Bangkok - Gateway to Asia

A photodocumentary of Bangkok on the occasion of the Asian Libraries Conference (ALIC 2004) on the theme "Libraries- Gateways to Information and Knowledge in the Digital Age," held at Dusit Thani Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand, November 21-24, 2004, wherein Filipino archivist-librarian Fe Angela Verzosa served as one of the speakers and facilitators.

Featured here is the oh-so-dainty Dusit Palace, the Thai monarchy's nod to the Victorian era. It contains Vimanmek Palace, the world's largest teak mansion, and its pleasant manicured grounds. Vivanmek's beautiful three-storey mansion has huge staircases, octagonal rooms and lattice walls - magnificent, yet surprisingly serene and intimate. Originally constructed on Ko Si Chang in 1868 and moved to the present site in 1910, Vimanmek was the first permanent building on the Dusit palace grounds. The mansion served as Rama V's residence in the early 1900s. The interior contains various personal effects of the king, and a treasure-trove of early Ratanakosin art objects and antiques.

Wat Arun, a Khmer-style temple, dominates the river landscape like an ancient military installation. Up close, the masculine monument is decorated in delicate mosaic details and marks the re-emergence of the Thai capital after the Burmese invasion in the 18th century.

Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) is the oldest and largest wát in Bangkok, with a pedigree as a temple site dating back to the 16th century. It is also the longest reclining Buddha and the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand.

Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) is an architectural wonder of gleaming, gilded chedi seemingly buoyed above the ground, polished orange-and-green roof tiles piercing the humid sky, mosaic-encrusted pillars and rich marble pediments. Adjoining Wat Phra Kaew is the Grand Palace (Phra Borom Maharatchawong), a former royal residence (the current monarch lives in Chitralada Palace). The exteriors of the four Grand Palace buildings are worth a swift perusal, however, for their royal bombast.

The largest of the palace buildings is the triple-winged Chakri Mahaprasat (Grand Palace Hall). Designed in 1882 by British architects, the exterior shows a peculiar blend of Italian Renaissance and traditional Thai architecture.

The Temple of the Golden Buddha sees a lot of visitors for one very big reason: the world's largest golden Buddha (5.5 tonnes and 3m tall).

Lumphini Park is Bangkok's biggest green lung, named after Buddha's birthplace in Nepal, is crammed with a motley crew of tai chi students, karaoke crooners, vendors selling snake blood, chess players, joggers, and kite flyers. Some say it's the best way to escape Bangkok without leaving town.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Bangkok
• Asian
• Libraries
• Conference
• ALIC2004
• Lumphini
• Vivarnmek
• Chao
• Phraya
• Temples
• Buddha

[ikuzone182]

thank you for making this video. lovely.. :)

[taospec]

Nice music selection to go along with the video