Bangkok

Wat Pho , is a Buddhist temple in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok, Thailand. It is located in the Rattanakosin district directly adjacent to the Grand... Palace. Known also as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, its official name is Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Ratchaworamahawihan . The temple is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage. Wat Pho is named after a monastery in India where Buddha is believed to have lived. Prior to the temple's founding, the site was a centre of education for traditional Thai medicine, and statues were created showing yoga positions. An enormous Buddha image from Ayuthaya's Wat Si Sanaphet was destroyed by Burmeses in 1767, King Rama I incorporated its fragments to build a temple to enlarge and renovate the complex. The complex underwent many changes in the next 260 years. Under King Rama III , plaques inscribed with medical texts were placed around the temple.
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Wat Arun Rajwararam is a Buddhist temple in the Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok, Thailand, on the Thonburi west bank of the Chao Phraya River. The... full name of the temple is Wat Arunratchawararam Ratchaworamahawihan . Named after Aruna, the Indian God of Dawn, the Wat Arun is considered one of the most well known of Thailand's many landmarks. Drawn on a novel by Japanese writer Yukio Mishima. The temple is so named because the first light of the morning reflects off the surface of the temple with pearly iridescence. The monastery has existed for many years since the days when Ayutthaya was capital of Thailand. At the time named Wat Mokok, situated in a place called Tumbol Bangmakok. The word Bangmakok, meaning " Village of Olive", has since been shortened to "Makok". The temple was originally known as Wat Chaeng. Originally it was located in the palace grounds and during the time of Rama I it moved to the other side of the river.
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Wat Benchamabophit Dusitvanaram is a Buddhist temple in the Dusit district of Bangkok, Thailand. Also known as the marble temple, it is one of... Bangkok's most beautiful temples and a major tourist attraction. It typies Bangkok's ornate style of high gables, stepped-out roofs and elobrate finials. Construction of the temple began in 1899 at the request of King Chulalongkorn after building his palace nearby. The temple's name literally means the Temple of the fifth King located nearby Dusit Palace. It was designed by Prince Naris, a half-brother of the king, and is built of Italian marble. It has display of carrarra marble pillars, a marble courtyard and two large singhas guarding the entrace to the bot. The interiors are decorated with crossbeams of lacquer and gold, and in shallow niches in the walls of paintings of important stupas all over the country. The cloister around the assembly hall houses 52 images of Buddha. Inside the ordination hall is a Sukhothai-style Buddha statue named Phra Buddhajinaraja, cast in 1920 after the original located in Wat Mahathat in Phitsanulok.
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Suan Pakkad Palace or Suan Pakkard Palace , is a museum in Bangkok, Thailand. It is located on Sri Ayutthaya Road south of the Victory Monument. The... museum has Thai antiques on display, including Ban Chiang pottery over 4,000 years old. Originally the home of Prince Chumbhotpong Paripatra and his wife, they converted in into a museum which opened in 1952. The museum features a group of four traditional Thai houses with covered hallways between them. There is also artwork on display in its Marsi Gallery. The name Suan Pakkad translates as "Cabbage Patch", but the museum's collection of five traditional pavilions is one of the best examples of traditional domestic architecture in the city. The Lacquer Pavilion is the most striking building, and is over 450 years old.
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The Southeast Asian Ceramics Museum is a ceramics museum in Bangkok, Thailand, covering ceramics in Southeast Asia. The museum opened on 11 May 2005... with exhibits on ancient pottery production in Thailand and the history of Thai and other Asian trade ceramics. This included around 200 ceramics pieces selected from a permanent collection of about 2,000 objects. The core of the collection was donated by Surat Osathanugrah, who also founded Bangkok University. While many of the ceramics in the collection originate from other countries, most were collected in Thailand. The collection includes ceramics examples from Burma, China, and Vietnam, as well as from Thailand. The collection includes Khmer ceramics, mostly from old kiln sites in the province of Buriram. There are also examples of prehistoric Thai pottery, dating from 2500BC to 0AD years ago. The museum has the largest generally accessible collection of ceramics from the Tak-Omkoi sites located in western Thailand. The Shard Archive and an extensive library are available for use by researchers.
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Silpa Bhirasri National Museum is a modern art museum in Bangkok, Thailand. It is located on the grounds of the Fine Arts Department in Phra Nakhon... district. The museum consists of two parts, one displaying contemporary arts, and the other belongings of Silpa Bhirasri, the father of modern Thai art.
