Talkingthailand

The Changing Seasons – September 2018

The Changing Seasons post, inspired by the lovely Sarah at Secret Art Expedition and hosted by Su at Zimmerbitch.

Time keeps ticking on and I can’t believe another month has passed. Hopefully you have all enjoyed September as much as I did.

My friend Mark was in town. He used to live in Thailand before embarking on a digital nomad lifestyle that has seen him living in Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, and Bali. He’s back in the UK now before heading to Spain and then who knows where. While he was in town, I met up with him for a good old catch up.

Things to do in Bangkok — Friends together after a long sojourn

I started reading The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, a fabulous read about India’s underbelly. It’s unputdownable! That’s all I’m saying – you’ll have to wait for my review on Goodreads

The newsroom, a.k.a Facebook, reminded me of one of my favourite tunes – For an Angel, by Paul Van Dyk. I saw him play one New Year’s Eve at Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield. It was a memorable night, if only for the smart arse who decided to climb up the tent’s scaffolding, just at the stroke of midnight. Paul Van Dyk stopped his set until the idiot was brought back down to earth by security – at which point PVD punched him in the face for spoiling his set! (Or so the story goes!) Just a few days later, I was in New York with my boyfriend at the time and we went to a club where Paul Van Dyk was playing. In true cringe-worthy style, we made our way to the DJ booth and planted our NYE tickets (which we’d kept for this purpose) against the screen. PVD looked up, smiled, and gave us a thumbs up. The things you do when you’re a clubber!

Last week, I decided to go out for lunch at a restaurant that sells the most delicious Thai food. For me to even say that, let alone go to the other side of town from where I live, the food must be that good. I got off the skytrain and walked the rest of the way, so I could take some photographs. I’ve been to this little restaurant before and the Khao Soi was just as good as I remembered.

Things to Eat in Bangkok — Khao Soi with seafood
Photo Credit: Chris Wotton

My photo walk took me to Chong Nonsi Bridge…

…across Sathorn Road…

…along Naradhiwat Rajanagarindra Road…

…along Chan Road…

…and into Yen Akat Road.

It’s the rainy season here in Thailand at the moment and we get rain most days. Sometimes it hammers down for hours on end, but mostly it’s just a brief shower followed by the relentless heat once more. In the space of three days, we went from afternoon stormy skies…

…to gorgeous morning blue skies without a cloud in sight (we like those the best)…

…to blue skies with a few clouds (They’re OK)…

…to pink evening skies. It really is wonderful to witness the changing face of mother nature.

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.

The History of the Circus Maximus

When in Rome, one of the best places to get an idea of what an ancient Roman stadium looked like in its hey-day is the Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo.) Today, it’s a recreational park used for concerts, performances, and celebrations. It sits in the shadows of the Palatine Hill, holding onto a thousand secrets of the past. The history of the Circus Maximus is an interesting one to say the least.

The History of Rome — The Circus Maximus today – overlooked by Domitian’s palace

Situated at the south-west end of the Palatine Hill, the Circus Maximus was not only the first stadium ever built, but it was also the largest of its kind in ancient Rome and the Roman Empire.

It was built during the Etruscan era in the 6^th century BC and was used for ludi Romani – Roman games, such as religious festivals, feasts, gladiator fights, and plays, which took place for the benefit of the people and to honour the Gods. Although many of these occasions took place annually, eventually, when Rome got bigger during the late republic era, these events were held at least once a week at the circus. When there were no such occasions, the Circus Maximus was used as a practise ground for chariot riders or became a bustling market area for Rome’s residents.

The Circus Maximus was the most important venue for all of these occasions, but over time more and more venues were built, such as the Colosseum and the Stadium of Domitian, and these took over as the place to see gladiator fights and athletics. Even so, by the late 1^st century AD, the Circus Maximus continued to be the setting for chariot races.

These chariot races were thrilling, albeit highly dangerous, events and the crowds came from far and wide to witness these spectacles – and to place bets on their favourite charioteer to win. The chariots could be identified by colours and they were pulled by teams of horses –sometimes up to 12 abreast.

The charioteers, some of them slaves, became rich and famous – victories rewarded with gold or money and the continuous adoration of the crowd – even the winning horses were lauded. One such man was Gaius Appuleius Diocles. With over 1,462 victories, he became known as the best paid athlete of all time, allegedly winning 35,863,120 sesterces (a whopping $15 billion in today’s money). He became renowned for his chariot-racing skills where he would thunder past the leading chariot at the very last minute – whipping the crowds up into a frenzy.

