SAWATDEE....HELLO, BEAUTIFUL BANGKOK
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 traveller 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 worldfamous 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 brought with him excellent samples of porcelain, which
the court artisans used to decorate pagodas using their elaborate spires. At the main temple,
devotees buy oneinch gold leaf squares which they stick to smaller buddhas as offering to
their god.
Everyday, morning ceremonies are held at an adjacent temple 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.
Voyages in Communication, p. 134-135
SAWATDEE....
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 traveller 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 worldfamous 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 brought with him excellent samples of porcelain, which
the court artisans used to decorate pagodas using their elaborate spires. At the main temple,
devotees buy oneinch gold leaf squares which they stick to smaller buddhas as offering to
their god.
Everyday, morning ceremonies are held at an adjacent temple 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.
Voyages in Communication, p. 134-135
The Legend of Banyuwangi
Once upon a time, in Eastern part of java Island, there was a kingdom ruled by a king. The
kings name was Prabu Menak Prakoso. One day, Prabu Menak Prakoso and his soldiers
invaded the Kingdom of Klungkung in Bali. The king of Klungkung was killed on the battlefield,
yet his daughter, Made Surati, and his son, Agung Bagus Mantra, were able to escape and
hide in the jungle.
Prabu Menak Prakoso had a son named Raden Banterang. He was such a handsome
young man. One day, Raden banterang went to the jungle for hunting. It was in the jungle that
Raden Banterang met Made Surati. She was then taking to Blambangan to be his wife. Raden
Banterang and Made Surati enjoyed a happy life in the palace.
When Raden Banterang was hunting one day, Made Surati was surprised by the arrivealof
a dirty beggar asking for her pity. The princess was surprised to find that the beggar was her
older brother, Agung Bagus Mantra. She promptly squatted and embraced her brothers legs.
However, her great respect of her brother was not well accepted. Instead, Agung Bagus
Mantra asked his sister to kill Raden banterang, but such a request was rejected. He was very
angry with her and came up with a sky idea to slander her.
Slowly but surely, Agung succeded in convincing Raden Banterang that his wife had been
involved in a scandal with another man. Asking for compassion, Made Surati tried to tell the
truth and denied her husbands accusation. Hearing his wifes explanation, the king became
angrier and angrier. As a proof of her sacred love, she asked her husband to kill her. As a last
request. She asked her husband to throw her dead body into the river. She said that if the
water in the river smelled terrible, it meant that she had ever been sinful, but if it smelled
fragrant it meant that she was innocent.
Raden Banterang who was unable to control his emotions soon stabbed his keris(dagger)
into his wifes chest. She died instantly. The dead body of Made Surati was quickly thrown into
the dirty river. Raden Banterang was shocked to see the river suddenly become clean and as
clear as glass with a fragrant smell. Raden Banterang screamed crazily and regretted his
deed. He walked unsteadily and fell into the river screaming, Banyu...Wangi...Banyuwangi!
This means Fragrant water.
Banyuwangi was born from the proof of noble and sacred love. From then on, the place is
called Banyuwangi.
(Adapted from :www.eastjava.com/tourist/banyuwangi)
The Legend of Banyuwangi
Once upon a time, in Eastern part of java Island, there was a kingdom ruled by a king. The
kings name was Prabu Menak Prakoso. One day, Prabu Menak Prakoso and his soldiers
invaded the Kingdom of Klungkung in Bali. The king of Klungkung was killed on the battlefield,
yet his daughter, Made Surati, and his son, Agung Bagus Mantra, were able to escape and
hide in the jungle.
Prabu Menak Prakoso had a son named Raden Banterang. He was such a handsome
young man. One day, Raden banterang went to the jungle for hunting. It was in the jungle that
Raden Banterang met Made Surati. She was then taking to Blambangan to be his wife. Raden
Banterang and Made Surati enjoyed a happy life in the palace.
When Raden Banterang was hunting one day, Made Surati was surprised by the arrivealof
a dirty beggar asking for her pity. The princess was surprised to find that the beggar was her
older brother, Agung Bagus Mantra. She promptly squatted and embraced her brothers legs.
However, her great respect of her brother was not well accepted. Instead, Agung Bagus
Mantra asked his sister to kill Raden banterang, but such a request was rejected. He was very
angry with her and came up with a sky idea to slander her.
Slowly but surely, Agung succeded in convincing Raden Banterang that his wife had been
involved in a scandal with another man. Asking for compassion, Made Surati tried to tell the
truth and denied her husbands accusation. Hearing his wifes explanation, the king became
angrier and angrier. As a proof of her sacred love, she asked her husband to kill her. As a last
request. She asked her husband to throw her dead body into the river. She said that if the
water in the river smelled terrible, it meant that she had ever been sinful, but if it smelled
fragrant it meant that she was innocent.
Raden Banterang who was unable to control his emotions soon stabbed his keris(dagger)
into his wifes chest. She died instantly. The dead body of Made Surati was quickly thrown into
the dirty river. Raden Banterang was shocked to see the river suddenly become clean and as
clear as glass with a fragrant smell. Raden Banterang screamed crazily and regretted his
deed. He walked unsteadily and fell into the river screaming, Banyu...Wangi...Banyuwangi!
This means Fragrant water.
Banyuwangi was born from the proof of noble and sacred love. From then on, the place is
called Banyuwangi.
