Thailand is an enchanting place, with an atmosphere of elegance and relaxation that strikes the heart of every traveler here. There is a gracious, natural beauty everywhere that the eye can see, and always a sense that there is so much more than meets the eye. Mysterious and tropical, Thailand has an image in the tourist imagination that is often misleading, but the real Thailand is even more fascinating than the mythical one. There is an interesting mix of cultures and languages in the larger cities, making for many possibilities in rich urban adventures. There is a lot to see and do here, and for 5 star hotels, Thailand has some spectacular offerings.
Rich in comfort and luxury, our hotels offer you the chance to rejuvenate and refresh at the end of every day, so you can enjoy the adventures of the following day. Following an idea in the works of art than are on display in gallery windows can lead in many compelling directions, and that’s actually true for all of Thailand. One idea will lead to a thousand others, and it is endlessly revealing itself, and endlessly evolving. One way of showing an example here is to look at images of the Buddha in Thai art. Buddhism came here directly from contact with traders from India in the first century, and the first images were large, representational icons in the Gupta tradition. The next phase, in the 9th century, invokes the pantheon in the Mahayaha tradition, and there is more stylization in the figures.
Around the 13th century, the Theraveda tradition came to Thailand, and we see a greater abstraction in the figures, and more gold is in use. In the Ayutthaya period, beginning in the 14th century, gold and jewels become more prominent, and there is more stylization. The Ayutthaya Buddha figures are the more iconic styles that represent the Thai Buddha in the world at large. Looking at Buddhist art from around the world, we can see a great variation, and Thailand has very specific styles that each refer to different periods in the evolution of the tradition. It’s one way to begin to understand place, and every artifact can reveal a history that is worth further exploration.
