www.watarun.org

Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, is one of Bangkok’s best know landmark. It stands on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River in Thon Buri. Wat Arun is best seen from the opposite bank of the river; it glistens in the sunlight during the day and stands dark and noble at dawn or dusk. A visit to the beautiful, peaceful monastery complex surrounding the familiar towers is very worth-while. These towers, the “Phra Prang,” although best known, the only part of Wat Arun. It also contains narrow lanes; elegant, old white buildings; shrines, pools of turtles

and two fine giants, ” Yuk Wat Jaeng,” mortal enemies of the ” Yuk Wat Po” across the river.

The monastery has existed for many years since the days when Ayutthaya was capital of Thailand. It was then named Wat Mokok, situated in a place called Tumbol Bangmakok. The word Bangmakok, meaning ” Village of Olive”, has since been shortened to ” Makok”.

Construction of the tall prang and four smaller ones was started by King Rama II   1809-1824  and completed by King Rama III (1824-1851). The towers are supported by rows of demos and monkeys. Very steep and narrow steps lead to a balcony high on the central tower. The circumference of the base of the structure is 234 meters, and the central prang is 250 foot high.

The central balcony commands an impressive view of Bangkok across the river. From here one can see the Grand palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the spacious Wat Po.

The towers of Wat Arun are built of brick covered with stucco. The decorations are unique; thousands of pieces of multicolored Chinese porcelain. In niches in the central tower are green figures of the God Indra seated on Erawan, the traditional Thai three-headed elephant. Niches in the smaller towers contain figures of the Moon God, on a white horse. The trident of Shiva extends from the top of each tower.

Wat Arun figures in one of Thailand’s most colorful festival, the Royal Tod Kathin. Then His Majesty the King travels down the river in a procession of Royal barges to present new robes to the monks after their three-month lent period.

Built on the site of the former Brew Pavilion (a great loss in my opinion), The Esplanade opened in late 2006, and got into full swing in early 2007.
The basement level is all food, many restaurants and coffee shops as well as a very good Tops supermarket selling a wide variety of imported goods.
Inventive design makes for a bright modern looking building that is attracting quality retailers.
Stylish cinema, Ice skating, and Bowling, an excellent bookshop.
Overall, this is a very well designed shopping mall with a pleasant relaxing atmosphere. Sit and have a coffee and a snack by one of the artificial indoor ponds with fast running water.

Koh Kret is an island in the Chaophraya River, just 20km north of Bangkok in the province of Nonthaburi. You can travel there directly by Express boat on a Sunday, leaving from Sapan Taksin pier at 09:00 and the boat returns you at about 15:30. This is a guided tour which costs circa 300 Baht.

Alternatively, on any other day of the week, get the boat to Pakkred, top of the map, and catch the ferry from there.

Kok Kret is actually the “island” you can see on the map that was artificially created in the 1720’s by the digging of the by-pass canal.

Koh Kret is a manufacturing centre for the reddish brown pottery with over 20 workshops producing pots from as little as 10 Baht up to more artistic designs that will set you back several hundred or more.

The usual temples are there, at least 2, and you can walk around the island easily as it is about 2 Km across.

The island retains many original wooden buildings and is mostly un-modernised, take a camera.

http://www.bangkokbob.net/riverboat.htm

Gaysorn is a high-end “designer” mall with shops such as Hugo boss, Georgio Armani, Prada, and more, in fact quite a lot of businesses have relocated here from Peninsular Plaza, the former exclusive shopping mall.
Newly re-furbished mid 2002, the new look Gaysorn is painted white inside. Direct access now from the skybridge to Chit Lom BTS skytrain station is making it more popular.
Located right in the centre of the Bangkok shopping district at Rajaprasong Junction, just over the road from the Erawan Shrine.

Visit the Gaysorn Shopping Centre website for details of the latest events and promotions

http://www.bangkokbob.net/malls.htm