The Royal Barge Procession in Bangkok, conducted on very rare occasions, is a spectacular royal armada on the Chao Phraya River. This procession is normally conducted on the following occasions:
Some of the memorable Royal Barge Processions during the reign of King Rama IX, the present King, were:
The most recent Royal Barge Procession was on 20 Oct 2003 for the closing ceremony of the APEC Conference in Bangkok, in honor of the visiting heads of state.
This procession was special as this was the first time it took place at night, amid special light and sound effects for the stretch of the river fronting the VIP's. The guests were seated in the Royal Thai Navy Institute across the Chao Phraya River from the Grand Palace.
At 2000 hours, 50 barges consisting of the Suphannahongse, the Narai Song Suban King Rama IX and escort barges were launched from the Wasukri Pier upriver.
This flotilla of royal barges, when fully deployed in a sailing formation of five columns abreast and 90 m wide, stretched 1.5 km along the Chao Phraya.
Concurrently at the Royal Thai Navy Institute, a 10-minute sight and sound presentation in six languages was made on the history and tradition of the royal barges.
The presentation was timed to end as the Royal Barge Procession sailed into view, on waters apparently lit with gold, as a curtain of mist fell over the river, creating an ethereal air.
Two thousand men of the Royal Thai Navy in ancient ceremonial uniforms rowed steadfastly by in perfect unison, honed through months of intense practice. Their chants of the ancient boat song, that dates back to the days of King Narai of Ayutthaya, drifted across the river.
Just then, the night erupted as fireworks burst, filling the sky with the brilliant national colors of the participating nations. The lights cascaded down illuminating the Royal Barge Procession as it streamed past the Grand Palace, a splendid finish to a grand event.
The royal barges can be viewed at the royal barge museum, Bangkok.
royal barge museum by Eric Lim first appeared in royal barge museum, a historical travel site on people, places and events that shaped the landscape of Bangkok. Lim, a free-lance writer, lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
reliable home cleaners Lincolnshire ..Mystic Seaport celebrates the seafaring past of New England. Known... Read More
For some 30 years I practiced law in Mesa, Arizona.... Read More
So unknown is this treasure of Lake Jipe not many... Read More
Santa Cruz Church, the church of the holy cross, was... Read More
In a previous article, I wrote primarily about box ovens.... Read More
The Royal Barge Procession in Bangkok, conducted on very rare... Read More
Are your kids begging you to take them camping, but... Read More
Climbing the glaciers to the summit of Mount Chimborazo in... Read More
Camping is a delightful and adventurous way to spend your... Read More
It is the downhill ski racing competition of the winter... Read More
Six different islands in Hawaii are open to tourism. Most... Read More
Costa Rica is a small country - just 75 mi/120... Read More
An African honeymoon safari is the perfect way to celebrate... Read More
Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest and one of the deepest... Read More
The Udzungwa Mountains National park was created primarily for the... Read More
(NC)-With approximately 42,000 mosquitoes for every person in Ontario, most... Read More
As any keen mountain biker will know, there are some... Read More
If you love the thrill and adventure of kayak travel,... Read More
Stay warm or die. That's what it comes down to... Read More
The owner can attempt small inflatable boat repair if factory-gluing... Read More
Having traveled from state to state and every city in... Read More
Pictures of a massive dead Great White shark on the... Read More
Every year around 40 million visitors come to Florida for... Read More
White-water rafting can be one of the most exhilarating experiences... Read More
Thousands of golfers flock to the Carolinas each spring and... Read More
house cleaning near Northbrook ..Okay, it wasn't quite a sleeping bag. However, it was... Read More
The thing with enjoying the great outdoors is seeing aspects... Read More
Recently I attended a Boy Scout Leader Roundtable meeting where... Read More
There's nothing that will quicken the interest of RVers like... Read More
Dude Ranches first gained popularity in the 1920s, in large... Read More
Going on a gorilla safari must rank as one of... Read More
The beautiful Salmon River stretches through over 400 miles of... Read More
When you look at a river, what do you see?... Read More
Hello Again,Today we will be talking about meal planning. Meals... Read More
Most people, who go on a family beach vacation, take... Read More
WHAT TO SEE, TO DO AND WHERE: Mount McKinley is... Read More
A river cruise in Bangkok gives an insight to the... Read More
Are walking sticks longer than trekking poles? What about hiking... Read More
WHAT TO FISH AND WHERE: Alaska offers some of the... Read More
Camping mixed with outdoor activity is a great way to... Read More
The owner can attempt small inflatable boat repair if factory-gluing... Read More
The Wandle offered wonderful trout fishing up to the latter... Read More
If you're a birder, you want to keep a list... Read More
Contrary to what many think, ultralight backpacking is not just... Read More
You would think that a cheap safari in Africa for... Read More
If you've been dreaming of traveling the highways in your... Read More
With so many different designs, packing a backpack will vary... Read More
We weren't planning to go rock and arrowhead hunting in... Read More
I stood at the observation point on the balcony at... Read More
Prevention is your best protection against lightning. Be sure to... Read More
Outdoors |