Beaches of Thailand - Pattaya

Pattaya Beach, Thailand, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

We made a visit to Pattaya recently. The beach there is narrow and crowded and to my mind has very little to recommend it. As far as I am concerned that goes for Pattaya itself as well. We stayed in the Marriott hotel which was excellent - just a pity it is in Pattaya as we will not be going back. Pattaya gets many tourists but it is not really a place for families. Jomtien beach may be different as I am told it is much nicer.

Sunsets of Thailand - Laem Thong Beach, Phi Phi Don, Thailand

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Thailand is one of those places that has wonderful sunsets. Like most amateur photographers, I cannot resist the beauty of a sunset picture. There are many beautiful sunset photographs and i even like some of my own. This one was taken on Phi Phi and is quite unusual because I was more or less facing east when I took it rather than west. The light from the fading sun was so powerful that it created a sunset all across the sky. Look out for a photo of the sunset taken pointing west which I will post shortly.

Beaches of Thailand - Nai Thon, Phuket

Nai Thon Beach, Phuket, Thailand, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

This is a relatively quiet beach compared to the likes of Patong and Karon that are 2 of the more well known beaches on Phuket. Nai Than is also on the west side of the island but further north and not far from the airport. For me, it is one of the most beautiful beaches on Phuket with a wide expanse of white sand and it is also safe for swimming. There are not too many hotels in this area and it is far enough away from Patong and Karon to deter most people from making the trek which is why it is still uncrowded and populated only by those "in the know". How long it will remain this way remains to be seen as apartments are being built nearby. If you go check out the rustic Reggae bar at the south end of the beach.

Chinatown, Bangkok, Thailand

Chinatown, Bangkok, Thailand, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

Chinatown, Bangkok is a fascinating place and one of the oldest areas in Bangkok. The Chinese were moved to this area in the 1780's so the king could build the Grand Palace. This is Yaowarat Road which is the main street in Chinatown. It is famous for gold shops which line the street on both sides. Intermingled are Chinese medicine pharmacies, shark's fin restaurants and a few hotels. The pavements are also lined with vendors selling all sorts of things. This is just part of the fascinating area that makes up Chinatown in Bangkok.

Engines in Chinatown, Bangkok

Engines in Chinatown, Bangkok, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

Sampeng Lane in Chinatown, Bangkok is a famous market. It is a very narrow bustling place full of shops selling jewellery, fabrics, toys, shoes and just about anyting else you can think of. In the streets around the other (eastern) end of Sampeng it is quite different. The streets are full of bits of car parts from complete engines to axles, gearboxes and suspension springs. The whole place is a dirty oily mess and, as you can see, the parts are piled up to the extent that you cannot walk on the footpath.

360 Bar, Phuket Pavilions, Phuket

IMG_0180, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

The 360 bar in Phuket Pavilions is situated atop a hill with rather splendid views of Bang Tao Beach. As they have a happy hour from 5:30 to 6:30, there are few better places on Phuket to watch the sun going down whilst enjoying a cocktail. The cocktails here are prepared by expert bartenders using top brand spirits so they are actually quite a bargain as it is a "buy one, get one free" happy hour. Personally, I recommend the Long Island Ice Tea - two of those ensures that you are in for a good evening. Everyone we have taken there aged from 20 to 80 have enjoyed the experience.

Bangkok Garland Vendors

Garland Seller, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

Garlands made of jasmine are very popular in Thailand. Most Thais usually have one hung from the back of their rer view mirror. They give off a pleasant scent and counteract the fumes fo Bangkok. It is quite normal to see the garland vendors at busy intersections risking life and limb as they parade between the cars trying to sell their wares.@0baht is the going rate which is about 25 UK pence.

Songkran & Thingyan

Myanmar (Burma) Water Festival (Thingyan), originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

Songkran is the Thai new year and is the time when people should sprinkle water over each other to cleanse for the coming year. It has, however degenerated into pitched water fights that many people clearly enjoy but others do not. We are just a few days from Songkran, and the Burmese equivalent which is called Thingyan, and the shops are full of water blasting machines. If anything Thingyan is even worse as it continues unabated for 4 days. Podiums are set up especially near lakes, and water is pumped through hosepipes and water jets to soak anyone who is within reach.

The Erawan Shrine

The Erawan Shrine is located next to the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Bangkok. It was built in 1956 after a series of mishaps had befallen the building of a hotel - the Erawan. No further problems were experienced in the building of the hotel which was later demolished to make way for the Grand Hyatt. The shrine has a statue of Phra Phrom which is the Thai version of the Hinu god Brahma and is very popular amongst Thais who come to pray for good luck. There are dancers at the shrine who are paid to perform by people who have had their prayers answered. I also have a new Canon EOS 40D camera and this is one of the first pict

Lumpini Park, Bangkok

Lumpini Park, Bangkok, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

Lumpini park is one of the few open space areas in central Bangkok. The place is alive first thing in the morning and just before dusk with Bangkokians up to all manner of things. Jogging, Tai Chi, balroom dancing, Kendo, exercising, lounging, walking, aerobics and badminton are just some of the activities that go on here. I recently walked through the park at 6pm and there were literally thousands of people in there, many of whom were participating in aerobics. I saw at least 3 large groups of more than 100 people all following the movements of an aerobics teacher. It was quite a site and brought out such a sweat on me that I had to go and have a beer.

