Wat Chaiyo or Wat Ket Chaiyo was built during the Ayutthaya Period. It became important during the reign of King Rama IV. The venerable Somdet Phra Phutthachan (To Phromrangsi) of Wat Rakhang Khositaram built the large Buddha image in a subduing Mara gesture and placed it outdoors. However, the image collapsed soon after construction. He re-built it in the same pose but smaller, covered it in plaster and without gold leaf. As the image could be seen from far, the villagers called it Luangpho To (meaning huge image). Further temple restoration during the reign of King Rama V the Buddha image collapsed again. The King ordered the renovation of the image with steel bars inside. The new image was covered in gold leaf and monks’ robes and was given the new name by King Rama V the Great “Phra Maha Phutthaphim”. A new main chapel was constructed to house the image. Upon completion, King Rama V the Great established the temple as one of the royal temples.
To pay respect to Luangpho ...
Yasil Bazaar (also spelled Yashil Bazaar or Yaşıl Bazar, meaning “Green Bazaar” in Azerbaijani) is Baku’s largest and most vibrant food market, one of the biggest in the Caucasus region. It’s a bustling hub where locals and visitors immerse themselves in Azerbaijani flavors, aromas, and daily life, offering a sensory experience of fresh, organic produce sourced from across the country.
Nestled near Baku’s central train station, about 15 minutes from the city center, it combines indoor stalls with open-air vendors, evoking the hustle of traditional Eastern bazaars while remaining relatively clean and organized.
History
Yasil Bazaar has roots dating back over 70 years, surviving the Soviet era as a key spot for fresh goods brought by farmers from Azerbaijan’s regions. Established post-World War II, it evolved into a central marketplace reflecting Baku’s role as a trade hub, with vendors offering organic produce that highlights the country’s agricultural heritage. Today, it stands as a ...
The Avenues Mall in Kuwait (also known simply as The Avenues) is the largest shopping and leisure destination in the country and the second-largest mall in the Persian Gulf region, located in the Al-Rai district of Kuwait City.
Opened in April 2007 under the patronage of the Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, it spans multiple phases of expansion (completed through Phase IV in 2018), covering themed districts inspired by global cities and Kuwaiti heritage, with over 1,100 stores, restaurants, entertainment options, and hotels like the Waldorf Astoria and Hilton Garden Inn.
Developed by Mabanee Company and designed with input from Gensler, it features areas like Grand Avenue (a 640-meter promenade evoking Paris’s Champs-Élysées), Prestige (luxury brands), SoKu (youth fashion and tech like New York’s SoHo), The Souk (Kuwaiti heritage with spices and local dishes), and The Mall (international chains like Zara, H&M, and Carrefour).
It employs around 30,000 people and holds LEED Silver ...
The Kuwait Towers أبراج الكويت are an iconic landmark and national symbol of Kuwait, located on a promontory along the Arabian Gulf Road in Kuwait City’s Sharq district, overlooking the Persian Gulf.
This group of three slender towers, designed by Danish architect Malene Bjørn in collaboration with Swedish firm VBB (now Sweco), blends functional water storage with modern architecture inspired by Islamic motifs like minarets and mosque domes.
Construction began in 1971 by Yugoslavia’s Union Inženjering and was completed in 1976, with public opening on March 1, 1979, following a request from Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah for a distinctive design for the sixth set of water towers in Kuwait’s national system. They received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1980 and survived the 1990 Iraqi invasion undamaged, symbolizing Kuwaiti resilience.
The towers store 9,000 cubic meters of water total and are covered in ~41,000 enameled steel discs in blues, greens, and grays for a...
