Th 14 - Abhisek Dusit

Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall

Yet another throne hall that have been changed to museum. The Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall just situated few meters from the Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall. This marvelous building built in Euro-Moorish-Thai architecture that cathes your eyes with it's beauty. The throne now display handicrafts such as mutmee silk, nielloware and basketry. The exhibition monitored by Queen Sirikit's SUPPORT Foundation.

Beautiful craft of the Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall

The Main Entrance that have been closed. Visitors will use the rear door for entrance.

Th 13 - Ananda Samakhom

Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall
พระที่นั่งอนันตสมาคม

Since I only have several hours left before my departure - I need to move fast to the next location. It situated within Dusit Palace in the Dusit area. I've took tuk-tuk here that cost me THB40 from the Grand Palace.

I didn't enter the throne as time not permitted. The now-throne-become-museum was constructed by King Rama V. It built in Italian Renaissance and Neoclassical style of architecture. The exterior is decorated with marble from Carrara, Italy. It is a two storey marble construction approximately 49.50 meters wide, 112.50 meters long and 47.50 meters high with a large center dome surrounded by six smaller domes. It was completed in 1915.

Th 12 - Grande!

"Begin at the beginning,"; the King said, very gravely; "and go on till you come to the end: then stop."
- Lewis Carrol (1832-1898); an English Novelist remembered for her work of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang
The Grand Palace
พระบรมมหาราชวัง

The King's Palace - who would miss the chance when you're already here. It is stated by the FORBES that the Grand Palace including Wat Phra Kaew was the 16th most visited tourist attraction in the world with 8,995,000 visitors in 2006. What a huge number of people.

The Grand Palace situated beside the Chapel of Emerald Buddha was built during reign of King Rama I in 1782 as the King decided to move the capital of Siam from Thoburi to the present Bangkok. It has been used as the official palace of Kings of Chakri Dynasty till the time of King Rama VIII where he was found death mysteriously in one of the palace building.

From left :Barom Phiman Hall - former royal recidence now a state guest house for visiting royalty; Amarin Winitchai Throne Hall - principal audience hall that now used for importance occasion. The place was closed during my visit in view of the death of the King's sister.

The current King Rama IX has moved permanently to Chitralada Palace as the official residence. The architecture of the buildings was heavily influenced with Italian Renaissance style mived with the Thai's traditional architecture. These happens as the previous Kings was so impressed with the European architecture when visiting abroad and decided to adopt it.

From left : Dusit Maha Prasat Hall - magnificently designed throne hall used exclusively by lying-in-state royalties; every palace in the world will have this 'Buckingham-palace-like-guard'. Beware not to disturb them during their stand.

The Palace is however still very much in use; as many royal rituals are performed here by the King every year. Other royal ceremonies celebrated here are coronations; royal funerals, marriages and state banquets.

Chakri Maha Prasat Hall - magnifencent hall once an official recidence of King Rama V that used now as state banquets.

Th 11 - The Most Sacred of All

"Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind."
Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha.

Wat Phra Kaew
Temple of the Emerald Buddha
วัดพระแก้ว

Since I've been cheated by the tuk-tuk driver, I only arrived to the Grand Palace compound around 5.00pm - and it's already closed! I go back to my hotel - frustrated but make another plan to be there early next morning.

Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace are situated in the same place. These places shouldn't be missed by anyone that visited Bangkok. The place can be reached with the Chao Phraya tourist boat / ferry - just stop at the Maharaj pier. There are rules and regulation need to be followed as these are the most sacred place for the Thais.

It open daily from 8.30am till 3.30pm Some buildings may close during holiday or ceremony. All visitors need to wear modest cloth - no shorts, sleeveless shirt etc. Fee : THB 300 for foreigners; language audio guide available for rent for THB 100. The ticket can be use to enter the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, Wimanmek Palace and the Coin Museum.


From left : Ticket booth; the Personal Audio Guide (PAG) rental booth - just beside the ticketing office.

Wat Phra Kaew or Temple of the Emerald Buddha regarded as the Thais as the most sacred place in Thailand. It one of the most convenience place to visit as you wouldn't lost in this huge place. Near the main entrance, a lot of tourist guide will wait for you to be hire around the temple and also the Grand Palace. If you prefer to travel alone, audio guide in 5 main languages available at the ticket booth for rent. I decided to choose the audio guide as its give me some freedom to move around the place.

It will guide you around the temple and palace and informed you the important places that you should see.

From left : Statue of the Hermit Doctor aka Cheewaka Komarapach - Father of Thai's Traditional Medicine with mortar as his symbol - the first thing that you will see upon entering the temple ground; one of the 178 mural painting on the temple's wall depicting scene from Ramayana story (Ramakien).