Lumpini is one of my favourite places in Bangkok and I never tire of wandering around the place watching what is going on. Even observing the Hari Khrishna lot is quite absorbing. One of these days I will count the number of times they sing "Hari Khrishna, Hari Rama" etc. It must get quite boring!

Banana Flower

Banana Flower, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

This is a banana flower. Usually, the flower hangs down on a long stem and the banas grow up the stem behind it. This one was spotted hanging over a garden wall in Bangkok.

Bananas are native to South East Asia, are widely consumed and come in many different varieties. The Thais eat the flower as well creating a dish known unsurprisingly as Banana Flower Salad. It is something that my wife Ann is quite partial too although personally I can take it or leave it.

Bangkok River Taxi

Bangkok River Taxi, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

This is one of the more interesting forms of transport in Bangkok. These River Taxis fly up and down the klongs (canals) at high speed stopping just long enough for passengers to alight and jump on board. The canals are quite narrow but it doesnt stop them travelling at such high speeds. They are an important component of the transport infrastructure in Bangkok. Notice that the 2 guys standing on the side of the boat (They are the ones who collect the fares) are wearing crash helmets. There must have been some accidents in the past for this to be the case as safety issues are definitely not normally a strong feature of Thai life.

Bayoke Hotel, Bangkok

P1090128, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

This is the Bayoke Hotel in Bangkok and it is the highest building in Bangkok. There is a bar on th83rd floor and a restaurant on the 82nd floor, both of which give excellent views of Bangkok. Unfortunately, the bar is not much to write home about and neither is the restaurant. We visited some weeks ago on a Friday night when they have an "all you can eat" buffet. Some people may like it ,but it is definitely not my style, so we won't be going back. The views were indeed spectacular though! I should mention that for a small fee, you can also go up to the observation deck so that may be worth doing.

Beaches of Thailand - Lamaii Beach, Koh Samui

Lamaii Beach, Koh Samui, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

This is just one of the beaches on the now famous Koh Samui and is taken from the almost deserted northern end of the beach.

Beaches of Thailand - Koh Phai (Bamboo Island)

Koh Phai (Bamboo Island)

Ko Phai (Bamboo Island), Thailand, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

This rather beautiful beach is on Koh Phai, otherwise known as Bamboo Island. It is National Park so you get charged to visit but the beach is lovely. It lies just to the north of Koh Phi Phi which can be seen in the background. There are no hotels here so it is mainly visited as a day trip by boat from Phi Phi or Krabi.

Beaches of Thailand - Surin, Phuket

Surin Beach, Phuket, Thailand, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

Having just spent Easter in Phuket, here is another Thai beach - Surin. Located on the west coast of Phuket, Surin is much quieter than beaches such as Patong or Karon. Although now visited by many tourists, Surin is very popular with the locals. This shot is of the quieter northern end of the beach. In the rainy season the beach is unsuitable for swimming as there is a vicious undertow which accounts for several unsuspecting tourists (who ignore the warning flags) every year. There are many restaurants lining the beach road and it is a great place to sunset watch.

Beaches of Thailand - Thung Wua Laen, Chumphon

Thung Wua Laen Beach, Chumphon, Thailand, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

This is Thung Wua Laen Beach near Chumphon which lies more or less midway between Bangkok and Phuket on the Gulf coast. It is actually not far from Koh Samui, but why go to Koh Samui when you can find an uncrowded, unspoilt beach like this. It is really beautiful with just a few small hotels (at least at the moment). There are many such beaches in Thailand that remain relatively undiscovered. Long may that continue!

Chinese Doors

P1040032, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

One of the good things about living in Thailand is that there are many, many arists that are quite talented so it is relatively inexpensive to buy or commission some original artwork. We were looking for a fairly large painting to cover a wall in our villa. I remembered that I had taken this photo in Georgetown, Penang some time ago and we decided to have it painted. It may not be to everyone's taste but the result was a spectacular painting which is so faithful to the original photograph.

The photos was taken at the Cheah Kongsi Clan House in Georgetown, Penang.

Bangkok – A Shopper’s Paradise

Bangkok is visited by millions of tourists each year, and it has become a shopper’s paradise rivalling Singapore and Hong Kong as the shopping destination of the region, thanks to its unique combination of prestigious malls, department stores, local markets, ubiquitous street vendors, and the bustling Sampeng Lane in Chinatown.

