Golden Mount

Wat Saket (Golden Mount), กรุงเทพฯ

Wat Saket, often known as the Temple of the Golden Mount, is one of กรุงเทพฯ’s oldest and most unique temples, with roots tracing back to the พระนครศรีอยุธยา period before the 18th century. Originally called Wat Sakae, it underwent restoration and was renamed Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan by King Rama I when กรุงเทพฯ was established as the new capital, highlighting its importance in Thai royal and religious life. The temple sits just outside the old city of กรุงเทพฯ on a man-made hill, offering a distinct atmosphere from other temples located within the old city walls.

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Wat Arun

Wat Arun, กรุงเทพฯ

Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn, is one of กรุงเทพฯ’s most striking and iconic landmarks, beautifully situated on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. Its distinctive spires, or prangs, richly adorned with colourful porcelain and seashells, rise majestically against the cityscape, making it a favourite among both locals and travellers. The temple’s name celebrates the Hindu god Aruna, who is considered the personification of the rising sun, reflecting the temple’s role as a symbol of the dawn and new beginnings in Thai culture.

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Water people

Thonburi, กรุงเทพฯ

The water people of กรุงเทพฯ, often known as the ‘klong dwellers‘, have a distinctive lifestyle shaped by generations living along the city’s sprawling network of canals and rivers. Historically, many communities settled on the banks and floating homes connected by wooden platforms, relying on boats for daily travel, commerce, and socialising. Their way of life reflects a balance between adaptation and tradition, maintaining age-old practices while coexisting with the city’s rapid urban growth. These waterborne neighbourhoods reveal a fascinating blend of culture, resilience, and intimacy with the waterways that once earned กรุงเทพฯ its nickname, the ‘Venice of the East‘.

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Emerald Buddha

Royal Palace, กรุงเทพฯ

The Royal Palace of กรุงเทพฯ, officially known as the Grand Palace, stands as one of Thailand’s most iconic and historically rich landmarks. Constructed in 1782 during the reign of King Rama I, it served as the official residence of the Kings of Siam (and later Thailand) for over 150 years. The palace complex sits majestically on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, representing the splendour and cultural grandeur of the Thai monarchy. While it no longer houses the monarch permanently, the Grand Palace retains its deep ceremonial significance and remains a symbol of the nation’s heritage and sovereignty.

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Reclining Buddha

Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho, กรุงเทพฯ

Wat Pho, also known as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, is one of กรุงเทพฯ’s oldest and most revered temples, steeped in rich history and cultural significance. Founded in the 16th century during the พระนครศรีอยุธยา period, it was extensively restored and expanded in the late 18th century by King Rama I, who established it as a quintessential example of Thai religious architecture and a centre for education in traditional medicine and Thai massage. The temple complex is a sprawling site, offering visitors a glimpse into Thailand’s spiritual and artistic heritage, adorned with intricate murals, stupas, and thousands of Buddha images.

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Lumphini park

Lumphini Park, กรุงเทพฯ

Lumphini Park in กรุงเทพฯ is a sprawling urban oasis and the city’s first public park, offering a verdant retreat in the midst of กรุงเทพฯ’s bustling central business district. The park’s history is deeply tied to King Rama VI, who in 1925 donated the land, originally his royal property, for the public good. The park was named after Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha in Nepal, symbolising prosperity and peace. Initially planned as a fairground to promote Thai industry, the vision transformed into a space devoted to recreation and community, a modernising gesture that has since endured almost a century.

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Nymphenburg

Schloß Nymphenburg, München

On the western edge of München you can find Schloß Nymphenburg, a splendid testament to Baroque architecture and the grandeur of Bavaria’s royal past. The palace was commissioned in 1664 by Elector Ferdinand Maria and his wife Henriette Adelaide of Savoy, in celebration of the birth of their son, Max Emanuel. Initially conceived as a summer residence, it began as a modest cubic pavilion surrounded by gardens and auxiliary buildings, but over centuries expanded into a lavish complex under successive members of the Wittelsbach dynasty. The palace’s transformation mirrored the dynasty’s aspirations: its façade, gardens, and interiors were continually embellished, culminating in a breathtaking ensemble of halls, museums, and parkland.

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Dachau

Gedenkstätte, Dachau

The Konzentrationslager Dachau, located just outside München, was the first Nazi concentration camp established in 1933. Originally designed to hold political prisoners, especially Communists and Socialists, its brutal regime soon expanded its targets to include Jews, Roma, homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and prisoners of war from various nations. Dachau became infamous as the model on which other camps were based and as a training ground for SS camp guards, making it a key site in the Nazi repression apparatus. The conditions and systematic cruelty left thousands dead and countless more scarred.

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Presidential park

Presidential park, Астана

A significant green oasis set at the heart of Kazakhstan’s capital, opened in 2008 to mark the 10th anniversary of Capital City Day. The park reflects Астана’s transformation into a modern metropolis. Covering nearly 80 hectares, the park was planned to complement the nearby Ak Orda presidential palace and serves as an inviting space for locals and visitors. You’ll find wide lawns, a variety of trees, and distinctive water features, particularly a grand fountain shaped like the mythical Samruk bird – a cherished Kazakh symbol of life and freedom. The atmosphere here changes beautifully with the seasons, offering colorful flowers in spring, verdant stretches in summer, and a tranquil snow-covered landscape during the winter.

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Far away from the ocean

Aquarium at Ailand, Астана

The Ailand in Астана stands out as a remarkable destination because the entertainment center is home to the only oceanarium in Kazakhstan, an astonishing spectacle set deep within the country’s steppe, far from any coast. What makes this oceanarium even more unique is its world record status: according to the Guinness Book of World Records, it is the most distant aquarium from any sea or ocean, situated more than 3,000 kilometers from the nearest coastline. Since its opening in 2003, the oceanarium rapidly became one of Kazakhstan’s main tourist attractions and a point of local pride, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.

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