The Grand Palace

The Grand Palace of Bangkok, Thailand is known for it’s Beautiful Architecture

Bangkok tourist attractions cannot be talked about without talking of the Grand Palace. A complex of various historical buildings located in the heart of Bangkok, the Grand Palace is surrounded by walls built in 1783. Within these walls of the Grand Palace are situated the Chapel Royal of the Emerald Buddha, the royal residences and government offices.

The Grand Palace came in to existence when King Rama I shifted the capital of Thailand to Bangkok. Apart from making the Grand Palace the center of administration with all his ministries and offices, King Rama I also used it as his residence. Being no longer the royal residence, the Grand Palace is now used only for occasional ceremonies.

Highlights of the palace include Amarinda Hall, Boromabiman Hall, Grand Palace Hal/ Chakri Maha Prasat, Dusit Hall, Phra Thinang Borom Phiman, Phra Asada Maha Chedi and Museum.

Amarinda Hall, also known as ‘the Great Residence’ is situated in Phra Maha Montien building of the Grand Palace. With its carved boat-shaped throne, Amarinda Vinichai Hall is an enchanting site that will mesmerize you with its interiors. Nowadays, Amarinda Hall in the Grand Palace is used for ceremonial occasions.

Built by King Chulalongkom Rama V, Chakri Maha Prasat was used by him as his residence. This beautiful renaissance-style building was not used as residence since the death of King Rama VIII, who was found shot dead in this room. The elegant crystal decorations inside the hall are worth watching during your tour to Bangkok.

Dusit Maha Prasad, also known as ‘Audience Hall’, is the third important building of the Grand Palace. This hall is known for the crowing ceremony of King Rama I. Apart from been used as the customary hall for the lying-in-state of Ayuttaya kings, Dusit Hall in the Grand Palace serves as a perfect venue for the annual Consecration Day Ceremony, Dusit Hall in the Grand Palace.

King Rama V built Phra Thinang Borom Phiman in 1903 for his son and the heir to the throne. With Indra (rain god) on the east side, Varuna (wind god) on the west, Agni (fire god) on the north and Yama (god of death) on the south side, the Siamese conception of the Vedic Gods in India is depicted inside Phra Thinang Borom Phiman of the Grand Palace and is a beautiful site.

Tourists are advised to strictly follow the dress code for visiting the Grand Palace. You won’t be allowed to enter the palace bare foot and wearing revealing clothes or with bare shoulders. In short, you have to fully dress up and would be provided with clothes at a booth near the entry gate if not adhering to their dress code.

An entry ticket is required for tourists. This includes admission ticket to Vimanmek Mansion, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Central Court. Entry for Thai people is absolutely free.

Boyana Church

Boyana Church at Sofia, Bulgaria

Boyana Church in Sofia, Bulgaria’s Boyana quarter, is a Bulgarian Orthodox church, famous for the frescoes housed within its inconspicuous medieval walls. The majority of these well-preserved frescoes were painted in 1259, with 89 scenes including 240 people, and are fine examples of Eastern European art from the medieval era.The frescoes are painted on top of another layer of paintings from an earlier period.

The church itself was built beginning in the 10^th century, with expansions extending all the way into the middle of the 19^th century. The church is constructed in a medieval style, and includes the oldest wing on the east end, which is a simple one-apse church, the two-story section was then built with a sepulcher and vault, and  the final church was added much later.

Darien National Park, Panama

Landscape from Darien National Park, Panama

Darien National Park is a large natural park and preserve located in Eastern Panama’s Darien province, extending along most of the Panama-Colombia border. The region included in Darien National Park functions as a natural bridge between North and South America, though the two are separated by Darien Gap. Across Darien Gap is the Colombian side of the park, which is considered one of the most dangerous places in the world because of drug trafficking and paramilitaries.

Darien is the largest national park in Panama, covering 5,790 square kilometers (2,235 square miles). The park contains the Alto Darien Protection Forest, designated in 1972, covering about 700,000 hectares of the park. The park was made a national park in 1980, and became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.

Darien National Park is noted for its many ecosystems, with habitats ranging from rocky and sandy beaches, to mangroves, swamps, and tropical forests. Wildlife across the park includes the macaw, parrot, tapir, and harpy eagle. Animals from the endangered species Red List include the Spotted Paca, Guatemalan Black Howler, Night Monkey, Black-headed Spider Monkey, Central American Agouti, American Crocodile, and Capybara.

The park is also one of the few protected areas in the world that is also inhabited by humans. Two indigenous tribes live within the park: Chocó and Kuna. There are also a number of archaeological sites found within the park.

Engelsberg Ironworks in Sweden

Engelsberg Ironworks   Best-preserved example of Swedish ironworks.

Engelsberg Ironworks is a historical industrial complex located in Sweden, which features administrative and residential buildings from the 17th to 19th centuries. This well-preserved example of a traditional Swedish ironworks was built in 1681, and grew into a modern ironworks from 1700-1800. Sweden has long been known for its superior iron, becoming a leader in iron production in the 1700s to 1800s, remaining the economic leader in the iron industry for two centuries.

The ironworks was started by local peasants in the 13th century, alongside their agriculture pursuits. After the water-wheel became used, the iron industry took off in the late Middle Ages, growing rapidly. Pig-iron production, created by primitive smelting furnaces, was initially restricted to peasants.

Production steadily increased and the complex expanded during the 18th century as a result of improving technology. About 50 buildings were built around the complex, some decorated with Gustavian paintings. Houses include the master gardener’s house (built in 1790), a brewery (1829),and an inspector’s house, an office building, stables and smiths’ cottages. The complex provides a picture of the Swedish accomplishments in their historical traditions and equipment as well as the way of life in terms of society and culture in Sweden during this time period. Some of the ironworks machines continue to work today, giving visitors a view into how the mill once functioned.

Shedd Aquarium in Chicago

Shedd Aquarium in Chicago

Shedd Aquarium is home to more than 25,000 fish and over 32,000 creatures in total, from about 1500 species including fish, marine mammals, birds, snakes, amphibians, and insects. With about 2 million visitors annually, Shedd has been the most visited aquarium in the country multiple years, and is a major attraction in Chicago. Shedd became the first inland aquarium with a permanent saltwater fish collection after shipping millions of gallons of salt water from the Atlantic waters of Florida.

Major exhibits at Shedd Aquarium include a miniature version of the Amazon River and its jungles. Animals that are part of this exhibit include anacondas, rays, and crocodiles, which are found in the wilderness of the Amazon.

The Caribbean Reef is represented in its own exhibit, which houses a green sea turtle, a moray eel, rays, and sharks. The oceanarium features an aquatic show, starring Pacific White-sided dolphins and Beluga whales, with sea otters and sea lions.