New viewpoints in Bangkok (video)

Wat Arun

Although much has been written about Bangkok, it is always surprising to discover new points of view. For example, the name Bangkok is derived from an old existing name at this place 'Bahng Gawk' (บางกอก). Bahng (บาง) means place and Gawk (กอก) means olives. Bahng Gawk would have been a place with many olive trees.

After a short introduction, Wat Arun, named after the Hindu God Aruna, is the first to be built on the former site of Thailand's capital Thonburi on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. Already under the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V, 1868-1910) a major restoration took place. The most extensive restoration work on the prang was carried out between 2013 and 2017. Many broken Chinese porcelain pieces were replaced as well as old cement replaced with original lime plaster. Every 10 years a major overhaul takes place to keep the Wat Arun (Royal Temple) in good condition. However, already on March 22, 1784, the "emerald green" Buddha statue (made of jade) was transferred to the finished Wat Phra Kaew on the huge palace grounds. There, the changing of the clothes of the Buddha statue takes place three times a year in accordance with the change of seasons performed by the king.

Golden Buddha statue

The tour continues with a visit to Wat Traimit with its priceless golden Buddha statue, originally from the time of the Thai Sukhothai dynasty (1238 – 1583). After that, Chinatown will be visited further. The many exquisite food stalls are touted, even by Joost Bijster a farang chef, who finds inspiration here.

In the Lumpini park, among others, many people use it for sports and jogging. Everyone adheres to the rule to jog in the same direction and to stop at 18.00 p.m. for the national anthem to be played. This video discusses the death of King Bhumibol in 2016, which had a great impact on the population with a mourning period of 1 year.

floods

The huge city with its millions of inhabitants consumes so much water that the city is sinking by an average of 1 meter in 10 years in a number of places! It is interesting that the streets are raised, while the footpaths remain lower and the buildings behind are even lower, as the tailor Prince Raja tells from his shop. This causes a lot of nuisance during floods. In November 2011, the nuisance was so great that the Dutch Swing College Band had to move to Pattaya where the concert was given in the open-air theater in Silver Lake Vine Yard. The salinization of the Chao Phraya River is another problem.

Krung Thep

Finally, the naming of Bangkok, Krung Thep, is discussed. The fishing village of 215 years ago was given a different name. Almost all proposals that were put forward at the time have been accepted and this created the longest city name in the world, 169 pieces: Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.

You can learn and remember this name from a 1989 song “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon” by the Thai rock group Asanee-Wasan, which repeats the full name of the city in the song.

Source: DW Documentary, Exploring Thailand

– Relocated in memory of Lodewijk Lagemaat † February 24, 2021 –