Thai temple

Most people who vacation in Thailand have a similar pattern with respect to their sightseeing choices; they usually visit the same places and participate in the same traditional tourist activities. Now, this phenomenon can applied to almost any tourist destination, not only Thailand. By no means am I putting down Joe Average Tourist in his choices, but sometimes JAT feels uncomfortable about deviating from the norm and finds a comfort zone in following the pack.

As an example, the typical tourist to Bangkok stays only a couple days in this large metropolitan city; his itinerary usually includes an all day highlights tour visiting the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Jim Thompson’s House and a river boat cruise including dinner on the Chao Praya River. Now that’s comparable to a tourist visiting New York City whose sightseeing itinerary includes the Empire State Building, the Statute of Liberty, World Trade Center, Central Park and Broadway. In addition, the ladies usually love to go on a shopping spree at one Bangkok’s sprawling shopping centers like MBK, in addition to shopping for bargains at Bangkok’s colorful night market.

Now if the tourist were aware of some of the alternative activities available besides the conventional sightseeing expeditions, he would really have an opportunity to have a unique singular experience. For those people with an artistic bent, they may want to consider taking a special 2 day /1 night watercolor workshop with Pe Seenam, an internationally renowned watercolorist from Bangkok The workshop takes place in the rural countryside alongside a beautiful river, about an hour’s drive from Bangkok.

While in Chiang Mai, Thailand’s 2nd largest city and the gateway to Northern Thailand, a good option for the artistically inclined would be a special 3 day/2 night Terracotta workshop at a rustic homestay, located in the mountain village of Mae Rim, about a 30 minutes away from Chiang Mai. While you’re in Mae Rim, you can visit one of the area’s elephant camps and go on a little elephant trek into the countryside. What a thrilling adventure!

As a sidenote, in defense of about JAT (Joe Average Tourist), many times the JAT has a very limited time in a popular destination spot. As.a result, the most viable option for him is to do “the popular city highlights tour”.

Bus Goldberg is a seasoned world traveler and the director of Calypso Island Tours, a travel company that specializes in botanical adventures and nature tours to such diverse destinations as Costa Rica, Thailand and the Caribbean. He also maintains his own travel blog, Calypso Island Chronicles

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For several years I have corresponded with prison penpals from around the world. Many spend a lonely Christmas and are fortunate if they receive any Christmas cards from their family. In prison, the “festive season” can be the loneliest season of all - reminding them of how far they are away from their family and loved ones.

This story from a friend I’ll call Charlie, warmed my heart as I read it - Charlie is imprisoned in harsh conditions in Thailand:-

“The prison church is asking for funds for a Christmas and New Year party. They wish to distribute essential toiletries and medication to our Christian brothers - whether Burmese, Chinese or African - so many are destitute. The church is asking everyone who can to contribute any gifts they receive from family and friends towards this cause. The importance of such altruism can’t be overemphasised, it’s effects are gratifying to the full.”

I know from his letters that my friend is often hungry, without what we would consider the essentials of life, such as toothpaste and other toiletries. He often suffers illness because of the poor diet and lack of nutritious food.

Yet, in the midst of his own need, my friend Charlie thought to consider the needs of others. The story reminded me of the widow’s mite, which though small in comparison to the donations of others, demonstrated true generosity of heart and spirit.

May we all remember the true spirit of Christmas generosity this year as we enter the festive season.

You can download free inspirational poems and quotes.

To download free encouraging devotionals, visit women’s devotions.

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The first of the Chakri kings, King Rama I or King Phra
Phuttayotfa, who reigned from 1782 - 1809,
founded the dynasty when he established Bangkok as the
capital of Thailand. King Rama I is remembered as the great
warrior who put an end to the constant Burmese threat and
consolidated the kingdom.

Literature flourished during the First Reign. Works include
the Ramakien, the Thai version of the Indian Ramayana epic
and the translation of the Chinese classic, Romance of the
Three Kingdoms.

When King Rama II or King Phra Phutthalertla Napalai,
the son of King Rama I, ascended the throne, his reign
from 1809 - 1824 signaled the start of a dynasty. Like
his father, King Rama II loved literature and was renowned as
a great poet.

The Chakri dynasty continued with King Rama III or
King Phra Nangklao, the son of King Rama II, who
reigned from 1824 - 1851. Unlike his father, he had no
interest in literature. Even the greatest of Thai poets, Sunthorn
Phu, found no favor in the Third Reign.

In King Rama IV or King Mongkut (1851 - 1868),
another son of King Rama II, the kingdom had one of the most
enlightened Chakri kings. After 27 years in monkhood during
which he studied Buddhism, English, Latin, science,
mathematics and astrology, King Monkut ascended the throne
at 47.

Politically astute, he saw the growing pressures of colonialism
and prepared his son, Prince Chulalongkorn, for the challenges
ahead.

The reign of King Rama V or King Chulalongkorn (1868 -
1910, was the golden age of the Chakri Reformation. The
most revered of the Chakri kings, King Chulalongkorn
reorganized the government, improved education,
infrastructure and communications. Slavery was abolished.

His crowning achievement was the ability to neutralize Britain
and France at the height of their imperial power and preserve
the independence of Thailand.

King Rama VI or King Vajiravudh, the son of King
Rama V, reigned from 1910 - 1925. The first of the
Chakri kings to be educated overseas, King Vajiravudh
introduced surnames for the people, changed Thai flag to its
present form, enacted compulsory primary education and
established Chulalongkorn University in memory of his father.
The Seventh Reign, however, incurred massive spending in a
fragile economy, a harbinger of events in the next reign.

The last of King Rama V’s sons, King Rama VII or King
Prajadhipok, reigned from 1925 - 1935. He was
also the last of the Chakri kings to reign as absolute monarch.
The coup on 24 June 1932 ended the absolute monarchy.

King Prajadhipok reigned briefly as the first constitutional
monarch in a stormy relationship with the new government.
He abdicated on 2 March 1935.

After the abdication, young Prince Ananda, the son of Prince
Mahidol and grandson of King Rama V, he was appointed king
at the age of ten. Regency was appointed while the young king
continued his studies.

King Rama VIII or King Ananda Mahidol had a short
and tragic reign from 1935 - 1946. On 9 June 1946,
less than a year after he returned from his studies, the young
King Ananda was found shot. No verdict was returned.

In 1946, the present monarch, King Rama IX or
King Bhumipol Adulyadej, younger brother of King
Ananda, ascended the throne. The reign saw the blossoming of
a close relationship between the benevolent monarch and his
people, one of deep respect and fatherly love.

It seemed the ideal model of a constitutional monarchy over
the longest reign in history. Perhaps the one that King
Prajadhipok was so desperately seeking in 1932.

The nine kings of the Chakri dynasty have seen old Siam from
a group of fragmented kingdoms under constant external
threat to a unified kingdom. The kingdom went through a
painful transition from an absolute monarchy to a tumultuous
constitutional democracy and onto a thriving and stable
nation.

The reign of the Chakri Kings in Thailand has covered more
than 220 years over which the kingdom has preserved its unity,
independence and prosperity.

For more on the Chakri Kings.

Chakri Kings first appeared in Tour Bangkok
Legacies a historical travel site on people, places and
events that shaped the landscape of Bangkok. The author Eric
Lim, a free-lance writer, lives in Bangkok Thailand.

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