History - Russell Family Web Page

Rajprasong and Siam are without doubt the fore front of Bangkok's shopping scene. With tens of malls
lined up and thousands of street vendors, the area is and has always been the place to go for all sorts of
goods. The newly renovated Central World Plaza intends to serve as a Square to Bangkokians. Just up
the street is Siam, the trendiest and most entertaining area in town, similar to Shinjuku in Tokyo and
Oxford Street and Piccadily Circus in London. The entire Sukhumvit area also serves as a shopping
district for foreigners. The popular Chatuchak Weekend Market up north is where most everyone heads
for cheap, good quality products.
Bangkok's poorest district is spread throughout the city however the most concentrated is just north of the
Port of Bangkok at the turn of the Chao Phraya River. For an area of 10km², Khlong Toei district houses
one of the poorest areas in the country with half built houses and midrises for immigrants and workers
from the Northeast Isan provinces.
Administration
Bangkok is one of two special
administrative areas in Thailand (the
other being Pattaya) in which citizens
vote to choose their Governor, unlike in
Thailand's 75 other provinces
(changwat). In the 2004 governatorial
election Apirak Kosayothin was elected
Governor.
The urban sprawl of the greater
Bangkok Metropolitan Area extends
beyond the borders of Bangkok
Bangkok City Hall
province, spilling into the neighbouring
provinces of Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan,
Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom and Samut Sakhon. The province as it is today was created in 1972
when the previous Bangkok province - changwat Phra Nakhon - merged with Thonburi province.
The seal of the city shows the god Indra riding in the clouds on Erawan, a mythological elephant-shaped
creature (sometimes portrayed with three heads). In his hand Indra holds a lightning bolt, which is his
weapon to drive away drought. The seal is based upon a painting done by Prince Naris. The tree symbol
of Bangkok is Ficus benjamina.
Bangkok is subdivided into 50 districts (khet, also sometimes called amphoe as in the other provinces),
which are further subdivided into 154 kwaeng (แ ข ว ง , equivalent to tambon in other provinces). Each
district is managed by a district chief, appointed by the governor. District councils, elected to four-year
terms, serve as advisory bodies to their respective district chiefs.
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