The Kingdom of Thailand Is One of The Fast-Growing and Developing Countries in Southeast Asia. She Is Known As The "Land of The Free."

The Kingdom of Thailand is one of the fast-growing and developing
countries in Southeast Asia. She is known as the “Land of the Free.”
SAWATDEE....HELLO, BEAUTIFUL BANGKOK

by Ethel Soliven-Timbol
Bangkok known as Krun Thep, which is Thai for “City of Angels,”

beckons with its golden roofed temples and spicily curried cuisine. Seven
million visitors come to Thailand each year spending an average of six to
seven days because there is so much to see and to relish in this “Exotic
Orient” as one enamored traveler dubbed the country.
Our agenda for the first day of our tour started with a tour of Wat
Po. One of the 370 temples in Bangkok alone, it is home to the famous
Reclining Buddha, which is said to be 46 meters long. Also, world–famous
are the golden Buddha at the Wat Trinig (“wat” being Thai for “temple”) and
the dazzling Emerald Buddha. There are 2100 temples in all of Thailand,
where 90 percent of the people are Buddhists.
Our loquacious guide regales us with the colorful history of Bangkok

and how it became the imperial
city 300 years ago, when the god-
king Rama I moved the royal
residence to this side of the Chao
Phraya River. Today, a boat
excursion takes visitors on a tour
of the old city, winding down the
“klong” canals for a glimpse of
the water dwellers and the
ancient edifices, remnants of an
era when Rama I divided his city
into three sections: for the Thais,
the Chinese and the Indians. The
best buys of Thai silks, spices and
crafts are still at the riverside
markets where one can also produce gold, jade and other precious jewelry.
Not to be missed are the Temple of the Dawn along the Chao
Phraya, a showcase of Chinese porcelain mosaics, and the Temple of the
Giant Swing for some of the finest murals. Only for strong knees is the
Temple of the Golden Mount, atop a climb of 300 steps, housing one of the
largest bronze buddhas in the world.
The Reclining Buddha was shipped from China by King Rama I, who
also built the Wat Po Temple on a 20-hectare compound adjacent to the
Royal Palace, circa 1782, in the 2222-old Chinese section. The King had also NAME: _____________________________ Date: ___________
brought with him excellent samples of porcelain, which the court artisans GRADE & SC.: ________________________
used to decorate pagodas using their elaborate spires. At the main temple,
devotees buy one–inch gold leaf squares which they stick to smaller DRAW OR SKETCH
buddhas as offering to their god. Draw on this canvas interesting customs, traditions and culture or even
landmarks distinctive of the country. Be able to explain or discuss your
Every day, morning ceremonies are held at an adjacent temple answer.
surrounded by four magnificent monuments: the first in red built by Rama I;
the second in yellow, by Rama II; the third in green by Rama III; and the
fourth in blue, by Rama IV. Just as fascinating is the sala tree under which,
according to legend, Buddha was born (although in India). Its pink and red
flowers are sweet-smelling, a contrast to the brown gourd which are the
“fruit “of the sala tree.
To cap a hectic first day, we had dinner at the Baa Thai Restaurant
while watching heavily costumed folk dancers from the lowland and
highland villages, including favorite destinations, like Chiang Mai, the second
largest city up north, from whence one can visit the winter palace of the
Royal Family and the training school for working elephants.
Amazingly, Bangkok is clean, especially the day after Wednesday,

which is “Clean Up Day” according to our guide. So the sidewalk eateries are
relatively sanitary, although foreign visitors are advised to stick to bottled
mineral water or soft drinks. In spite of the colossal traffic jams, no thanks to
the ubiquitous “toktok” pedicabs the air smells cleaner and less polluted
than in Manila.
You may start your sentence by saying,

“One of the most interesting customs and traditions in Thailand which
attracted me is…
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________.

The Kingdom of Thailand Is One of The Fast-Growing and Developing Countries in Southeast Asia. She Is Known As The "Land of The Free."

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The Kingdom of Thailand Is One of The Fast-Growing and Developing Countries in Southeast Asia. She Is Known As The "Land of The Free."

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The Kingdom of Thailand is one of the fast-growing and developing

countries in Southeast Asia. She is known as the “Land of the Free.”

SAWATDEE....HELLO, BEAUTIFUL BANGKOK

Bangkok known as Krun Thep, which is Thai for “City of Angels,”

Our loquacious guide regales us with the colorful history of Bangkok

Amazingly, Bangkok is clean, especially the day after Wednesday,

You may start your sentence by saying,

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