Another celebrated charioteer went by the name of Scorpus or Scorpius. A slave when he first started out, he went on to be awarded the laurel wreath – the symbol of victory – countless times. He was victorious in over 2,000 races and won so much money that he was able to buy his freedom.

At first, the Circus Maximus was 540 m long and 80 m wide and it was on an area of land near the Tiber River, with nothing more than grass banks for spectators and turning posts at either end of the makeshift track. Later, Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, the 5^th king of the Etruscans, added wooden seating for Rome’s elite. His grandson, Tarquinius Superbus, then added additional seating for the common people.

By the time of Julius Caesar, in 50 BC, there was room for 150,000 spectators and the Circus Maximus was now 621 m long and 150 m wide. The arena’s seating was divided into caveas (enclosures). There were usually 3 caveas for each social class. Ima Cavea was for the upper class; media cavea for men; and summa cavea for women and children.

The Circus Maximus was further developed by Augustus and, following a fire in 31 BC, he erected Rome’s first ever obelisk on the central barrier – later this barrier was filled with temples, shrines and other structures, as well as being a safe place for fallen charioteers to recover while the race was still in progress. This Egyptian obelisk can now be seen in Piazza del Popolo. Further fires in 36 AD and 64 AD destroyed the arena, but the games continued because the circus was rebuilt in the same design.

During the early 2^nd century AD, stone seating was built around the track and it was there that Rome’s senators were able to get as close to the action as possible. In 81 AD, Domitian built his sumptuous palace on the Palatine Hill and he relished in being able to watch the games from his vantage point without being seen by the ever-expanding crowds.

Following the reign of Domitian, Emperor Trajan made the decision to rebuild the Circus Maximus in stone to prevent further fire damage and from this point on, save a few additions and alterations, the Circus Maximus was at its greatest and remained unchanged for many years to come.

By the 6^th century AD, the Circus Maximus had seen out its glory days and was no longer used. The stone was used for other buildings throughout Rome. The lower levels of the arena and the original track were now buried underground. Houses were built on the site in the 11^th century and throughout the 16^th century the Circus Maximus was used as to grow crops that could be sold in the local markets. A world away from its previous role in Roman society.

The early 20^th century saw excavations of the site begin in earnest and parts of the original central barrier and seating were uncovered. Sadly, some of these findings have since been buried again up to 9 m underground. However, more recent excavations have started to uncover a second Arch of Titus – the first one is near the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. Built by Emperor Domitian, it would have been a grand entrance to the Circus Maximus.

As these excavations continue, the more we can learn about the history of the Circus Maximus and all the secrets of the past.

Places to Visit in Bangkok – With a Twist

There are plenty of places to visit in Bangkok and exploring on foot is a great way to experience them. Of course, you could take a taxi, bus or skytrain, but you’d miss all that the lively streets of the city have to offer. Plus, you’ll find some interesting things along the way. I’ve lived in this wonderful city for 4 years now and I have visited most of the popular attractions, so when I am out, I search for different things to write about and take photographs of. So, if you’re in town, explore to your heart’s content and, if you feel like it, see if you can find these cool statues dotted around the city.

If you’re at Wat Arun, it’s fun to scamper up and down the steps of the main temple, but I found this Buddha statue through a red door. This one is the Alms Collecting Buddha or Begging Buddha and it represents compassion and caring for others. If you’re up early enough, it’s usual to see bare-footed, orange-robed monks collecting food from people all over the country. Just to be clear, the Buddha never begged for anything, the people gave him food, and now people continue to do this as a way of making merit to allow good karma into their lives.

Wat Arun sits on the banks of the Chao Phraya River – it’s better to go there, so you can see how the 5 prangs of the temple have been artistically decorated with seashells and pieces of coloured porcelain which sparkle in the sunlight. The views from the other side of the river aren’t bad either!

Places to visit in Bangkok — Alms Collecting Buddha or Begging Buddha at Wat Arun

This Buddha statue is in Benjakitti Park – right in the heart of the city – and it represents the Meditation Buddha, the Serenity Buddha or the Calming Buddha. You’ll notice the gold sculpture is triangle-shaped which means stability and many people who are seeking peace and calmness will sit in front of the statue and meditate. Whether you’re into meditating or not, Benjakitti Park makes for a welcome break from all the chaos of the busy streets nearby.