Bangkok has many malls scattered across its central area. These range from malls with hundreds of low cost outlets such as the Platinum Fashion Mall, or the famous Mah Boon Krung (MBK), to the luxuriously appointed, high end malls such as Siam Paragon or Gaysorn Plaza. MBK is aimed mainly at the locals, but is also often frequented by foreign tourists in search of bargains. On the other hand, Siam Paragon and Gaysorn Plaza are stuffed with expensive designer shops to attract a wealthier clientele. Most of these malls are designed to keep you fed, watered and entertained in between serious bouts of shopping as they house various entertainment activities such as cinemas, bowling alleys, restaurants, bars and karaoke establishments.

The recently opened Siam Paragon, which is aimed at the high end of the market, offers 5 themed shopping floors entitled Luxury, Fashion, Lifestyle Leisure, Living Technology and the combined floor of Paragon Passage and IT World. Most of the famous ‘designer’ label shops such as Versace, Gucci, Giorgio Armani and Thailand’s very own Jim Thompson are ensconced on either, or in some cases both, of the Luxury or Lifestyle Leisure floors. Additional floors are named Gourmet Paradise that features a wide variety of eating places from expensive restaurants to a food court; Siam Ocean World which is south east Asia’s largest aquarium, and Global Entertainment which houses a Cineplex, a bowling alley, the only IMAX and 3D theatre in Thailand which boasts the largest cinema screen in the country. The Royal Paragon Hall is also available for various entertainment events.

CentralWorld, previously known as the World Trade Centre has recently been extended and refurbished. It is now the largest shopping mall in South East Asia and is aimed more towards the mid range shopper. There are hundreds of shops and restaurants as well as the usual entertainment complex which includes a cinema, bowling alley and an ice rink. The department stores Isetan and Zen can also be found within this cavernous mall and the addition of a 5 star hotel in the near future will mean that you never have to leave the place!

MBK is usually hectic, full of young locals, incorporates the department store Tokyu and is the place for low cost clothing, cosmetics, jewellery, electronics and, especially, anything to do with mobile phones. The usual cinema complex can be found and there are food courts and restaurants galore.

Bangkok is also famous for its markets. Local markets such as Klong Toey can be found everywhere, but the most famous are Chatuchak, known locally as ‘JJ’, Pratunam, Suan Lum Night Bazaar and the infamous Patpong night market.

Chatuchak is primarily a weekend market and is just enormous. Served by both Skytrain and underground systems, it is easy to get to, and serves some 200,000 visitors per day who peruse the literally thousands of stalls offering just about anything you can think of. Art, clothes, pets, plants, furniture, antiques, household items, books, jewellery, ceramics, handicrafts etc., etc., can all be found in enormous variety at bargain prices. Impossible to cover in a single day, the full weekend is needed to even begin to explore the variety that this market offers.

Pratunam located across the road from the Platinum Fashion Mall, and incidentally close by the well known IT mall Pantip Plaza which offers the best in IT and electronic bargains, is the haunt of many locals seeking out garment and material bargains. Crowded and bustling, it is arguably the cheapest place for clothes. Jewellery and handicrafts are also well represented.

The Suan Lum Night Bazaar is due to close, but in the meantime, it is a haven for evening shoppers seeking Thai handicrafts, clothing, jewellery and locally designed products. Several restaurants, bars and a food courts are also incorporated into the complex.

Patpong, infamous for its go-go bars and seedy nightlife is equally famous for its night market selling all manner of ‘brand’ name goods. A tourist trap, but nevertheless a ‘must see’ area for the first time visitor to Bangkok, hard bargaining is required to get down to the prices that can paid elsewhere.

Street vendors populate the main tourist areas of Sukhumit and Silom roads to such an extent that it is often difficult to pick your way through them. Specialising in ‘tourist’ wares, they offer an interesting selection of articles and present a challenge to anyone’s bargaining skills. Bargain hard and you will probably be satisfied but make sure you check the quality.

Sampeng Lane slices through Chinatown and requires a certain amount of stamina to be able to withstand the crush and the heat that is a feature of the area. It is narrow and very crowded, but offers the shopper a wide variety of articles at the cheapest of prices. Some of the shops are ‘wholesale only’ but many allow you to ‘mix and match’. For example, you can buy 5 different pairs of earrings at the wholesale price for 5 pairs. As well as jewellery, this long lane offers, shoes, clothing, fabrics, accessories, paper products and much more. At one end of Sampeng Lane is the Paphurat cloth market. Predominantly Indian run, fabrics and Indian jewellery abound.

Shopping in Bangkok could well be the ultimate shopping experience. The number and wide variety of shopping opportunities make it an unparalleled destination – a Shopper’s Paradise.

The Chennai Tuk Tuk, India

originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

This is the Chennai tuk tuk. It whizzes around Chennai just as the Bangkok tuk tuks do but, if anything, they are even more scary, squeezing into gaps in the traffic. A definite experience!