Bangkok flower festival
By Hendson Quan. Hendson is based in the United States. He strives to travel, research and write stories to entertain readers. He likes stories to be personal, original and literary and wants readers to sense the magic and wonder of a place, to know what it means to go there, to know how the visitor might be changed by the journey; to know about the people that live in a place, their regional customs, and where the locals hang out; to smell the aromas, taste the food, and explore the streets and walk down the hidden paths.
Otherwise officially known as the Nai Lert Park Bangkok International Flower Show, this event is held annually at the five-star Swissotel Hotel. In its 28th year in 2014, proceeds go to charitable educational, mental illness cure and children development causes, with recent years' funds approaching THB 5.0 million ($ 155,000 USD) for the 4-day event.
"Enormous" is not used here to describe the number of floral items, it is used to describe each floral display or arrangement which is simply huge and impressive.
At the show, take time and concentration to admire each piece. See how meticulously and painstakingly the flower designers and arrangers have created and put together their work. Like being in a giant garden, full of colourful flowers in various shapes and forms, you get the feeling of being in another world, one filled with fragrance, beauty and grand design
Driving on Wireless Road in Bangkok, one can't miss the huge sign announcing the event. At the turnoff to the hotel, a guard stationed at the security post stops visitors, vehicles and pedestrians alike, for a quick visual check and maybe a few questions. Then it's about a quarter mile (400 meters) drive from which one gets the sense of entering a garden resort. Trees and flowers line the road, and statutes along the way beckon a welcome feeling. One can hear, but not see, soft waterfall sounds coming from some distant spot.
The lobby is expansive. Head to the right for check in. Head to the left for the flower show. Or before all that, just take your time and enjoy a couple of tropical cocktails at the bar straight ahead while listening to the two performers, accompanied by a pianist, singing past and present favourites .
At the show, take time and concentration to admire each piece. See how meticulously and painstakingly the flower designers and arrangers have created and put together their work. Like being in a giant garden, full of colourful flowers in various shapes and forms, you get the feeling of being in another world, one filled with fragrance, beauty and grand design
Driving on Wireless Road in Bangkok, one can't miss the huge sign announcing the event. At the turnoff to the hotel, a guard stationed at the security post stops visitors, vehicles and pedestrians alike, for a quick visual check and maybe a few questions. Then it's about a quarter mile (400 meters) drive from which one gets the sense of entering a garden resort. Trees and flowers line the road, and statutes along the way beckon a welcome feeling. One can hear, but not see, soft waterfall sounds coming from some distant spot.
The lobby is expansive. Head to the right for check in. Head to the left for the flower show. Or before all that, just take your time and enjoy a couple of tropical cocktails at the bar straight ahead while listening to the two performers, accompanied by a pianist, singing past and present favourites .
At the entrance of the flower show, giant floral birds, bees and rabbits greet visitors. They even have a big pot (of Thai tea?) waiting for guests as well. And the eggs seem to have been freshly laid.
Inside the show, among many others, are five goldfish that most homes would not be big enough to keep, a big red high heel shoe filled with flowers that any girl would envy to own, a reclining mermaid that many a young man would dream about meeting, and a tall flower vase that if filled would break most men's bank account.
Inside the show, among many others, are five goldfish that most homes would not be big enough to keep, a big red high heel shoe filled with flowers that any girl would envy to own, a reclining mermaid that many a young man would dream about meeting, and a tall flower vase that if filled would break most men's bank account.
An extremely wonderful show, not even counting the events that are part of it: auction of fine paintings, a dining experience given by a world-class chef, and afternoon tea. Rounding it out, to statisfy your gastronomical appetite after fulfilling aesthetic tastes from the show, do the lunch buffet at Swissotel's ISO Restaurant, whose tall-ceilinged dining room with huge windows overlooking a lush garden area extend and add to the idyllic feeling from the show experience.
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All images copyright of the Author
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For more on Thailand, go to Animal Voluntourism and Bangkok Temples