On the last round up of what’s happening on the streets of Bangkok, I took relatively few photographs. But here they are. We’ve already said goodbye to 2017 and welcomed 2018 in with open arms!
Happy New Year to you!!
I hope 2018 brings joy and good fortune with everything we do!
Much love 🙂
The House of Lucie is an art gallery that I have wanted to visit for a while and last year I went to see “Unseen Lithuania” by Marius Jovaisa, a world famous photographer known for his aerial photography.
The House of Lucie aims to honor master photographers like Steve McCurry, Sebastiao Salgado, David Bailey and Lord Snowdon. It also aims to discover and cultivate emerging talent and to promote the appreciation of photography worldwide.
Here are some of my favourite photographs by these masters photographers
And some familiar faces from across the world
I loved looking at these photographs. I recognised most of the celebs but not others. Now, most of these people are no longer with us, so it’s lovely that these photographs remain to serve as a kind of memorial.
For more art galleries in Bangkok, check out one of my previous posts.
The French Embassy is located in the Bang Rak district of Bangkok, on the banks of the Chao Phraya River and in the grounds of the embassy is the residence of the French ambassador, Gérard Araud. Usually, I only get a glimpse of this charming colonial-style building from the river as the boat surges on by but once a year, in September, the ambassador open his doors to the public as part of the European Heritage Days initiative. This initiative was started in 1984 so everyone could enjoy free visits to various sites in order to appreciate and learn about cultural heritage. It also raises awareness of citizens to the richness and cultural diversity of Europe, in particular.
The house was built around 1830, and in 1856 it was rented by the customs department to the French trading mission, before being awarded to France by King Rama V in 1875.
There are guided tours available in different languages but the number of people is limited. However, you are free to wander through the house and grounds between 10.00am and 4.00pm. The tour includes lunch which you can enjoy in a seating area on the ground floor of the house.
On the day I visited, I just missed a tour and I didn’t want to hang around waiting for the next one, although the lady told me I could go back and join the next one, but I was happy just to mooch around on my own.
So, let’s see what’s inside.
The reception room
The living room with a few of the ambassador’s collectibles
The dining room
Another dining room
The book collection
My favourite, some old photos and newspaper clippings of meetings between two nations
For relaxing
This garden is amazing and I can just imagine sitting by the river with a glass of wine. I wonder if the ambassador does that? 😉
Fantastic river views
Places like this in Bangkok just amaze me. I hope you enjoyed the tour 🙂
Guided tours:
French: 10.30am, 11.30am, 2.00pm, 3.00pm
Thai: 10.40am, 11.40am, 2.10pm, 3.10pm
English: 10.50am, 11.50am, 2.20pm, 3.20pm
Address: Rue De Brest, 35 Charoen Krung Road, Soi 36, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
In October, I was in Phra Nakhon area, one of my favourite places to hang out.
I took a bike to the intersection where Lan Luang Road meets Ratchadamnoen Klang Road where King Prajadhipok Museum and Wat Saket are located.
I stood for what seemed like ages for a gap in the traffic.
Up the steps of Phanfa Bridge
Mahakan Fort, one of the two remaining forts that protected the city, the other being Phra Sumen Fort
Wat Ratchanatdaram (Loha Prasat or Iron Castle)
Architecture on Phra Sumen Road
Wat Bowonniwet Vihara where King Bhumibol resided when he was a monk
And my walk ended at Thanon Tinao. It doesn’t look busy at this time. Give it a few hours and it’s heaving
Still plenty more to see in this city I call home. I hope you enjoyed my walkabout as much as I did walking about! 🙂
Visit morrisophotography for more photographs 🙂
My wanderings took me all over the place in September.
From my vantage point at the House of Lucie in Ekkamai. I was there for an art exhibition
The steps to the BTS station have some words to get you through the week
A stroll along Saen Saep Canal
Turning into Kasem San 2 Alley with flowers and trees making it feel like you’re not really in a big city
Back in the throng of things and Bangkok’s newest skywalk. It crosses over the busy Pathumwan intersection. It cost 300 million baht to construct
Phaya Thai Road with my favourite building, Mahanakhon, at the end of the road on the left.
One of Bangkok’s many canals, taken from Phanfa Bridge
Phra Sumen Fort on Phra Athit Road, taken at the blue hour
One of my favourite roads, Phra Athit Road
Another fun street to hang out, Soi Rambuttri
I hope you enjoyed September’s walkabout. Until the next time 🙂
Visit morrisophotography for more photography 🙂
My photo walk in August took me along Silom Road where there is usually plenty going on.
