My trip to Thailand, though short-lived, was quite an experience ~ great place, new culture, new language, different people (on second thought, not much, as we look somehow the same), and… food adventures.
Bits and pieces of Thailand in photos...
1. The BTS or Skytrain
It's similar to the MRT in the Philippines, only more spacious and
the seats more comfortable. But the very big difference?... the people
are way more disciplined (no offense meant there. just objective observation).
2. MBK Center, Bangkok
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| The mall has an entrance connected to the BTS or Skytrain |
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| Swensen's in MBK Mall |
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| UCC Cafe at the basement level |
Right at the heart of Bangkok and connected to the BTS is this
shopping mall. What else can I say... it's a shopping haven (one of
the, actually). It is the most visited mall in Bangkok because of the
varied items and reasonable prices.
3. Siam Ocean World in Siam Paragon, Bangkok
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| A Chevy Fish Tank (no less)! |
One of Bangkok's famous attractions is this underground marine showcase. Located at the basement of Siam Paragon,
it has hundreds of marine life species on display in the largest tanks
I've ever seen. It is amazing how each and every fish tank in the
whole Oceanarium re-creates the natural underwater sea conditions -
water salinity, temperatures, and all.
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| Wall murals, intricately & beautifully done |
5. The Vimanmek Mansion or Teak Palace
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| Chanced upon a Komodo Dragon in the palace grounds |
6. The Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho Temple
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| The Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho Temple, Bangkok |
One of the largest Buddha images in Thailand, the Reclining Buddha
is housed in a huge building in Wat Pho. The Wat Pho Temple also has
more than 1,000 buddha images on display and a massage school. No
wonder this place comes highly recommended if you want to get the best
massage in Thailand.
5. Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm & Zoo
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| Elephant Show |
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| Crocodile Show |
Located in a 300-acre land, it is considered as the world's largest
Crocodile Farm and claims to hold the Guinness World Record for the
Largest Crocodile in Captivity (6 meters or 19 ft. 8 in.). They have
breeding facilities for crocodiles and is one of the biggest supplier
of crocodile leather to the world market. The zoo is home to numerous
species of animals, wild and endemic. An Elephant Show and Crocodile
Show is held in the farm regularly.
6. Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Ratchaburi Province, Thailand
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| The floating market |
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| The khlong |
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| A traditional Thai house in the khlong |
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| A nice resort along the khlong |
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| A closer look... |
It is the most famous floating market in Thailand. Boats can be rented which will take you to a tour of the khlongs
(canals) and get a glimpse of the life and livelihood of the people that
live along the banks, and the lush vegetation within. A different
world, that is... very nice & interesting.
7. Nong Nooch Garden in Pattaya, Thailand
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| A sclupture in the Pottery Garden |
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| The Butterfly Garden |
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| The French Garden |
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| The French Garden |
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| Topiary Trees |
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| Topiaries |
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| Shirts painted by the elephants themselves (during the elephant show) are sold at the Souvenir Shop |
This place is a sight to behold! It is composed of several themed
gardens inspired by gardens in countries all over the world. There is
also a Skywalk Access, a walkway built in and around the gardens which
gives you a panoramic view. The place is humongous, about 600 acres,
and it seems that one day is not enough to tour the entire park. My
advise, bring lots of water, a towel, and a bullcap or visor if you do
decide to visit the place.
The Elephant Show and Cultural Show for foreign visitors are held at certain schedules everyday.
8. The Wax Museum in Siam Cultural Park, Ratchaburi, Thailand
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| A giant buddha in the museum grounds |
Believe it or not, the wax figures in this museum are exact human replicas ~ down to the creases of the skin, hair follicles, moles and skin pigmentation. Amazing!
8. Wat Arun Temple along the banks of Chao Phraya River
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Taken during the river cruise along Chao Phraya.
Considered
as the world's largest market, it is the most popular market in
Bangkok. Open only on weekends, it has a plethora of items at very
cheap prices ~ from souvenirs to precious gems/stones, clothes to
shoes, bags, kitchenwares, housewares and even plants. It's a perfect
place for you to put your bargaining skills at work. And if you're
really good, you
may even get them at half the price.
And now... the FOOD. Pad Thai and Khao Pad are my favorites. And the spices, I love 'em!
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| Pad Thai |
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| Spices!!! |
Bangkok is a smorgasbord of street food, especially at night. As the malls close for the day, streets and sidewalks get lined up with food carts for your eyes and gastronomic juices to feast on ~ from the common, the not-so-common, and the exotic. Cream puffs the size of a 5-peso coin are sold on the streets, and mini donuts with, would you believe it, mayonnaise as glaze and filling. Exotic delicacies like fried crickets, scorpions, and worms are also available for the adventurous and not so faint-hearted to try out.
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| All sorts of "balls" |
A bit of information I find so admirable and fascinating is how much Thais love and respect their King & Queen ~ arcs that honor their King (such as this one below), can be found in main thoroughfares and highways all over Thailand. And that's just saying the least of how much they love, respect, honor, and treasure their King.
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