Pipit Banglamphu Street Art Festival

A couple of months before I left Bangkok for good, I was still enjoying exploring the city.

One day, I went in search of street art which was part of the Pipit Banglamphu Street Art Festival. It was a lot of fun wandering around the streets following the map.

Things to do in Bangkok — Source: Richard Barrow

Banglamphu is home to Bangkok’s infamous Khao San Road, chock-a-block with tourists coming and going, bars and clubs blaring out loud music and the general hustle and bustle, typical of a city like Bangkok. But, Banglamphu is also home to a myriad of leafy alleys and canals, so peaceful and, seemingly, hidden from tourists, but filled with friendly locals going about their day. That’s where I found myself as I went looking for the street art!

Some of the locals said hello and asked me where I was from, but all of them were curious about why I was there – made apparent by their stares. I tried to follow the map as best I could, but I went the wrong way in places, by-passing the same people more than once, which only added to their curiosity.

It was a really pleasant day out, so join me as I retrace my steps following the art..

I hope you enjoyed the street art as much as I did!

I’ll leave you with a little piece of Bangkok 🙂

On the Trail of Bangkok’s European Heritage Exhibition – Take 2

Following my first photo exhibition – On the Trail of Bangkok’s European Heritage – at Dialogue Coffee and Gallery back in 2017, I was lucky enough to find a new venue to do it all again!

Chris and I already knew of a little bar on Soi Nana called 23 Bar and Gallery. We used to go there for drinks. One day, I rustled up the courage to ask the owner – Mongkol – if it was possible to exhibit my photos in the art gallery upstairs. He said, YES!

23 bar and gallery is an old shop house with 2 floors, similar to Dialogue, but on a smaller scale. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to show the same 11 photos that I’d exhibited at Dialogue. But, that didn’t worry me, I was just happy that I got a chance to show my work a second time.

It was due to start on 9th February 2018, so a week beforehand, Chris and I schlepped across the city with the chosen photos to set up!

We were greeted by a cheerful Mongkol who handed us some nails, a hammer, and asked if we wanted a beer! It was thirsty work in the hot gallery upstairs!

It took us all of an hour, even less, to get everything set up. Maybe because we were experts at it after my first exhibition, probably because there were fewer pictures and we didn’t have to use wire to hang the photos!

We went and sat outside on the street with another beer. Mongkol seemed happy that I had chosen his bar to hold my exhibition, so he offered to pay for the beers. He even bought a pizza for us, which we ordered from El Chiringuito – a little Tapas bar down the road. We tried to pay him, but he wasn’t having any of it.

It turned out to be such a fun day.

We arrived for the opening night. My friends from work came along too as well as a few more people who popped in for a drink and wandered upstairs to take a look.

I didn’t sell anything this time, but it was still a proud moment for me.

Afterwards, we continued the party in Silom before heading home.

I have plans to do another exhibition somewhere in my home town and I’ll be researching potential venues when I can – watch this space!

The photos used for both exhibitions were a selection from my book – On The Trail of Bangkok’s European Heritage.

You can also check out this video if you would like to see all the photos from my book.

I also created this short video of the photos used in my exhibitions.

I hope you enjoyed sharing this very special memory with me! 🙂

A Day Out in Krabi with Chrissy and Gilly

I hope you enjoy this video I created of Chrissy and Gilly’s day out in Krabi 😉

It was such a fun day out! Tell me about your fun days out!

Images of Krabi

Following on from my post last week about my day trip to Krabi, here are a few more photographs to whet your appetite 🙂

I hope you enjoyed the day out as much as I did 🙂

A Day Trip to Krabi

Chris and I took a day trip to Krabi, a little over 782 km from Bangkok. A long way to go for a day trip, especially as we were only going for lunch!

We’ve had some crazy ideas in the past, but this has got to be the craziest. (Until, we do it again somewhere in Europe that is!)

