it is known as ส้มตำลาว or som tam Lao or simply as tam Lao, and the dish as prepared in central Thailand may be referred to as som tam Thai. Traditionally the local variety of green papaya salad in the streets of Bangkok is very hot due to the addition of a fistfull of chopped hot Bird's eye chili, however with its rising popularity among tourists, it is often served now not as hot.

Additional ingredients

      Together with the papaya, some or most of the following secondary items are added and pounded in the mortar with the pestle:
• Chili
• Sugar (traditionally palm sugar)
• Garlic
• Lime
• Fish sauce
• Dried shrimp
• Brined Crabs. These are not marine crabs, but local salted black crabs (ricefield crab) found in the flooded ricefields and canals. Isan people eat the entire crab, including the shell.
• Shrimp paste
• Pla ra / padaek
• Tomatoes
• Yardlong beans
• Hog Plums
• Raw Thai eggplant

        Green papaya salad is often served with sticky rice and kai yang/ping gai (grilled chicken). It can also be eaten with fresh rice noodles (Lao:sen khao poon / Thai: khanom chin) or simply as a snack by itself with, for instance, crispy pork rinds. The dish is often accompanied by raw vegetables on the side to mitigate the spiciness of the dish.

Variations

     Green papaya salad is claimed as an innovation of the Lao people, which was introduced to central Thailand and the rest of the world by the Lao/Isan migrants moving to Bangkok to seek work. Variations of the dish are found throughout Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and as well as in the West, where it is more commonly known by its Thai name. A non-spicy green papaya salad version also exists in Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand, which is much sweeter; it often contains crushed peanuts, and is less likely to have padaek or brined crab.

       These last are eaten raw, and both the Lao government and Thai government periodically issues health warnings about the risk of hepatitis.[23] Dried brine shrimp are used in this Central Thai version. There are also versions that make use of unripe mangoes, apples, cucumbers, carrots, and other firm vegetables or unripe fruit.

Instead of papaya, other ingredients can be used as the main ingredient. Popular variations in Laos and Thailand include:
• Tam maak taeng / Tam taengkwa, with cucumber, usually the small variety
• Tam maak muang / Tam mamuang, with green and unripe mango
• Tam maak kuai / Tam kluai, with banana, while still green and unripe
• Tam krathon, with santol, while still hard and unripe
• Tam hua pli, with banana flower
• Tam mayom, with Malay gooseberry
• Tam som o, with pomelo
• Tam mu yo, with mu yo sausage
• Tam phonlamai ruam, with mixed fruit

The National Museum Insight Bangkok

Bangkok's National museum,one of the largest in Southeast Asia, is a good place to start learning more about the history and culture of thailand.



     The National Museum's three main galleries are spread over a handful of old and new building. Thai history from the Sukhothai period (13th - 14th Centuries) to the Rattanakosin period (1782 - the present) is covered in the Sivamonkhaphiman Hall, while behind the hall, the Prehistoric Gallery has 5,000 year-old exhibits from the Ban Chiang archaeological  site in the norheast. The south wing exhibits Buddha images and artefacts from the Srivijaya and Lopburi periods, while the north wing displays exhibits from the Lanna, Sukhothai, Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin periods. The rooms in the Wang Na, or Fromt Palace (see side bar opposite ), display fine art masterpieces, mostly from the Rattanakosin period, with treasures in the form of gold, carvings, enamelware, musical instruments, ceramics, clothes, weapons and palanquins.

      In front of the old palace is the Buddhaisawan Chapel, once the private chapel of the Prince Successor and a good example of Rattanakosin architecture. Today, it houses the second holiest image in Thailand, Phra Buddha Sihing, a Sukhothai-style Buddha image. Beautiful murals cover the wall of this chapel.

The First Thai Museum 


      King Chulalong korn, or Rama V established the country's first public museum in 1874 in the Grand Palace. The collections were based on those of his father, King Mongkut (Rama IV). In 1926 the museum was moved to what was the Wang Na (Front Palace), the abode of the second-in-line to the throne called the "Second King" or the Prince Successor. This vast palace, dating from 1782, once extended across Khlong Lot up to the Grand Palace and in clouded a large park. When his heir-apparent attempted a violent over throw, Chulalongkorn abolished the office in 1887 and tore down most of the buildings. The Wang Na is one of the remnants of the original palace and today it houses a variety of artefacts in Rooms 4-15. Look  out especially for Room 6, which contains a beautifully carved howdah, or elephant seat, made of ivory.

