Organised by Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas, the Bangkok Elephant Parade is in town. The elephants have all been hand painted, decorated and donated by artists and celebrities in aid of elephant conservation projects. The art work is both interesting and colorful. Go and check it out if you are in the area. The parade is at Siam Paragon until the 18th December.
Top 10 Alternative Things to do in Bangkok
Since I moved to Bangkok I have taken it upon myself to become acquainted with the city. And it is my mission to explore and find new places. Here are my top 10 alternative things to do in Bangkok.
1. Take a trip on the Chao Phraya River– this has to be my favourite way to travel in Bangkok. Not only will you get a different viewpoint of the city, you will see many sights that exemplify just how diverse Bangkok is. It is also the cheapest and quickest way to get to most destinations.
Click here for more information on things to do near each pier.
How to get there: The best way to get to the river is to take the BTS to Saphan Taksin pier, or if you are staying near Khao San Road the closet pier is Phra Arthit.
Open: Daily 6.00am-7.30pm
2. Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre– For anyone who needs a little culture fix whilst in Bangkok, visit the BACC. It is a huge place full of cafes and coffee shops, book shops and stalls selling crafts and homemade jewellery. There are 9 floors, all exhibiting art in different genres from paintings and drawings to film and theatre. You could easily spend the whole day there if you wanted to. A real must for art lovers.
Click here for what’s on at the BACC.
How to get there: National Stadium BTS, exit 3.
Address: 939 Rama I Road, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Open: Tuesday to Sunday 10.00am to 9.00pm
3. Visit Wat Po at night-Fed up with hoards of people? Then visit Wat Po at night. There is no-one there, save the odd security guard or monk. The main temple with the reclining Buddha is not open but you are free to wander around the grounds in the shadows of the illuminated temples and statues. It’s something that most people don’t do when they visit Bangkok but they definitely should. It’s a very calming experience.
How to get there: The simplest option is to take a taxi but that can work out expensive due to its location and the traffic. Another option is to take the ferry. The pier for Wat Po is Tha Tien (N8). Once off the ferry it is a 10 minute walk from the pier, or 2 minutes in a tuk-tuk or taxi.
Address: 2 Sanamchai Road, Grand Palace Subdistrict, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200
4. Go to Koh Kret– Koh Kret is a small island in the Chao Phraya River and located in Nonthaburi. It is a bit of a trek to get there but well worth the visit. The best way to see Koh Kret is on foot. There is a pathway that goes all the way round the island and a leisurely walk, through local villages, will take you around 1 ½ to 2 hours. There is also a market to browse and buy local Mon pottery, or countless restaurants to sit and have lunch while you gaze out over the river.
Click here for more information on Koh Kret.
How to get there: Take the once-weekly Chao Phraya Express, which leaves Saphan Taksin every Sunday at 09:00 and visits a number of attractions before returning at 15:30. The cost of the cruise and guided tour is 300 baht (no lunch).
Public bus 166 from Victory Monument, which travels all the way to the market in Pak Kret. From there, you have to walk about 500 metres, or take a taxi, to the ferry pier, located behind Wat Sanam Neua.
The Chao Phraya “green flag” express boat offers a direct service from BTS Saphan Taksin to Pak Kret (pier N33), from 06.15am to 08.00am. Return journey from 3.30pm to 6.00pm with no service on Sundays. The trip costs 20 baht and takes just over an hour.
5. Go to Talad Rot Fai Market– Translated as train market, this little gem in Srinakarin will give you more of a local experience than the more touristy places such as MBK and Khao San Road. Jam packed with stalls, selling everything you could think of, bars, actual bars to cocktail cars, and plenty of restaurants and places to eat. It’s also known as a vintage market, so if you want to find anything retro then this is the place. It will provide you with a lively and fun-filled evening.
How to get there: The best way to get there is by taxi but the traffic can get very busy so you should consider getting the BTS to On Nut and then get a taxi from there
Address: Srinakarin Road Soi 51, Nong Bon, Prawet, Bangkok, 10250
Open: Thursday to Sunday 4.00pm-1.00am
6. Have dinner and drinks at Hemingway’s– You like Thai food right? But sometimes it’s just nice to eat some food that reminds you of home, right? Hemingway’s is the place to go. A little oasis in the heart of Sukhumvit, the bar is a beautiful old colonial style building with a tree filled garden area and water fountain. They do a delicious range of Western food and an all-day happy hour on certain drinks. It feels like you are a million miles away from the busy Sukhumvit Road.