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Emmanuelle Arsan, the pen name of Marayat Rollet-Andriane, born in 1932 as Marayat Bibidh, is a French novelist of Eurasian origin, most famous for... creating the fictional character Emmanuelle, a woman who engages in an exploration of her own sexuality under varying circumstances. Arsan was born in Bangkok, Thailand. At the age of 16 she was married to a French diplomat at UNESCO, Louis-Jacques Rollet-Andriane, the couple had two daughters. The novel Emmanuelle was published and distributed clandestinely in France without an author's name in 1959. Successive editions later bore the moniker Emmanuelle Arsan, who was subsequently revealed to be Marayat Rollet-Andriane. Though the novel was sometimes hinted to be a quasi-autobiography, it was later revealed that the actual author was Louis-Jacques Rollet-Andriane. Several more novels were published under the Emmanuelle Arsan moniker. Following the success of the film adaptation Emmanuelle in 1974, Arsan was the titular director and writer of the film Laure about the sexual discoveries of a younger "Emmanuelle" named Laure in yet another exotic setting.
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Akshay Kumar is an Indian film actor, producer and martial artist who has appeared in over a hundred Hindi films. When he began his acting career in... the 1990s, he primarily starred in action films and was particularly known for his appearances in feature films commonly called the "Khiladi series", which included Khiladi , Sabse Bada Khiladi , Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi , International Khiladi , and Khiladi 420 , as well as other action films such as Waqt Hamara Hai , Mohra , Elaan and Suhaag . He later gained more fame for his drama, romance and comedy roles. He started becoming known for his performances in romance films like Yeh Dillagi and Dhadkan as well as drama films such as Ek Rishtaa . His comic performances in comedy films such as Hera Pheri , Mujhse Shaadi Karogi , and Garam Masala met with acclaim. His success further rose in 2007, when he starred in four consecutive commercial hits. He has thus established himself as one of the leading actors in Hindi cinema.
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Eric Koston is a Thai American professional skater who grew up in San Bernardino, California. He began skating in 1986 and remains active. He was... first sponsored in 1991 and turned pro in 1993. He has been featured in the "Tony Hawk" video game series and "EA" Skate 2 and Skate 3. Koston co-owns Fourstar Clothing and also co-owns the skatepark "The Berrics" with professional skater Steve Berra. Eric Koston is currently sponsored by Girl Skateboards, Independent Trucks, Spitfire Wheels, Nike SB shoes, Four Star clothing, Oakley sunglasses and Jessup Griptape. Koston has had many other high-level sponsors over the years such as éS and Lakai Footwear. He has designed many pro model shoes such as the Lakai Koston Select and the éS Koston. He is considered by many the Michael Jordan of street skateboarding. He is co-founder of "The Berrics" along with Steve Berra. Koston also been featured on television and in a number of films and video games.
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Paula Taylor is an English-Thai actress, model and presenter. Paula was born in Chulalankorn hospital, Bangkok Thailand. Two weeks after she was... born, the family returned to Australia. Her father is of English descent and her mother is of Thai descent. Paula grew up in Perth, Western Australia and at the age of 9, after her parents' divorce, moved to Brisbane, Queensland. Paula married Anglo-Chinese businessman Edward Buttery in December 2010. While visiting her family in Thailand, she was asked if she would be interested in doing some modeling. She started her career in several commercials and small Thai movies before becoming a regular VJ for Channel V Thailand. Discovered by television producer Tanawat Wansom, she quickly rose to fame and became a sought-after television hostess and presenter. In 2006, she co-starred in the Thai romance comedy film, The Memory. Paula also participated in The Amazing Race Asia 2 with her childhood friend Natasha Monks. At the 9th leg they came in last but, fortunately, it was a non - elimination leg.
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Jocelyn Seagrave is an American film and television actress, best known for playing Julia Camaletti on Guilding Light and Jessica Mitchell on Fox's... Pacific Palisades. Her paternal grandfather, Gordon Stifler Seagrave, was the author of Burma Surgeon. Seagrave's mother was born in 1947 in Mandalay, Burma, she was raised in Yangon, Burma and is now living in the United States. Her maternal grandfather, Edward Michael Law-Yone, was a journalist and writer, as well as the founder of The Nation, once the leading English-language newspaper in Burma. Jocelyn grew up in Southeast Asia and later in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., with her twin brother, studying martial arts and earning her black belt in Tae Kwon Do. She studied English literature at the University of Virginia. She attended Robert Frost Junior High School in Fairfax, Virginia, moved away, and upon returning to the area, attended Annandale High School in Annandale, Virginia, the next town over.
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Emmanuelle Arsan, the pen name of Marayat Rollet-Andriane, born in 1932 as Marayat Bibidh, is a French novelist of Eurasian origin, most famous for... creating the fictional character Emmanuelle, a woman who engages in an exploration of her own sexuality under varying circumstances. Arsan was born in Bangkok, Thailand. At the age of 16 she was married to a French diplomat at UNESCO, Louis-Jacques Rollet-Andriane, the couple had two daughters. The novel Emmanuelle was published and distributed clandestinely in France without an author's name in 1959. Successive editions later bore the moniker Emmanuelle Arsan, who was subsequently revealed to be Marayat Rollet-Andriane. Though the novel was sometimes hinted to be a quasi-autobiography, it was later revealed that the actual author was Louis-Jacques Rollet-Andriane. Several more novels were published under the Emmanuelle Arsan moniker. Following the success of the film adaptation Emmanuelle in 1974, Arsan was the titular director and writer of the film Laure about the sexual discoveries of a younger "Emmanuelle" named Laure in yet another exotic setting.