      Chulalongkorn's statue can be found in the lssaretrachanusorn Hall, which also exhibits the bed of Phra Pin Klao, the thrones of King Chulalongkorn and King Vajiravudh, and intricate Chinese and European-style furniture.

Sao Chingcha insight Bangkok

       

      Sao Chingcha (Swing architecture is built to perform the swing.) Insight bangkok The Rite of Yum's November arrest. Tripwai to Hinduism - Hinduism In general, the Giant Swing is located in front of Wat Suthat Ram. And in front of City Hall (in the city) near the temple Brahmin. In Sao Ching Sue and Wat Phra Nakhon. It is a symbol of Bangkok. The swing ceremony was discontinued since the reign of King Rama VII was the seventh time.


      There is also a swing in another location on the tower to Shiva. Nakhonsrithammarat This is a traditional ceremony and swing as well. I have quit before they are rebuilt later. The replication of the Giant Swing in Bangkok.

       Giant Swing insight Bangkok hotel There is a big swing. Located on a large stone altar round about 10.50 meters 21.15 meters diameter circle form the base stone washed white dial. Red Clay tile flooring on the stairs 2 Step 2 sides of the bending of the base plate, swing Epitaph Records. Pole cores and pole pairs 2 pairs of chopsticks, a pillar of tablets. Were made ​​of wood turning round. The frame pair beautifully carved pillars. Wood ear is patterned grille and Thailand. All painted Vermillion A lightning rod on top of the grille patterned ground.

       Rattanakosin archival records that King Borom Maha Chakri Rama SRISIN microscopy Nat. Or King Rama skyline reign of one please create a giant swing in Bangkok in front of the temple Brahmin on Wednesday 5 stars RAM 4 Dragon area on the north side of Wat Suthat that mold. Arun Ram Later moved to a new building at its current location in front of Wat Suthat in the reign of King Chulalongkorn. Due to the

     Sao Chingcha Ceremony As part of the ceremony's Royal Templars attack Tripwai to welcome Lord Shiva, one of the three gods of Hinduism - Hinduism. It is believed that Lord Shiva would come down to earth on the seventh lunar month twenty. The day will feature a parade to salute the God King. 

        When God came down to earth as an angel on the other. And came to the ceremony with the sun, the moon, the Earth Goddess and angel Brahma is carved pictograms of each of the three plates planks into an idol to worship in the temple. Then put the Wildcats in front of the ceremony to watch pit and swing. Forum turned into a position of having a Phraya Iืnchingchga. Called the board into the hole on the eighth lunar month twenty. 

        Rite Triiampwai This is done in the temple for three Temple University is a Shiva temple. Shrine of the Great Wiฆenswr And Vishnu temple The four Olkbal (Lord Iืnchingchga and Naliwann) must offer swing and water gods with magic. 

         Originally Triiampwai ceremony will be held in the first lunar month. (In December) After entering the Rattanakosin era has changed in the twenty months. (In January), this ceremony is a ceremony of new year is a year of Brahma, Shiva, Brahma will come to visit the 10-day meeting at the Shiva temple. Washed and tied together with a weak to meet the Lord Shiva.

        Surface area Sao Chingcha on the current traffic junction on Bamrungmuang split second consecutive intersections in the west. Yaowarat Road is the intersection between road and golden road to the east and pencil. Yaowarat Road is the intersection between road and street fleece Feedbacks Portal. The swing base acts like a mini-roundabout is an intersection between the two. Wat Suthat matching front yard Thepwararam and City Hall. City or courtyard This is a wide open space for activities. Below are the underground parking. Bangkok city on the patio next to a sculpture and swing label shows the full name of Bangkok. Established a memorial in celebration of 220 years of the period since 2545.

       Sao Chingcha is in the historic district of Bangkok. There are many ancient architectural buildings, especially commercial banks, Bamrungmuang swing around. During the fourth quarter, separate and isolate the Samran swing. Religion is the distributor of Bangkok.