Click here for their menu.
How to get there: 1 minute from Asok BTS and Sukhumvit MRT
Address: 1 Sukhumvit Soi 14, Sukhumvit Road, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110
Open: Monday to Sunday 11.30am-1.00am
7. Take a stroll through Little India– Locally known as Phahurat this is the place to go if you are looking for a bargain. The myriad of stalls and shops sell everything from jewellery to fabrics and costumes. There are tons of places to eat and I particularly recommend The Royal India restaurant, on Chakphet Road. The restaurant has won many awards for their delicious and cheap food. It’s a really nice way to spend an afternoon, wander around the little alleys and see an alternative part of Bangkok.
How to get there: From Hua Lamphong train station take a tuk-tuk or taxi to Chakphet Road. Alternatively, the nearest pier is Yodpiman Pier (N6)
8. Hang out on Samsen Road and Phra Arthit Road– There is much to be discovered near to the infamous Khao San Road. Both Samsen Road and Phra Arthit Road are full of cafes, bars and restaurants that are definitely overlooked by their more well-known neighbour. Get an art, movie, and drinks fix at Chomp and Cinema Winehouse on Samsen Road. Or get a more authentic experience on Phra Arthit Road where you can sample some delicious curries with roti bread at Roti Mataba. Drink premium beer at Good Story or rest a while in the shade of a tree while enjoying the river views at Santichaiprakan Park.
How to get there: Take the ferry to Phra Arthit Pier. (N13) Leave the pier and turn left onto Phra Arthit Road. However, if you are staying on Khao San Road, Samsen Road is located at the police station end. Turn right. For Phra Arthit Road walk through Soi Rambuttri until you reach an alleyway which will lead you there.
Chomp, Samsen 1 Alley, 63-65 Samsen Road, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200
Open: Daily 9.00am-11.00pm
Cinema Winehouse, 61 Samsen Road, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200
Open: Wednesday to Monday 5.00pm-12.30am
Roti Mataba, 136 Phra Arthit Road, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200
Open: Tuesday to Sunday 09.00am to 10.00pm
Good Story, 72 Phra Arthit Road, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200
Open: Monday to Sunday 11.00am to 1.00am
Santichaiprakan Park-Phra Arthit Road, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200
Open: Daily 5.00am-10.00pm
9. Have Thai food on the street– As much as I love eating in restaurants and drinking in bars, you can’t quite beat sitting on the pavement, amidst all that chaos that comes from living in a busy city, eating freshly prepared Thai food. It is, by far, the cheapest way to eat and the best way to experience Thai food. The food stalls are everywhere, just look for the places where the locals hang out. If it is busy, be warned that some places sell out very early on in the day, but you can be sure that the food is very popular and very delicious.
How to get there: These places are everywhere but I have a couple of favourites.
Soi Convent for Khao Man Gai (Chicken and rice) 40 baht. Off Silom Road, nr. Sala Daeng BTS
Udomsuk Soi 103 for Somtam (Papaya salad) 35 baht. Sois 18 and/or 19, nr. Udomsuk BTS
On the corner of Atsadang Road and Trok Sake for Pad Krapow Moo (Stir Fry Pork with Holy Basil and rice) 50 baht. Round the corner from The Royal Hotel, Ratchadamnoen Klang Road (Nr. Khao San Road)
10. Go to Dasa Books– For all those book worms in need of a place to just chill the hell out, Dasa Books on Sukhumvit Road is the perfect place to relax with a coffee or two. They have a wide range of books in store, some of which are on sale for under 50 baht. I dare you not to buy anything.
Click here for their website
How to get there: Take the BTS to Phrom Phong and from there it is a few minutes walk. It is located in between sois 24 and 26.
