The Bangkok Legacies
blog keeps readers informed of
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news and developments affecting historical sites,
anniversaries of momentous events in history and
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Official opening of Grand Millennium Sukhumvit Hotel
12 May 2008 - Last week on 9 May, the Grand Millennium Sukhumvit Hotel officially opened with a big bang. The gala function had as its guest of honor Governor Phornsiri Manoharn of the Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT). This adds another luxury hotel to the many hotels in Sukhumvit.
The new 5-star 325 room hotel is conveniently located near the Asoke/Sukhumvit junction within walking distance of the Asoke skytrain and the Sukhumvit subway stations. The Queen Sirikit National Convention Center is just one more stop away along the subway. Traveling time to Suvarnnabhumi Airport is about half an hour’s drive.
The hotel offers 2,000 sq m of banquet and convention space with two ballrooms and nine meeting rooms which can accommodate up to 500 guests. There are six food and beverage outlets offering international and regional cuisine, a business centre, a full spa and fitness centre, swimming pool and a putting green.
Bangkok Travelbug – subscribe to our new newsletter
9 May 2008 - Bangkok Travelbug, the newsletter of Tour Bangkok Legacies, covers people, places and events of historical and cultural significance in Bangkok for a more enriching travel experience.
Our inaugural issue is going to be out on 1 June 2008. It would give us great pleasure to be able to send a copy to you.
The subscription page for the newsletter, Bangkok Travelbug is at the permalink.
9 May 2008 is the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony when the royal oxen plough the field in Sanam Luang in a very ancient Brahmin tradition that dates back to the Sukhothai era.
Farmers from all over Thailand look forward to this annual ritual. The highlight of the event is the royal astrologer’s prediction of the outlook for the new agricultural year. This is based on what the royal oxen chooses eat from the bowls of food offered to them.
The royal seeds and grains that are sown in the ceremony are also very treasured collectors’ items.
Forecast for 2008
This year the royal oxen choose to taste the grass and water which is an indication of an abundant harvest and sufficient water. The two royal oxen, who are 15 years old and have been in royal service for 5 years, will retire this year. The two reserves will take their place.
For more, please see the permalink on the ceremony in 2007.
To celebrate Mothers’ Day, Site Build It the company that hosts this website is having a Mothers’ Day promotion for their website building program with its comprehensive set of tools.
The promotion lasts till midnight 11 May 2008, at the end of Mothers’ Day. The offer is open to all, even if your National Mothers’ Day doesn’t fall on 11 May 2008.
As an indication of the different dates for Mothers’ Day in different countries of the world in 2008, here are some examples. It’s usually observed on a Sunday but not in all cases.
12 February (Tuesday) Norway
2 March (4th Sunday in Lent) Britain
4 May (1st Sunday in May) Austria, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Taiwan
10 May (Saturday) Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South America, United Arab Emirates
11 May (2nd Sunday in May) Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, India, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, USA
25 May (last Sunday in May) Sweden
12 August Thailand, HM the Queen’s birthday is National Mothers’ Day in Thailand
It’s a very special day for a very special person the world over.We like to wish all mothers a very warm and happy Mothers’ Day.
5 May 2008 - Today is Coronation Day in Thailand. At the age of 18, HM King Bhumipol Adulyadej acceded to the throne of Thailand on 9 June 1946, the day his elder brother King Ananda passed away. The reign of King Bhumipol is taken from this date. There was no coronation ceremony as yet.
In August that year, King Bhumipol returned to Switzerland to continue his studies. He returned to Thailand briefly in 1950 to perform three ceremonies.
Cremation rites for his brother’s remains
His marriage to M R Sirikit Kitiyakorn and her elevation to the royal Queen Consort
His cornation which was held on 5 May 1950, four years after he became king.
King Bhumipol left for Switzerland again in March 1951. He only returned to Thailand permanently in December 1951 on completion of his studies. That was when he commenced his official duties as monarch.
The Danish legacy in Bangkok
On 26 April 2008, HM Queen Margrethe of Denmark celebrated her 68th birthday. The Royal Danish Embassy in Bangkok commemorated the occasion with a grand function which also marked 150 years of diplomatic relations between the two kingdoms.
Danish relations with Thailand were not soured by colonial ambitions. The Danes came as friends and many contributed their services to the kingdom. In reviewing Danish Thai relations, three prominent Danes come to mind.