Sri Maha Mariamman Temple (Wat Khaek)
Shopping on Pan Road
I love the patterns caused by the sun filtering through this tree
Covert people watching for some candid shots
Attempts at panning. Some work, some don’t, but it’s fun to do
Massage therapists taking a break
Motorcycle taxi drivers taking a break
More photo opportunities along the road
Tuk Tuk driver snoozing
Pigeons getting involved in the action
These photos are a result of walking along with my camera at hip level, not looking at what I was photographing. A different way to take photos, but one that had me chuckling out loud all the way up the road.
I hope you enjoyed August’s walk as much I as did.
July’s roundup of who and what is on the streets of Bangkok 🙂
See morrisophotography.co.uk for my photographs of the month
Two of my favourite things; walking and photography.
There are many places to go in Bangkok to get your fill of art and culture, photographic and painting exhibitions to annual street art festivals, heck there are even boats that exhibit art, so it can be appreciated by people travelling along the Chao Praya River. And next year, the city will play host to its first Art Biennale which will showcase artists from Asia, Europe and the Pacific; an exciting prospect and one that I shall very much look forward to. Visiting art galleries wasn’t something I was into before, but I can’t get enough of it now and I actively seek out exhibitions to go and see. With that in mind, here are a few of my favourite places to go.
My all time favourite place to go for art, just because it’s so big and there are always interesting and diverse exhibitions going on across it’s 9 floors. You’ll need a good couple of hours to wander round the whole place, but that’s all part of the fun. I usually go there with an exhibition in mind, but there are always other works of art that catch my eye. However, not everything makes me stop and look, and some works simply baffle the hell out of me, but, on the whole, I can appreciate the work, effort, time, and love that has gone into creating something. The first five floors circle up and around the main foyer and the main exhibitions are held on the 7th, 8th and 9th floors in huge, hangar-like rooms. Also in the BACC, are art shops, bookshops, art spaces, and cafes, as well as little stalls selling homemade jewellery and handicrafts, and a resident artist who is happy to paint your caricature. If you’re into art, this is the place to go.
A small, unassuming old shophouse, converted into the charming Kathmandu Art Gallery, on Pan Road, Silom. It’s owned by Manit Sriwanichpoom, Thailand’s best known photo-artist, and some of his work, displayed on the walls, is for sale. (in his photos, he’s the one in pink!) Downstairs is a book store, with art and photography books, as well as books on Buddhism and Hinduism, for sale. Upstairs is the tiny art gallery, which showcases photographic images from new and established artists. Although small, the windows are always open creating a light and airy atmosphere. It won’t take much of your time here, but the photography is spectacular and you’ll probably have the place all to yourself.
A café/bar and art gallery on Charoen Krung Road is an old Chinatown soy sauce factory, hence the name. Downstairs is the café/bar, simply decorated with tables and chairs and bold, light and dark colours on the walls. There’s a drum kit set up for the evenings when the place transforms into a popular hang out for a mix of people who come to enjoy the cool music, drinks, and atmosphere. (Temporarily closed due to renovation, but hopefully will re-open soon
Sofitel, Sukhumvit’s own 100 square metre gallery, it’s tiny, but elegantly decorated and it holds exhibitions from Thai and French painters, photographers and other creators every two months. It’s right there to the left of the hotel’s main foyer, you can’t miss it. There’s a sofa in the middle, so you can sit and gaze at the wonderful art pieces on show.
These are just a few of the art galleries I have visited so far, but I plan to get around quite a few more. The next one on my list is called “Hopeland” at Jam Factory; a selection of photographs taken from the artist’s condo window, so watch this space. 🙂
Bangkok is full of wonderful surprises and, if you know where to look, you can find them all over the city. Take Sathorn for instance, some say the centre of the city, with it’s high rise office blocks, glitzy hotels and European style bars and restaurants, but it’s also home to M.R Kukrit’s Heritage Home. If you’re interested in history, this beautiful teak house won’t disappoint.
Mom Rajawongse Kukrit was born in 1911, educated in England, and was Thailand’s 13th prime minister between 1974-1975. He was a very talented artist and writer and he has over 40 novels to his name. His home represents the man he was, and it’s been left just the way it was when he lived there. There are many of his personal souvenirs and you can really see the passion he had for traditional art and literature through paintings and books that are displayed.
The house is of traditional Thai design and it took over 20 years to be completed. There are 5 beautiful teak buildings, all of which came from different parts of Thailand; the owner had them transported and reassembled. As well as the buildings, there is walled garden, a lily pond, a bird pavilion, and a European style garden with a lawn surrounded by colourful flowers, trees and shrubs.
M.R Kukrit’s home was registered by the Department of Fine Arts as “the home of an important person” and they point out that it’s not for exhibition purposes like your usual museum, rather it’s the home of a person who lived there, which, in my opinion, makes it more interesting. The other thing I liked about it was its location; tucked down a leafy lane, smack bang in the middle of one of Bangkok’s most affluent districts, but a world away from all the noise of the busy road, just one street away. 🙂