Address: 4 Sukhumvit Road, Khlong Toei, Bangkok, 10110
Open- Daily 10.00am-8.00pm
See the Travel Guide Directory for more travel guides
Sampheng Lane Market
Sampheng Lane, or to be more exact Soi Wanit, is a little alleyway that runs parallel to Yaowarat Road in the heart of Chinatown in Bangkok.
On either side of this narrow lane there are shop fronts and stalls selling all manner of things from fruit and sweets to fabrics and handicraft supplies. It’s the place to go if you are into making things because you can buy products like beads, feathers, buttons and bows at a very cheap price.
There are so many fabrics to choose from as well. A variety of fabulous colours and textures, the displays adding to the vibrant feel of the place. The fabrics are also very cheap, some starting at 70 baht per metre.
There are a few jewellery shops as well- the best one is Coco House. Everything is 100 baht. Not the best quality but some really nice and cheap bracelets and necklaces. If you’re anything like me, you won’t be able to resist a peak insist. The walls are covered top-to-bottom in gold and silver jewellery.
Sampheng Lane is full of people and not for those who get claustrophobic. But if you aren’t in a rush to go anywhere, and you don’t mind squeezing your way along you will find a very colourful, very local and very cheap place to explore.
How to get there:
Soi Wanit is a 15 minute walk from Hua Lamphong Train Station. If you don’t fancy walking, get a tuk-tuk or motorbike from the station.
Bangkok Butterfly Garden
During the week I had a sudden urge to go and find some butterflies to photograph. I found the Bangkok Butterfly Garden and Insectarium near to Chatuchak Park.
The butterflies are free to fly around, in spite of the netting to keep them enclosed. As a rule I much prefer seeing animals in their natural habitat but it was nice to get a little closer to these beautiful little creatures.
The butterfly garden is located in Rot Fai Gardens-just across the road from Chatuchak Park. It’s a little hard to find as all the signs are in Thai but ask a friendly soul, like I did, and they will point you in the right direction.
Located near Mo Chit BTS
Address: Rot Fai Gardens (near Chatuchak Market), Kamphaeng Phet 3 Road Road, Chatuchak, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900
Open: Tuesday to Sunday 8.30am-4.30pm
Admission: Free
Alice to Adelaide in Six Days
Where else can you sleep under the stars, drink in an underground bar, and sit and watch the longest coal train trundle past? Australia, that’s where!
My original plan was to tour the Great Ocean Road before ending up with my relatives in Adelaide, but having been to Australia before and not gone to Uluru I forwent my initial plan and booked a trip from Alice Springs to Adelaide with Adventure Tours. I am so glad I changed my mind.
Upon arrival in Alice Springs I was picked up by a guy from Melankas, the hostel I was staying at for the night. I settled into the dorm, which I was sharing with two other girls. Two other people? It wasn’t big enough to swing a cat, let alone two other humans. Never mind, it was only for one night. After dinner and a couple of beers I went to bed early in preparation for my trip, but was abruptly awoken when my dorm companions came back sometime in the early hours- light on, chatting loudly. Obviously they didn’t know I had to be up a couple of hours later but, please, some consideration would have been nice. I tried to replace my annoyance with excitement as I remembered seeing Uluru from the plane. I managed to drift off back to sleep looking forward to the day ahead.
Day 1
I was up at 4.30am to meet the guide, whose name was Bullfrog. Not because he was reminiscent of a bull frog, but because he had a very husky, very sexy voice. I can neither confirm nor deny this because I have never had privy to what a bull frog sounds like, or if I have I can’t remember, but I took his word for it, and relished in listening to his sexy vocalisation.
That very first morning when I met Bullfrog I knew we would be friends. He had me on his list as Gillian, and I pointed out that I prefer Gill. He said afterwards that he thought I was a bit feisty. Who me?! But I love it when I meet someone for the first time and I feel like I have known them a lot longer, that’s how it was with us. Constant banter from day one and I am very pleased to say we are still good friends today. He is just one of those people that is very easy to get along with and we hit it off straight away. He wouldn’t tell us his real name at first and we spent one night trying to guess it. Oh, the things you do in the middle of the Australian Outback! In the end he told us it was Mark. Just so you know.
Anyway, no sooner as we had said hello, we were off on a two hour drive to our first stop at Kings Canyon.
