00:00Υπότιτλοι AUTHORWAVE
00:30Υπότιτλοι AUTHORWAVE
01:00Αν little over that area, 61 acres,
01:0261 acres,
01:04nono,
01:04oh we just visited, the temple and the king residence,
01:10it was a king residence.
01:11Built in 1782,
01:13the grand palace is a vast complex of royal residences,
01:17ceremonial halls,
01:18government buildings and sacred temples.
01:21At its heart sits the temple of the Emerald Buddha.
01:24Surrounded by ornate courtyards and intricate Thai architecture.
01:28Υπότιτλοι AUTHORWAVE
01:58Looking deeper inside the complex, Alex leads me to the king's residence, once the private
02:03world of Thai royalty.
02:04This is the throne hall. The throne hall, the function used for when we have like a celebration
02:09for the king's birthday, queen's birthday and then we have a big ceremony like a coronation
02:14ceremony.
02:15Leaving the palace behind, we head to the Chow Friar River and board a traditional long-tail
02:20boat. This 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. Probably more than 500 years.
02:36Before roads, Bangkok ran on water. This natural waterway is connected to a vast network of man-made
02:42canals. After a scenic ride, the boat drops us near one of Bangkok's oldest royal temples.
02:49It's centrepiece is the Reclining Buddha, a 46-metre golden statue that dominates the entire
02:56hall.
02:59Some people say sleeping Buddha, not sleeping, just reclining or relaxing, lay down. And
03:06so this temple is very famous for Thai massage. This is the birthplace of Thai massage.
03:12Our final stop is Bangkok's 24-hour flower market, bursting with Bloom's central to Thai
03:18culture.
03:19We use the flower for offering, like the yellow one, the merry-gold, we use for offering the
03:25Hindu, Hindu god. And some flower, lotus flower, we use for offering the Buddha.
03:32Walking through the flower market is truly breathtaking, with every person you meet greeting you with
03:38kindness. I've had an incredible time exploring the city with Alex, but now it's time to head
03:44to my hotel.
03:47For this trip, I'm staying at the Four Seasons Bangkok, a five-star hotel right on the banks
03:53of the Chow Friar River. From the moment you arrive, the resort surrounds you with a perfect
03:59blend of modern elegance and traditional Thai charm. Bangkok might move fast, but here time
04:06flows like the river. Peaceful, elegant and full of Thai hospitality.
04:11To kick my day into high gear, I've signed up for a Thai kickboxing class in the hotel's
04:17state-of-the-art gym. After the instructor wraps my hands, we dive straight into an intense
04:23session, learning the fundamentals of Thailand's national sport, from punches and kicks to using
04:29my knees for defence. There's definitely a lot to learn, but after some trial and error, everything
04:35clicks, 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. A traditional Thai massage is both energising and deeply restorative.
04:55Unlike oil-based massages, it uses rhythmic pressure, assisted stretching, and gentle joint movements
05:02to 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 Gelliot. It'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.
05:32The best way to go around is a bicycle, because you can go in a small alley, see a hidden
05:36way,
05:36and you can stop anywhere you want it to.
05:38We set off through some local back streets before cycling our way to the river, where Wat explains
05:44more about how Bangkok has evolved over time.
05:47At what we are right now is old Bangkok. Over there, there's a new Bangkok.
05:53And how long ago was old Bangkok developed and then the new one?
05:57Bangkok, old Bangkok, began around 250 to 280 years ago.
06:03And new Bangkok is around 150 to 180 years ago.
06:06We cycle along the river to our first stop, a 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.
06:26But chilli, actually from Thailand or to Asia by Portuguese.
06:32But 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, I serve small portions.
06:55It's decided 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. It's like eating a sweet.
07:13Next up, we try one of Thailand's most famous desserts, mango sticky rice.
07:19It's every bit as good as you'd expect, with 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, it'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.
08:01Hi, 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.
08:44It 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,
09:13then reopened once it passes, offering 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.
09:31Joy 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.
09:44As my journey draws to a close, Joy guides me to a truly special part of Thailand.
09:49The historic city of Ayutthaya.
09:51Now we are at the 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.
10:07Founded in 1350, Ayutthaya was once one of the largest and most prosperous cities in Southeast Asia.
10:13The 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 oldest 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.
10:44Picturing 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.
11:18Now you can see this building, we call the building for the place of the high standing Buddha.
11:2416m high, yeah, 16m high made by the gold, 347kg 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, from the incredible food, the smiles on people's faces, and of course, the culture.
11:53But now, time for my next adventure.
11:55And this is the place you live in the future.
11:56Yes, indeed.
11:59Well, let me drop a card now.
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