This cool little statue sits in the middle of a lily pond, surrounded by potted plants and miniature trees, in the gardens of M.R Kukrit’s Heritage Home. The home of Thailand’s 13th prime minister, it really is very pleasant to wander around the grounds, surprisingly peaceful considering its location in busy Sathorn. It might not be up there on your to-do list, but I guarantee it’s worth the effort of finding it.

Head to Chulachomklao Fort, in Phra Samut Chedi District, and you will find this splendid statue of King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V) in naval uniform. It’s the first thing you’ll notice when you arrive at the fort – built to protect Thailand from invading European countries. As well as this cool statue, you’ll find a gun park, an underground bunker with several disappearing guns, and the H.T.M.S. Maeklong. Also, don’t miss the mangrove walkway with its resident and totally nonchalant monkeys.

This huge Buddha statue represents the Earth Touching Buddha or Calling the Earth to Witness Buddha and it sits on the shores of the Chao Phraya River opposite the small island of Koh Kret, in Nonthaburi. With legs crossed, left hand resting on its lap, and right hand pointing towards the ground, this statue depicts the moment when the Buddha attained enlightenment. In his efforts, he was tempted by the demon, Mara, so he meditated all night to fight her off. It worked, and he called the Earth Goddess to witness his success.

The best way to see Koh Kret is to walk or cycle along its pathways through local villages. Shop at the colourful market or you could try your hand at pottery – not as easy as it looks, but you’ll come away with your very own creation as a souvenir.

On the junction of Rama IV Road and Silom Road, you’ll see this impressive statue of King Vajiravudh (King Rama VI), dressed in ceremonial uniform, at the entrance to Lumpini Park. The statue was built by Italian architect, Corrado Feroci, in 1941 and pays tribute to the king who donated a piece of land, called Sala Daeng, to be used as a public park. There is a lake and a jogging track and it’s a popular place for people to spend time as the sun goes down. There’s wildlife too – around 30 species of birds and a few dinosaur-like water monitors.

Get off the BTS at Ratchathewi and walk back towards the Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre and you’ll come across this four-headed white-elephant statue which forms part of the Chaloem La 56 Bridge or Hua Chang (Elephant-Head Bridge) as the locals like to call it. The bridge was built to celebrate the 56th birthday of King Rama V. The bridge crosses the Saen Saep Canal where you can either walk along the pathway with loads of cool and colourful graffiti or take a boat in either direction to explore the city some more – traffic free!

This mammoth statue of King Rama I sits on the banks of the Chao Phraya River near the Memorial Bridge. The statue was designed by Prince Naris and made by Corrado Feroci in 1932 to commemorate the king who established Bangkok as the new capital of Thailand in 1782. From here, Yodpiman river walk is nearby where you can catch the ferry over to Thonburi or wander around the streets of Little India for delicious Indian snacks and a lively market.

Not far from Sathorn, in Bang Kho Laem district, is Asiatique The Riverfront – an open air mall, with loads of shops and restaurants, which really comes alive in the evenings. Asiatique is located on the former docks of the East Asiatic Company and they established the first international port to support incoming and outgoing trade. It’s there you’ll find these three bronze statues, looking out across the river, representing maritime activity from years ago. There are other similar statues nearby as well as a World War II bomb shelter, warehouses dating back to 1907, and a reproduction of the very first electric tram from the nineteenth century.

Also at Asiatique is the lovely Juliet Love Garden. This statue of Juliet stands, looking somewhat forlornly, in the middle of a small courtyard. The iron fence surrounding the statue has hundreds of padlocks with love messages inscribed forever.

I really love visiting the Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre. No matter what time of year, there are loads of interesting exhibitions and photographic displays. Sometimes, there are one or two sculptures displayed outside on the street. I have no idea what this big-breasted, pointy-eared, warrior-type statue is all about, but it always makes me smile. With its outstretched arm it never fails to catch the attention of people passing by.

Wat Saket, also known as The Golden Mount is a splendid place to visit and if you walk up to the top, you’ll be rewarded with 360° views out over the rooftops of Bangkok.

To get to the top, there are over 300 steps which snake around the hill and, along the way, you’ll find this golden Buddha holding a staff and a parasol – possibly depicting him as he travelled far and wide teaching Dharma. The statue is standing under the forest-green foliage in the middle of a waterfall – the water splashing over the grey rocks is soothing.