Phra Sri Ratana Chedi : a Ceylonese-style pagoda covered in gold mosaic enshrines relics of Buddha.


From left : Phra Mondhop - library that contains Buddhist scriptures; Phra Viharn Yod - structrure of porcelain floral design topped by a spire in the shape of Thai Crown that contain impotant Buddha images.


From left : Golden Chedis surrounded by various mythical creatures - built to honour King Rama I's father and mother; Phra Asada Maha Chedi - one of the 8 Prangs dedicated to Buddhist precepts.

Prasat Phra Thep Bidon aka The Royal Pantheon - statues of 8 kings of the Chakri Dynasty are keep here.


From left : Statue of Goddess of Mercy sits in front of the Royal Chapel of the Emerald Buddha; Hor Phra Khanthara Rat - small pavilion houses the Buddha image used in Royal Ploughing Ceremony.


From left : Belfry aka bell tower; Salarai or open pavilions surround the temple.

Wat Phra Kaew - contained the Emerald Buddha.

The Emerald Buddha - created in India circa 43 BC by Nagasena. Initially requested by King Anuruth of Burma to support Buddhism in his country, the statue lost on his way but suprisingly landed in Cambodia. The statue was brought to Ayutthaya when the Thai captured Angkor. The image disappeared when Burmese raiders sacked Ayuttaya and the image was feared lost. A century later, the 'Emerald' Buddha reappeared in Chiang Saen, after a rainstorm washed away some of its plaster covering. It was then moved to Chiang Rai, then Chiang Mai, where it was removed by prince Setatiratt to Luang Prabang, when his father died and he ascended the throne of that Siamese vassal state. In later years it was moved to the Siamese vassal state of Vientiene. Later when Siam fought with Laos - the statue was recaptured back again and was kept in several places till to this temple now. Sigh - long history but whose the righteous to keep this statue? Is it Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos or Thailand? Or should they reconsider to give it back to India? Guess the winner will keep it!

The Emerald Buddha - from far as no photograph can be taken inside the chapel!

There are three different sets of gold clothing, which are changed by the King of Thailand in a ceremony at the changing of the seasons around March, July and November. The two sets of gold clothing not in use at any given time are kept on display in the nearby Pavilion of Regalia, Royal Decorations and Thai Coins on the grounds of the Grand Palace, where the public may view them.

So heavy ...

Stand Unite for our Brothers

"Peace has to be created, in order to be maintained. It is the product of Faith, Strength, Energy, Will, Sympathy, Justice, Imagination, and the triumph of principle. It will never be achieved by passivity and quietism."
- Dorothy Thompson (1893 - 1961); an American-German descendant journalist. She against idea of Zionism and very critical of the newly created state of Israel.

Happy New Year 2009M and Ma'al Hijrah 1430H everybody. May this year bring us prosperity and success in what we plan to achieve.

Whole world shocked with what happen in Gaza Strip when we approached new year. Hundreds of air strike launched by the Israeli's IDF to the Gaza City in attempt to destroy HAMAS strength in the name of terrorism. But is it true? Who decide that the right to defend our own land is the act of terrorism?

Our brothers suffered enough and yet not much help reached them. I wonder where are the rich Arabs and other Muslims around the world? Where're those with big influence in the world's political stage? The Palestenian's issue seems never end even after thousands of UN Resolution, as if it will never end. Then what can we do as Brothers?


I would like to share on what written in Harakah - Friday Edition. It mention that PAS President urged the Muslim community to perform 'Solat Hajat' and 'Qunut Nazilah' where we pray for our brothers strength to obercome this problem and Allah's judgement onto the Israelis / Zionist regime. I know its nothing much but these are the small things that we can do.

The other thing is to stand unite and voice our concern through any media; be it mass media, demonstration or even boycott the American / Israel's goods. I know some will say that by boycotting their product such as McDonald's, Starbucks, etc (just name few) our local people will loose their job. But do please remember that previously Dr Yusuf Al-Qardawi - one of prominent Muslim scholars did gave a 'fatwa' that every money that we spent on these products will end as weapons to kill our brother!


I do hope that our government will act on this matter. First - the Malaysian parliment should voice-out that people of Malaysia condemn this barbaric act and will not tolerate on the destruction of Palestin. We - through UN, OIC, G15 and NAM should stand unite against the act of Israel - that totally against UN Resolution and world peace!

May Allah saves our Brothers and give strength not only them but us to fight the Zionist regime. Amen.