One of my dreams came true last month, I went to Italy. I studied mythology in the Greek and Roman worlds as part of my degree and ever since then I have been fascinated by the history of these two places and have really wanted to visit Rome. So, not only did I get there to celebrate my birthday, but I got to spend a wonderful week with my mum and dad. I took so many photographs and I can’t wait to share them with you, but, for now, here are some memories we made as we enjoyed our week together.
St Peter’s BasilicaMum with St Peter’s Basilica in the backgroundCastel Sant’AngeloPiazza NavonnaThe ColosseumIn FlorenceUsing the MetroWalking from Piazza del Popolo to Piazza di SpagnaPiazza Di SpagnaIn front of Santa Maria MaggioreHaving a rest on Via NazionaleRistorante Taberna Patrizi e PlebeiPonte PalatinoWalking from Isola Tiberina to Piazza Campo di FioriPiazza RotundaMum and DadOff to our local
We really had such a fabulous and fun time together and this was a trip I will never forget. My mum and dad have been to Rome a couple of times before, but they said they saw so much more this time. I’m not surprised, we must have walked a good 5-7 km most days and my poor mum didn’t give up, even though she was in pain from walking so far. I can’t thank mum and dad enough for making my birthday so very special.
The Changing Seasons post, inspired by the lovely Sarah at Secret Art Expedition and hosted by Su at Zimmerbitch. Here is my round up of things I got up to during March.
As I hadn’t been out exploring much since I got back from Sri Lanka, I took myself off to Chulachomklao Fort in Phra Samut Chedi District, around 29 km south of Bangkok. Getting there was fun, I only knew that I had to take the 145 bus to Pak Nam Market, then take a boat across the river, and, finally, a truck to the fort. It always seems a bit of an adventure when you don’t really know the way. I had to ask a couple of people to find the market and once I had located the truck, it dropped me off, right at the fort.
First up, the gun park which tells you the history of the guns, although the information was all in Thai, so I just had to wander around and imagine.
The Gun Park
This proud statue of King Rama V stands at the front of the fort.
King Rama V Statue
The disappearing guns were used only once in 1893 when the fort protected the sovereignty of Thailand from French invasion. They were designed to be hauled up by their hydro-pneumatic system for firing and lowered again afterwards.
H.T.M.S Maeklong was in service for 60 years and deployed during WWII. It was fun to scamper about on her decks!
H.T.M.S Maeklong
There’s a mangrove forest there too.
Mangrove Forest
I forgot that I had heard about the resident monkeys that live there until this one started walking towards me! I was a little nervous!
Just strolling!
But, thankfully, they didn’t pay me any attention and continued to play or groom each other, oblivious to my presence.
It was a great day out and, although the sea looked far from the usual images that you see in Thailand, it was good to get out and about.
The Gulf of Thailand
I made a video of all the beautiful birds that I saw in Sri Lanka, and, the best bit, I didn’t even have to leave the confines of my friend’s garden to see them. They greeted us with their song in the morning and it was just fabulous to hear them and see all the different species that visited throughout the day.
I was nominated for the Liebster Award by Nilla at Image Earth Travel for the work I do here on Talkingthailand. It’s always a joy to receive these nominations and it makes me feel happy and honoured that someone takes time out of their day to acknowledge me. Thank you again Nilla, it was very much appreciated.
At last, I picked up my sketch pad and drew something. Whenever I do this, I mean to do it more regularly, but I never get round to it. I should do it more because I love sitting down and creating something. This drawing is a copy of a painting I saw in an art gallery, but it has my own twist on it! It’s a combination of pencil, charcoal, and pastel crayons.
My Art
As well as showcasing my photographs on morrisophotography, I also upload my best shots to Viewbug, and I sometimes enter their free photo challenges. In March, I found out that 2 of my photos had been ranked in the top 50 and 1 in the top 80! When you consider the amount of people that enter these challenges, I was thrilled with this result!
Artistic Wildlife Photo Challenge-Ranked Top 50Animal Families Photo Challenge-Ranked Top 50Legs Photo Challenge-Ranked Top 80
I started watching Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, presented by Neil deGrasse Tyson. His passion and knowledge of the universe, evolution, science and much more just oozes through his silky voice. Everytime I watch it, it (he) makes me want to learn all that he knows. It really is a fantastic and mind-blowing show. I thoroughly recommend watching it, if you haven’t already!
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey Photo Credit: http://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/tv/cosmos-a-spacetime-odyssey/
So, that’s my March done and dusted. I’m already having an awesome April, I hope you are too 🙂
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.
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!
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
Audrey Hepburn by Douglas Kirkland
Cassius Clay by Marvin E Newman
Micheal Jackson by Gene Trindl
Bob Dylan by David Bailey
Bob Marley by David Burnett
Muhammad Ali by Howard Bingham
Ornette Coleman by William Claxton
Salvador Dali by Arnold Newman
Pablo Picasso by Arnold Newman
Grace Jones by Jean-Paul Goude
David Bowie by Antonin Kratochvil
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 ambassador’s home from the outside
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.
Photograph of the original house
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.
The spacious back garden
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 seating area on the veranda
The reception room
The living room with a few of the ambassador’s collectibles
The dining room
The dining table ready for dinnerThe menu from 1913
Another dining room
The book collection
The Bangkok Times
My favourite, some old photos and newspaper clippings of meetings between two nations
For relaxing
The swimming poolSome more snapshots and knick knacksChill out zone at the back of the house
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 🙂
