The capital of Thailand was also known as the Venice of the East, due to the fact that it was crossed by dozens of khlongs or canals, but today many of these have been filled.
Whatever you do don't insult monarchy or the monarch himself, it is a crime punishable by jail, or at least a hefty fine. The former king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died in 2016 was so loved by Thais that upon his passing a period of one year of mourning was decreed. And most citizens will frown upon the mere thought of offending the ruler. When it comes to religion Buddhism dominates Thailand without any other significant rivals, as over 90% of population practice it. As is the case in other countries in the region the "official" doctrines and ideals were slowly and surely influenced and modified by folk beliefs and traditions, making for a fascinating study for specialists.
One of the most famous religious and tourist landmarks is the Golden Buddha which can be found at the temple of Wat Traimit in Bangkok. And it is not just a name, although many believers think of it as a benevolent and sacred statue, but a monument made out of gold, weighing 5.5 tons (so it's pure, material value is astounding). Yet, although being centuries old - it was made somewhere in the 13th or the 14th century - little is known about it's makers and origins, and it has survived after being encased in plaster, painted over and decorated with colored glass. Only by the middle of the last century, during moving, the plaster broke and the truth, so to say, came out.
If you are passionate about nature you will find here both the smallest mammal (which is the little known bumble bat) and the largest fish, a whale shark, which can reach about 12 meters in length. Also the beloved Siamese cats are native to Thailand.
You want a strange festival? There are some, and then there is the Monkey Buffet, which takes place every single year in the Lopburi province, in front of a temple, the Pra Prang Sam Yot temple. It is simply the place where several hundred monkeys come to feast on fresh fruit, ice cream, sweets, sausages, vegetables and so on. Started maybe as a local way of pleasing the monkeys who are so very attractive to foreign tourists, it has become
Maybe you preffer fashion? Well, in April 2010 Thailand set the world record for the longest catwalk, during the Pattaya Internationa Fashion Week, reaching 1,584 meters in length.
And another historical oddity: do you know where the term "siamese twins" come from? It was inspired by the so-called Bunker brothers, bonr on May 11th 1811 in the province of Samutsongkram, close to Bangkok, back when the country was named Siam. Joined at the sternum, Chang and Eng were celebrities when they were presented world wide by a Scottish entrepreneur, at the height of passion for the freaks shows.
Photo: publicdomainpictures.net
