Category: Bangkok

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Jatujak Weekend Market

Saturdays in Bangkok is always spent at Jatujak Weekend Market.

This is where  I buy stuff I need for the house. May it be ceramic knobs, water jugs and various colored water goblets. Even cheap underwear and swimming trunks I get here. Over the years, I have made a list of my favorite shops.  There’s a leather shoe/sandal store here. On this visit, my preferred sandal designis no longer in production. According to the proprietress, she promises it will be back on sale on mynext visit. My favorite perfume shop is right behind the MRT station. Unfortunately, the stall that sold my favorite shorts is no longer around. Every time I wore their shorts, I get stopped in the street and get asked where I bought them.

My trips to Bangkok will never be complete if I don’t set foot here.

Jatujak Weekend Market is accessible via MRT Chatuchak Park Station or BTS Mo Chit Station.

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Eating in Bangkok: Laduree

 

A great way to spend the afternoon away from the blistering heat of Bangkok is to take refuge in one of the malls.

My friends and I, had some coffee and macaroons at Laduree. Although, it can be a little pricey, but to spend time with this two in a place like this is a luxury we don’t have often. Our time spent together is all that counts.

Laduree Thailand is located on the M Floor of Siam Paragon.

 

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Eating in Bangkok: Sukhumvit Soi 38

A trip to Bangkok is never complete without visiting the food stalls at Sukhumvit Soi 38.

 

Over the years, the area has changed and right now, there’s only a small area left. Blame gentrification. Anyway, my friends and I enjoyed a sumptuous dinner of authentic Thai food on this balmy Bangkok evening.

 

The food stalls of Sukhumvit Soi 38 is open from dinner time and is an easy 2 minute walk from Thong Lo BTS Skytrain station.

 

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Jatujak Weekend Market: Karmakamet

A favourite in Jatujak Weekend Market, Karmakamet the perfume store. It’s always Javanese Vanilla, Cotton and Lotus for me.

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Feeding Dumbo

August 2009

Elephant Camp

Ratchaburi, Thailand

 

 

~

I look around me.

We are speeding past the expressway.

I look down at my watch.

It’s a little past 7 am.

I decide to doze off yet again. That 6 am pickup  was too early.

I shift on my seat, closed my eyes and brought my shades over them.

…

My tour guide’s voice slowly woke me up an hour later.

As I gazed out the window, an elephant is starting to appear clearer and clearer.

~

 

I decided not to go on an elephant ride this time because I was running out of cash. 600 Baht will pay for my cab ride to Suvarnabhumi later that night. Hopefully I won’t have to pay for excess baggage.

I made a mental note to my self that I would make sure to ride on one when I return.

For 100 Baht, you get a bunch of Bananas to feed them.

That’s as close as you could get.

 

 

It was my first time to feed an elephant.

It’s a bit scary when they reach out to you. Especially when they blow air out of their trunks at the same time.

Having elephant snot on your face at 8 in the morning is not a pleasant feeling.

It is an amazing feeling none the less.

“How can a giant be so gentle?”

 

 

100 Baht worth of Bananas won’t last very long.

It’s all gone in one gulp.

I bought her another bunch.

It too, was gone in one gulp.

I wanted to buy more, but I realized that those were very expensive bananas.

Sorry Dumbo.

 

 

 

 

~

 

To get to Elephant Camp you have to book a whole day or half day tour.

Your hotel or guest house can help you with this.

It costs around 800 Baht for a half day tour and around 1500 Baht for a whole day tour.

A half day tour will bring you to the Floating Market and the Elephant Camp. The prices stated above are exclusive of the paddle boat ride and the elephant ride.

A whole day tour will bring you to the Floating Market, the Elephant Camp, the Handicraft Center, the Rose Garden Show, the Elephant and Crocodile Show, and for the Cobra Show.

The price stated above excludes the payments for the paddle boat ride around the floating market, the elephant ride, the entrance to the Cobra show and the entrance to the Rose Garden Show.

The paddle boat ride at the floating market : 150 Baht per person

The elephant ride : 600 Baht per person

The cobra show : around 200 Baht per person

The Rose Garden Show: 500 Baht per person.

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Some Things Never Change Along Khlong Damnoen Suduak

I came home from my recent trip from Bangkok.

The usual goes.

Downloading my photos.

Segregating my photos.

Deleting some of my photos.

And I discovered something.

~

August 2009

(two years ago)

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I started my floating market tour, this woman selling an assortment of hats greeted me.

 

September 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two years later, she’s still there selling hats.

Still the same woman.

Same expression.

Same hair length.

Same hair color.

Same checkered over shirt.

The only difference is, she’s on the other side of the canal.