         There is also a religious surrounding attractions Hinduism - Hinduism are many. A Brahmin temple, Wat palace. Within the association to assist Hindus And Uma Devi Shrine It was created after the island fleece Feedbacks - Street Portal. Wat Suthat

Patpong Entertainment District Insight Bangkok

Patpong (Thai: พัฒน์พงศ์, RTGS: Phat Phong) is an entertainment district in Bangkok, Thailand, catering mainly, though not exclusively, to foreign tourists and expatriates. While Patpong is internationally known as a red light district at the heart of Bangkok's sex industry, it is in fact only one of numerous red-light districts some catering primarily to Thai men and some others, like Patpong, catering primarily to foreigners.


A busy night market aimed at tourists is also located in Patpong.

Location and layout 

        Patpong (location: 13°43′42″N 100°32′00″ECoordinates: 13°43′42″N 100°32′00″E) consists of two parallel side streets running between Silom Road and Surawong Road and one side street running from the opposite side of Surawong. Patpong is within walking distance from the BTS Skytrain Silom Line's Sala Daeng Station, and MRT Blue Line's Si Lom Station.

Patpong 1 is the main street with many bars of various kinds. Patpong 2 also has many similar bars. Next to these lies Soi Jaruwan, sometimes referred to as Patpong 3 but best known as Silom Soi 4. It has long catered to gay men, whilst nearby Soi Thaniya has expensive bars with Thai hostesses that cater almost exclusively to Japanese men.

History and ownership

         Patpong gets its name from the family that owns much of the area's property, the Patpongpanich (or Patpongpanit), immigrants from Hainan Island, China, who purchased the area in 1946. At that time it was an undeveloped plot of land on the outskirts of the city. A small klong (canal) and a teakwood house were the only features. The family built a road - now called Patpong 1 - and several shophouses, which were rented out. Patpong 2 was added later, and both roads are in fact private property and not city streets. (The so-called Patpong 3 and Soi Thaniya are not owned by the Patpongpanich family.) The old teak house was torn down long ago and the klong was filled in to make room for more shophouses. Originally simply an ordinary business area, the coming of the bars eventually would drive out most of the other businesses.

By 1968, a handful of nightclubs existed in the area, and Patpong found some use as a R&R (Rest and Recuperation) location for U.S. troops serving in the Vietnam War, although the main R&R area was actually along New Petchburi Road. In its prime during the 1970s and 1980s, Patpong was the premier nightlife area in Bangkok for foreigners, and was famous for its sexually explicit shows. In the mid 1980s the sois hosted an annual Patpong Mardi Gras, which was a weekend street fair that raised considerable money for Thai charities. In the early 1990s, however, the Patpongpanich family decided to turn all of Patpong 1 Road bar the sidwalks into a night market, renting out spaces to stall holders.

The consequence was that Patpong lost a great deal of its vibrancy as a go-go bar and sexual services strip, becoming crowded with tourist shoppers who were at best bemused by the nightlife and put a big damper on the strip's power to excite and amuse. Soon the real action moved to the newer nightlife areas of Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy, which today far outdo Patpong as go-go bar strips. However, Patpong is the only one within the official entertainment zones decreed by the Thai government in 2004, which allow venues to legally stay open until 2am, instead of the 1am legal closing time in other areas. Enforcement of that law was initially strict but has varied over time since.

In recent years, there has been a move away from the traditional sex venues in Patpong. Twilo hip hop bar boasts two live bands every night, and is very popular with both tourists and local Thais. Also, Muzzik Cafe has been completely renovated and is a very popular live music bar playing a mixture of Rock, Hip hop and Pop.

Next to Twilo is Funky Dojo with DJs regularly playing both club and house music. Park Bridge, another high class music venue, has just opened across Patpong 2 and is accessible from either the Foodland car park or the opposite building from the third floor. Radio City and Lucifer are also being refurbished, which will mean by November 2008 Patpong will be one of the main live music areas

Sex-related businesses 

        Patpong has many shows featuring women doing stunts in the nude. Go-go bars feature women dancing on a stage. The dancers (and even occasionally the serving staff) are generally available to customers willing to pay a bar fine to take them out of the bar; the fees for sexual services are negotiated separately. Some establishments advertising "massages" are in fact disguised brothels, and a few famous "blowjob bars" offer oral sex at the main bar or in back rooms.

Several upstairs bars still feature (technically illegal) sex shows, with women performing various creative acts such as Ping pong show. Perhaps the most notorious of these features women performing exotic feats involving their genitalia and projectile table tennis balls. Some of these second-floor bars are run by scam artists who lure tourists with offers of low prices and later present a wildly inflated bill along with a threat of physical harm should the bill go unpaid. The Tourist Police, usually stationed at Patpong 1 and Silom Road, can help in these situations.