I’d gone round to Chris’ house one day for a few drinks and we started talking about how great it would be to take a day trip somewhere. We decided on Krabi and a few more drinks later, we took the bull by the horns, and just booked it, all for the ridiculously cheap price of around £20.

The day arrived. We met at the skytrain at 6.30 a.m, made our way to the airport, and at 8.55 a.m took off on our way south.

We arrived in Krabi at 10.15 a.m and went looking for the market, so we could start our day with food in our bellies. We had Massaman, a Thai dish with chicken, potatoes, onions, peanuts and a combination of spices. It’s so tasty, we had 2 rounds along with a plate (or 2) of catfish.

Things to eat in Thailand — Catfish. Photo credit: Chris Wotton

Once fed and watered, we took a songthaew to Ao Nang beach.

Ao Nang has a laid-back vibe filled with many restaurants and shops along its short promenade. It also has the most beautiful stretch of sand, flanked by gorgeous cliffs, palm trees, and blue water with views out to Koh Poda.

Apart from lunch, another thing on our agenda was to paddle in the sea. The feeling of the cool water on our feet was refreshing. We wished we had taken our swimming gear because the ocean was inviting us in for a dip!

After a while, we headed off in the direction of the nearest bar. One with a rooftop, so we could sit and enjoy the views with our afternoon drinks. It was heaven!

We soon moved to a new bar with equally fabulous views out over the water. This day was just perfect.

All too soon, our day trip to Krabi was coming to an end. We went back to Krabi town and then caught the bus back to the airport.

Once back in Bangkok, we took a taxi to Devilish, one of our favourite hang-out places, and had a late night dinner. We talked about our day and realised we had travelled 1,600 km and been out for 17 hours!

It was one of the best days out I’ve ever had. Mind you, it took a good few days to get over it! But, it was worth it and I’d do it again in a heartbeat!

Images of Bangkok

There are many things to see in Bangkok – The Grand Palace, Jim Thompson’s House, Khao San Road and much more. While these places are awesome, I sometimes looked for the not so obvious. There are many things hidden around the city, you just have to look for them!

I hope you enjoy this short video of my images of Bangkok.

You never know what you might find!

The Changing Seasons – July 2020

It’s time again for my monthly roundup in The Changing Seasons post, hosted by Su at Zimmerbitch.

Since lockdown was eased some more, I took a trip to Newark to visit my friends – Doyle and Mel. It was so lovely to see them and their kids again. Mel and I went out to the garden centre and, on the way back, we went to the marina in Farndon and had a cheeky drink by the river.

Things to do in Newark — Photo Credit: Melody Armstrong

The following weekend, I went to Rotterdam to visit Chris.

The journey there was surreal, everywhere was like a ghost town, devoid of people!

We had such a fun weekend, as we always do when we get together. Chris was an exceptional tour guide and he took me to new parts of the city. It was such a lovely couple of days making new memories!

The next weekend, my sister and I ventured out for a few Sunday afternoon drinks. It was just so lovely to be able to sit in a pub garden in the sunshine again!

I finished July with drinks and a book on my balcony watching the colours of the sunset fill the sky 🙂

About The Changing Seasons

The Changing Seasons is a monthly challenge where bloggers around the world share what’s been happening in their month.

If you would like to join me and the others in this challenge, here are the guidelines:

The Changing Seasons Version One (photographic)

Each month, post 5-20 photos in a gallery that you feel represent your month
Don’t use photos from your archive. Only new shots.
Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them

The Changing Seasons Version Two (you choose the format):

Each month, post a photo, recipe, painting, drawing, video, whatever that you feel says something about your month
Don’t use archive stuff. Only new material!
Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so others can find them

Life On the Streets of BKK

Bangkok is many things to many people, but one thing that’s constant is the streets are always full of different things going on. It’s busy, it’s chaotic, but it’s such an exciting city. There is always something to see, to find, to simply enjoy. For the 4 years I lived there, I became the city girl I never knew I was!