Now, I am mostly a very sociable person and like to meet new people, and so I enjoyed chatting with a lovely girl that I met on the bus. She was really nice but by the end of the first day, she was really doing my head in. She kept asking:
“Where are we going now?”
“What’s this?”
“What’s that?”
I thought: I don’t bloody know, I haven’t been here before, ask the bloody guide.
Next:
“Why is the bus stopping?”
“Because there is a f****** great big camel in the middle of road!” (Actually, I didn’t say that to her, I thought it.)
Honestly, open your bloody eyes girl. Thinking back it is rather amusing but at the time I wanted to strangle her.
When we arrived at Kings Canyon, I was a little disappointed when we found out that we couldn’t walk up to the top of the canyon, one of the three walks possible in this area, but at the same time I didn’t want to die of heat exhaustion- it was only 8 am and already 40 degrees where we stood at the bottom, 50 at the top. But, am happy to report, that we managed to do a shorter walk around the Canyon.
Kings Canyon is part of Watarrka National Park in the Northern Territory. The red sandstone walls are over 100 metres high, and they stand tall on either side as you walk the trails below. There are pockets of lush vegetation but don’t expect any forests here due to the little rain and high temperatures. Nevertheless, the plants and animals have adapted very well to the extreme weather conditions.
After tramping around Kings Canyon for a while we were back on the road for a 3 hour trip to Uluru. This area is right smack bang in outback desert country. The scenery is gorgeous but relentless; the red sand looks as if it should belong on another planet and, due to the high levels of iron oxide, is the reason the area is called the Red Centre.
We got to our first camp at Ayers Rock Resort, unloaded the bus and then went to the lookout point to watch the sunset over Uluru. I find every sunset amazing, but this one wasn’t as amazing as I have seen in pictures. Even Bullfrog said it wasn’t that good. But hey, not to put a downer on things, we were sitting in the middle of the Australian Outback with Uluru in the distance. No-one could complain at that. It was awesome. And to top the first day off we got to sleep in a SWAG- a typical Aussie bush sleeping bag or “Sleep With A Guide?” That guide, Bullfrog, was very funny. We laid there in our swags with the whole sky above us, stars twinkling and not a sound-just our silent admiration.
Day 2
Another 4 am start. This time to watch the sunrise. Again it wasn’t that spectacular. Come on, where were the brilliant red colours and azure skies when you need them.
The next part of the day’s itinerary was a walk around Uluru’s base. Just a short morning stroll of 9.4 km! Just the thing to wake you up.
It was only 9.30 am once we got back. That’s the thing about doing stuff like this in Australia. It’s so bloody hot during the day, that you have to start the day’s activities at “ridiculous” o’clock. But I am not complaining. I love getting out and seeing stuff, whatever time of the day it is.
Uluru looks smooth and featureless from a distance, but when you get up close and personal the face of the rock is weather beaten and there are loads of holes and gorges, springs and rock caves. Uluru is said to be over 600 million years old, and it is steeped in Aboriginal history and culture. Some places are sacred so you can’t take photos directly of the site. It is really interesting stuff and our lovely guide was very knowledgeable.
In the evening we returned to camp and had dinner, after which we had a few drinks and attempted to play the didgeridoo. I was completely rubbish- I didn’t have enough puff in me to make even the slightest sound. We had such a laugh and I realised that I had made some very good friends in that short space of time. So much so that we became inseparable for the rest of the week.
Day 3
The following morning we began our journey to South Australia. When you cross the border, the time goes forward one hour- only in Australia do they have three different time zones. So Mark drove into South Australia, then back again into the Northern Territory. Four times he drove round in a circle, just for laughs. Everyone in the car park thought we were mad. It was hilarious. You had to be there though to appreciate the madness!
We drove to Coober Pedy- a town 846 km north of Adelaide. It’s known for its “dugouts”- underground residences that keep people safe from the scorching daytime temperatures.
It’s also known as the opal capital of the world because of the quantity of opals that are mined there. Opal was found in Coober Pedy in 1915, and since then the town has been supplying most of the world’s opal.