Some establishments in Patpong employ kathoeys (or "ladyboys") either exclusively or as part of a mixed gender staff. Unlike the kathoey bars in Nana Plaza, many of the staff at these Patpong bars are post-operative transsexuals.

With one or two exceptions, the gay bars in the Patpong area are not go-go bars, but simply traditional gay pubs, such as Telephone and The Balcony, which cater to both Thais and tourists. The commercial gay oriented go-go bars are mainly on Surawong Road or in small street Soi Pratuchai leading off Surawong.

Night market

Patpong Night Market has offered souvenirs, gifts, clothes, handbags and jewelry amidst entertainment establishments since the late 1960s. This is one of the best known open air night markets insight Thailand.

In media 

Many western films have featured Patpong, including the award winning The Deer Hunter (1978), starring Robert De Niro. The final part of the popular musical Miss Saigon (1989) is set in the bar scene of Patpong.

The movie Baraka features several shots of strippers in Patpong.

The 1994 book Patpong Sisters: An American Woman's View of the Bangkok Sex World (ISBN 1-55970-281-8) by Cleo Odzer describes the experiences of an anthropologist doing field research in Thailand.

Patpong: Bangkok's Twilight Zone (2001, ISBN 0-9537438-2-9) by Nick Nostitz is a personal photographic depiction of aspects of the Patpong night life.

The 2008 book Ladyboys: The Secret World of Thailand's Third Gender gives an intimate portrait of Thailand's Kathoeys. It is a collection of authentic stories about journeys of self-discovery by those who have struggled with gender identity while trying to maintain normal lives and careers. The book features some of Thailand's celebrity ladyboys such as Boxer Nong Toom as well as the life of a magazine columnist, a cabaret performer, a prostitute and others. Some of them also tell about their experiences in Patpong. The book was written by Susan Aldous and Pornchai Sereemongkonpol and published by Maverick House Publishers.

Patpong opera is a collection of songs written by Paul Wood manager of Radio City to tunes of modern rock songs. Together they tell the story of the people in Patpong. Copies are available from Radio City.

Patpong serves as part of the setting in Tom Robbins' book Villa Incognito.

Wat Phra Kaew Insight Bangkok

 

    The Wat Phra Kaew (Thai: วัดพระแก้ว, RTGS: Wat Phra Kaeo, Pronunciation, English: Temple of the Emerald Buddha; full official name Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram, Thai: วัดพระศรีรัตนศาสดาราม, is regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple (wat) in Thailand. It is a "potent religio-political symbol and the palladium (protective image) of Thai society". It is located in Phra Nakhon District, the historic centre of Bangkok, within the precincts of the Grand Palace.


      The main building is the central phra ubosot, which houses the statue of the Emerald Buddha. The legendary history of this Buddha image is traced to India, five centuries after Gautama Buddha attained Nirvana, until it was finally enshrined in Bangkok at the Wat Phra Kaew temple in 1782 during the reign of Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, King Rama I (1782–1809). This marked the beginning of the Chakri Dynasty of Thailand (the present head of the dynasty is Bhumibol Adulyadej, King Rama IX.) The Emerald Buddha, a dark green statue, is in a standing form, about 66 centimetres (26 in) tall, carved from a single jade stone ("emerald" in Thai means deep green colour and not the specific stone). It is carved in the meditating posture in the style of the Lanna school of the northern Thailand. Except for the Thai King, no other person is allowed to touch the statue. The King changes the cloak around the statue three times a year, corresponding to the summer, winter, and rainy seasons, an important ritual performed to usher good fortune to the country during each season.



     While legend traces this statue to India, its rich historical records dates its finding in Cambodia in the 15th century, moved to Laos in the 16th century and then to Vientiane where it remained for 215 years, and finally to Thailand in the 18th century. Considering the long history and the prophecy of the sage Nagasena that the Emerald Buddha would bring "prosperity and pre-eminence to each country in which it resides", the Emerald Buddha deified in the Wat Phra Kaew is deeply revered and venerated in Thailand as the protector of the country.

HISTORY

     According to legend the Emerald Buddha statue originated in India, however other legends claimm it was originally from first vassal Kingdom of Cambodia. The image disappeared when Burmese raiders sacked Ayuttaya also spelt "Ayudaya" and the image was feared lost.