Wherever you may wander in Bangkok, street vendors are a part of daily life, selling food and drinks to passersby. Unfortunately, the powers that be have removed some of them to make way for a “new” Bangkok – one where the streets are devoid of these people simply trying to make their living. For me, and I’m sure countless others, this is a tiny part of what makes Bangkok so appealing.

These condo blocks are all over Bangkok. Home to many people, you’ll see satellite dishes amidst balconies full of drying clothes.

There are many little shops like these selling flags, framed photos of their King – past and present – and other patriotic items.

And, down every little alley, you’ll find someone going about their daily business.

While Bangkok is generally a tourist destination, there are certain areas of the city where tourists flock. Banglamphu which is home to Khao San Road and Soi Rambuttri is teaming with backpackers and holidaymakers alike. But, some days are pleasantly quiet making it more pleasurable to explore.

Over in Sathorn, business people are heading out to lunch.

Others, painfully making their way through the notorious Bangkok traffic.

Or, taking a breather in the relentless heat.

There are kids chatting to friends while they wait for their ride home.

And gentlemen walking home from the shops.

Another thing I love about Bangkok is that many of its streets are lined with trees.

There is street art hidden down alleyways.

There are so many vantage points.

And things to photograph.

Then, there are the canals upon which the modern city has developed. It’s fascinating to think that these waterways were the main routes around the city all those years ago – some of them are still in use.

Not far from downtown Bangkok, you’ll find streets with no life! You’d be forgiven for thinking you were somewhere other than the international metropolis that is BKK!

If you’re ever in Bangkok, you won’t have far to go to find a little street life!

For more Bangkok street life, check out these posts.

Street Life #1 Phra Athit Road

Street Life #2 Yaowarat Road

Street Life #3 All Around Bangkok

Bangkok City Views

When I lived in Bangkok, I used to walk around the city with my camera a lot. There are many things that compel me to take a photograph. It could be a distinctive architectural feature, an ornate temple or a dilapidated building.

There are endless photographic subjects to be had in Bangkok and I had lots of fun looking for them! For me, it’s exciting because you never can tell what you might find!

Here are a few things that caught my eye!

This juxtaposition of 5-star hotel – Lebua – and the Leo beer advert.

The reflection of the buildings opposite the Eastin Grand Hotel in Sathorn.

The purple colour and zig-zag feature of the Mode Sathorn Hotel on Sathorn Road.

The colour and ornate decoration of Wat Bowonniwet on Phra Sumen Road.

Chong Nonsi Bridge for just being different and it’s good for a spot of people watching!

Chong Nonsi BTS Station under blues skies and white clouds with a glimpse of Bangkok’s infamous cables.

The high-rise Regis Hotel in Sathorn with its glass windows and reflections of the clouds.

I am not sure what this building is, but the brown bricks, arched windows and golden dome on the roof caught my eye. It was worth a close up!

More cables, people and a palm tree as the neon lights of the city flicker on at dusk!

There are many buildings like this in Bangkok where people have made their homes. It’s very humbling!

For more things that catch my eye around Bangkok, check out these posts

http://morrisophotography.co.uk/architecture/architectural-delights/

http://morrisophotography.co.uk/architecture/things-that-catch-my-eye/

The Best of Chulachomklao Fort, Bangkok

Whenever I take photographs, I usually take a lot. And when I mean a lot, it can sometimes be over 100 shots. I just can’t help it, especially when I go somewhere that I find interesting. There’s always some angle or colour, animal or bird, bridge or reflection – anything that catches my eye.

When I am writing posts for Talkingthailand or Morrisophotography, I go through all the photos I have taken from a particular day and group them into “post pics,” “best pics,” “black & white” etc. Apart from the main subject I am writing about, this process gives me ideas and inspiration for other posts.

Photography is a very subjective thing. What I class as “the best of” might be quite different to what you think. That’s what makes it interesting don’t you think?

With that in mind, here is my compilation of the Best of Chulachomklao Fort, in Bangkok.

Do you take a lot of photos when you go somewhere? What do you do with them?