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Nakhon Si Thammarat Journals

The Holy City of the Virtuous King

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A travel journal to Nakhon Si Thammarat by SeenThat

City Wall Photo - Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand More Photos
Quote: Forgotten kingdoms, one of the most spectacular temples in Thailand and near beaches await the traveler at Nakhon Si Thammarat, the Holy City of the Virtuous King.

Reaching Nakhon

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Attraction | "Southern Stopover"

Thailand's Gulf Islets Photo - Thailand, Asia
Quote:
One of the biggest barriers while traveling in Thailand is the tonal language; it took me several months just to distinguish between the rising and dropping sounds. Even learning the letters was a challenge, since the vowels are placed all around the relevant consonant, depending on the mode they should be pronounced. Moreover, knowing how to read was not enough because some words kept their traditional Sanskrit spelling while they were pronounced in modern ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on September 9, 2009

Downtown Nakhon Si Thammarat

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Attraction | "Dichotomic Design"

Another Temple Photo - Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Quote:
Downtown Nakhon Si Thammarat is shaped as a long strip aligned on a north to south axis. The city hall, the railway station and the modern part of the city are on the north, while the Old City is on the southern end. Few cities in Thailand are easier to explore.Trucks travel along Ratchadamnoen (Royal Passage) Road - the main avenue running along the whole city - and provide the best way of moving around the city. Signal them to stop wherever you are standing; tell them to stop wherever you see an attractive sight. It couldn’t be easier.It is useful to remember that except for Ratchadamnoen Road, there are only two other main roads running parallel to it, one on each side of th...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on September 9, 2009

Tambralinga, Srivijaya, Ligor and Nakhon Si Thammarat

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Attraction | "Making the Peanuts Sauce Sweeter"

City Wall Photo - Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Quote:
Thailand’s history may seem confusing at first. Every major town was once a kingdom; several of these kingdoms encompassed large territories. If checking out the dates, some of them seem to have existed in parallel. Yet, there are no errors in the facts. Simply, early Thai kingdoms can be depicted as confederations of city-states with the main city of the confederation acting as the ruling entity. That means a proper understanding of the Thai political reality at a given time must take into account the specific cities making up the different kingdoms. Tambralinga and Ligor are some of the past names of Nakhon Si Thammarat, one of the most ancient cities of ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on September 9, 2009

Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan

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Attraction | "Another Wat Phra Mahathat?"

Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan Photo - Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Quote:
Several temples in Thailand feature the words "Wat Phra Mahathat" in their name, to the point it may get a bit confusing. "Wat Phra Mahathat" literally means "Temple Holy Great-Stuppa," or the "Holy Temple of the Great Stuppa," and thus are the less distinctive part of the name.Usually, the last part of the name is more special. "Woramahawihan" is a complex word. Wora-maha-wihan features again the word "great" (maha) while "wihan" is the Assembly Hall of a Thai temple. "Wora" is a noun related to royal issues. Thus, the complete name of this temple could be translated...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on September 9, 2009

Nakhon Si Thammarat: Practicalities, Souvenirs and Food

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Attraction | "On Kaffir Lime Leaves and Red Curry Paste "

Jackfruit Photo - Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Quote:
CultureA distinctive aspect of cultural life in Nakhon Si Thammarat is the shadow puppets shows, called here Nang Thalung. The puppets are prepared with dried hides and shaped as the protagonists of Thai mythological or historical tales. This type of art is very popular in Southeast Asia and can be found in several variations.A good place for experiencing the art is the Suchat Sapsin House at 10/18 Si Thammasok Road, Soi 3. The house includes a museum and offers performances as well.SouvenirsThe most popular ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on September 9, 2009

About the Writer

SeenThat

SeenThat
Tel Aviv, Israel