     Statue of a kinnara in Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok (Thailand). Continuing with the legend of the saint Nagasena of India, after remaining in Pataliputra (present day Patna) for three hundred years, the Emerald Buddha image was taken to Sri Lanka to save it from a civil war. In 457, King Anuruth of Burma sent a mission to Ceylon with a request for Buddhist scriptures and the Emerald Buddha, in order to promote Buddhism in his country. These requests were granted, but the ship lost its way in a storm during the return voyage and landed in Cambodia. When the Thais captured Angkor Wat in 1432 (following the ravage of the bubonic plague), the Emerald Buddha was taken to Ayutthaya, Kamphaeng Phet, Laos and finally Chiang Rai, where the ruler of the city hid it. Cambodian historians recorded capture of the Buddha statue in their famous Preah Ko Preah Keo legend.

       The Emerald Buddha reappeared in a chance discovery in Chiang Rai, Lanna in 1434, after a lightning storm struck a temple. The Buddha statue fell down and was chipped. The storm had washed away some of its mud plaster covering (mud coat or stucco used to be laid to safeguard valuable Buddha images). The monks, after removing the plaster around the statue, discovered that the image was a perfectly made Buddha image from a solid piece of Jade, a precious stone. After that, the image moved around a few temples in Lanna. It was then moved to Chiang Rai, then Chiang Mai, from where it was removed by prince Chao Chaiyasetthathirat to Luang Prabang, when his father died and he ascended the throne of both Lanna and Lan Xang, in 1551. The statue remained there for twelve years. King Chaiyasetthathirat then shifted it to his new capital of Lan Xang in Vientiane in the 1560s. He took the Emerald Buddha with him and thereafter the image remained in Vientiane for two hundred and fifteen years until 1778. In the early 18th century, the Kingdom of Lan Xang was divided into 3 different kingdoms; Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Champassak.


      King Taksin of Thonburi (Siam, now Thailand) was crowned king in 1768 (he had defeated the Burmese), reigned for fifteen years, uniting the kingdom and expanding its territorial jurisdiction. Chao Phya Chakri (Chakri is a title) a renowned army general and associate of Taksin, in 1778, defeated the Vientiane and shifted the Emerald Buddha from Vientiane to Thonburi where it remained till Taksin's death. It was then installed in a shrine close to Wat Arun. Chroniclers mention that Taksin had become senile and consequently he was put to death by Chao Phra Chakri. Chao Phra Chakri then took over the reins of the Rattanakosin Kingdom. He adopted the title Rama I and shifted his capital across the Menam Chao Phra river to its present location in Bangkok. The Emerald Buddha was also moved across the river with pomp and pageantry and installed in the temple of Wat Phra Keo. It resides in the Wat Phra Kaew in the precincts of the Grand Palace. Rama I, after he moved the capital from Thonburi to Bangkok, had the temple consecrated in 1784. The King had ordered replacing an old temple at this site by building a new temple as part the construction of his new capital. It was built as an exclusive temple complex for the display of holy buildings, statues, and pagodas. The formal name of Wat Phra Kaeo is Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram, which means "the residence of the Holy Jewel Buddha."

      Phibunsongkhram, a World War II hero of Thailand, the Prime Minister, Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces in 1941 had signed a formal treaty of alliance between the two Buddhist countries of Thailand and Japan in the divine presence of the Emerald Buddha in the wat. He had royal ambitions of shifting the capital from Bangkok to his home town Phetchabun along with the Emerald Buddha. He later gave up his plan under public pressure and also fear of bombing during the war.

       However, there are also claims that the statue was originally in Sri Lanka. Art historians of Thailand claim that it was carved in the 14th century in Thailand only. All these theories are discounted on the grounds that none of the historians could get a close look at the statue.

Tuk-tuks or sam lor Insight Bangkok

   

    Tuk-tuks or 'sam lor' (three-wheeled) used to be everyone's favourite way of getting around Bangkok before the BTS, MRT and colourful taxis took over. Originating from an old-fashioned rickshaw during the second World War, a tuk-tuk is essentially a rickshaw with a small engine fitted in.

       Tuk-tuks have become one of Bangkok's most recognisable transportation features, and are still popular among tourists and visitors. Riding a tuk-tuk is more of an experience rather than a practical way to get around. So, if it's your first time in The Big Mango, there's no harm in giving it a go.