The landscape is rather bare, with hardly any plant life. Because of the interesting terrain filmmakers have used this area to film movies such as Pitch Black and Mad Max.
We had a little tour of the town and checked into our underground motel. All the accommodation was really basic but it was so much fun, sleeping outdoors and now, underground. We had dinner and drinks at the world’s only underground bar. How cool is that?
Day 4
Rawnsley Park Station was the next port of call- a cattle station nestled in the Flinders Ranges of South Australia. On the way we stopped to look at Lake Hart, a massive salt lake forming part of the Lake Eyre Basin which covers around 1,200,000 square kilometres.
When we got to Rawnsley Park, we cracked open a couple of cold beers, and walked up the nearest hill to watch the sunset. It was awesome. We saw some kangaroos and spent a good hour up at the top watching the sun disappear behind the horizon. That night we slept outside in our swags again, even though there were comfy air-conditioned rooms. We had become true bush-men.
Day 5
After a welcome lay-in until 7am, we were on our way. We drove through the Flinders Ranges to Wilpena Pound to do some hiking. Bullfrog gave us a choice of two walks to do and we chose to do the hard one (of course)- climb Mount Ohlssen Bagge.
It was hard going. The terrain was very rocky and loose stones made it slippy. It was quite steep in places but it was more than worth the effort for the views at the top.
We started the walk very tentatively because Mark had told us that this is snake territory, and if we saw one we were to stand still to allow the snake to slither across our hiking boots. Like that was going to happen. We didn’t see any, but am sure the snake would have heard us a mile away and kept out of sight.
The view from the summit was spectacular overlooking the natural amphitheatre of Wilpena Pound. For me it was one of the highlights of the whole trip.
From there we travelled through Bunyeroo Gorge, through sweeping plains covered in native pine trees and rugged gorges, and the home to kangaroos and yellow-footed rock wallabies.
We reached our last nights accommodation in Parachilna. Mark told us how busy the roads are in this area but we soon realised he was making a joke. There are only two people that live there, and a few buildings- the Prairie Hotel, the railway station, and the airstrip. The Prairie Hotel is owned by the Fargher family, and it is famous for their Fargher lagers and their F.M.G. dish- Feral Mixed Grill made up of kangaroo fillet, emu fillet mignon, and camel sausage.
We had a few drinks at the Prairie and at 10.30pm we all congregated by the railway line. With beer in hand we waited for the coal train. Believe me, this was the highlight of our stay in Parachilna. The train travels from Leigh Creek to Port Augusta and back again, picking up and delivering the coal. And what makes it the highlight? This train is the longest coal train in the world- 3 km and it took about 8 minutes to pass. It was thrilling because we got quite close to it (maybe not such a good idea, thinking back, we had been drinking), and we squealed with delight when the train driver sounded his horn as he passed us.
The next morning we were getting ready to leave and I saw everyone running out of the hostel. The train was on its way back to Leigh Creek. We watched it go passed again. One of the guys counted the carriages-165. It is amazing to see. The simple pleasures in life are the best ones and this was definitely another highlight of the trip. Easily pleased!
Day 6
We travelled further south to Clare, where we went to a winery. Interestingly, the town’s road system was designed by a draughtsman from Adelaide who had no knowledge of the local geography. There are several roads in Clare that end dead on a cliff face, and continue again at the top of the cliff. I know! Nothing to do with the winery, so back to the wine tasting. Not everyone liked their wine! What? I don’t think I understand? Are they mad? It’s wine! They kept pouring it in my glass. My love of wine has always been there, and even back then my reputation for liking it preceded me.
All that wine and several sheets to the wind later, we finally arrived in Adelaide. I had such a fantastic time with everyone I wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye. So we had one last night together. I spoke to Mark a few days later before he made the trip back from Adelaide to Alice Springs. He told me that the whole of central Australia was under a monsoon and all the Flinders Ranges and Alice Springs was flooded so they couldn’t get to some of the places that we had been to. I couldn’t believe how lucky we had been.
I am so glad I changed my plans and did this trip. I made some very good friends along the way, and I saw and did some amazing things in such a short amount of time. I will always remember my trip from Alice to Adelaide. The Great Ocean Road will have to wait for another time.
