The rulers of Thailand did not turn a blind eye to the influence of the West but were selective in what they incorporated. The Chakri Maha Prasat Hall typified the blending of the two hemispheres; a European-designed building with traditional Thai roofing.
More recent versions of the East-West commingling were found at the Art Deco Democracy Monument and on the estate of the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace.
What I came to understanding during our first two days in Thailand was that the concept of symbolism was not within the sole sphere of Western Civilization but for any country or people or culture that wanted the world to know what they held dear, whether it was a robed woman, torch in hand, proclaiming freedom or a serene crossed-legged sitting monk exuding an aura of both suffering and salvation.
Post Script. According to our tour guide, the reason for the black and white ribbons we had seen throughout the city was because the most recent king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, had passed away the previous month. In keeping with Thai tradition, the mourning period would last for an entire year from the date of his death. It made perfect sense why we had seen so many Thai people dressed in black, lining up in the noonday sun, waiting to pay their respects at the Grand Palace.