(Adapted from :www.eastjava.com/tourist/banyuwangi)
THAILAND AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY
1 Thailand, for one, as a pillar of the fast-growing Asian region, has made sure and steady
strides over the years to ensure its place in the global community.
2 A country often compared with the Philippines for a score of reasons, Thailand, like
the Philippines, is a nation of 60 million. It has an area of 513,115 sq. kms. and enjoys a climate typical
of countries in the tropics; thus, its traditional proclivity for agrarian-based economic activity.
3 Notwithstanding, a shift from agriculture to manufacturing, Thailand continues to edge out its
neighbors in terms of natural resources, what with the bounty of its land and sea which has made it
the worlds foremost exporter of tapioca and rice. In addition, it is also a leader in the production of
maize, frozen shrimp, canned pineapple, natural rubber and sugar.
4 However, in the late 80s and the 90s, Thailand restructured its economy to adapt to the
demands of an urbanizing international community.
5 As a result, the share of the agricultural sector in Thailands national income has declined from
a high of 40 percent in 1960 to 17 percent during early 90s.
6 Concomitantly, the manufacturing sector experienced strong growth, expanding rapidly in its
share of the national income from 13 percent in 1960 to over 30 percent in the 90s. With
the implementation of the first industrial Promotion Act in 1960 and various promotional
programs undertaken by the Board of Investment, the way was paved for the remarkable
growth of the manufacturing sector.
7 Initially, industrial activity focused on food processing and import substitution. However, in the
90s, Thailand has developed heavily into export promotion, notably textiles and garments, which
accounted for 34.5 per cent of principal exports in 1994 against the 12.7 percent output of canned
food in the same year. On the whole, the industrial sectors creditable performance became a plus
factor for Thailand because policy-makers knew exactly where there was a need to put on weight to
achieve an ideal balance among the various diversified industries that the changing economy helped
to bring about.
8 It is equally worth noting that at the highest point of Thailands growth at the close of the last
decade, the highest income generator and largest foreign exchange contributor for Thailand was its
tourism sector. With the full backing of the Royal Thai Government extended to the Tourism Authority
of Thailand, the sector grew by a hefty 16 percent per annum.
9 In addition to glowing figures posted by Thailand in the area of manufacturing, tourism and
foreign investment, much of its success can also be attributed to the growing independence
of countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and in the burgeoning Asian-
Pacific region.
10Thailand rides high in this era of growth and is well on its way to an age of prosperity at the
turn of the century.
11 From 1988-1991, Thailands growth rate averaged 12.5 percent, the highest in the world. Since
1993 when its economy rebounded from a worldwide recession in the early 90s, the Thai economy
has experienced steady gains reminiscent of the growth patterns of developed countries in the West.
Moving Ahead in English II ,pp 30-31,Myrna S.Torres.
THAILAND AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY
1 Thailand, for one, as a pillar of the fast-growing Asian region, has made sure and steady
strides over the years to ensure its place in the global community.
2 A country often compared with the Philippines for a score of reasons, Thailand, like
the Philippines, is a nation of 60 million. It has an area of 513,115 sq. kms. and enjoys a climate typical
of countries in the tropics; thus, its traditional proclivity for agrarian-based economic activity.
3 Notwithstanding, a shift from agriculture to manufacturing, Thailand continues to edge out its
neighbors in terms of natural resources, what with the bounty of its land and sea which has made it
the worlds foremost exporter of tapioca and rice. In addition, it is also a leader in the production of
maize, frozen shrimp, canned pineapple, natural rubber and sugar.
4 However, in the late 80s and the 90s, Thailand restructured its economy to adapt to the
demands of an urbanizing international community.
5 As a result, the share of the agricultural sector in Thailands national income has declined from
a high of 40 percent in 1960 to 17 percent during early 90s.
6 Concomitantly, the manufacturing sector experienced strong growth, expanding rapidly in its
share of the national income from 13 percent in 1960 to over 30 percent in the 90s. With
the implementation of the first industrial Promotion Act in 1960 and various promotional
programs undertaken by the Board of Investment, the way was paved for the remarkable
growth of the manufacturing sector.
7 Initially, industrial activity focused on food processing and import substitution. However, in the
90s, Thailand has developed heavily into export promotion, notably textiles and garments, which
accounted for 34.5 per cent of principal exports in 1994 against the 12.7 percent output of canned
food in the same year. On the whole, the industrial sectors creditable performance became a plus
factor for Thailand because policy-makers knew exactly where there was a need to put on weight to
achieve an ideal balance among the various diversified industries that the changing economy helped
to bring about.
8 It is equally worth noting that at the highest point of Thailands growth at the close of the last
decade, the highest income generator and largest foreign exchange contributor for Thailand was its
tourism sector. With the full backing of the Royal Thai Government extended to the Tourism Authority
of Thailand, the sector grew by a hefty 16 percent per annum.
9 In addition to glowing figures posted by Thailand in the area of manufacturing, tourism and
foreign investment, much of its success can also be attributed to the growing independence
of countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and in the burgeoning Asian-
Pacific region.
10Thailand rides high in this era of growth and is well on its way to an age of prosperity at the
turn of the century.
11 From 1988-1991, Thailands growth rate averaged 12.5 percent, the highest in the world. Since
1993 when its economy rebounded from a worldwide recession in the early 90s, the Thai economy
has experienced steady gains reminiscent of the growth patterns of developed countries in the West.