Siam Nirimit Journey to the Enchanted Kingdom of Siam
August 7th 2007 07:58
You could spend months, years, even a lifetime exploring Thailand's long history, fascinating culture and customs, delicious cuisine, exquisite arts and crafts and profound spirituality. For travellers who don't have this kind of time, the Thailand Cultural Centre, on Tiam Ruamit Road in Huaykwang, Bangkok, brings it all togather in one spectacular evening.
A restaurant offers a buffet of dishes from every region of the country, so it's possible to do a Thai tour of degustation without leaving the table. Many diners embark on this with great relish!
Souvenir shops sell handicrafts, silks, jewellery, soft furnishings and clothes, both traditional, as well as state of the art, traditionally inspired, Thai couture. The design and quality are excellent and the prices are reasonable but not negotiable. Many shoppers, however, bent upon flexing their haggling muscles, set about shaming themselves with ferocious enthusiasm
There is a small model village, in a jungle setting, with rural Thai houses and communal buildings where, according to the brochure, "visitors can feel as if they are really in the rural village, without leaving Bangkok" They can take a turn on a pond in a Thai punt, propelled by a man in Thai fishermen's pants. They can also observe artisans working on weaving, handcrafts and jewellery with authentic looms and tools. Musicians and dancers entertain on small outdoor stages. Smiling personnel, in colourful and elaborate Thai costume, graciously oblige with the inevitable photo. Does it sound rather touristique? Somewhat superficial? Like all such simulations of real life, it is! It's just a glimpse.
However the show Siam Nirimit, a Journey to the Enchanted Kingdom of Siam, which starts at 8.00pm and which, in fact, brings most visitors to the Thailand Cultural Centre, is neither touristique nor superficial and it's so much more than a glimpse. This spectacular "performance of Thailand's art and cultural heritage' is one of the largest stage production in the world. 150 actors, dancers, singers and extras perform in the show, including an elephant, ducks and geese. There are over 500 costumes and the special effects are sensational; "rice" growing and ripening, "rain","springs" which bubble up and flow across the front of the stage, dancers and acrobats "flying" above the audience, "gods" sitting on "clouds" above the stage. The lighting is brilliant and the music and dance magnificent. The show is divided into three journeys. The first is the Journey Back to History which traces the story of Siam from the Kingdom of Lanna, in ancient times, through the Kingdoms of Sri Wichai and Sri Tammarat, when Muslim and Chinese immigrants arrived, through Kmer heritage, to the time of the mighty capital Ayutthaya. The second is the Journey Beyond Imagination, into the three realms - Fiery Hell, Mystical Himapaan and Blissful Heaven - which await us when we die. The third and final journey is the Journey through Joyous Festivals. This reflects the Buddhist belief that to go to heaven "merit" must be gathered on earth. It shows a wide variety of merit-making festivals which combine religious ceremany with colourful and joyful celebration such as Khao Pansaa, the ceremany of manhood, the Song Kran Water Festival. the Phi Dtaa Khon ghost parade and the candlelit ceremany of Loy Krathong.
Siam Nirimit was a truly moving experience. It's got genius, depth, beauty, magic and most of all, soul.
The Thailand Cultural Centre
A restaurant offers a buffet of dishes from every region of the country, so it's possible to do a Thai tour of degustation without leaving the table. Many diners embark on this with great relish!
Souvenir shops sell handicrafts, silks, jewellery, soft furnishings and clothes, both traditional, as well as state of the art, traditionally inspired, Thai couture. The design and quality are excellent and the prices are reasonable but not negotiable. Many shoppers, however, bent upon flexing their haggling muscles, set about shaming themselves with ferocious enthusiasm
A traditional rural Thai house
There is a small model village, in a jungle setting, with rural Thai houses and communal buildings where, according to the brochure, "visitors can feel as if they are really in the rural village, without leaving Bangkok" They can take a turn on a pond in a Thai punt, propelled by a man in Thai fishermen's pants. They can also observe artisans working on weaving, handcrafts and jewellery with authentic looms and tools. Musicians and dancers entertain on small outdoor stages. Smiling personnel, in colourful and elaborate Thai costume, graciously oblige with the inevitable photo. Does it sound rather touristique? Somewhat superficial? Like all such simulations of real life, it is! It's just a glimpse.
Weavers, model village, Thailand Cultural Centre
However the show Siam Nirimit, a Journey to the Enchanted Kingdom of Siam, which starts at 8.00pm and which, in fact, brings most visitors to the Thailand Cultural Centre, is neither touristique nor superficial and it's so much more than a glimpse. This spectacular "performance of Thailand's art and cultural heritage' is one of the largest stage production in the world. 150 actors, dancers, singers and extras perform in the show, including an elephant, ducks and geese. There are over 500 costumes and the special effects are sensational; "rice" growing and ripening, "rain","springs" which bubble up and flow across the front of the stage, dancers and acrobats "flying" above the audience, "gods" sitting on "clouds" above the stage. The lighting is brilliant and the music and dance magnificent. The show is divided into three journeys. The first is the Journey Back to History which traces the story of Siam from the Kingdom of Lanna, in ancient times, through the Kingdoms of Sri Wichai and Sri Tammarat, when Muslim and Chinese immigrants arrived, through Kmer heritage, to the time of the mighty capital Ayutthaya. The second is the Journey Beyond Imagination, into the three realms - Fiery Hell, Mystical Himapaan and Blissful Heaven - which await us when we die. The third and final journey is the Journey through Joyous Festivals. This reflects the Buddhist belief that to go to heaven "merit" must be gathered on earth. It shows a wide variety of merit-making festivals which combine religious ceremany with colourful and joyful celebration such as Khao Pansaa, the ceremany of manhood, the Song Kran Water Festival. the Phi Dtaa Khon ghost parade and the candlelit ceremany of Loy Krathong.
Siam Nirimit was a truly moving experience. It's got genius, depth, beauty, magic and most of all, soul.
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