Tag Archives: bangkok cruises

Thailand’s Royal Barge Procession – Experience an 800-year-old Phenomenon

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Thailand is a nation that is full of all kinds of colourful festivities and celebrations. One particular occurrence that will definitely take your breath away is the Royal Barge Procession.

File:Royal Boating Ceremony, Bangkok, Thailand 20121106-551 5399.jpg

Pornrapee 2560, Royal Boating Ceremony, Bangkok, Thailand 20121106-551 5399, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Beginning

It is not entirely clear when the first royal barge procession took place, but it is widely believed to have been sometime in the 14th century during the Ayutthaya Period. There are many accounts from foreign visitors during this time of grand processions featuring ‘200 boats’.

Modern Processions

There is no concrete date when these processions take place, but are instead used to mark special ceremonies and occurrences. During the reign of the late King Rama IX, a total of 16 royal barge processions were conducted.

Major and Minor Processions

Depending on the occasion, the scale of the procession would change. Major processions are arranged into five rows while minor processions are much smaller in scale and feature less variety where barges are concerned as well.

Route

The procession goes along the Chao Phraya River, commencing from the Wasukri Royal Landing Place and concluding at Wat Arun. This route is quite popular with Bangkok cruises and if you arrange one from an entity such as Anantara Cruises during the time of the procession, it’ll be an experience you won’t forget.

Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+

Moon Festival a Burst of Culinary Creativities – Treats, Snacks, and Mooncakes

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The Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, is a Chinese harvest festival celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. It is generally celebrated during the last week of September or early October and includes a multitude of colorful cultural celebrations which can also be experienced on Bangkok cruises, such as those offered by Anantara Cruises, Thailand. The Moon Festival is celebrated in Thailand as well, and one of the fascinating features about the celebrations is the culinary delights.

Mooncakes

You can’t celebrate the Moon Festival without making Mooncakes – at least that’s what Thai tradition dictates. Thus, Mooncakes are considered to be one of the main culinary creations during the Moon Festival. Mooncakes are essentially thin-crust pastries wrapped around a sweet filling of sweet bean paste, lotus seed paste, and egg yolk. Although this is how Mooncakes are traditionally made, modern spins on Mooncake include chocolate Mooncakes and many other delicious creations. Almost all stores sell Mooncakes during the Moon Festival, so make sure you try one.

Snails for Brightness, Taro for Luck and Pumpkin for Health

The foods made during the Moon Festival are considered to have some symbolic meaning. For example, river snails cooked in herbs and spices is said to brighten your eyes, while Taro corns are said to bring good luck. Thus, you shouldn’t be too surprised if you find snails and Taro in various snacks and dishes during the Moon Festival. Pumpkin is considered to bring good health during the festival, so pumpkin is quite common during the Moon Festival too.

Duck, Crab, and much more!

Additionally, you can expect to have various dishes of duck and crab, as they are specialty meats during the Moon Festival. Fruits such as watermelon and pears are in abundance during the festivities too, while Osmanthus-flavored cake and wine is the dessert of choice during the Moon Festival.

Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+

Ayutthaya Temples Tour – Cruising Around Bangkok

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Bangkok is a modern city with one foot firmly in the past. Although the Thai capital maybe overrun with futuristic high rise buildings, it also has plenty of historic ones. While a majority of visitors come to Thailand’s cosmopolitan capital to enjoy the amazing shopping opportunities and vibrant nightlife, they all leave with a deeper appreciation for the country’s rich culture and coloured history. The city is steeped in ancient splendour and walking along its streets one will come across many interesting attractions.

Tourists who want to learn more about Thai history and culture can try visiting Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (shortened to Ayutthaya), which is located around ninety five kilometres to the north of Bangkok. The city was established in 1350 and served as the second capital of Thailand (then called Siam). It soon became an important trade city and grew quickly over the following centuries. Merchants came to Ayutthaya from all parts of the world and the city became more prosperous as time went by.

However, the period of prosperity did not last forever. Ayutthaya was razed in 1767 by Burmese invaders and now only a few ruins mark the presence of this once magnificent city. The ruins are well preserved and evoke visions of a bygone era. Standing here it is easy to picture ancient marketplaces bustling with activity and lines of devotees walking towards the call of temple bells. Ayutthaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and no trip to Bangkok can be considered complete without visiting here.

As it is a major tourist attraction there are a number of ways to get here. Those who want to use public transport can try the bus or train. Those looking for a better alternative can try taking a Bangkok cruise tour. Not only does a cruise help save time, it is also a highly enjoyable experience. Anantara Cruises Thailand offer luxury Bangkok cruises that takes tourists on a journey through the past. See the ruins of Ayutthaya, the Royal Barges Boat House, the Temple of Dawn, the Grand Palace and a countless number of other attractions. It is bound to be a trip to remember.

Rocket Festival in Thailand

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Indulge in a Bangkok Cruise Tour to get a unique perspective of the city. Bangkok Cruises offered by Anantara Cruises are a popular choice in this regard. When in the city, a visitor cannot afford to miss the chance to experience its unique festivals. Celebrated throughout Laos and northeast Thailand by ethnic Lao people, the Rocket Festival customarily features musicians, dancers, competitive processions of floats, other performances and more. Home-made rockets are fired competitively on the third day of the festival. The gigantic skyrockets are part of this custom. These skyrockets are basically large black-powder bottle rockets. Traditionally the rockets are made from bamboo bongs.