00:00I'm Lily Douse and this is Grand Voyager.
00:04From my base in Qatar, I travel the world to discover incredible places
00:09filled with culture, luxury and adventure.
00:13Along the way, I meet the people, taste the flavors
00:16and experience the moments that make each destination unforgettable.
00:25Today, I'm traveling from Qatar to the heart of Southeast Asia.
00:30I'm in a place where ancient temples stand side by side
00:33with modern skyscrapers.
00:36Swarika and welcome to Thailand.
00:39I'm here in Bangkok, a city where ancient traditions
00:43meets non-stop energy, color and life.
00:48I start in Thailand's cultural heart with Alex from Thai Tour Guides,
00:53meeting at the Grand Palace, a symbol of royal history.
00:57The Grand Palace compound and cover an area, 61 acres.
01:0261 acres? We're not covering 61 acres today, right?
01:06No, we just visited the temple and the king's residence.
01:10It was the king's residence.
01:11Built in 1782, the Grand Palace is a vast complex of royal residences
01:16ceremonial halls, government buildings and sacred temples.
01:21At its heart sits the temple of the Emerald Buddha,
01:24surrounded by ornate courtyards and intricate Thai architecture.
01:29The mosaics tell their own story of change.
01:32Alex traces the patterns with me,
01:34explaining how the temple's signature style developed over the centuries.
01:38They start decoration in King Rama III, like this ceramic.
01:42Yeah, this is from China.
01:44Yeah, Chinese.
01:45Because we import.
01:47Yeah, that's why it changed.
01:48Yeah, different era, different decoration.
01:51Today, the Emerald Buddha stands as a mesmerising site,
01:54which is notably draped in gold leaf throughout.
01:57Moving deeper inside the complex, Alex leads me to the king's residence,
02:02once the private world of Thai royalty.
02:04This is the throne hall.
02:06The throne hall, the function used for when we have like a celebration
02:09for the king's birthday, queen's birthday.
02:12And then we have a big ceremony, like a coronation ceremony.
02:15Leaving the palace behind, we head to the Chao Friar River
02:19and board a traditional long-tail boat.
02:21This historic river is the perfect way to see how old and new Bangkok collide.
02:26How long have people been living on the canal here in Thailand?
02:30Wow, generation to generation, about 500 years.
02:33Yeah, probably more than 500 years, yeah.
02:36Before roads, Bangkok ran on water.
02:39This natural waterway is connected to a vast network of man-made canals.
02:44After a scenic ride, the boat drops us near one of Bangkok's oldest royal temples.
02:49Its centrepiece is the Reclining Buddha, a 46-metre golden statue that dominates the entire hall.
02:59Some people, they say Sleeping Buddha, not sleeping, just reclining or relaxing, lay down.
03:05And so this temple is very famous for Thai massage.
03:10This is the birthplace of Thai massage.
03:12Our final stop is Bangkok's 24-hour flower market.
03:16Bursting with Bloom's central to Thai culture.
03:19We use the flower for offering.
03:21Like the yellow one, the merry-gold, we use for offering the Hindu, Hindu god.
03:28And some flower, lotus flower, we use for offering the Buddha.
03:32Walking through the flower market is truly breathtaking,
03:36with every person you meet greeting you with kindness.
03:39I've had an incredible time exploring the city with Alex,
03:42but now it's time to head to my hotel.
03:47For this trip, I'm staying at the Four Seasons Bangkok,
03:50a five-star hotel right on the banks of the Chow Friar River.
03:55From the moment you arrive, the resort surrounds you
03:58with a perfect blend of modern elegance and traditional Thai charm.
04:03Bangkok might move fast, but here time flows like the river.
04:07Peaceful, elegant and full of Thai hospitality.
04:11To kick my day into high gear, I've signed up for a Thai kickboxing class
04:16in the hotel's state-of-the-art gym.
04:19After the instructor wraps my hands, we dive straight into an intense session,
04:24learning the fundamentals of Thailand's national sport,
04:27from punches and kicks to using my knees for defence.
04:31There's definitely a lot to learn, but after some trial and error,
04:35everything clicks and I'm finally able to string the movements together.
04:42After a demanding workout, I've booked a traditional Thai massage in the hotel's spa.
04:47It's a great place to relax and reset.
04:50A traditional Thai massage is both energising and deeply restorative.
04:55Unlike oil-based massages, it uses rhythmic pressure, assisted stretching
05:00and gentle joint movements to release tension.
05:06To round out the hotel's luxury experience, I stopped for lunch at one of its five on-site restaurants,
05:12Palmier by Guillaume Galio.
05:14It's the perfect place to slow down and watch the world drift by
05:18before heading back into the energy of the bustling city.
05:23To explore more of Bangkok, I'm meeting with Wat from Must Try Bangkok Tours.
05:28We are heading out on a bike ride around the capital.
05:31The best way to go around is a bicycle because you can go in a small alley,
05:35see a hidden way and you can stop anywhere you want it to.
05:38We set off through some local back streets before cycling our way to the river,
05:43where Wat explains more about how Bangkok has evolved over time.
05:47At what we are right now, it's old Bangkok.
05:50Over there, there's a new Bangkok.
