Re-discovering Bangkok

It has been full 2 years since I last visited Bangkok with my buddy Kenneth staying at Khao San Road. I went elsewhere like Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos to explore new things, new inspirations. Took up some photography courses this year and aim to re-look at things differently, no longer using old lens. Visited Bangkok, City of Angels again during this year's Christmas - to re-discover Bangkok from a different angle, and also to visit Hua Hin - a place that I want to visit for a while liao....

Life in Hua Hin is simple and less crowded as compared to other popular beaches in Thailand. A five-hour train ride (or three-hour bus ride) brought me there. A small town, friendly people and beach boys and girls. Woke up at 5 am, standing by the sunrise at Hat Hua Hin, strolling to Fishing Port to catch activities of locals. Sand castles - seem to be "missing" from our beaches lately....guess the younger ones back here spend more time in front of squarish box than the nature.

Dogs are many in the streets especially near the fishing port. Gotta to be careful as they look fierce and unfriendly, not like snoopy. I am very wary of pack of dogs grouping at a corner...they have strong sense of territorial boundary, and I dun want to use my camera to defend myself... :P

Flower market has been one key attraction of Bangkok. Again, with my "buddy", I woke up early in the morning (not 6 o'clock), and rushed down to the market to see the local in action. Alighting at Memorial Bridge, I went around the streets, filtering scents from the bouquet of roses, lilies, and early fumes from vehicles. Probably it is still "wee hours", I cant help the urge to crawl back into my bed after spotting a fellow vendor sleeping by his booth :P.

Visiting local ferry piers is also one of my agenda this round. Many piers are well-known to travellers and the classic is Sapan Thaksin - the ticketing station. I decided to stay at other piers to catch sunset of Bangkok along Chao Phraya River. Actually, the views of other piers are quite beautiful too, seeing more of the locals, less of the tourists. It is this experience, the experience of encounter with locals that normally add the extra spices to the memories.

Amusing - I was standing by Wat Arun in the evening, trying to catch sunset from a different view point. I heard a lady (later I know she was Sarah from Croatia) running to and fro finding exit point. After my capture of shots, I realised the entrance/exit points have been LOCKED! So, end up, pairing Sarah finding the way out. We have to meander around the temple compound, asking whoever we have met the way out to the pier. (Take note: The door to pier closes around 1730hrs!!!) I felt like "role playing" computer games (Gosh, cant even remember the names of the Games I played....really), searching the way out with Sarah.



Already said it was supposed to be a Christmas trip in Bangkok...so I will add a Christmas tree to end this blog. "World Trade Centre" at BKK has been transformed since the last 2 years. Can or cant recognise? It was one of my buddies' fav spot when we visit BKK....but it was soon losing its charm to MBK and other centres until lately. Crowds are coming back, I guess, when I compared with the crowd 2 years ago when I was there.
Bangkok, it has been a common travelling place for my buddies and me. We went there many times, the first was with Thomas, Dave, Kenneth and myself, the 2nd was with Alex, Kenneth, Dave and myself, the 3rd was with Kenneth at Khao San Road....and this round it is only me....

Many buddies are married and going to get married (Patrick?), I guess I will still spend some time with my "wife" (my DSLR) before thinking, or really thinking of settling down. Travel Photography is just like a relationship, it takes efforts and much time to understand and observe, and discover the unseen beauty. You need to take care of the tools and equipment and make sure all the batteries and accessories are available in order to take the best shots. By the word "Travel", you need to move around and search....the right spot, the right picture, the right timing, the right ISO..... I like the quote from "Practical Photography" and I re-adapt "When I look at my beautiful girl, I think F8 at 1/125....."
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!