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Sukhumvit Road: A Historical & Cultural Exploration

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Sukhumvit Road is far more than just one of Bangkok’s longest and most bustling thoroughfares; it’s a living testament to the city’s dynamic evolution. This piece invites you on a journey through time, exploring how this vital artery transformed from a provincial highway into a vibrant urban heart. For anyone planning a visit to Bangkok, understanding Sukhumvit’s rich history offers a deeper appreciation for its contemporary energy and diverse cultural tapestry.

The story of Sukhumvit Road begins in the 1930s, specifically around 1936, when its construction commenced as part of Thailand’s Route 3. This ambitious project aimed to connect Bangkok with the eastern provinces, facilitating trade and travel across the region. The road was officially named after Phra Pisan Sukhumvit (Sukhumvit Boriharn), the fifth chief of the Department of Highways, honoring his significant contributions to the nation’s infrastructure development.

In its early days, Sukhumvit was a relatively quiet, suburban stretch, lined with rice paddies and scattered communities. Post-World War II, as Bangkok expanded, the road gradually began its transformation. Initial residential and commercial developments started to emerge, slowly paving the way for the urban sprawl we recognize today, attracting both local residents and early expatriate communities seeking new opportunities.

A pivotal moment in Sukhumvit’s development arrived with the launch of the BTS Skytrain in December 1999. The elevated rail system dramatically increased accessibility along the road, sparking an unprecedented boom in construction. High-rise condominiums, luxury shopping malls, and office towers rapidly appeared, solidifying Sukhumvit’s status as a premier destination for business, leisure, and upscale living.

Sukhumvit is renowned for its incredible diversity, offering everything from luxury malls and international dining to vibrant nightlife and local street food. It’s a key residential area for expatriates and a major tourist hub, making it a safe and exciting place to explore. Visitors can easily navigate its length via the BTS Skytrain, accessing countless attractions, cultural experiences, and entertainment options day and night.

Today, Sukhumvit Road is a mosaic of distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character. Areas like Nana and Asok buzz with nightlife and commercial activity, while Phrom Phong and Thonglor offer sophisticated dining, high-end boutiques, and trendy cafes. Further along, Ekkamai provides a more relaxed, bohemian vibe, showcasing the road’s ability to cater to an incredibly diverse array of tastes and preferences.

Exploring Sukhumvit Road today provides a fascinating glimpse into Bangkok’s past and present, revealing layers of history alongside its dynamic contemporary pulse. It’s a place where tradition meets modernity, inviting every traveler to discover its unique charm and endless possibilities.

Exploring the Vibrant Floating Markets of Bangkok

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Bangkok, Thailand’s bustling capital, is renowned for its vibrant street life and cultural landmarks. However, one of its most unique and colorful attractions is undoubtedly its floating markets. These waterborne bazaars, where vendors sell goods directly from their boats, offer a unique glimpse into the local way of life and are a must-visit for any traveler to the city.

The tradition of floating markets in Bangkok dates back to a time when water transport played a key role in daily life. The most famous among them, Damnoen Saduak, was established in 1866 by King Rama IV. This market, though highly popular among tourists, still retains its authentic charm with vendors selling tropical fruits, vegetables, coconut juice and local food cooked from floating kitchens.

Another notable market is the Taling Chan Weekend Floating Market, established in 1987. Unlike Damnoen Saduak, Taling Chan is less crowded and offers a more relaxed experience. Here, visitors can enjoy seafood grilled directly on the boat while taking in the tranquil surroundings.

One common question asked about these markets is – are they open every day? Most floating markets operate only on weekends from early morning to early afternoon. However, Damnoen Saduak, due to its popularity, is open every day.

Other markets worth visiting include the Bang Nam Pheung Floating Market, known for its local delicacies and the Amphawa Floating Market, famous for its evening boat tours and firefly watching experiences. Each market has its unique charm and offers a different experience, making them worth multiple visits.

Visiting the floating markets of Bangkok offers not just a shopping experience, but also a chance to understand the local culture and way of life. The colorful sights, the aroma of cooking food, the sounds of sellers calling out their wares, all contribute to a sensory feast that should not be missed when in Bangkok.