5 Tips to Ride a Tuk Tuk in Bangkok

1. Fares vary, depending on the distance travelled, the time of the day, the traffic, and the mood of the drivers. Normally a very short trip will cost 30 baht. 


2. Fare negotiating and haggling is a must because the price named by the driver is always an 'inflated rate' (especially if you're a tourist). The trick is to negotiate 5 - 15 baht off the proposed fare, and take it from there. 


3. Be careful of the 'mafia' tuk-tuks around touristy areas, who often boasts privileged knowledge of 'secret' or 'special' shopping places and things. Some of them may offer sightseeing tours and unsolicited help to take you places. A short and sweet "no, thanks" will save you from their scams. The same rule applies to taxis. 


4. Avoid taking a tuk-tuk during peak hours (07:00 - 09:00, 16:00 - 19:00). You don't want to be stuck in traffic for hours, sweating and breathing in the hazardous fumes from engines all around you. 


5. Tuk-tuks are most ideal for short trips. Sometimes it would cost the same, or even cheaper, to take a cab to the same destination, but it will go a lot faster.

Whit Hot Insight Bangkok

    

   Sprawling and steamy Bangkok may have reinvented itself into an outpost of the hip,b but its current guise is yet another stage in a city that is forever shifting, and always adapting to trend and outside influences

    Observing the city today from the air-corditioned comfort of the elevated Skytrain, the Bangkok of the 1990s - ridden with choking smog, into distant memery. Most of the gleaming glass and steel towers are in place, the infamous traffic snarls are less and steel tower are in place, the infamous traffic smarls are less pervasive thanks to the Skytrain and a gleaming new underground metro line, and the pollution is noticeably liss smothering. The touts at Patpong are still around (Some things don't change) and the steamy heat still socks you in the face if you visit in muggy April. But with the economy back on track and a firm focus on the future, Bangkok is fast making a name for iself as Asia's new metropolis of cool.

    With hio hotels like the Metropolitan and Sukhothai and a clutch of uber cool nightlife spots led by the white hot Bed Supperclub and modish Q Bar, Bangkok is a hot new destination of the 21st century. The dining scene too, hasn't lagged far behind. Stylishly minimalist coffee clubs like Grey-hound have become de rigueur with the city's fashionable set, and wait till you try Thai Food within the rarefied atmosphere of Mahanaga, which mixes North African, Thai and Indian design accents to startling effects.

      The dreadlocked backpacker crowd still gathers at Thanon Khao San with its hodge-podge jumble of cheap eateries and tawdry souvenir shops, and sleazy male tourists still make a beline for the raunchy sex clubs of Patpong and Nana Plaza, but these scenes are oh so last century. With its feet set firmly in the present, Bangkok hardly qualifies as an Asian backwater. The shopping, too, has gone up a notch in the design quotient. The traditional stuff that That artisans are so famous for are still there - silver jewellery, tribal handicrafts, pottery and the like - but young Thai designers are fast making a name for themselves with bold and contemporary disigns in clothing and fashion, accessories furniture and home decor.

      Thankfully, Insight Bangkok hasn't become too painfully hip. Many of the traditional markers are still there: the golden spires of Buddhist temples, saffronrobed monks with arms outstretched at dawn for offerings, and thewafting smells of food hawked by streetside stalls. The shift to urban life has changed much of Bangkok's sensibilities, but it's a rare Thai who doesn't seek out sanuk (or fun), whether dining at a chic French restaurant or haddled around a pavement table piled with Singha beer ant Thai street food.

Dusit Zoo Insight Thailand

 Dusit Zoo
      Insight Thailand present  The Dusit Zoo, widely known as Khao Din Wana, was built by King Rama V as part of his personal park and is adjacent to the Royal Palace. After his reign, the park was left unattended for years. In 1938, the government led by Prime Minister Field Marshal Jomphol Por Phibulsongkram asked the King Rama VIII to offer the park to Bangkok City Municipality to be open as a public zoo. Home to over 2,500 species of domestic and international animals, Dusit Zoo serves well a green leisure spot for people from all over the country as well as an outdoor learning venue for students. Dusit Zoo is proud to be the only zoo that houses ‘Chao Petch’, the rare albino barking deer. Artefacts from World War II are also found here.