Accompanying him are three wise monkeys who “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.” The relationship these monkeys have with the Buddha is that he believed the human mind is filled with screeching monkeys – all vying for our attention. The Buddha believed that meditation can quieten the monkeys, so we can live peaceful and calm lives.

Overlooking the Chao Phraya River and Bhumibhol Bridge is this Buddha statue which represents Repelling the Ocean and Preventing Relatives from Fighting. Repelling the ocean relates to when a hermit tried to cause a flood, but the Buddha meditated for as long as it took to stop it. Preventing the relatives from fighting tells the story of when the Buddha’s family were fighting over water, so he raised his right hand which made them stop arguing. Bonus points for finding this statue! Clue – hop on a ferry across the river to Bang Kachao and get exploring.

This huge statue of Ganesha, a well-known God in Hinduism, is located in Sri Nakhon Khuankhan Botanical Gardens, in Bangkok’s Green Lung, full of tropical trees and flowers, a large pond, and several walking and cycling paths. It’s a fabulous day out if you’re looking to get into nature and relaxation. Mooshika the rat sits at Ganesha’s feet and, being a rat, they are able to chew their way through anything. A handy partner to have when you are known as the remover of obstacles.

Not far from Dusit Park is the noble King Rama V Equestrian Statue. Built in the early twentieth century, this statue was erected to commemorate the king’s coronation. He also contributed much to the modernisation of Bangkok and the cost of the statue was raised by the people themselves to show their gratitude.

Also nearby is Wat Benchamabophit and Bangkok’s Old City with lots of historical sites and temples, bars and restaurants, and hundreds of nooks and crannies just begging to be explored – you could spend the whole day in this area and only just scratch the surface.

I hope you enjoy exploring these places to visit in Bangkok as much as I have. Let me know what else you find on your adventures 🙂

5 Ways to Get Creative When You Live Abroad

Since I left the UK in 2007, I have become more creative and I have travelling to thank for that. I once read that people become more creative if they travel and see the world, but just how true is it?

I can’t speak for others, but I believe it is. The first time I went travelling, I became more interested in the world around me. I saw some beautiful, and not so beautiful, things. I experienced amazing things, I visited intriguing places, and I learned to open my eyes and appreciate the small things – to see wonder in them. Trees, birds, heck, even buildings. I was never interested in these things at home, but travel awakened a sense in me that I was barely aware of before. It gave me a new lease in life and I was more inclined to try different things and be more creative.

Now I live in Thailand and my creativity hasn’t gone – it’s only been enhanced. I love to write and take photographs, and I manage my two websites where I document life through my words and photography. I draw and paint (although not as much as I’d like), I’ve made my own Christmas decoration (still dangling), I’ve made presents for my family, and a vision board.

Ways to be creative when you live abroad — Handmade Christmas decoration

Living abroad has its challenges, one of which is you might not have the network of people that you have at home and you might need something to occupy your time – to stop yourself going a bit crazy. That’s certainly true for me and that’s where creativity comes in. It’s not just that, I find pleasure in creating things – whether that’s writing an article, or adding my photography to my website, or making something. It’s relaxing and you can’t beat the feeling of accomplishment when you sit back and look at your completed creation.

For naturally artistic types, living abroad doesn’t mean you can’t be creative. There are plenty of art shops to buy supplies (probably at a much cheaper price) and no end of inspiration, so here are a few ideas to get those creative juices flowing.

Photography

These days, everyone takes photographs of just about anything, but try and think of ways to make your photography more exciting.

Walk around, open your eyes and really take in your surroundings – by doing this I have learnt to look past the obvious things and hone in on the not-so obvious elements.

Instead of photographing everything, which I tend to do, think of ways to limit the amount of photographs you take by setting yourself daily challenges – pick a colour for the day or small details of buildings.

Find an art gallery or bar that holds photo exhibitions and talk to them about displaying your work – a great way to work on your creativity skills as well as other skills, like organisation and communication and, more importantly, you’ll have fun at the same time.

Make presents for family or friends by getting your photographs printed onto canvas – it’s not that expensive and it makes for a more thoughtful gift for your loved ones.

Draw or Paint

This is a fun and alternative idea to taking photographs and it will really stretch your creative skills.