In 1865 during the reign of King Rama IV, two Danish sea captains started a hotel on the Chao Phraya to cater for travelers after a long journey from Europe. The history of this hotel turned a new page with the arrival in 1786 of another Danish mariner, H.N. Andersen.
Andersen stayed on in Bangkok, started a trading company Andersen & Co in 1884 and then bought over the hotel in 1889. That humble hotel is the world renowned Oriental Bangkok today.
Andersen & Co went on be become the East Asiatic Co dealing in processed food, industrial chemicals and logistics. The old East Asiatic Co building next to the Oriental is still there.
Danish mariners also made their mark in naval warfare. In 1875 a young Danish naval officer arrived in Bangkok, with a letter from King Christian IX of Denmark. Lt Andreas du Plessis de Richelieu had come to offer his services to King Rama V at a time when Britain and France were pursuing their colonial ambitions aggressively.
De Richelieu served in the Royal Thai Navy in various capacities and saw action during the 1893 French naval blockade of the Chao Phraya and bombardment of Bangkok as part of their territorial demands.
The third prominent Dane, a young civil engineer, came to Bangkok in 1885. Svend Aage Westenholz, a former Danish artillery officer, joined the Thai army with other Danes in Bangkok during the crisis in 1893.
In 1894 Westenholz and others were given concessions to supply electricity to Bangkok through the Siam Electric Co Ltd which had shares in an electric tramway service for Bangkok under Danish management. The Paknam line, a rail link from Bangkok to the Chao Phraya estuary, was a Belgian-Danish joint venture.
The Danish support for the Thais prompted a French demand that the Danes be dismissed (New York Times, August 1893). The demand was ignored. Richelieu went on to become the first and only foreign commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy, from 1900 - 1901.
He left Thailand in 1902 after 27 years of service. King Rama V honoured him with the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao and an embroidered golden robe.
That magnificent robe was on display on the evening of 26 April 2008 at HM Queen Margrethe’s birthday celebrations fittingly held at the Royal Ballroom, the Oriental Bangkok.
1 May 2008 - Today is National Labour Day and we remember the Thai labour movement and the Thai Labour Museum.
One of the burning issues over the years has been the daily minimum wage for workers. Labourers in Bangkok and the five neighbouring provinces of Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Phanom, and Nonthaburi, get the highest rate of 195 baht (approx. US$5.20). Those in Nan and Phayao in the North earn the least at 144 baht (approx. US$4.54).
Every year prior to Labour Day, representatives from the government, labour and employers meet to review the minimum daily rate. This year however, only one representative from the employer organizations turned up at the meeting, which then had to be called off.
This has enraged the labour leaders who pledged to mount a huge protest at Government House on Labour Day to submit a petition to the Prime Minister. How much this will achieve remains to be seen.
With the rising food and transport prices, workers are currently very hard-pressed to cope with the costs of living. It's shame that with all this fuss, the workers are still deprived of a mere 9 baht (approx. US 0.28 cents) increase per day.
For the long and hard history of Thai labour, please see the permalink.
7 April 2008 - Songkran, the Thai New Year, is here again. Officially Songkran is on 13 April which according to the lunar calendar, falls on the 8th night of the 5th lunar month, the night of the half moon. The following two days, 14 & 15 April are also national holidays and 14 April is National Family Day.
Taking into account the weekend and off-in –lieu, the holidays will stretch from 12 – 16 April. Many will be taking leave before and after this period, so we can expect the holiday to be even longer.
Like the New Year four months before, people are on the move again as migrant workers in the major cities return home to spend the holidays with their families. The move started as early as last week, as people filled the northern bus terminal at Mor Chit and Hua Lam Pong train station.
We would like to wish all our Thai readers and other readers resident in Thailand, a very Happy Songkran. Have a happy holiday with your families and friends. Try and stay dry!
Chakri Memorial Day
5 April 2008 - Tomorrow 6 April 2008 is Chakri Memorial Day commemorating the day when King Rama I established Bangkok as the capital city of Thailand in 1782. Concurrently, the Chakri dynasty was also started and the Chakri kings have reigned over the kingdom ever since.
This period with Bangkok as the capital of Thailand is frequently refered to as the Bangkok or Rattanakosin era. The official name for Bangkok has often been a source of amazement; it consists of 17 words and 150 letters in English. It’s so long that even Thais abbreviate the name to Krung Thep (City of Angels, gods, goddesses or divinities) in everyday use.
