Rightfully known as the “Land of a Thousand Smiles,” Thailand impresses even the most jaded traveler because of what it offers: ancient religion, stunning architecture, exotic cuisine, timeless arts, cultural treasures, and tranquil beaches.
We were invited by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to celebrate and witness “Songkran,” the Thai New Year celebration popularly known for its water-splashing street parties. Songkran, which means to “move into,” has its roots in the Sanskrit language. The meaningful elements of songkran are expressed through time-honored ceremonies and rituals that reflect both the essence of its people as well as local practices and beliefs. This year’s festival was quite special as it also honored King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 84th birthday.
During the week-long activities, most of the Thais go to a wat (Buddhist monastery) to pray and give food to monks. Our group went to Wat Pho, a first-grade royal monastery, regarded as the most important during the reign of King Rama I of the Chakri Dynasty.
We entered the Vihara (monastery) of the Reclining Buddha built in 1688 and considered the largest and most beautiful piece of fine art in Thailand. The statue made of bricks gilded with gold leaves is 46 meters long. The soles of the statue’s feet are inlaid with mother-of-pearl showing the 108 auspicious signs of the Buddha portraying natural scenes with both Chinese and Indian influences.
By the rock gardens around the monastery are several Buddha images in various shapes and sizes. They are bathed by gently pouring water mixed with a Thai fragrance. It is believed that doing this will bring good luck and prosperity for the New Year.
After the ritual, we crossed over to the Nagaraphirom Park for cocktails and authentic Thai dinner under the stars. Thai cuisine has a lot of flavors, colors, and textures designed to appeal to both the palate and eyes. Almost all the food is cooked with fresh vegetables, poultry, pork, and some beef. Thais have a legendary love of chili and it is the most prevalent flavor in their cuisine. They believe chilis cool the body, stimulate the appetite and bring balance and harmony to their food.
We likewise saw a traditional Thai dance drama symbolic of Thai character. The main style of dance is Khon, a masked drama where the performers, all magnificently garbed, use graceful body and hand movements to express both emotions and action in the narration of the story. A great deal of symbolism is displayed in beautifully executed finger and hand movements. Classical music accompanies the mute performance, which in their movement presents an unforgettable spectacle.
The following day, we visited the Vimanmek Teak Museum, built in 1901 as a summer retreat of King Rama V. It is the world’s largest golden teak building.
This private museum houses the royal family’s memorabilia, photographs, handicrafts, and personal art of King Rama V. A fabulous collection of Chinese blue and white porcelain from the Ming Dynasty is on display as well as European porcelain which indicates the spread of western culture.
Another great attraction is Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum with over 70 wax figures and still counting. Out of the 10 exhibit rooms, The Royal Room is the most elegant and culturally significant as it showcases wax figures of Prince Thibed Adulyadei and Princess Srinagarinda, the late parents of the King. This is the only place where you are not allowed to touch the figures.
Few destinations are without shopping and Bangkok is simply one of the best in Asia. The department stores can be as cheap as markets these days. Top buys include clothes, traditional crafts, jewelry, electrical goods and, yes, fake brand name watches and designer labels.
This year’s Songkran celebration underscores the importance of this traditional festival in Thai culture and reinforces the long-standing reputation of a fun-loving, easy-going and friendly people who take pride and pleasure in sharing their interesting and colorful cultural traditions.