I can draw better than I can paint, but only if I create something from a picture. There are no end of images you can use from the internet or you could use your own photographs to recreate into a drawing or painting – just choose your favourite images and paint them onto canvas or on paper which you can frame.

They look really fabulous displayed on your wall.

Take a sketch pad out with you and draw or paint your subject instead. I did this on a beach on Koh Tao in Thailand. I sat down with my sketch pad and pencils in hand and started to create what I saw. I had a couple of people approach me to see what I was doing and since I’m not the greatest artist in the world, I felt like I wanted to stop and run away! But, don’t mind about others or if you think that you can’t do it, everything you produce is your own creation and you should be proud of the finished article.

Start a Blog

Start a blog about your travels. I started my blog in 2013 after I had been travelling and was back in the UK for a couple of years. I kept a journal while I was away, so I had loads of material from my travels that I created into blog posts. Since then I haven’t stopped – I write about places I have been to and things I have done as well as thoughts that creep into my head now and again – like poems and a memorial for a friend who sadly passed away.

There is loads of inspiration all around you. Write about the things you see and do. Write about the people you meet. Write about the restaurants you visit and what you ate. Write about the places you visited and the feeling you had when you were there. Write about anything, the subjects are endless and it will serve as a digital record of your life and experiences. You could even use your photographs for story ideas or look in your books and find inspiration from their table of contents.

Start a Scrapbook

I did this when I went travelling. The day I left work, my team gave me a journal so I could record my travels. I wrote in it most days along with plane, train and bus tickets, photos, temple tickets, receipts, and museum pamphlets. It’s up to you what goes in your scrapbook, it’s your memento of where you went, what you saw, and what you did. Things are easily forgotten, so this is an ideal way to bring those memories flooding back.

Another idea is to buy a scrapbook, it doesn’t have to be big, and fill it with whatever inspires you – for me that was photography. I went through some old magazines and found pictures of art designs, fireworks, lanterns, beach and city scenes – things that I find interesting and ideas for my photography.

Make a Travel Vision Board

Vision boards are a great way to keep you focused on achieving your goals. All you need to do is to think about what inspires or motivates you and pin or glue pictures or words onto a board. Once your board is complete, place it somewhere where you’ll see it every day and your wishes will be implanted into your mind and hopefully come true.

I made a travel vision board. I used coloured card to cut out the letters of the countries I want to go to, then glued them onto a separate sheet and put it in a frame. I did another one of countries I have been to and used my photographs to cut out the letters. They now sit side-by-side next to my bed, so I can see them every day.

Who knows if the power of visualisation actually works – all I know is that Italy was one of the countries I wanted to go to and I went to Rome earlier this year! Regardless of whether it works, and I really hope it does, it’s a lot of fun putting a vision board together!

What creative things do you do?

Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere. ~Albert Einstein

5 Quotes by David Attenborough That Will Make You Love The Natural World

He has been called the greatest broadcaster of our time and for over half a century David Attenborough has been bringing the natural world into our living rooms with TV programmes like “Life on Earth”, “The Trials of Life”, and “The Blue Planet” – fascinating insights into the flora and fauna on Earth through incredible cinematography and storytelling.

I have always loved watching these documentaries and David Attenborough is someone I could listen to forever. His soothing tones mesmerise as he invites us into the lives of the amazing animals and plants that we share this planet with. Ever gently but with a serious undertone, he also warns us of the impact of human society on the natural world.

This man is loved by all and over the years has received many awards and much recognition for his work – as well as having 15 species of plants and animals named after him. He is a true inspiration and his passion for the natural world seeps into our hearts every time we watch him doing what he loves.

Quotes by David Attenborough that will make you love the natural world — David Attenborough at the Great Barrier Reef/ Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Here are 5 of David Attenborough’s best quotes of all time:

It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.
An understanding of the natural world and what’s in it is a source of not only a great curiosity but great fulfillment.
People must feel that the natural world is important and valuable and beautiful and wonderful and an amazement and a pleasure.
I just wish the world was twice as big and half of it still unexplored.
It’s about cherishing the woodland at the bottom of your garden or the stream that runs through it. It affects every aspect of life.

What is your favourite David Attenborough quote?

The Changing Seasons-August 2018

The Changing Seasons post, inspired by the lovely Sarah at Secret Art Expedition and hosted by Su at Zimmerbitch.