All About Thailand Wedding Vows

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A traditional Thai wedding is a joyous occasion steeped in age-old rituals and traditions. At the wedding, the couple pays homage to their loved ones and the spirits of the dead in a ritual that draws on Buddhist and local customs.

Thailand Wedding vows are a significant aspect of traditional Thai wedding ceremonies. Traditional phrases and idioms are often repeated in wedding vows across generations in Thailand. However, the vows at a modern wedding are open to the couple’s creativity and can be adjusted to reflect their individual tastes.

The exchange of vows at a Thai wedding occurs after the monks have chanted and blessed the couple. While their loved ones look on from a mat, the bride and groom say their vows to one another. Though most couples opt to have their vows said in Thai, some also say them in English or a blend.

Common pledges during Thai wedding ceremonies include love, honour, and cherish. In addition to committing to a loving and joyful life together, the vows also express appreciation for the couple’s shared existence. It’s also common for couples to incorporate promises and declarations of love specific to them and their partnership.

Guests will express their best wishes and blessings after the couple exchanges vows, and the wedding bands will be given out. There is frequently a celebration with music, dancing, and tasty food after the wedding ceremony.

The Thai wedding vows are a crucial aspect of a traditional Thai wedding. The vows represent the couple’s commitment to one another, their families, and the future they hope to build together as husband and wife. To honour the cultural customs of their families, couples can add touches to their wedding vows.

Bangkok Food

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When you think of nations that have some of the world’s most delicious cuisine, one of the first locations that springs to mind is Thailand.

The reputation of Bangkok’s street cuisine is so well-known that CNN has ranked the city as having the absolute finest street food of any city in the world. It is not difficult to locate excellent Bangkok food. Simply make your way to any one of the city’s several culinary enclaves or markets and you’ll be sure to encounter stalls where vendors who are preparing mouth-watering platters of Thai dishes such as pad Thai and hoy tod.

It makes no difference where you are in Bangkok; whether you are in a street stall or one of the city’s most upscale restaurants, one thing is for certain: Bangkok’s dynamic food scene never fails to impress. Crispy pork, deep-fried omelette, and pad Thai lobster are among the most well-known dishes to come out of Bangkok’s kitchens.

>Crispy Pork – This is without a doubt the most exciting part of the eating experience since it is cut into bite-sized pieces, and the layers of the belly are plainly and pleasantly visible.

Deep-Fried Omelette – Thai chefs have perfected the art of deep-frying eggs with a delicacy called kai jeow, which is a puffy, crackly street meal that is defined by air pockets throughout and a skirt of crispy wisps.

>Pad Thai Lobster – Adding lobster to this version of one of the most popular Thai noodles is a great way to bring out sweet flavours from both sides.

>Chicken in Coconut Soup – The rich flavour of this traditional Thai soup dish comes from the use ingredients that are synonymous with Thai cuisine, such as coconut milk, ginger, lemongrass, onion, tomato, spicy herbs and roots, chile paste, chicken fillet, and mushroom.

The history of the US Embassy in Bangkok

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The US and Thailand have continued enjoying good relations for decades. Read on as we explore the history of the US Embassy in Bangkok.

Thailand and the United States are the oldest friends in The Asian region, with their relations dating back as early as 1818. Diplomatic relations started in 1833 with the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce. The two countries have continued their good relationship that has strengthened over time. The two countries continue cooperating in a wide variety of programs such as health, culture, education, trade, and security among others.

History

In 1882, the United States established a diplomatic mission in Bangkok, originally as a legation. However, its status changed to an Embassy in 1947. The current official residence was built in 1914 by Henry Victor Bailey, who was an English businessman. Upon his demise in 1920, the Thailand Finance Ministry bought the house. During WWII, Thailand supported Japan, which irked Great Britain and sought to punish Thailand for its actions. However, the US came to its aid and persuaded Great Britain from taking any actions. For this, the Thai government were grateful and gifted the house to the US in 1947.

