Exquisite and Exotic; Fall in Love With Thailand
Our first view of the magnificent Wat Arun Temple marked our arrival in Thailand. As we explored the city, we marveled at its astonishing sights. Traveling as a small group with South Carolina ETV, we set out to discover the exquisite and exotic wonders of the vibrant capital of Bangkok, where we began to fall in love with Thailand.
Central Region – Bangkok
Wat Arun—The Temple of Dawn
In Thailand, the term “Wat” refers to a temple, and each tower is known as a Phra Prang or holy spire. Previously called Siam until 1939, Thailand’s most recognized temple features corn-shaped towers designed in the Khmer architectural style, which was influenced by Cambodian culture at the time.
The Thais adorned the temple’s entire exterior with shards of porcelain and ceramics from China and seashells. The journey of these tiny pieces from China to Bangkok is even more intriguing.
Thailand Professor Takatoshi Misugi wrote about it in January 1991 in “Integral Study of The Silk Roads: Roads of Dialogue.”
“My research, along the old ports of the sea routes through Korea, Manila, Hochimin,
Bangkok, Singapore, Bombay, Karachi, Aden, Djibouti, Hormuz, and Siraf have found
collections of porcelain ranging from intact pieces in local museums to numerous ruins, indicating that huge quantities had been imported to these places…Sailing vessels may have used ceramic pieces as ship ballasts in the early trade period.”
Fall in love with Thailand from the waters of the Chao Phraya River.
Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)
Wat Pho is Bangkok’s oldest and largest temple complex. It is home to the reclining Buddha, 49 feet tall and 150 feet long (15×46 meters). Held in tight quarters within the temple, I managed to get photos piece by piece. Amazingly, the world-renowned Buddha is covered in gold-plated from head to toe.
UNESCO recognizes Wat Pho as a “Memory of the World Site.” This status acknowledges stone inscriptions depicting Thailand’s history, religion, traditional Thai massage, and medicine. Today, the complex houses the Wat Pho Thai Traditional Medical and Massage School.
The Wat Pho Complex has an extensive collection of stupas, which show off the beautiful Chinese porcelain and ceramic adornments up close. The stunning architecture will make you fall in love with Thailand!
The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)
Look in every direction and find the splendor of royal living. See stunning architecture, statues, and murals in the Bangkok Grand Palace Complex, including Wat Phra Kaew, the most sacred temple. The current royal family, King Vajiralongkorn, uses it as a religious center. The 26-inch Emerald Buddha is made of minerals, including quartz, and has three royal costume changes yearly. Dressed in winter attire during our visit, he wore a solid gold robe, a jewel-fringed gold mesh shawl, and a gold headpiece with diamonds.
Northern Region – Chiang Mai – Fall in Love with Thailand
Cultural Performance
In the early twentieth century, Thailand (then Siam) annexed the northern Kingdom of Lanna, including its capital, Chiang Mai. Amazingly, the area’s local people have preserved their unique cultural practices, architecture, dance, and art since ancient times. It’s a way of life and not just a show for tourists!
We gathered at the Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center for a traditional Lanna Khantoke dinner and performances. The dinner included small bowls of food, usually eight, on a Khantoke tray (a rattan platter on a pedestal). Many dinner guests were seated on cushions on the floor around the Khantoke. The customary way to enjoy Thai food this way is to eat it with your hands, not utensils. Either way, the food was delicious!
Thailand’s traditional dance is mesmerizing! My favorite was Fon Lep (Thai Fingernail Dance). As with all Thai dances, the brass finger extensions symbolize grace and beauty and are said to have originated in martial arts. Each performance is a narrative of significant cultural value.
If you haven’t fallen in love with Thailand by now, you will be at the end of these enchanting dance performances.