Some versions have even placed the number of letters at 163! Whatever it is, I believe this still places Bangkok in the Guiness Book of World Records!
There’s another interesting aspect to this name. The early Indian traders who came to Thailand were mostly from southern India and spoke Tamil. These traders arrived when Bangkok was just a village. Strangely they called the place Kurangu Thope which sounds pretty close to Krung Thep.
Intrigued, I asked a friend who spoke Tamil. In Tamil, Kurangu means monkey and Thope forest or plantation. In Hindu culture, the monkey is regarded as a holy animal. This is exemplified in Hanuman the Monkey God in the Ramayana epics which has a Thai equivalent, Ramakien.
For the details of early Bangkok, please see Rattanakosin.
For more on the nine Chakri kings, please see the permalink.
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8 March 2008 - Wat Yannawa is one of those wats in Bangkok with a unique structure, in the shape of a Chinese junk. Here’s a photograph feature of this very unusual Bangkok temple with its attractive arches and roofs.
Chinese junk
In the reign of King Rama III (1824 – 1851) a Chinese junk, a vessel responsible for prosperous trade between China and Thailand during that period, was built in the temple grounds.
The temple was then renamed Wat Yannawa. Yan in Thai means craft or conveyance and nawa, vessel or boat; hence this wat is sometimes referred to as the boat temple.
Photo feature - Christ Church the English church in Convent Road
4 March 2008 - These photos were taken after the repainting of the exterior of Christ Church was completed in late February 2008.
Christ Church
The interior of the church is still undergoing repairs.
We’ll be bringing you more photos of these beautiful stained glass windows once the work is completed probably in May 2008.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to Reverend Peter Cook and the staff of Christ Church for kindly granting permission to take the photographs for this web page.
Wat Soi Thong is a Bangkok temple that isn’t even on the sightseeing circuit of tourists to the city.
But it’s a beautiful neighborhood temple with a very non-touristy atmosphere and it’s definitely worth a visit.
Built in 1851, in the reign of King Rama IV, Wat Soi Thong is on the banks of the Chao Phraya River along the regular route of the Chao Phraya river boats.
You'll pass the temple pier if you're taking a river cruise all the way to Nonthaburi province, that's north of Bangkok.
23 February 2008 -Rattanakosin antiques refer to the Thai pottery produced during the Rattanakosin era when Bangkok was established as the capital of Thailand during the reign of the Chakri kings from 1782 to the present day.
These antiques were displayed in an exhibition in River City, an art and antique center in Bangkok, in September 2007. Most of them were from private collections. Here’s a sample of the photographs of these antiques which are hardly ever used today except for display and ceremonies.
21 February 2008 - Here’s another photo feature from our blog archives dated 9 August 2007. It features pictures of stamps from the 20th International Stamp Exhibition in Bangkok in August 2007, focusing on men and women in the last few centuries whose actions have moved the lives of millions in the world.
Also featured are momentous “firsts” in the world, like the first postage stamp in the world in 1840.
Traditional Thai houses – old Thai houses in Bangkok
19 February 2008 - This photo feature on traditional Thai houses first appeared in the Bangkok Legacies blog on 22 August last year. These scenes are too rare to be left in the blog archives where the photos will be pushed into obscurity over time.
So we’ve decided to add traditional Thai houses as a permanent webpage under Bangkok photographs. If you haven’t seen them before or if you’ve forgotten, here’s a sample.
Your favorite Bangkok photographs – share your special moments
17 February 2008 - Favorite Bangkok photographs provide an opportunity for residents and visitors to share their unforgettable images of Bangkok and memorable travel pictures taken during their stay.
Do you have pictures of old Bangkok on disappearing scenes or scenes that are long gone? What were your memorable images of Bangkok?
Did you encounter anything unusual or cute or humorous on the way? Or were there sights that captured your imagination for their sheer beauty?
16 February 2008 - Now that we’re on the subject of shrines, here’s a photo update on the Ganesha Shrine in Bangkok.
The Ganesha Shrine is dedicated to Ganesha, the Elephant God, son of Siva, another indication of the fusion of Hindu gods in Thai customs and rituals.
The shrine is located next to the Trimurti Shrine at the far of Central World Plaza.
The Elephant God
As Ganesha is believed to be the god of accomplishment, wisdom and wealth, the Ganesha Shrine is the natural place to go and pray to find that elusive road to success.
For more on the legend of Ganesha, please see the permalink.