The month of August is behind us and we are one month closer to the end of the year. Why does time roll on at the speed it does? It’s because we are having fun and enjoying each and every day. I didn’t do that much last month, but it was still a blast.

On my day off, I met my friend for lunch at a restaurant on soi 101/1. You can’t really call it a restaurant as such, more like a family run shop with a few simple tables and chairs out front. The first time we went there, our ears were accosted with all the loud noises of the street, our conversation halted by cars tooting, motorbikes revving, and people trying to attract customers to buy durian and pineapples from the back of trucks. Still, it adds to the charm of that kind of place and we have been back a few times since then.

After our lunch of Pad Krapow Moo (pork and rice), we wandered down the road to what has quickly become one of our favourite hangouts – Zinc 101, a cheap and cheerful local bar which has a quirky promotion on Fridays. Forget “Happy Hour”, Zinc 101 has “Pressure Hour.” Every week between 7pm-8pm, large bottles of beer are just 65 baht (£1.53), but the discount is only available until the first person either goes to the toilet or leaves the bar! They barricade the toilets and you better hope your bladder doesn’t explode for a whole hour! (Not easy for me, especially after a couple of drinks!)

The following Sunday, Chris and I took a trip over to Sathorn to go to one of our favourite restaurants for a few drinks and we were shocked and disappointed to discover the place was closed. Shocked – it’s never closed on Sundays! Disappointed – we were so looking forward to sitting on the street under the canopy of trees enjoying a few drinks! We soon forgot our disappointment once we found a little Italian restaurant – Di Farina – a charming little place that looks like it does great pizzas (we are going back for the food), but it was only a quick pit stop while we discussed our new plan of action.

We decided on Charm Eatery, a place we have walked past many times, but never ventured inside, until this night. What a great choice, if only for their fabulous happy hour deal – 3 wines for 500 baht (a cheap option for Sathorn).

After we’d guzzled our drinks we ended up in Smalls, a buzzing bar with a delectable barman, Danny, who was happy to chat with us all night and recommend drinks to us. I stuck to my trusty red wine, but young Christopher was on a mission to try just about anything they had on offer – including Absinthe, the strongest of which was around 80% ABV.

So, although our evening had started with disappointment, in the end we went to new places, met new people, and had a really fun night out – although I was paying for it for the next few days! I really can’t cope much these days with late, boozy nights!

Let’s talk about some non-boozy things that happened in August.

One of my photographs got voted as top image on Viewbug which means it’s my most popular image in terms of how many people have liked it. As I have said before, there are millions of photographs and hundreds of photographers on this website, so it’s really fabulous when I get this kind of feedback.

Viewbug Top Images — morrisophotography’s Top Image

In an attempt to master my writing craft, I signed up to Udemy’s – The Complete Freelance Writing Online Course. I have heard of Udemy before, but have never used them until now. The freelance writing course is designed for beginners, which I’m not, but it has still given me ideas that I can use to help me on my freelance journey. I recommend looking at their website if you are yearning to learn something – there are hundreds of courses available, you can even become an instructor if you have something to teach people. Check out their website TODAY as many of their courses have massive discounts.

I’ll leave you with one of the songs from an all-time favourite movie of mine – The Rocky Horror Picture Show. 🙂 It’s guaranteed to lift your spirits and make you smile! 😉

Have an amazing September!

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.

Art in the City

These days, one of my favourite pastimes is to visit any of the hundreds of art galleries, here in Bangkok. I mean there are literally hundreds and I have not even begun to scrape the surface because I always end up at my favourite; The Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre or BACC as we like to call it.

I first went to the BACC back in 2014 and it never fails to amaze me. There are always interesting exhibitions on and, every time I go there, it feels like it’s the first time, even though I know every square inch of the place. The first five floors circle around the central atrium with displays of photographs, drawings, or paintings on the walls. It’s such a lovely environment to stroll around and simply enjoy the artist’s creations. The light is perfect too – there are big windows which allow the natural light to stream in, but there’s also recessed lighting inside which helps to show the art off in the best possible way.

Art Galleries in Bangkok — Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre

I’ve been to three art exhibitions over the past few months, each one different, each one just as fascinating and inspiring as the other.

Opera Omnia

Opera Omnia was held at the BACC and it featured 40 masterpieces by Caravaggio. Unfortunately, they weren’t the originals, they are all currently housed in museums around the world, but this exhibition was the next best thing! The paintings had been digitally reproduced in HD and, I’m happy to say, they did not take away the sheer brilliance of this master painter.

