A character of Asia. Missing this character.
Location: Yaowarat (Chinatown), Bangkok
CS4 Notes: Shadow/Highlights (Midtone contrast 3), Levels (right slider 226, centre slider 0.93), +33 contrast
Browsing the archives for the Thailand category.
(19 June 2008)
As we’re flying to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia later in the day, we couldn’t venture far today. We took a taxi to nearby Yaowarat or popularly known as Chinatown, to soak in some culture. This has got to be my favourite area in Bangkok. So full of culture, a culture that i deeply miss…
One of my fav shots. I love the earthy tones
This is a type of vegetable known as water lily. Not sure what it is called in Thai. It taste even better than kangkung (water spinach). I have never seen or heard about this vegetable being consumed elsewhere.
Stir-fried water lily
Crispy pork skin – another local delicacy
Roasting chestnuts
Flew in from PJ/KL and checked into The Metropolitan. This hotel is located within walking distance to the Suan Lum Night Bazaar and Lumphini station and beside The Banyan Tree. It is contemporary in style, an alternative to the hotel chains.
Dinner at Suan Lum Night Bazaar. The entrance to the Suan Lum Night Bazaar Food Court
Breakfast at the hotel the following morning
At the lobby
Took the underground train and got off at Kamphaeng Phet station to get to Chatuchak Market. Spent the day here.
Later that night, walked around the area in search of dinner.
Final day in Bangkok. Returned to Yaowarat (Chinatown) to offer prayers at Wat Mangkon Kamalawat.
Last look before heading back to the hotel
Checked-out, hailed a taxi and headed for Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Aiport, and flew back to Melbourne Tullamarine Airport.
Bangkok – Day7
Bangkok – Day6
Bangkok – Day5
Bangkok – Day3&4
Bangkok – Day2
Bangkok – Day1
It’s Wats day today. Breakfast at the hotel before heading out
View from our table. Passengers exiting the pier.
Travelling on the Chao Phraya River via the Chao Phraya Express
The muddy Menam Chao Phraya with Wat Arun in the background.
We landed at Pier 9. Sights as we exit the pier and headed towards the main road
Dragonfruit or Pitaya
Coconuts
Variety
Wat Pho was out first destination. This is the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. In reality, the Buddha didn’t seem too majestic due to several pillars obstructing a full view of this otherwise imposing figure. Out of respect I normally do not take frontal photos of religious figures especially inside religious sites. This and this was somehow an exception.
Next destination was Wat Phra Kaew or Temple of the Emerald Buddha. This is located in the same complex as the Grand Palace. Photos are not allowed to be taken inside the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and respect was shown.
A model of Angkor Wat sits just outside the temple.
Taking a closer look
At the Grand Palace
The final destination was Wat Arun – Temple of the Dawn.
Suffering from major acrophobia, I have problems with locations like this and this. After a few ascending steps, my legs will begin to go weak. And that isn’t the worst. Descending is the worst. I can be pretty pathetic sometimes.
We boarded the Chao Phraya Express back to the pier near our hotel.
the view from the room
Bangkok – Day5
Bangkok – Day3&4
Bangkok – Day2
Bangkok – Day1
We’re returning to Bangkok today. A look at Pludhaya before we leave…
This is where we showered
and dipped
and relaxed
heading off to the train station
Purchasing tickets at the Ayuthaya train. It cost 18 baht per person for one way to Bangkok.
I needed a drink. I walked over to the vendor to grab one and had the opportunity to utilise the Thai survival phrases that i had crammed in prior to this trip.
Me: pointing at the can of Pepsi..”thao rai”
Vendor: “sip ha baht”
Me: hands the vendor 15 baht and reach over to grab the drink
Vendor: “yen yen..” and pulled out a chilled one from the cooler box so i figured that yen yen most probably means cool, cold or chilled or something along that line
Me: “Khop kun ka“, took the can from the vendor, smiled and walked back to the seating area
(Females use ka and Males use kap. So a man would say Khop kun kap instead, meaning thank you)
Waiting for our train to arrive.
It is always a good idea to learn some local phrases when travelling in a foreign country, especially when a different language is spoken. The number one rule of travelling – Respect the culture. Unlike this pack of gaijins in Japan.
On the train back to Bangkok…
After dropping our packs off at Muangphol Mansion, we walked to the Jim Thompson House which is located in a neighbouring street.
Then it was more shopping at MBK. Some of the loot.
We checked out from Muangphol in the evening to move to a hotel situated in the Riverside area. We did so because it’ll be nice to see other sides of Bangkok as well. And it’ll be easier for us tomorrow when we visit the Wats.
We ended the night with foot massage just across the road from the hotel.
Bangkok – Day1
Bangkok – Day2
Bangkok – Day3&4