The visit to the home of the beloved Thai King ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช (Bhumibol Adulyadej) awaits me. From far I see the towers of the palace, a colour of pure egg yolk, gleaming in the Sun, with heads like spears reaching out to the sky, as though connecting with the Gods above. It is this striking Thai traditional architecture which captures the attention of many from all over the World. As I took a step into the palace, a monk, draped in a huge piece of cloth of an orange-brown shade walked up to me and signalled for me to fold down my sleeves. It was not allowed in the palace; the visitors all had to be dressed appropriately for the visit. I guess this is an act of the utmost respect the Thais hold for their King and His Household. The holiness of the Grand Palace was overwhelming, as the buildings surrounding me were decorated with the various Gods and deities of the Thais, again painted in a royal gold colour. The majesty of the palace showed me the importance of the Thai King in the people's eyes as I proceeded, I could not help but stop to take photos in the Grand Palace.
Like a sword that pierced the sky, the Thai structures towered over its counterparts, full of the essence of Thailand, the domes like a huge barrier, encompassing the whole of Thailand within its safe boundaries. I remember the Thai statues which I had seen before, and realised that the crowns of the Grand Palace buildings resembled the crowns of the deities which the Thais worshipped. Perhaps they believed that their King was a Godsent and was just like their Gods, standing tall and mighty. They placed their King in high reverence and he was just like a father to them, a loving father of Thailand. The Gods, the Lord Buddha - 95% of Thais are Buddhist - were looking over him, and all of Thailand. The Muslim religion holds the second largest percentage of 4.6% of the population, followed by Catholicism or Christianity which makes up 0.75% of the population.
The film "The King and I" was banned in Thailand because it was an act of disrespect to their King, and it was considered blasphemy. How great is the faith of these Thais towards their King.
And as I walked on, I realised that the Grand Palace was not only a shade of Gold, but had also included the colours, which are so often related to Thailand. Green, blue, and the textures of wealth now graced the outside of the buildings. It seemed that the Thais were fond of a certain rectangular shaped structure, whereby a person could look in through large hole on the four sides, and the roof was pointed with its edges curved upwards into the sky. It was, I could say, an icon of Thailand. I found my hand finding its way to my camera and I could not help but take a snap.
This is Wat Phra Kaew in the Grand Palace.
The jewels and various stones bestowed upon the walls of the Grand Palace, make the experience even more breath-taking for the visitor like me. The Grand Palace is more precious than any gold or silver in the eyes of the Thais. The doors of the palace, tinted by the gold and the carvings of the Gods, gazing down lovingly at the people. The doorways, with columns resembling a dragon's tail adorned the building. The tail high in the air, perhaps as a sign of power and superiority, as like the Chinese, who believe that the dragon is the highest of all animals - mystic creatures as I may correct myself. Again, there was the urge to take a photo.
3:04 AM
Cherie Seah Xinyi
Rafflesian; Tarbetian; RSP-ian; handbells Ex-CO
ONEOHNINE-er
TWOOHNINE-er
Bearing the scholarship of RSP, I thrive
to learn, to realise, to connect. Southeast Asia is bonded, not only by ASEAN, but it's the railways which connect us.
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