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My stay at the Crowne Plaza Penang (December 2025)

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Nestled in the heart of Province Wellesley, is the Crowne Plaza Penang. It is located in a 23-story building situated on the waterfront along Jalan Bagan Luar, featuring 343 rooms and sitting on the former site of the Straits Trading Co. tin smelting plant. The street in front of the hotel makes it accessible, and from its width, it is easy enough to discern that it is a rather busy street. The hotel has a decent parking area and that makes it all the more convenient especially for those driving down from Kuala Lumpur, or from where I am based at present, Petaling Jaya. The hotel has a nice lobby with a bar, where anyone who chooses to can have a quick drink, with the usual sofas in the seating area where one can wait for guests. It exudes a soft calming ambiance that is nothing short of relaxing. The lobby isn’t overly large, but it is large enough, and it does the basics well. The lobby and the dining area are located on the eighth floor, and the rooms are located on the floors abov...
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Shinto

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Shinto, also called kami-no-michi, is a religion that originated in Japan, and it is often regarded by its practitioners as Japan’s indigenous religion. This ancient faith, deeply interwoven with the cultural and historical fabric of the Japanese archipelago, represents a unique spiritual worldview that has evolved over millennia. While its roots stretch back to prehistoric times, Shinto as a named and organized entity began to coalesce in response to the introduction of Buddhism to Japan in the 6th century. Unlike other major world religions, Shinto does not have a single founder, or a primary sacred text that codifies a set of moral laws. Instead, it is characterized by a deep reverence for kami, a vast and complex pantheon of deities or spirits, and a focus on maintaining harmony between the human world, the natural world, and the divine. The practices associated with Shinto are diverse, ranging from grand state ceremonies to simple personal prayers offered at local shrines. Schola...
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Pan Pan

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Pan Pan was a small Hindu kingdom that existed between the 3rd and 7th centuries CE. It played a significant yet often overlooked role in the annals of Thai history. Situated in what is now modern-day southern Thailand, in the province of Surat Thani, Pan Pan’s influence extended southwards towards present-day Malaysia. This ancient realm was strategically positioned, sharing its borders with the kingdom of Langkasuka to the south and Tun Sun near the Isthmus of Kra to the north. The geopolitical landscape of the region during Pan Pan’s existence was dynamic and complex. In the late 5th century CE, a significant shift occurred when Tun Sun, Pan Pan’s northern neighbor, broke free from Funan and transformed into the entity known as Kamalanka or Lang-chia. This change had profound implications for Pan Pan, as it led to a territorial reorganization. The southern portion of the former Tun Sun joined forces with Pan Pan in the 6th century, expanding its domain. Simultaneously, the northe...
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Kamalanka (Lang-chia)

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Kamalanka, also known as Lang-chia, was an ancient political entity that flourished in the west Chao Phraya River basin of central Thailand within the Dvaravati sphere. Named after the goddess Kamala, this Dvaravati kingdom emerged in the late 1st or early 2nd century CE and endured until 1058. The heart of Kamalanka was its main city, situated at the site of ancient Nakhon Pathom, which played a pivotal role in the kingdom’s history. The kingdom of Kamalanka thrived for nearly a millennium, establishing itself as a significant power in the region. Its strategic location along the Chao Phraya River allowed it to control important trade routes and develop a prosperous civilization. The Dvaravati culture, that Kamalanka was a part of, was known for its advanced urban planning, sophisticated art and architecture, and the adoption of Buddhism as the primary religion. Throughout its existence, Kamalanka faced various challenges and underwent significant transformations. The kingdom’s i...
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Tou Yuan

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Tou Yuan was a kingdom located in the Chao Phraya River Valley, in what is now central Thailand. This ancient polity flourished during the early medieval period, occupying a strategic position in the region that would later become the heartland of the Thai civilization. Tou Yuan’s existence was relatively short-lived, as it was eventually absorbed by the expanding Dvaravati kingdom in the mid-7th century CE. The kingdom of Tou Yuan emerged in the fertile plains of the Lopburi province, an area known for its agricultural wealth, and strategic location along important trade routes. The exact origins of Tou Yuan remain shrouded in mystery, with limited archaeological evidence and historical records available to piece together its early history. However, scholars believe that the kingdom was a coalition of local chiefdoms or an offshoot of earlier Mon-speaking polities in the region. Tou Yuan’s political structure was likely centered around a monarch or ruling elite, that governed from a ...
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Traiphum Phra Ruang

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The Traiphum Phra Ruang, a seminal work of Thai Buddhist cosmology, is a testament to the rich spiritual and literary heritage of 14th-century Siam. Composed around 1345 CE by King Li Thai (Maha Thammaracha I), this ancient text holds the distinction of being the oldest known piece of Thai literature, and it profoundly shaped the religious and political landscape of the region for centuries to come. At its core, the Traiphum Phra Ruang presents a comprehensive vision of the universe, meticulously detailing the structure and inhabitants of three distinct worlds: the sensual realm, the form realm, and the formless realm. This intricate cosmological framework serves as a foundation for understanding the complex interplay between karma, rebirth, and spiritual progression. The sensual realm, as described in the text, encompasses a wide spectrum of existence, from the depths of hellish suffering to the relative comfort of the human world. Within this realm, beings are subject to the pus...
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Phraya Kalavarnadishraj / Bhavavarman I

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Bhavavarman I, also known by the title Phraya Kalavarnadishraj, was the reigning king of Chenla in or around 550 CE. His reign marked a pivotal period in the region’s political history because Chenla would later evolve to become the powerful Khmer Empire. While the exact dates of his rule remain uncertain, Bhavavarman’s impact on the geopolitical dynamics of the region is undeniable. Born of royal blood, Bhavavarman I was the grandson of a king of Funan, a well-established and influential kingdom in what is now modern-day Cambodia. This connection to Funan would play a crucial role in shaping Bhavavarman’s reign and the future of Chenla. The complex relationship between these two kingdoms would become a defining feature of his rule and the subsequent political developments in the region. Bhavavarman’s ascension to the throne of Chenla coincided with a period of significant change and upheaval in the region. The young king faced numerous challenges, both internal and external. The ...
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