Caravaggio was active in Italy between 1590 and 1610 and he painted from life rather than drawings, much to the chagrin of his fellow painters. He was one of the great painters of the Baroque period and his use of Chiaroscuro, strong contrasts of light and dark, gave his paintings an almost life-life appearance. Much of his work depicts crucial moments, struggles, torture and death, transfixing his subjects in bright shafts of light. The intense realism of his paintings are what he became famous for and he greatly influenced many painters that came after him. Bernard Berenson, an American art historian, had this to say about Caravaggio: “With the exception of Michelangelo, no other Italian painter exercised so great an influence.” See if you can spot Caravaggio, he was known to include himself in some of his paintings!

Abandonia

I ventured to a new gallery called Jam, but it doesn’t really compare to the BACC, if only for the fact that when I asked where the gallery was, the guy asked me, “Gallery, what gallery?” with an air of disinterest in his voice. So much for promoting your place in a positive light! Luckily, another guy directed me upstairs, so I could find out what Abandonia was all about.

Bangkok is changing and it’s happening very quickly. There are many places that have been razed to the ground (don’t get me started on Hemingways!) to make way for shiny new hotels or condos! (like we need any more!) Unfortunately, no one cares about beautiful buildings or residents that have been in their homes for years or workers that are put out of jobs, it’s all about money. If the authorities are not careful, there will be nothing of interest left to see in the city. And, once it’s gone, people tend to forget.

Fortunately, there are people who want to remind people of what was, and Abandonia was an exhibition by Bangkok-based photographer Dax Ward who has made it his mission to go out and capture those abandoned places that no one cares about anymore. The exhibition showcases places in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand too. In his words, “Every derelict has its own history….they are reminders of what once was… the allure for urban explorers and photographers lies in identifying and capturing the remaining beauty in these forgotten locations…” Check out Dan’s website for more Abandonia photography.

Beyond The Air We Breathe – Addressing Climate Change

I wonder if we will ever realise how climate change can seriously affect the world we live in. This exhibition featured over 100 images by 80 world-renowned photographers, including one of my favourites – Steve McCurry, who have tried to depict the effects of a changing climate. Some of the photos are more than a little distressing, but all of them are stunning. Some are obvious in their message, some are not and it takes a while before you realise what the photographers are trying to convey. The capturing of these images is a powerful way to get the message across!

For photographs of the art galleries, check out morrisophotography 🙂

Caravaggio

Abandonia

Beyond The Air We Breathe

What art do you have in your city? 🙂

Get Inspired About What You See

I had this title written down for ages, but it wasn’t until I went to Chiang Rai in June that I finally got round to thinking about it and it wasn’t hard to find something that inspired me.

The countryside in the north of Thailand is just beautiful and, living in Bangkok, I sometimes forget just how beautiful it really is.

Things to do in Thailand — Beautiful Chiang Rai

I was just awe struck at the nature around me in Chiang Rai. The greens and browns of the open fields…

…mountains…

…rice paddies…

…trees proudly sporting their sweet and fleshy bananas and mangoes…

Flowers- purple, yellow, white, red, all manner of gorgeous bright colours in every shape and form you could imagine.

The blue skies with white fluffy clouds, clear and bright sunny days followed by the grey of a threatening storm before the clouds burst and the earth drowned under a barrage of rain.

Birds-swooping and diving looking for their next meal or chattering to one another in the branch of a nearby tree.

It was the beginning of the season and the land around me was brown and dying because of the lack of rain, but the changing face of nature will soon transform the environment into brilliant green and lush landscapes once more.

Green is my favourite colour and you can see it all around. Chlorophyll, responsible for all manner of greens; brilliant, emerald, forest, moss and jungle-all green, all different hues and values, in varying amounts, different forms, different shapes and sizes and all combine to form something that should be appreciated.

It wasn’t only the colours of nature that inspired me, the sounds of nature both inspired and impressed me. I sat outside my room in the evening and became aware of insects playing their nightly song, all in sync. Midges buzzing, singing cicadas, croaking frogs and, then, silence! A second later, their chorus of pulsating buzzes was back again. I was distracted by the local cat calling in the distance, but I chuckled to myself because it added to the free music festival I was enjoying.