Opening Hours : daily 08.00 - 18.00 hrs.
Admission Fee : 10 baht/ Thai child, 70 baht/ Thai adult,30 baht/Thai Student, 50 baht/ foreign child, and 100 baht/ foreign adult.
For more information, please call : 0 2281 2000, 0 2281 9027-8
How to Get There : Take the Sukhumvit Line and get off at Victory Monument Station (or N3 Station), and go out through Exit No. 3 facing Rajavithee Road. Then, take a bus or public vehicle to Dusit Zoo.
Buses that go there (get on the bus at the bus stop in front of the hospital) : Bus No. 18, 28, 108, 528,515, 539, and 542

Website : http://www.dusitzoo.org/

Klong Bang Luang

Insight Bangkok has a reputation for bright lights, gleaming high-rises and seething nightlife, but on the west side of the Chao Phraya River in Thonburi, the city’s softer, simpler and more creative side hangs loose. Embodying this better than anywhere, the canal-side community of artists at Khlong Bang Luang posseses a homegrown artistic spirit that pervades this eclectic neighbourhood.

The centrepiece of the Khlong Bang Luang community is Baan Sinlapin (Artists House), which occupies a century-old two-storey teak wood house set beside the canal and clustered around a 300-plus-year-old chedi. A relic of the Ayutthaya period that rises from Baan Sinlapan’s open-air belly, locals still place offerings before the chedi each day.

Baan Sinlapin came into existence just three years ago when prominent Bangkok-based artist and conservationist Chumphon Akhpantanond set out to turn the dilapidated but charming old structure into an artist-run cafe and performance space. Everyone from notable professional artists to teenage art students joined the handful of creative types who already lived in the neighbourhood to rally around Chumphon and transform the space into a unique centre for the arts.

     Baan Sinlapin’s upstairs section typically houses casual exhibitions (usually paintings) while prints, drawings, photographs, sculpture and everything in between are scattered around the first floor in a colourful melange. Visitors can purchase postcards and T-shirts featuring locally produced works of art, or give donations in exchange for the opportunity to unleash their own creativity by painting their very own masks. Once finished, the masks can be left behind to add to the decor or taken home as a one-of-a-kind souvenir.

     Yet Baan Sinlapin’s most popular artists are its resident traditional Thai shadow puppet troupe, Kum Nai Hun Lakon Lek, who act out scenes from the Ramakien every day of the week at 14:00, except on Wednesdays. Dressed in jet black costumes with expressionless masks covering their faces, performers masterfully bring their khon puppets to life in thrilling and humorous shows.

     There’s no admission charge to see the puppet show, but if you don’t slip a 20 or 100 baht note in the donation box, you can expect a smack-in-the-face from Hanuman the monkey king. If you’re extra generous, the lovely Sita might blow you a kiss, and if you’re really lucky, you might even be pulled on-stage mid-show to operate Hanuman’s occasionally abandoned right arm.

     Before or after the show, snatch one of the cafe’s outstanding coffees or Thai iced teas at one of the art-workshop style tables that shouldn’t fail to inspire even the most left-brain-dominant of visitors to reach for a paint brush.
Baan Sinlapin is the main draw for most visitors, but the artist community wouldn’t be what it is if not for the surrounding neighbourhood. Well preserved stilted homes more than a century old and historic but non-touristy temples join smaller art studios, vintage antique galleries, a few outstanding hole-in-the-wall noodle shops, a tiny guesthouse and several family-run cafes, convenience shops and barbers to create the area’s infectiously laid-back atmosphere.

    Dangle your feet off the old wooden docks while feeding the fish, enjoy the homemade coconut ice cream sold by an old man who regularly stops by on his tiny wooden boat, or take a stroll through the narrow, leafy alleyways to the stunning but rather neglected Wat Kamphaeng.

    Although Khlong Bang Luang is still a relaxed affair, it is growing in popularity. Many long-time residents have embraced their newfound tourist destination status, and some have called for a full-scale floating market to take place on weekends. Chumphon and others have cautioned residents to carefully consider the potential consequences of a hasty rush for tourism money.

 

     Well respected in Bangkok art circles thanks to his commitment to sustainable tourism and historical preservation, Chumphon has — up until now at least — successfully guided Khlong Bang Luang to be an evolving tourism success story. Let’s hope it stays this way for a long time to come.