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Thongchai "Bird" McIntyre is a Thai pop singer who released his debut album in 1986. He is also sometimes known as Bird Thongchai, Pe Bird or... simply Bird. Considered to be Thailand's No.1 Superstar, He is one of the most successful singers in Thailand's history, having sold more than 20 million albums. Thongchai McIntyre or "Bird Thongchai" is best known for his string and luk thung music. He has also acted in numerous films, on television, musicals, and in commercials. Thongchai McIntyre was born in Bangkok in 1958 to parents James and Udom McIntyre. His family were musicians, hence he enjoyed an upbringing in a musical environment. His father died when Bird was still a child. He started working in a bank as an officer. While working in a bank, he had a chance to meet the famous Thai TV producer "Kai Varayuth" who saw entertainment talent in Bird. Bird played his first TV series with Kai while still working in a bank. This role revealed his talent.
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Porntip Bui Nakhirunkanok aka Porntip Bui Simon , pronounced [pʰōntʰíp nâːkhǐrāŋkànók... sājmɔ̂ːn] is a Thai beauty queen who has held the title Miss Universe 1988. She became the second woman from Thailand to win the Miss Universe crown, the first being Apasra Hongsakula in 1965. Nakhirunkanok was born in Bangkok, Thailand. Her nickname was “Bui,” which is now one of her legal names. It means “to sleep like a baby” in Thai. In 1972, Porntip, who was 2 years old at the time, was brought to the United States by her family. She is the first daughter of Udom and Sonklin Nakhirunkanok. Her father was a member of a string band named "On The Rock". She had a younger sister who had died in 2005. In August 1988, Nakhirunkanok was presented the Thai Royal Medal of Honour by King Bhumibol Adulyadej for her service in helping needy children. Also in 1988, at the age of 19, Porntip was named United Nations Goodwill Ambassador of Thailand by Air Chief Marshal Siddhi Savetsila ~ Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.
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Eric Koston is a Thai American professional skater who grew up in San Bernardino, California. He began skating in 1986 and remains active. He was... first sponsored in 1991 and turned pro in 1993. He has been featured in the "Tony Hawk" video game series and "EA" Skate 2 and Skate 3. Koston co-owns Fourstar Clothing and also co-owns the skatepark "The Berrics" with professional skater Steve Berra. Eric Koston is currently sponsored by Girl Skateboards, Independent Trucks, Spitfire Wheels, Nike SB shoes, Four Star clothing, Oakley sunglasses and Jessup Griptape. Koston has had many other high-level sponsors over the years such as éS and Lakai Footwear. He has designed many pro model shoes such as the Lakai Koston Select and the éS Koston. He is considered by many the Michael Jordan of street skateboarding. He is co-founder of "The Berrics" along with Steve Berra. Koston also been featured on television and in a number of films and video games.
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Cindy Burbridge is a Thai model and actress. She represented Thailand in the Miss World 1996 pageant. Burbridge was raised in Pattaya by her... American father, William Burbridge and Thai-British mother, Patricia. She was taught how to dive at an early age by her father. She graduated from Bangkok University majoring in public relations. She has opened a Japanese restaurant in Bangkok, Ikkyu-an with her long-time boyfriend, actor Byron Bishop, whom she married in July 2005. Burbridge's first modelling assignment was for a commercial shot in water for an acquaintance of her father, who owned a diving equipment shop. In 1996, she represented Thailand in Miss World pageant. After the pageant, she entered the entertainment business, becoming a model for such brands a Chanel, Celine, Lux, Lavenus, Gucci, Fendi, Mazda, Omega Watches and Nescafé. She also worked as a VJ for Channel V International. Her work in films includes the 2005 film, The King Maker, playing romantic interest for the hero, portrayed by Gary Stretch.
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Tao Ruspoli is an Italian American filmmaker and musician. Ruspoli is the second son of occasional actor and aristocrat Prince Alessandro Ruspoli,... 9th Prince of Cerveteri and Austrian-American actress Debra Berger. He is the older brother of Bartolomeo dei Principi Ruspoli , second husband of oil heiress Aileen Getty. His half-siblings include Francesco, 10th Prince of Cerveteri; Melusina Ruspoli, and Theodoro Ruspoli. Tao was born in Bangkok, Thailand and raised in Rome and Los Angeles. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. He married actress Olivia Wilde on June 7, 2003 in Washington, Virginia. On February 8, 2011, they announced that they were separating. Wilde filed for divorce in Los Angeles County Superior Court on March 3, 2011, citing "irreconcilable differences." The divorce was finalized on September 29, 2011. Wilde did not seek spousal support, and the pair reached a private agreement on property division. He currently lives and works in Venice, Los Angeles, as a photographer and filmmaker.
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