Then, fireflies attracting mates or prey with their cool trick of bioluminescence. I sat and listened and watched. It’s not often I experience these sounds, but it was an immense pleasure to just stop what I was doing and listen along. It really was amazing.

Nature is nothing less than wonderful, just the sheer diversity of it is mind-blowing. I was well and truly blown away. If you ever get the chance to visit the north of Thailand, I recommend Chiang Rai wholeheartedly! 🙂

If you would like to share some of things that inspire you, I’d love to hear from you 🙂

The Changing Seasons-July 2018

The Changing Seasons post, inspired by the lovely Sarah at Secret Art Expedition and hosted by Su at Zimmerbitch.

I had two treats in July.

The first one was when I went to meet two very good friends, who I haven’t seen for a long, long time, 7 years to be exact!

Hailing from the Czech Republic, Lucie and Stefan are two of life’s shining stars. Always happy and always doing the things they love to do. I met Lucie when I did my TEFL course in Cambodia back in 2009. We travelled to Siem Reap together, got up at 4am to watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat, and became firm friends. They came to visit me while I was living in Surin and, since then, have been on their own epic journey through life, living in Colombia, travelling to SE Asia again, and now back on home turf where they’re currently studying for their PhDs and travelling when they can. So, when they told me they were in Thailand I just had to see them. We met for lunch in Bangkok and spent a fabulous couple of hours catching up. It was like I had only seen them yesterday, and I love that! It really was such an immense pleasure to see them again.

The other treat was going on a day trip to Krabi! Yes, a DAY TRIP! 😉 Chris and I have had some mad ideas, but this was probably one of the maddest. After discussing it over a few drinks, we booked it! All of 440 baht one way (£10.33). A few years ago, we went on a day trip to Saraburi to see the sunflowers in bloom. We went by train, early in the morning and didn’t get back until late in the evening, so this was our motivation for going to Krabi for the day, for lunch! That, and the several alcoholic drinks we had downed! The only difference would be that our mode of transport would be a plane rather than two trains.

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

Things to do in Krabi — We have arrived!

We arrived in Krabi at 10.15 a.m and got the free shuttle bus to town and went in search of the food market that Chris knew about. Bearing in mind that he hadn’t been there for a couple of years, we weren’t even sure that this particular stall would still be there, but it was, so we sat and enjoyed some delicious, and some not so delicious food. As I get older, I have become more fussy about what I eat, I know what I like and I, generally, stick to that.

Things to eat in Thailand — Second round was much more delicious

But, Chris is a foodie, through and through, and he will try almost anything. So, after the initial disappointment and thinking we had come all this way for something I didn’t really enjoy, we were then presented with some Massaman, a dish that comes from the south of Thailand. It was the best I’ve tasted and with the catfish and more Massaman, we were soon filled to the gills!

We left the market and caught a songthaew to Ao Nang beach. Sometimes, the journey is just as fun as the destination itself. The road to the beach was surrounded by high limestone cliffs and it is just so green, a welcome sight when you live in Bangkok.

Ao Nang has a laid-back vibe filled with many restaurants and shops along its short promenade, and the most beautiful stretch of sand that I have seen for a while, flanked by more stunning cliffs, palm trees, and, oh-so blue water with views out to Koh Poda and beyond.

We walked along the beach and had a paddle in the sea, we wished we had taken our swimming shorts because the water was so inviting.

We went in search of a bar, so we could sit and enjoy the views with our afternoon drinks. It was bliss!

Time goes so quick when you’re enjoying yourself, doesn’t it? We moved to a different bar and had one for the road before heading back to town to catch the bus back to the airport.

We arrived back in Bangkok around 10.00 p.m, took a taxi to our neighbourhood and had a debrief about our day over dinner. We realised we had travelled 1,600 km and been out for 17 hours! It was a lot of fun, but it took a few days to get over it!

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.

Poetry in Motion

Things to do in Sri Lanka — Poetry in Motion

A kite, soaring on the breeze
swirling and swooping
beat back by one smaller

hovering

wings flapping to keep still
searching, searching
no luck

moving on
soaring
gliding across the air currents

try again

Up, up again
swirling
spying until
something is there..

getting lower

hovering

a speedy dart back to earth
talons outstretched

a flurry of wings
as claws and fur collide

success at last!

Back at the nest, all will rest until the next day

Inspired as nature unfolded in Chiang Rai, June 2018