Anyone who looks at the glossy photos of Thailand will have come across him. The statue is now world famous and you can see it in real life in Ayutthaya at the Wat Phra Mahathat.
Ayutthaya – the ancient capital of Siam (video)
Ayutthaya is the ancient capital of Siam. It is located 80 km north of the current capital of Thailand. What to see and do?
I am not telling you a secret when I say that the influence of the Thai army on the social and political developments in the country in the last century has been indispensable. From coup to coup, the military caste not only managed to strengthen its position but also – and this until today – to maintain its grip on the country's government.
Book review: Bencharong Chinese porcelain for Siam
Two years ago River Books in Bangkok published the chic looking book Bencharong – Chinese Porcelain for Siam. A luxuriously published book about an eminently luxurious and exclusive artisanal product. The American author Dawn Fairley Rooney, who lives in Bangkok, was not ready for her test piece. She has already published nine books, four of which are about Southeast Asian ceramics.
10 most popular excursions in and around Bangkok
Bangkok is an impressive city. There is much to see. Most tourists, especially those who visit this exotic metropolis for the first time, want to see and experience as much as possible.
The versatility of Thailand
Thailand is big. That is why most travelers come more often to this beautiful country, which has a lot to offer. Nature, culture, history, delicious food, hospitable people, beautiful beaches and islands. But what is the best time to travel and what are the must sees and do's of Thailand?
A weekend trip to Ayutthaya (video)
If you live and work in Bangkok or just stay there for a longer period of time, you sometimes need to escape the hustle and bustle of the Thai capital. Singha Travel and Coconuts TV sent a journalist on a weekend trip to Ayutthaya and wrote down some nice ideas.
The secret of the name Siam
A few years ago I made a translation of an article about Sukhothai. In the introduction I called Sukhothai the first capital of the kingdom of Siam, but that was not a good translation of the "Siamese Kingdom of Sukhothai", as stated in the original article. In response to the recent publication, a reader pointed out to me that Sukhothai was not the capital of Siam, but of the Sukhothai Kingdom.
Visit Ayutthaya (video)
Ayutthaya is the ancient capital of Siam. It is located 80 km north of the current capital of Thailand. The ancient capital is an excellent destination for a trip from Bangkok.
The Christian Past of Ayutthaya
'I continue to admire this very large city, on an island surrounded by a river three times the size of the Seine, full of French, English, Dutch, Chinese, Japanese and Siamese vessels, an innumerable number of flat-bottomed boats and gilded galleys with as many as 60 oarsmen .
The Ayutthaya of the 'ordinary' man (and of course also woman)
A huge problem for anyone trying to understand the history of Thailand is that historiography or historiography has been monopolized for more than two centuries and to this day by the Thai elite in general and the monarchy in particular. They and they alone have made the country what it is. Anyone who dares to question this theory is a heretic.
Book review: The Kings of Ayutthaya
Anyone who wants to do serious historical research with regard to Siam is confronted with the same problem. When the Burmese destroyed the Siamese capital Ayutthaya in 1767, the country's archives and most important libraries also went up in flames. This makes it damn hard to correctly reconstruct, let alone interpret, the history of Siam before 1767.
Ayutthaya, the plundered capital
Ayutthaya basically means 'unconquerable'. That was an excellent name for four centuries, until in 1765 the Burmese plundered the beautiful metropolis with more than 2000 temples and slaughtered the inhabitants or carried them away as slaves.
Wat Yai Chaimongkol in Ayutthaya (video)
Ayutthaya is the ancient capital of Siam. It is located 80 km north of the current capital of Thailand. In this video you see images of Ayutthaya and the Wat Yai Chaimongkol.
Spend the night in an authentic Athithara guesthouse in Ayutthaya
You can of course spend the night in a star hotel with a 13 in a dozen hotel room. You can also be a little more adventurous in the characteristic and authentic Athithara guesthouse, for example.
Wat Phanan Choeng in Ayutthaya, worth seeing
Wat Phanan Choeng is not the most visited temple in Ayutthaya. Too bad because there is a lot to see.
Discover versatile Thailand
Thailand, often praised for its tasty dishes and impressive temples, has so much more to offer. Whether you stroll the lively streets of Bangkok, discover the rich history of Chiang Mai, or dive into the crystal clear waters of Thailand's beaches, you will be constantly surprised.
Baan Hollanda reopened after renovation
After a long renovation of the building, the Baan Hollanda Information Center in Ayutthaya has finally reopened.
A Dutch eyewitness account of the destruction of Ayutthaya
It was the dramatic climax of the Second Burmese-Siamese War (1765-1767). On April 7, 1767, after an exhausting siege of nearly 15 months, Ayutthaya, the capital of the kingdom of Siam, as it was then so beautifully phrased, was captured and destroyed by Burmese troops 'by fire and sword'.
Osoet Pegua, a Dutch concubine in Ayutthaya
It is a striking fact that many strong women have left their mark on the history of Siam. One of these strong women had solid ties with Holland and more specifically with the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie or the VOC.
Ayutthaya, once the proud capital of Siam (video)
Ayutthaya is the former capital of Siam (Thailand). The city was destroyed by the Burmese in 1767, but the many remaining ruins of the temples and palaces are reminders of the glorious time of this city.
Gerrit van Wuysthoff – a Dutch pioneer in Southeast Asia
The first Dutchman and one of the first Europeans to visit Laos extensively was the merchant Gerrit Van Wuysthoff or Geeraerd van Wuesthoff, during a mission set up by him for the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, the VOC in 1641-1642.