Notable events

One of the notable events took place in 1975 when protestors numbering almost 10,000, mostly students, expressed their anger at US actions of launching attacks against Cambodia without informing or seeking permission from Thailand.

Location

The US embassy in Bangkok is located at 120-122 Wireless Road and is open from Monday between 7 am – 12 pm, and from 1 pm – 4 pm. However, it may be closed during public holidays in Thailand or the United States.

The US embassy in Bangkok has a rich history especially considering how it came to be. The 2 countries are the oldest friends in Asia, and they still continue enjoying good relations.

By United States Department of State – http://diplomacy.state.gov/discoverdiplomacy/explorer/places/170163.htm, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30720409

The History of The Ananta Samakhorn Throne Hall

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The Construction of the Throne Hall

The building of the throne hall began in 1908 and was completed in 1915, costing 15 million baht (The currency of Thailand). The hall is approximately 50m high and consists of a large central dome, as well as 6 smaller surrounding domes. The structure is located within the Dusit Palace in Bangkok. It was King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) who commissioned the construction, with the hall being completed 5 years after his death at the age of 57. The intention of the hall was to serve as a place for royal meetings.

The History of the Throne Hall

Translated from Thai, The Ananta Samakhorn Throne Hall means “The place of immense gathering”, it has fulfilled this title by serving as an important place of royal meetings. The interior design is based on the Chakri Dynasty, with the domes and walls being decorated by Carlo Riguli and Galileo Chini, the royal artists of the time. The throne hall has been used for several historically significant events; during the 1932 revolution, the hall functioned as headquarters for the Khana Ratsadon (People’s Party). Following this, the hall was used by the legislative branch of parliament, before the new parliament building was established in 1974. After the parliament had moved, the hall became a part of the palace once again, as control was resumed by the royal family.

Modern Usage of the Throne Hall

The Arts of the Kingdom Exhibition was held at the throne hall and open for tourists to view. This exhibition hosted a showcase of important arts and crafts for the nation, however has since been moved away from the hall. The throne hall has been closed to visitors since October 1st 2017. The main current purpose of the throne hall now is for the ceremonial State Opening of Parliament, in which the King of Thailand officially opens each new parliament.

pic By Supanut Arunoprayote – Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80838541

Historic Famous Conferences: Earth Summit 3rd – 14th June, 1992

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In June 1992, from 3rd to 14th, the largest United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

It was called the Rio Conference, the Earth Summit, the Rio summit, or the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit.In this summit,117 heads of states and also representatives of the 178 nations were in attendance. Most of the nations agreed by the signing of treaties and other documents to commit to the pursuit of economic development but also protecting the mother earth and its nonrenewable resources.

The issues addressed included:

The production of harmful components such as gasoline or the release of toxic factory wastes into the environment.

Using alternative sources of energy to replace the use of nonrenewable sources.

The use of a public transportation system to reduce the number of harmful gases emitted into the environment.

The growing usage of the limited water supply.

Some of the main documents that were agreed upon by member states at the Earth Summit are:

The Convention on Biological Diversity. This is the treaty that committed different states to take inventories of their plants and wild lives and protecting the endangered species concurrently.

The Global Warming Convention. This is the treaty that bound nations to reduce their carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases which are thought to be responsible for global warming.

The Declaration on Environment and Development, or the Rio Declaration laid down 27 broad but nonbinding principles for environmentally sound development. Among them is Agenda 21 which outlined global strategies for cleaning up the environment and also encouraging sound environmental development.

In an attempt at preserving the fast diminishing tropical rainforests, a nonbinding recommendation suggested that nations monitor and assess the impact of development on their forest reserve and take steps to manage the damage done on them. This summit formed a precedent for many of these international meetings.

However, the summit was faced with disputes between the developed countries and the developing ones with the later been reluctant to hamper their economic development with the environmental restrictions recommended not unless they receive increased financial support from the wealthy nations to facilitate a sound environmental growth.

The TakeAway,

This meeting was a response for member states to work together worldwide on development issues after the Cold War. Issues of Sustainability were deemed to be too broad for individual member states to handle, therefore the Earth Summit was a platform for all member states to collaborate. Many more meetings would follow to ammend some of the treaties and declarations in the future.