05:53And how long ago was old Bangkok developing the new one?
05:57Bangkok, old Bangkok begin around 250 to 280 years ago.
06:03And new Bangkok is around 150 to 180 years ago.
06:07We cycle along the river to our first stop,
06:09a fifth-generation curry noodle spot with hardly any seating.
06:14Locals gather outside, drawn by the food, not the frills.
06:18The noodles itself are Asian cultures from thousands of years.
06:23But curry, actually from India.
06:26From India.
06:26From India.
06:27But chile, actually from body to Thailand or to Asia by Portuguese.
06:33But from South America, from Mexico.
06:37Wow, so all around the world, it's very international.
06:41We then set off through some small streets and narrow roads,
06:44where Wat brings me to try some local street food
06:47and explains why this is so popular in Thailand.
06:51So food here in Thailand is a small portion.
06:55It decides to make people keep eating and eating and eating.
06:59Firstly, we try some delicious and unique fruits.
07:02Starting with mangosteen, moving to jackfruit and even longan.
07:06Everything tastes so sweet and delicious.
07:09It's like candy.
07:11It's like eating a sweet.
07:12Mm-hmm.
07:14Next up, we try one of Thailand's most famous desserts.
07:17Mango sticky rice.
07:19It's every bit as good as you'd expect,
07:22with the perfect balance of sweetness and bright, tangy flavour.
07:26We hop back on our bicycles and head to a calm riverside cafe.
07:30So, yeah, how do you like it?
07:32I had such an incredible time.
07:34The bicycles are the best way to see as much of the authentic side of Thailand.
07:39And you can see how local people are living with a calm, slow and peaceful life.
07:45Having experienced the many sides of Bangkok,
07:48it's time to venture beyond the inner city for my final discoveries.
07:53For the next part of my journey, I'm exploring another canal in Thailand.
07:57I'm meeting Joy from Thai tour guide.
08:00Welcome, Lily.
08:02Hi, Lily.
08:03It's Joy.
08:03Swatika.
08:04Swatika.
08:05Enjoy.
08:06Now you can see now this is the pier of the floating market.
08:09You can see the old boat, the junk.
08:12Before we go by, like the trading, everything we put in the junk like this.
08:17I then learn how Thai people traditionally carried goods to and from their boats.
08:22A centuries-old method that relies entirely on balance.
08:27Joy leads me to board a boat to reach the floating market.
08:33See, they're selling everything.
08:35The hat is a Thai farmer hat or something.
08:38This is bamboo.
08:40I love this bamboo hat.
08:41The bamboo hat, you see?
08:43So beautiful.
08:45It truly is a sight to behold, with so many vendors offering an array of foods and goods.
08:54Floating along the canals in Thailand, you really feel together with the people.
08:59This is their community where they sell goods and smile.
09:03They make you feel at home.
09:05Next, we explore the Make Long train market, one of the most unique markets in the world.
09:10When the train rolls through, stores are quickly pulled back, then reopened once it passes.
09:16Offering a fascinating glimpse into local life and commerce.
09:20The energy in Thailand is electric.
09:23But people at the same time are so kind, so peaceful, so relaxed.
09:28The contrast is breathtaking.
09:32Joy walks me through the market, stopping to show me some of the delicious goods on offer.
09:36From deep-fried banana to Thai coffee.
09:40It is delicious.
09:43As my journey draws to a close, Joy guides me to a truly special part of Thailand.
09:49The historic city of Ayutthaya.
09:52Now we are at Ayutthaya.
09:55See, the second capital city of Thailand.
09:57You can see so many temples.
09:59500 temples at Ayutthaya Province.
10:02And we have around Thailand 43,000 temples.
10:06Founded in 1350, Ayutthaya was once one of the largest and most prosperous cities in Southeast Asia.
10:14The city thrived as a centre of trade, culture and diplomacy for over four centuries.
10:20Today, Ayutthaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
10:23Famous for its stunning temple ruins that offer a glimpse into Thailand's rich past.
10:29We start by exploring one of the city's older sites.
10:32This temple is in the early Ayutthaya period, about 1374.
10:381374 means 600 years already.
10:41Walking through the temple, you can almost step into the past.
10:45Picturing the people who once filled these sacred spaces.
10:49Next, we head to the largest temple in the ancient royal palace.
10:53Now we are at the Wat Prasi Sanpet Temple.
10:57This temple before, it means the residence of the king.
11:00From the 1350 until 1488.
11:04It means not the temple, this is the residence of the king.
11:06The king living here.
11:08It's three towering stupas once housed the ashes of Ayutthaya's kings.
11:13Making it a symbol of both religious devotion and royal power.
11:17Now you can see this building we call the building for the place of the high standing Buddha.
11:2416 meter high.
11:26Yeah.
11:2616 meter high made by the gold.
11:29347 kilogram gold.
11:31Ayutthaya is truly breathtaking.
11:34And seeing it up close is a fitting way to end my journey here.
11:39Thailand is a country where modern skyscrapers rise amongst ancient temples.
11:45There's so much to this country.
11:47From the incredible food, the smiles on people's faces and of course the culture.
11:53But now, time for my next adventure.
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