A little song about that little town called Parachilna for you to enjoy 🙂
Road Trippin’ in WA
Another year, another trip down under. This time I touched down in Perth, in Western Australia- the most isolated place in Australia. What I mean by that is if you were to travel due west, across the Indian Ocean, there is nothing in between there and the shores of South Africa, some 8,674km away.
In Perth I was staying with Angie, a friend’s auntie, and we decided to do a little road trip. The first day we headed four hours south to a little Australian bush town called Gnowangerup- an Aboriginal name meaning “the place where the mallee hen (Gnow) nests.”
We stayed with Angie’s friend, Amy, who was a white witch no less. I didn’t see any evidence of this but thought I had been put under her spell when I woke up the following morning and didn’t mind that I hadn’t drunk any alcohol on a Saturday night.
We left Amy’s the following morning and made our way further south to a place called Walpole. This area is famous for its giant tingle and karri trees, and one of the best things to do here is a tree top walk called the “Valley of the Giants.” The elevated walkway is 40 meters high, making for spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.
66 km from Walpole is Denmark, a coastal town in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. We went there to see Elephant Rocks- so named because the huge rocks look like a herd of elephants. It’s quite a sight to see against the backdrop of the Great Southern Ocean.
A ten minute walk from Elephant Rocks is Green Pools. It’s absolutely beautiful. The blue and turquoise water is crystal clear and licks the pure white sandy beach. It really was stunning. There was nothing to do but sit on the rocks and gaze at the scenery.
Our road trip took us to Albany next. Albany is the oldest permanently settled town in Western Australia. It also has an important role in the Anzac legend because it was the last port of call for troopships departing Australia in the First World War.
We visited the Desert Mounted Corps memorial on top of Mount Clarence. The memorial was built to commemorate the soldiers of the Australian Light Horse Brigade, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade and the Imperial Camel Corps from 1916-1918.
Another interesting stop in this area is Frenchman Bay where we went to look at granite formations called The Gap, Natural Bridge, and Blowholes. The rocks here were once connected to Antarctica when Australia was Gondwana. They are around 1800 million years old.
The Gap is, literally, a gap in the rocks where the ocean hammers into and makes a thunderous roar. The Natural Bridge is a huge granite arch and was once known as ‘Devil’s Gate.’ And the Blowholes are a series of crevices in the granite, gradually eroded by the Southern Ocean. When the waves force water through the cracks loud hissing noises can be heard.
We walked quite a long and windy path down to the granite formations, and we didn’t exactly know where they were but we heard them long before we saw them. With each wave the holes blow air and water out of the top. It made my heart pound though, and it’s quite mesmerising to watch.
On the way back we stopped in Bridgetown for food; Suttons Lookout for 360 degrees views, and Balinup to visit the cheese factory, and arts and crafts centre. We saw a dolphin at Koombana Bay-only a quick glimpse mind you, but I was rooted to the spot for 30 minutes in case it appeared again. Mandurah for fresh fish and chips, and finally back to Perth. I had a fantastic couple of days exploring a part of Western Australia. I am so grateful to Angie for driving- our round trip was a mere 1,400km!! That’s nothing when you are travelling around Australia.
The Uniqueness of Thailand
Since living in Thailand I have noticed that there are a few things that are unique to the place. Not just in one town or city but generally all over Thailand. Here are just a few.
Pavements
Where I come from, pavements, or sidewalks in America, are used for walking on. The reason they are there is to prevent against being ploughed down by the passing traffic. Not so in Thailand. In Thailand, there is little room for walking. There are food vendors, plants, restaurant seating, restaurant signs, rubbish, dogs, cats, and motorbikes. Yes, motorbikes, I kid you not!
Not to mention that they are badly in need of re-surfacing, so even if they were clear of stuff you still have to watch where you are walking. Also, the drain covers sit about two inches above the rest of the pavement. Just two weeks ago, I wasn’t watching where I was walking and tripped and managed to peel the skin off the back of my big toe. There was blood everywhere and it stung like anything. And let’s not forget the ceramic tiles that are cemented in around the brickwork. They are lethal, especially when it is raining. Flip flops and ceramic tiles do not work well together.
