Bangkok - Thailand's Islands and Beaches - page 110

tower). The tower's construction was started during the first half of the 19th century by
Rama II (King Phraphutthaloetla Naphalai; r 1809-24) and was later completed by Rama
III (King Phranangklao; r 1824-51). Not apparent from a distance are the ornate floral
mosaics made from broken, multihued Chinese porcelain, a common temple ornamentation
in the early Ratanakosin period, when Chinese ships calling at the port of Bangkok dis-
carded tonnes of old porcelain as ballast. At press time, it had been announced that the
Ъrang would be closed for as long as three years due to renovation. Visitors can enter the
compound, but cannot, as in previous years, climb the tower.
Also worth a look is the interior of the bòht . The main Buddha image is said to have
been designed by Rama II. The murals date from the reign of Rama V; particularly im-
pressive is one that depicts Prince Siddhartha encountering examples of birth, old age,
sickness and death outside his palace walls, an experience that led him to abandon the
worldly life. The ashes of Rama II are interred in the base of the presiding Buddha im-
age.
Cross-river ferries run from Tha Tien to Wat Arun every few minutes from 6am to
8pm (3B).

National Museum
OFFLINE MAP

MUSEUM

GOOGLE MAP

(4 Th Na Phra That; admission 200B; 9am-4pm Wed-Sun; Tha Chang) Often touted as Southeast
Asia's biggest museum, Thailand's National Museum is home to an impressive collection
of religious sculpture, best appreciated on one of the museum's twice-weekly guided tours
(free with museum admission; 9.30am Wed & Thu) .
Most of the museum's structures were built in 1782 as the palace of Rama I's viceroy,
Prince Wang Na. Rama V turned it into a museum in 1874, and today the institute con-
sists of three permanent exhibitions spread out over several buildings.
The history wing has made impressive bounds towards mainstream curatorial aesthetics
with a succinct chronology of prehistoric, Sukhothai-, Ayuthaya- and Bangkok-era events
and figures. Gems include King Ramkamhaeng's inscribed stone pillar, said to be the
oldest record of Thai writing; King Taksin's throne; the Rama V section; and the screen-
ing of a movie about Rama VII (King Prajadhipok; r 1925-35), The Magic Ring .
The decorative arts and ethnology exhibit covers every possible handicraft: traditional musical
instruments, ceramics, clothing and textiles, woodcarving, regalia and weaponry. The ar-