Discovering the City 30 DISCOVERING the City
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Discovering the City 30 DISCOVERING the City The Livable City Bangkok is one of the most culturally rich, complex and dynamic cities in the world. Endless energy abounds as the city never sleeps. In the mornings, you can fi nd pockets of serenity on temple grounds, or enjoy the serene harmonious steps of Tai-chi exercises at Lumpini Park. You can have a business-like power breakfast at one of the city’s many luxurious hotels, or be trendy and chic sipping coffee at one of the dozens of Starbucks, surf the net on Wi-Fi within the CBD (Central Business District) areas of Silom and Sathorn, or just be laid-back and traditional and have a friendly chat with an old friend at the old coffee houses in Yaowaraj. East meets West: Traditional and Chic Bangkok is the epitome of the country’s kaleidoscopic blend of old and new. More than anywhere else, it is an expression of the Thai respect for tradition coupled with their vibrant involvement with modern progress. The city is metropolitan, yet rich in heritage and ready to accept new ideas. Many foreigners can attest to the cosmopolitan lifestyle that Bangkok offers through its cost-competitive condominiums, international schools, hospitals, shopping centers, sports clubs, and golf courses. 31 BANGKOK’S ENVIRONMENT Green Areas and Public Parks With an increasing population in Bangkok, more public parks and green areas are being developed for recreation and environment. They now serve as the “lungs of the city”, with about 8,097 rais (12.96 sq. km.) of parks and green pockets scattered around the city. Discovering the City the Discovering City the Discovering 32 Green Area Beautiful Parks Clean Canals and Clean Roads Environmental management and energy conservation are included as one of the main strategic pillars of the BMA four-year Public Administration Plan, 2005 through 2008. The plan mandates the increase of more shaded areas by changing vacant spaces into public parks or green areas. This program is to be implemented around buildings, public offi ces, state enterprises, schools, religious places and private companies, and is part of the effort to improve the quality of life in the city. 33 BANGKOK GREEN PROJECT 7. Queen Sirikit Park (Chatuchak District) 12. Vachira Benchathat Park Area : 140 sq.m. Over the years, the BMA has planted numerous trees in Bangkok. (Chatuchak District) Area : 375 sq.m. The Bangkok Green Project, undertaken to commemorate 6. Chatuchak Park Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday, on August 12, 2005, is one (Chatuchak District) such initiative, which aims to plant from one to two million Area: 155.1 sq.m. trees by 2006. 10 Beautiful Public Parks: “The new lungs of Bangkok” The BMA will increase thirty percent of Bangkok’s green areas by building ten additional public parks. Each park 13. Seri Thai Park will be opened to the general public and consist of (Bungkum District) Discovering the City the Discovering various amenities for recreation and sport activities. Area : 350 sq.m. 5. Santi Phap Park (Ratchatewi District) Area : 20 sq.m. ££ £Ó È Ç 11. Nong Chok Park 1. Rommaneenat Park £Î (Nong Chok District) (Phra Nakhon District) x Area : 35 sq.m. £ Area:28 sq.m. Ó Î n £{ £ä { 2. Saranrom Park (Phra Nakhon District) Area : 23 sq.m. 14. Phra Nakhon Park (Ladkrabang District) Area : 50 sq.m. 10. Suan Luang Rama IX (Praves District) Area : 500 sq.m. 4. The Public Park in Commemoration 9. Thonburirom Park 3. Lumphini Park 8. Benchasiri Park of H.M. The King’s 6th Cycle Birthony (Tung Kru District) (Prathumwan District) (Khlong Toei District) 34 Area: 52 sq.m. Area : 63 sq.m. Area : 360 sq.m. Area : 29 sq.m. +1 //9Ê"Ê7-/ 7/ ,Ê Ê "Ê /,"*"-Ê\ÊVÕ°É`>Þ® 10 Clean Canals Project: Bangkok once had an elaborate network of canals and hence earned the nickname as the “Venice of the East”. Now, with an existing 1,049 canals left, which are subsidiaries of the major waterways from the Chao Phraya River to Klong San Saab, local communities living along the riverside are faced with pollution problems. The BMA has initiated the Ten Clean Canals project to effectively treat {]äää]äää wastewater in the following canals: The Old City Moat, Klong Banglumphu, Klong Watthepthidaram, Î]xää]äää Klong Wat Ratbophith, Klong Padung-Krung Kasem, Î]äää]äää Klong Bang Saikai, Klong Bangnamchon, Klong Samlayh and Klong Bang Sakea. Ó]xää]äää Ó]äää]äää £]xää]äää £]äää]äää xää]äää ä ÓääÓ Óääx ÓääÇ Óä£Ó Óä£Ç "1- " - " , 1-/,9 /"/ Source: A Feasibility Study of BMA Wastewater User Charge, May 1998 35 Discovering the City the Discovering City the Discovering Clean Roads: “Sixty Green Roads” This project involves developing the scenery along Bangkok’s roads by improving the greenery along the main and secondary transportation arteries in the fi fty districts. Ornamental plants and trees are placed about, while small parks and decorations are added and overpass bridges are adorned with beautiful fl oral ornaments. 