Volume/Loud Speakers
As someone who likes a little loud music- living in Thailand is somewhat disturbing to the ears. The Thais seem to have no knowledge of volume control. As you walk along, (not on the pavement) minding your own business, you nearly jump out of your skin when a passing truck blares music out of the sound system, advertising something or other. And I mean it’s so loud that you cannot hear what anyone else is saying until the damn thing passes by and is out of earshot. It’s not just trucks- young people in cars, bus drivers, motorbike riders with mini sound systems attached. I really don’t understand why they have to have the music so loud. Is it because they think no one can hear? (I get that if they are advertising something) or is it because they are impervious to it? Whatever the reason I think they should turn it down a notch!
Whitening Products
From a nation that wants to be brown and spends countless hours sunning themselves on the blazing hot holiday shores, to a nation who wants to have a white-skinned complexion is an interesting concept.
For me, I feel so much better with a tan- I feel healthier. I am not forgetting the risks of skin cancer, but to find myself amongst people who want to be white-skinned is rather strange. The Thais are a beautiful race but, I guess, like us they want to be different. So this is why you see a huge range of beauty products for sale which contain a whitening element. Some people even go so far, and I know a guy who did this, as to take pills or inject the same whitening element. Injections seem kind of extreme but this is all in their quest to be whiter.
I inadvertently bought a bottle of shower cream and, only after six weeks of using it, I realised it was part of the product’s “light white” range. Everything from lotions, shower gels, soap and face creams-it’s a booming business in Thailand.
Environment-friendly? Not!
Whenever you go shopping to the local supermarkets, the staff will pack the bags for you. They put only a limited amount of items in each bag, so you end up with far more bags than you actually need. They even double bag the heavier items. Seriously, all that plastic is not good for the environment. It’s not only in supermarkets. All the 7-11 shops give you a straw and a bag every time you buy a drink, two straws if you buy two drinks. If you pick up some takeaway food- guess what? That goes in a plastic bag as well.
So now I either pack the bags myself, but I don’t get away with this very often because there is always someone standing by to pack them for you. Or I say no to two straws and a plastic bag. ‘Mai Ow Toung.’ Literally- ‘no want bag!’
However much I find all this rather strange, I really love living in Thailand. It has really opened my eyes to a very different and unique way of life.
Is there anything unique about where you live? 🙂
Creative Blogger Award
I am always honoured when I receive one of these awards. It means so much to me that someone acknowledges the work I do with my blog. So I thank 4yearoldadult for the nomination for “Creative Blogger Award.”
The rules for accepting this award are:
1. Display the logo of the award on your blog
2. Nominate 15-20 blogs and notify them about it
3.Thank the person who nominated you, and link to their blog in your post
4. Share five random facts about yourself
5. Pass on these rules to the nominees
Random facts about me:
1) I won bronze medal at tap-dancing when I was a child.
2) I came second in a body-building competition (when I used to have abs!)
3) I studied Mythology in the Greek and Roman Worlds as part of my degree.
4) I am currently writing a book.
5) I have rediscovered boxing as part of my exercise routine.
I nominate the following bloggers for this award:
3) http://janalinesworldjourney.com/
4) https://amaltaas.wordpress.com/
5) https://kmihran.wordpress.com/
6) http://melodysweddingphotography.com/
7) http://windagainstcurrent.com/
8) https://myoutlookinlife.wordpress.com/
9) http://johnpoetflanagan.com/
10) http://inesemjphotography.com/
11) http://ceenphotography.com/
12) http://latitudesandattitudes.net/
14) http://theinsatiabletraveler.com/
15) https://jmlysun.wordpress.com/
Looking forward to the responses of the nominees.
🙂 🙂
Jazz on Sukhumvit
Well, in my effort to go to new places I haven’t been doing bad over the past few weeks. New bars and restaurants and more recently Jazz on Sukhumvit.
Jazz on Sukhumvit is a spot of jazz held, you guessed it, on Sukhumvit Road every Sunday afternoon from 2.30pm until 6.00pm, and let me tell you it’s a fab way to spend an afternoon.
It’s held at Check Inn 99, located in between sois 5 and 7 near Nana BTS station. When my friend, Mike, suggested we go there, of course, I was all over it.
