Thailand - Krung Thep For Short
- Date: 2008-07-12 - Word Count: 301
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Bangkok has been my home for 4 years now. I love it here - it's fast, colorful, frenetic, crazy, friendly, in-your-face, sublime, modern, archaic, energizing, cultural, mind-bending... the list of reasons I love it so much is never-ending!
I'm never more than a very short walk to street stalls serving all my favorite delicious local delicacies. One minute I can be strolling down a street with some of the world's best shopping, and then around the corner I can walk down a tree-lined street without traffic, following a procession of bare-footed monks gathering alms from the local residents. I can see the latest block-buster movie in V.I.P. style, hang-out in some of the world's best and hippest bars or take part and be welcomed to join in some of the oldest and most traditional cultural ceremonies in Asia.
It's easy to laugh with the locals, share a smile and acknowledge a friendly wave "hello" as I walk to work each day, but if I call their city 'Krung Thep' I receive an even bigger smile in return.
Bangkok is the western name, which means 'Village of the Plums'. Thais will rarely call their capital city 'Bangkok', instead they refer to it as 'Krung Thep'. Actually, the full and official name is: 'Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udom Ratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanu Kamprasit'.
Thai people are wonderful and understandably very proud people and are especially receptive if you show interest in their culture. Luckily they don't expect you to remember the capital's name in full, but if you're talking to a local and you tell them how much you really enjoy 'Krung Thep', they will be amazed and thrilled that you know more than the average traveler about their beloved city!
I'm never more than a very short walk to street stalls serving all my favorite delicious local delicacies. One minute I can be strolling down a street with some of the world's best shopping, and then around the corner I can walk down a tree-lined street without traffic, following a procession of bare-footed monks gathering alms from the local residents. I can see the latest block-buster movie in V.I.P. style, hang-out in some of the world's best and hippest bars or take part and be welcomed to join in some of the oldest and most traditional cultural ceremonies in Asia.
It's easy to laugh with the locals, share a smile and acknowledge a friendly wave "hello" as I walk to work each day, but if I call their city 'Krung Thep' I receive an even bigger smile in return.
Bangkok is the western name, which means 'Village of the Plums'. Thais will rarely call their capital city 'Bangkok', instead they refer to it as 'Krung Thep'. Actually, the full and official name is: 'Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udom Ratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanu Kamprasit'.
Thai people are wonderful and understandably very proud people and are especially receptive if you show interest in their culture. Luckily they don't expect you to remember the capital's name in full, but if you're talking to a local and you tell them how much you really enjoy 'Krung Thep', they will be amazed and thrilled that you know more than the average traveler about their beloved city!
Related Tags: adventure travel, ecotourism, thailand travel, international travel, responsible travel, intrepid travel, ecotravel, tour thailand, thai adventure
Intrepid Travel is one of the world's leading small group adventure tour operators, with 19 years experience. Adventures are focused on having real life experiences. Intrepid offers over 450 itineraries to more than 90 countries worldwide in various travel styles. Intrepid is also known for its environmental program and its responsible travel efforts to preserve local cultures. For more information see:intrepidtravel.com/destinations/Thailand/articledashboard Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
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