Elephant Nature Park
Throughout the ages, people in Thailand used elephants for various purposes, especially ones that require hefty lifting. Early twentieth-century foresters used elephants in logging operations. Valuable teak wood is in the northern highlands, which must have initially seemed plentiful. However, the government had stopped logging operations by the end of the twentieth century. What happened to the elephants? They were too expensive to feed and not eligible to return to the wild? We headed for the hills to Elephant Nature Park to learn more.
Elephant Nature Park Sanctuary rescues and rehabilitates elephants from all abusive situations, from circus acts to elephant riding, even street begging.
To be classified as ethical, elephant sanctuaries do not allow visitors to ride, feed, or touch the elephants. Visiting ethical sanctuaries that save elephants will make you fall in love with Thailand!
The bond between the elephants and their human handlers at Elephant Nature Park is genuinely remarkable. One handler, in particular, displayed a unique connection with the elephants, and observing their interactions was heartwarming.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Temple (Sacred relic of Buddha)
At the peak of a granite mountain, which stands at 5,499 feet (1,676 meters), lies a temple renowned for safeguarding a sacred relic—a piece of the Buddha’s shoulder bone. According to legend, a white elephant carried this relic to the site, laid it down, and died. In honor of this event, the temple was constructed at that location. The main structure is adorned with gold leaf, creating a stunning glow that blankets the entire site, often described as “draped in gold.” We all felt surrounded by this golden aura. It was simply breathtaking!
As visitors to the temple, we were also mindful of the people worshiping there.
Southern Region – Phuket – Fall in Love with Thailand
The South Carolina ETV travelers flew from Chiang Mai to Phuket, located in the southernmost region of Thailand. The following day, we boarded a private speedboat, Lisa 3, at the Royal Phuket Marina for an exhilarating ride in the Indian Ocean. We anchored at popular spots like Phi Phi Leh Island and Maya Bay, where we enjoyed snorkeling and swimming. I constantly tried to capture the perfect angle for photos of the exotic and romantic long-tail boats. Craftsmen began making them in the early twentieth century. They are made from a single wood log and maneuver easily on the water. Like most boats in Thailand, they are adorned with colorful motifs that reflect Thai cultural and spiritual beliefs.
With thrill rides, gorgeous water, and a stunning sunset, it’s impossible to name the highlight, but lunch was pretty special, too. Our on-the-water day was highlighted by lunch at a floating restaurant Michelin-rated and recommended for the past four years. I’ll tell you, the food was superb!
Beautiful water and incredible food are reasons to fall in love with Thailand!
Our Guides
Bhutan & Thailand with Alasdair Clayre, Thailand, is part of an extraordinary cultural learning adventure hosted by South Carolina Educational TV’s Coby Hennecy.
Coby Hennecy, CPA, CFRE, has been with the Endowment since 1999 and has served as its Executive Director since 2009. In addition to leading the overall organization, she led the capital campaign to equip the new South Carolina Public Radio Studios and the One State, Many Voices campaign, doubling the Endowment’s capacity to fund local South Carolina ETV and SC Public Radio productions. She is active with civic, professional, and charitable organizations and is the Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Spartanburg.
Alasdair Clayre combines his years of experience in the travel industry with a passion for natural and cultural conservation. His current focus is the village of Long Banga in the highlands of Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, where he leads a project specializing in Liberica coffee production. He has a PhD in Social Anthropology from the Universiti Malaysia.
Thailand Travelers
More of Marie’s stories with SC ETV.
A Love For Tradition: What Makes Bhutan So Happy
Montana – Out West with Patrick McMillan
Travel Notes – Fall in Love with Thailand
With SC ETV, we’d seen North, South, and Middle Thailand, all different and extraordinarily beautiful. The things I left out of this story are as impressive as what I put in. We visited the Hill Tribes, Monkey Island, and so much more. Each setting was a kaleidoscope of richness and color, exquisite and exotic. Our first dinner in Bangkok took place on the sailing vessel Sirmahannop. The hotels, many 5-star rated, such as the Salil Hotel in Bangkok. Like Bhutan, our visit to Thailand was another unforgettable journey with SC ETV.
Marie Goff