The entrance is very small, so small I have never noticed it before, but it opens up into a dark, but cosy, low ceilinged bar, with tables and chairs set around a small stage at the back. The staff are really friendly and the food and drinks are all reasonably priced. 95 baht for a chicken kebab or jacket potato.
The place has a resident jazz band that, I am told by Mike, play at other venues in the city. If you fancy a jam, pick up your chosen instrument and the band will happily accommodate you for a couple of tunes. Let me say this though, if you are less than average I wouldn’t bother because these guys are good. Really good. I mean you could just see, hear and feel the passion they all have for what they do.
The musicians played a variety of instruments like bass and acoustic guitars, saxophone, trumpet, drums and keyboard. A real combination of sounds that truly are amazing to listen to.
They invited three singers to join them, one woman and two men. The woman was good but the men’s voices kind of blew me away. The first, older guy, his voice was so silky and the silkiness poured out of his mouth throughout the whole bar. It was mesmerising. The second guy came on last, and talk about saving the best for last. He sang “Summertime” in a way that gave me goose bumps.
I don’t know much about jazz but I do know I like to listen to music that makes me feel good. I enjoyed it so much I had tears in my eyes. It really moved me. To see the passion these musicians have for their work is truly inspiring.
Everyone who comes to this venue share an appreciation for the very talented musicians who play there and to listen to some wonderful music.
It was over all too soon but it certainly opened my eyes to a whole new world. So I would like to say thank you to Mike for that. I shall certainly be returning to enjoy some more Jazz on Sukhumvit and I think, if you’re in the neighbourhood, you should too. You won’t regret it.
Here is the original “Summertime” by Ella Fitzgerald for you to enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XivELBdxVRM#
There and Back Again
There and back again, as the Hobbit wrote.
I am no Hobbit, far from it. I am more than 3 feet tall, 5 feet 6 inches just to clarify. I don’t have hairy feet-well not permanently- and my ears are a normal, non-pointy size.
What I do have in common with hobbits is that I like to have adventures. Not adventures in the escaping orcs and dragon kinds, but adventures in that I like to explore my surroundings. Maybe “adventure” is the wrong word because it’s more like walking but it’s my adventure all the same.
So, I like to walk. I walk everywhere. I think you see a whole lot more on your own two feet than if you are stuck on public transport trying to get somewhere.
I have lived in Bangkok for almost a year and every week, on my day off, I go to the other side of the city and engage myself in trying to learn the language. Afterwards, I walk.
Somewhere.
I normally have some sort of plan of where I am going. I don’t just walk aimlessly but I must have walked over 100 km in the past few months. I started a project researching Bangkok’s European Heritage-more of that at a later date-and I have walked around the city taking photographs of monuments, parks and temples and visiting museums, bridges and railway stations. But wherever I have gone, I have walked.
100 km may sound like a bit of an exaggeration but I bet it’s not far off, it might be even more. Take a couple of weeks ago. I got off the BTS at Victory Monument, walked along Petchaburi Road, continued all the way along Lan Luang, onto the Democracy Monument. Passed that, to Saranrom Park and Wat Ratchabophit and back again. I didn’t stop there. I was on a mission to find the Royal Thai Army Museum but the armed guards kept telling me different things. I gave up with that. I walked to a couple of other places before catching the boat to get the BTS again to go home. I clocked the journey when I got home and I had walked 14 km. That’s just in one day. And I have been doing the same sort of thing for the last few months. Not bad eh?
Some say I am mad. They say “that’s what public transport was invented for.” But for me I just love walking places.
When I first moved to Bangkok I only knew a small part of it but now I have found my bearings a lot more, and I can easily picture the different districts in my mind. I just know where things are now, and how to get there. I can’t take all the credit for my new found knowledge. I have had some help in the form of Google maps. Before leaving home, most of the time, I check the route to take. Bangkok is a huge city you know.
As I said at the beginning I don’t come face to face with dragons, orcs or friendly wizards but my “There and back again” is an adventure of my own.
If only the hobbits had Google maps. They maybe would have found an easier way to get where they were going- and, of course, back again!
