Transcript Golden Thailand

Bangkok
The Grand Palace Compound
Chakri Maha Prasad includes the Central Throne Hall used for diplomatic receptions and state banquets.
It is designed in Italian Renaissance style. The whole compound sits on an area of 218.444 sq.mts.
Phra Mondhop is the Repository
of the Canon of Buddha
(palm-leaf scriptures) which is
kept in a mother-of-pearl case for
display at various times of the year.
At the right corner is the monument
for the Sacred Elephants.
Wat Phra Kaew, The Temple Royal of the Emerald Buddha,Thailand's holiest shrine. Officially named
Wat Phra Si Rattanasatsadaram. Its construction started in 1782, the year of the founding of Bangkok
The Emerald Buddha (Phra Kaew Morakot)
is a jade statue created in India at 43 BC,
carved out of a single block of jadeite,
clothed in gold, it is about 75cm tall. The
Buddha has three sets of solid gold
garments which are changed by the King
of Thailand himself on a ceremony at the
changing of the seasons: the hot season,
the rainy season and the cool season.
Normally no photographing is allowed inside.
The Prasat Phra Debidorn
is also called
the Royal Pantheon.
The interior, which is
opened to the general public
only one day each year, on
the Chakri Day (6th April),
contains life-size statues of
the first eight kings of the
Chakri dynasty
A miniature of the famous Cambodian Angkor Wat complex behind the Phra Debidorn
Demon "supporting" the base of the South Stupa
Two golden stupas in front of the Royal Pantheon
This is one of the eight Prangs (Towers)
at the Wat Phra Kaew.The Eight Prangs
are of different colors, and each one is
dedicated to a certain Buddhist
concept. This one in green, indicating
The Buddhist Female Monks
(Ariya Savaka Bhiksuni Sangha).
Phra Sri Rattana Chedi,
rises up from a circular base
on five levels, is a reliquary
which contains, according to
legend, a bone or hair
of the Enlightened Buddha.
The royal barge procession to commemorate the celebrations on the auscipious occasion
of the sixtieth anniversary of His Majesty's accession to the throne.
Wat Po (also known as the Wat Phra Chetupon), its major attraction is the massive Reclining Buddha
of 46 mts. long. It is also an education and Thai massage centre. Built in the 16th century, long before
Bangkok was founded, the early Chakri kings had turned it into the country´s largest Monastery
Wat Po – Phra Mondop, Scripture
Hall, housing very old sacred
Buddhist scriptures written
on palm leaves,
Wat Po Temple – the Reclining Buddha of 46mts long
Wat Arun ( Temple of Dawn ) by the riverbank. Its 67mts high central prang is the highest in Thailand.
Wat Benchamabophit ( Marble Temple ) – contains the ashes of King Rama V
and images of 53 Buddhas of different styles in iconograph
A few of the 53 Buddha images
inside the Wat Benchamabophit
( Marble Temple )
Sukhothai
Sukhothai, means "Dawn of Happiness“ was the first Capital of Thailand
from 1238, reigning for almost 120 years. The magnificent site covers 7000 sq. km.
Sukhothai - Wat Mahathat, the Buddhist temple ruins
Fingers of Buddha painted in gold
Sukhothai - Seated Buddha in Wat Si Chum
Sukhothai – dawn at Wat Mahathat
Ayutthaya
Wat Phra Si Sanphet was founded by King Ramathibodi I in 1350,
Thailand's second capital. The Ayutthaya period lasted for 417 years during which
33 Kings of 5 dynasties reigned over the country. Ayutthaya was attacked several times
by the Burmese army and was destroyed beyond repair in 1767.
Ayutthaya – the three Chedis at Wat Phra Si Sanphet with the remains of
King Borommatrailokanat , King Borommarachathirat III and King Ramathibodi II
Ayutthaya – the main Prang
( in Hindu Khmer style ) seen from
the interior of the worship hall of
Wat Ratchaburana Wiharn
Ayutthaya - Buddha images in Wat Chai Mongkhon, swathed in sacred cloth
as a sign of reverence, seated on lotus thrones and are shown in the
Earth-touching or Witness position with the right hand pointing toward the Earth.
Huge reclining Buddha image, Phra Budhasaiyart in the ruins of Wat Lokayasutharam.
It was constructed of bricks and cement in the Middle Ayutthaya Period and
is 37 mts. long and 8 mts. high. The head is resting on a lotus and the legs overlap squarely
to show the equalized toes. The image was restored in 1954 and again in 1989.
Doi Suthep mountain,
Golden stupa and umbrella at
Wat Phra That
Doi Suthep mountain,
Golden Buddha
at Wat Phra That
Doi Suthep mountain,
Emerald Buddha
at Wat Phra That
Lampang - Wat Phra That Lampang Luang Temple, the most interesting temple in northern Thailand
Lampang
Golden shrine in Wat Phra That
Lampang Luang, the wooden temple
Damnoen Saduak floating market
in the Ratchaburi province,
85 km from Bangkok
Village of Pa Dong Karen of the Long Neck Tribe at the north of Thailand
Women of the Pa Dong Karen - a Burmese-Thai tribal group have worn ornamental brass rings
on their necks for centuries. Beginning at the age of six, a few rings may be added every year,
up to a limit of 20. The record so far is 28. The rings will only be removed on their wedding night
Piano: Ernesto Cortazar
Music:Two Candles for Two Hearts