Valentine’s Day in Bangkok is very special for many Thais. Like many the world over, it’s a day signifying love. Red hearts and streamers flow in hotels, food and beverage outlets in the city.
Cafes are stocked with heart shaped boxes of chocolate with cuddly teddy bears thrown in as gifts.
In the evening, couples stroll hand in hand with the ladies clutching red or white roses; some by the stalk, others by entire bouquets.
It’s at the Trimurti Shrine in the evening that you can experience the spirit of Valentine’s Day in Bangkok. Commonly known as the Lovers’ Shrine, the Trimurti Shrine is exceptionally crowded on Valentine’s night.
Crowd on Valentine’s night
Crowds gather at the shrine holding joss sticks and roses to offer their prayers.
Say a prayer for love
With the current economic slowdown, flowers vendors have complained about a slack in flower sales. But judging from the roses stacked at the Trimurti Shrine, there doesn’t seem to be a slowdown here.
Night of roses
Apparently, this romantic air isn’t confined to Bangkok. In the province of Roi Et, 200 km north-east of Bangkok, officials at the district office announced that couples going to the district office to have their marriages annulled will be told to go home and think it over.
However, couples who wish to have their marriages formally registered in accordance with Thai law will have their cases processed immediately. Now, that’s the spirit!
For more on the Trimurti Shrine, please see the permalink.
It’s hard to believe that less than two months ago Central World was all decked up for Christmas with a 30 m Christmas tree, reputedly the tallest in the region.
This month, after a complete transformation, the place is splashed in red to usher in the Year of the Rat.
Cascades of red
As usual the atrium in Central World is the center of attraction for visitors during festive seasons.
Dancers in traditional Chinese costumes were prancing to heavy drum beats and clash of cymbals.
Mickey in red
The finale was a grand display by a dragon and two lions with the two lions descending to the stage from the escalator.
I wandered around the vast shopping mall and to my surprise found myself in a section with a traditional Chinese opera! The plaintive wails of the performers were nostalgic, reminescent of my boyhood days in Singapore when street operas (Chinese wayangs) were a regular form of free public entertainment.
Traditional Chinese opera
I couldn’t understand what was going on then. I still don’t. But it was a great chance for an outing to enjoy the food and games in stalls nearby.
Have you seen enough red?
Happy Chinese New Year. Have a good Year of the Rat ahead.
For previous Chinese New Year celebrations in Bangkok, please see the permalink.
5 February 2008 - Bangkok photographs capture unforgettable images of Bangkok encountered during my travel around the city. Here are some of my favorite travel pictures preserving images of yesteryear, memorable moments and unusual scenes.
Wat Kanlayanamit in the late afternoon
For more unforgettable Bangkok photographs, please see the permalink.
4 February 2008 - To all our readers who celebrate the Lunar New Year, we wish you and your families Gong Xi Fai Cai, Happy Year of the Rat. May you be blessed with happiness, good health, success and prosperity in the Year of the Rat.
Here are some pictures of the prosperous Golden Rat to make your year.
Make it a good year!!
Four faced Buddha – were your prayers answered?
1 February 2008 - We continue with the new feature to this website that provides a channel for visitors to contribute their Bangkok stories and experiences.
Today’s focus is on the legendary Erawan Shrine or four faced Buddha.
Hundreds of devotees pray every day and night at the Erawan Shrine or what’s commonly called the four faced Buddha. Were your prayers answered? What was the ritual you went through?
How did you feel when you got what you prayed for? Did you go back again?
Have you been caught in a coup in Bangkok? Share your experience
29 January 2008 - Yesterday, the new Thai parliament voted Samak Sundaravej as the new Prime Minister of Thailand. This makes the 72 year old Samak the 25th and the oldest Prime Minster of the country. The new cabinet will be announced tomorrow.
This is the culmination of a series of events starting from the coup on 19 September 2006, installation of a military government, a national referendum on a new constitution on 19 August 2007 and general elections on 23 December 2007.
Were you in Bangkok when the 2006 coup was launched? Or any of the other coups in Bangkok in the past?
What was your initial reaction when you first heard the news of the coup? What were the thoughts that ran through your mind, your fears and apprehensions?
How did you feel when you finally got out?
We've added a new feature to Tour Bangkok Legacies to allow visitors to share your coup experience in Bangkok with other visitors to the site. Your article will appear as a link to this website. So if you have been caught in a coup in Bangkok, we look forward to your contribution.
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