36 CITY QUALITY Health Care Public Safety During the last fi ve years, Bangkok has increasingly become The current Bangkok Metropolitan internationally recognized as a high quality, but cost competitive Administration (BMA) has made health care provider with dramatic growth in international public safety one of its highest patients from Europe, United States, Japan, Korea, and the priorities. It has ensured that a 24 hour Middle East. Call Center (Dial 1555) is customer Number of Beds friendly and ready to respond with There are a total of 173 hospitals in Bangkok, 42 of which are any problems face within Bangkok. public hospitals and 131 are privately run. In addition, there are in BMA Medical Service Department: 2004 In addition, the BMA has also initiated 144 public health service centers and health stations at over a Bangkok Emergency Service Team 3,000 private clinics within the capital. 6>À> nÎÎ (BEST) that is also a One Stop Service for 24 hour emergency service at all BMA Medical Service iÌÀ> {Îä 50 districts throughout Bangkok. The BMA has established another The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has made 24 hour hot-line particularly for fi res public safety one of its highest priorities. It has ensured that a />Ê- {Óä only (Dial 199). 24 hour Call Center (Dial 1555) is people friendly and ready to respond to any problems faced within Bangkok. In addition, >ÀiÊÀÕ} Îxä In order to help prevent crimes, the BMA has also initiated a Bangkok Emergency Service Team the BMA is currently implementing a (BEST) that is also a “One Stop Service” center, providing 24 hour “Bright Lights” programs to light up emergency service at all 50 districts throughout Bangkok. Õ>}Ê* Ê/ >ÜÃ> ÇÓ every dark areas and blind spots in The BMA has established another 24 hour hot-line service all the smaller streets of Bangkok. for fi res only (Dial 199). The BMA is also implementing the }Ê x{ “Bangkok Clear” anti-drugs for youth education and prevention >ÌÊÀ>L>} Èä of drugs-related crimes. ,>ÌV >« « >Ì Çx -À` À £Óä /Ì> Ó]{£{ Source: Planning Sub-Division, Technical Division, Medical Service Department 37 EDUCATION Number of Students, Teachers, Classes and Schools of BMA Academic Year 2004 Students 347,638 Bangkok Schools and Colleges Among other academic institutions ÑThai Cultural Promotion: to promote Teachers 13,012 run by the BMA is the Kuakarun Thai Culture within the BMA schools Classes 10,074 There are a total of 1,657 schools in College of Nursing (KCN), which it so that students will be proud of Thai Schools 433 Bangkok. The BMA manages 434 established in 1954 to prepare nurses culture and way of life. Performance Source: Technical Division, schools ranging from kindergarten for providing care in BMA hospitals. of Thai classical music, Thai classical Education Department, BMA to primary, secondary and college The Bachelor of Nursing Science dancing and exhibitions on Thai education for the children and youth (B.N.S.) program has been accredited lifestyle will be held continuously of Bangkok. The Department of by the Thai Nurses’ Council. In addition, and professionally. Education and Department of Social KCN has been affi liated with Mahidol Welfare jointly work on various University since 1993. Each year, International Schools education development projects, approximately 120 students graduate & Universities Discovering the City the Discovering such as the improvement of education from KCN and afterwards work in one standards, the development of of the 9 BMA hospitals and 60 health Bangkok’s burgeoning international human resources for education, centers in Bangkok area. school system continues to expand in and the provision of learning facilities. recent years-offering a wide range of BMA School Development choices and has become one of the Projects most competitive educational market International School, that draws on in the region. There are currently the fi ne reputation and educational BMA Smart Schools 65 international schools in Bangkok traditions of England’s Harrow School, that include a wide range of British, and whose faculty is mostly from the ÑYoung Engineers: classes will start American, Chinese, French, German , UK; Shrewsbury International School in the new semester at all 433 schools Japanese, and Singaporean accredited Bangkok, is an affi liate of the 450 run by the BMA, where they will curriculums. Examples of leading year-old noble English sister ‚√ß欓∫“≈«™‘√– encourage students to think creatively, schools in Bangkok include Harrow establishment. analyze problems and experiment with Number of Students of BMA Academic Year: The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Medical College and ideas .The Young Engineer classes are 1999 - 2004 At the university level, there are Vajira – The fi rst BMA Medical College part of the BMA “smart-school” 19 state universities and 18 private Number of Students in Bangkok project, aimed at enhancing the quality universities in Bangkok, many with Segmented by education level of general education in the capital.