How to take a cruise to Ayuttaya from Bangkok

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There is every reason to want to reach Ayuttaya, Thailand from Bangkok as it’s an ancient city, full of historical interest. Known as an archaeological site, the historic city is managed as a historical park, and, in fact, at the centre of the city is Ayutthaya Historical Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and also the most visited site in the area.

If luxury is what you want

Where you decide to stay in Bangkok can literally can make or break your trip. Bad accommodation too far out will make getting to the historic monuments early nearly impossible. A good choice are the Lancaster Bangkok hotel rooms, luxuriously comfortable, and letting you wake up in the morning feeling energised and ready to explore everything that makes a Bangkok getaway so utterly enthralling: a hotel close to all the amazing sights and sounds of the city.

A boat trip away from Bangkok’s buzz

The journey up the Chao Phraya river is the perfect retreat from Bangkok’s bustling streets and lifestyle. It can be wonderfully peaceful on the river. To make the trip to Bangkok more exciting, adventurers like to combine their visit to Bangkok with a trip to Ayutthaya – an exciting riverboat trip on the main river of Thailand known also as the River of Kings. Many of the people live on the banks of the Chao Phraya River and many use the river to get to work and other places.

The trip starts from Wat Niwet Thammaprawat in Bang Pa In, a Buddhist temple. The trip gives you a wonderful chance to be in the fresh air as you glide past Thai people going about their daily lives. This just makes the entire trip more enthralling as there are also ancient temples and ruins to explore.

A fascinating night on the boat

This 2-day boat cruise includes docking for the night where you will dine on board before settling down for the night. You’ll enjoy breakfast on board the next morning as you prepare to cruise further on to the amazing city of Ayutthaya, where you disembark at Bang-Pa-In, an ancient palace.

After such a thrilling trip, there’s no substitute for knowing that when you get back to your hotel in Bangkok you can relax in the air-conditioned comfort that on a luxury hotel can provide.

The Difference between High-tea and Low tea

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There is no hard and fast rule of how to enjoy tea-times, but low tea, served in the mid-afternoon, has always meant a light snack to tide you over to supper time. It might include one or two cupcakes, scones, and a sandwich.

The low tea fills the hunger gap

This low tea started way back when the duchess couldn’t make it through a boring, foodless afternoon, and feeling hungry, she ordered tea and snacks to her bedroom chamber. She discovered what a delightful way it was to ‘fill the gap’ waiting for supper time, and it became a tradition.

The high tea is likened to a meal

High tea on the other hand, is far more substantial, more energy-packed and more like a full meal. Workers, after a hard day of work, would want to have something substantial after their day of labour. There would be cakes, toasted sandwiches, meat pies, cold meats and all this fare would always be accompanied by a pot of good, strong tea – to restore spent energy.

A setting crammed with oodles of atmosphere

It goes without saying that there are hotels such as the trendy Royal Lancaster that serve high and low teas in beautiful tea rooms as well as variations on afternoon tea as well.

The signature Royal Lancaster Afternoon Tea is a unique twist on the British tradition, but there are always delectable treats that are served with the finest teas or a glass of Champagne. Fresh scones with Scottish clotted cream, cupcakes, chocolate lollipops and dainty savouries are all waiting to tantalize and delight your taste buds and these are matched with a choice of freshly brewed teas.

Gardening fans come to London for the Chelsea Flower Show and it just seems fitting to pop into the Royal Lancaster after visiting the rose garden in Hyde Park which is just over the road from the hotel. The hotel’s Bloomin’ Brilliant Afternoon Tea is luxurious, light and leisurely and not to be missed. Oozing atmosphere, it captures the very spirit of wonderful times with family and friends.

Good times to share

Good times are inevitable with a tea party in beautiful London and in beautiful surroundings. Whether you’re lazing around in comfortable chairs with tea-treats on a low coffee table or you’re sitting around a high tea table, both tea options are the perfect addition for an afternoon of entertainment where tea is served with pride.