Discover Thailand
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The Grand Palace of Bangkok is one of the biggest tourist centers of the Thai capital. / Korea Times photo by Do Je-hae
Three symbols of Thailand: Buddhism, people, monarchy
By Do Je-hae
BANGKOK — The primary purpose of my three-day trip to Thailand last week was representing my newspaper at an international conference on East Asia’s maritime disputes.
With that behind me, I had a chance to look around this city of eight million, one of the busiest tourist centers in the region. Accompanying my colleagues at the conference and I was Noh Sang-soo, a Korean travel guide who had spent 25 of his 50 years in Thailand.
We shuttled through Bangkok on a chartered bus, and during the rides he talked endlessly about the country and the people of Thailand. I listened intently because as a first-time visitor here and I had very little knowledge of Thailand. I was eager to learn the success ingredients of Thailand’s tourism.
His early introduction of Thailand began with explaining the meaning of the three colors — red, white, blue — that make up the flag of Thailand. “The white stands for Buddhism, the blue for the king and red for the people,” Noh explained.
During my stay in Bangkok, some aspects of the Thai people were source of great surprise for me.
Monarchy: Bangkok’s Grand Palace consists of royal residence, goverment offices and religious shrines. The Thai people have a deep respect for their King. / Korea Times photo by Do Je-hae
Coming from a country that doesn’t have a monarchy, I was struck by the love and respect that the Thai people have for their King. I noticed, while looking out from my bus, taxis windows decorated with stickers that read “We love our King.”
Another striking difference between Korea and Thailand was the absence of mountains. “Thailand is a country of water, not mountains,” Noh said. During my stay there, there was no sight of mountains, which are commonplace in the Korean landscape.
The conference that I attended took place at the Chulalongkorn University, one of the most prestigious universities in the country. Our guide called it the “Seoul National University” of Thailand.
Because I have a lot of interest in young people, I took some time by myself to look around the campus and watch how Thai students spend their lunch time. I was very impressed with their uniforms, a reminder of how Korean university dressed in the 1970s. They campus was with filled with students in white and navy blue, actively engaging in conversations at the cafeteria. Korean culture seemed to have a presence in campus life. I noticed an announcement about a Korean food event on campus with ’bibipbab’ or mixed Korean rice as its main theme.
I had a chance to talk to a few students at Chulalongkorn, and they came off as intelligent and polite. Their excellent command of English was very impressive.
Highlights
The highlight of our city tour was the Grand Palace complex, established in 1782. It extensive grounds consist of royal residence and throne halls, a number of government offices and the renowned Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
The Emerald Buddha monastery is one of the most venerated sites in Thailand where people come to pay respect to the Lord Buddha and his teachings.
The Baiyoke Sky Hotel, standing at 88-stories, is the tallest hotel in Southeast Asia and the seventh-tallest all-hotel structure in the world. It offers an impeccable of the capital and a delicious buffet.
Thailand is famous for its seafood. We had a chance to have some great seafood dishes at the Royal Dragon, the world’s largest restaurant by Guinness Book of Record in 1992. It serves more than 1,000 Thai, Chinese, Japanese, and Western-style dishes. It grounds are so extensive, the waiters serve on roller-blades.
People: A group of students at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn Univeristy smile in their uniforms. Bangkok is an international toruist center and its people are friendly, open-minded and proficient in English.
Buddhism: Thailand is a deeply religious country and many of its tourist hubs are about its rich tourist heritage.
Heritage
We concluded our stay in Thailand with a visit to Ayutthaya, 76 kilometers north of Bangkok with numerous magnificent ruins. It’s like the “Gyeongju of Korea.”
We traveled there by bus and it was about a 40-minute ride.
The ruins indicate that Ayutthaya was one of Southeast Asia’s (and probably the world’s) most prosperous cities in the 17th Century and beyond. Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, a vast stretch of historical site in the heart of Ayutthaya city, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since Dec. 13, 1991.
The Historic City of Ayutthaya, founded in 1350, was the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom.
It flourished from the 14th to the 18th centuries, during which time it grew to be one of the world’s largest and most cosmopolitan urban areas and a center of global diplomacy and commerce.