当我们同在一起

The modes of transport are very interesting in Thailand. So, thought of dedicating a blog to the transportation "thots" I have for the trip.  Sometimes, I do wish that we could travel by river boats to our place of destination. As a backpacker, bicycle is a usual mode of transport.  We rented our bicycles in Sukothai and the rates were very reasonable and the bikes were quite hardy for the rough and dirt tracks that we planned to travel Xp.  Well, I love to cycle around the ruins and I could not imagine how one can walk around in the big complex on foot.  It was important to secure our bikes together at each historical spot - Bikes locked together while we walked and snapped our pictures together.

当我们同在一起, 脚车也扣在一起.

We spotted an interesting tuk-tuk plate no in Sukothai. I wondered whether all the tuk-tuks in Old City have the same plate no. or the "No1" tuk-tuk was really the Number 1.  I thought it would be interesting to shoot a photo with this "No1" - and hence we consumed a few bytes with this "No1" tuk-tuk. Business for this No1 wasnt No1 though - as most of the visitors were on their own wheels.

当我们同在一起, old city也变new了.

Songtheaw is more common in ChiangMai. We got to share the Songtheaw with other passengers who happened to travel along the way. Bargaining was a challenge especially if you encountered older driver. We tend to support them since they were still working so hard at older age.  The driver who we hired was relatively old too, but he was a nice grandfatherly-look guy. He went extra miles by asking us to alight half way to take pictures of ChiangMai town from the mountain. He explained using thai and hand languages which we managed to understand that there would be heavy fog up the mountain which we might end up not able to get the bird-eye-view of the town. 
I didnt like to stick to timings or fixed schedules when travelling and taking my DSLR. My dear reminded me to be punctual and so we guai guai sticked to the timings that we agreed with Uncle Songtheaw. Xp. Actually, my dear is more kind than me.

当我们同在一起, 我们都可以更上一层楼.

Train is our fav this round too. Very clean and comforty - it has enuff leg room too. A funny encounter was that we were trying to figure out how to dis-assemble the tables/ceilings to transform them into beds for both of us.  I got stuck with trying to transform the tables/chairs into beds - have to give up and observe how others do it. Well, in the end, we realised that we needed a particular screwdriver to unlock the catch and transform into upper and lower beds for resting. So funny.

当我们同在一起, 一起 malu也没关系.

Like the river boat alot. It is one of the best way of seeing Thailand without trapped in the heavy traffic and heavy fumes. U get to mingle around with locals and it is a relatively cheap transport. No traffic lights, just whistles here and there to signal each new stop.  On top of that, the sun, the sky and the river....

I didnt remember when was the last boat back to Saphan Taksin which we could catch the BTS back.  So, we tried our luck waiting for the boat at 1900hrs++. Earlier we had our ChangBeer and Onion Rings. We saw some locals still waiting for boat so we assumed there would still be a boat back.  The river traffic really dies down after 6plus in the evening. Not much motor engines, whistles and noise. Chao Phraya River was serene and quiet - very different from the morning peaks.  Of cos, we got into a boat - lesser people - but still similar speed.  Hee, lucky still got boat which solved our issue of getting back to town.

当我们同在一起, 真快乐无比.

重返 Sukothai

It is one of my travel aspirations to go back to Sukothai and stay near the historical park - to wake up early in the morning (6 O'clock), catch the morning market activities and the routine lifestyle of the people in the old town of Sukothai.  So, we backpacked into the guesthouse that was just situated opposite the historical park =). 
It is interesting to take a stroll along the old town in the evening or morning (think quite tough for us to wake up that early though as sunrise in Thailand is usually before 6 am). The town was quite quiet and peaceful - no nite food bazaar as compared to the new town. However, the evening market was equally interesting - we bought my fav thailand longan and most interesting was we bought local "bermudas". We probably will only wear it during our backpacking trip in Thailand bah - the donning of the berms also need certain skills - "tie here, tie there, everywhere tie tie".

绝不会忘记要看日落, 终于可以一起看日落了. 两个人, 两副相机, 两辆单车, 感觉很好.
Went back to the same spot that I have previously sat to wait for the sunset. We met a group of "khun thai" (Thai people) who were waiting for the sunset as well. The ladies told us that the scene would be fantastic, just like the postcard pictures. There was a group of family having picnic - something that I would like to do so last time too.  We did the same this time - feasting on our longans and our mineral water as we were still early. Though the weather was cloudy and maybe we might not see a round round sunset, it was equally enjoyable.
We switched location to a Wat near the pond - it was nearer to the entrance/exit and we could also capture the Wat with the sunsetting backdrop. There were no lamp posts in the park as the sky grew darker.  My dear asked me what I meant to see a sunset - must a round round red sun setting constitutes a sunset? It was something that I did ponder for a while. In photography, we could hide the sun behind a lamp post, a building or a mountain if we are unable to get a nice round sunset - the picture will be equally inspiring. Perhaps, I am a perfectionist? Craving for the perfect round round red red sun setting right in my eyes Xp. Funny that some times when we aspire to take certain pictures framed in our mindsets, we ignore or totally oblivious of the other equally good pictures that we could take. No red round round sun setting could also be beautiful as well.
By 1900hrs, the park was really dark and we cycled towards the entrance to find our way out. Gates locked and closed! Luckily, there was a small "lobang" besides the gates where we could still push our bicycles through, taking care not to touch the barb wires. Subsequently, I recalled that was my "escape" route during my last trip as well. Poor memory me.
We like the peacefulness of Sukhothai. Kampong style, light traffic, Sukothai noodles, friendly locals... we enjoy cycling past padi fields, herds of buffaloes and rivers as well as background Thai music of some open air "food court".  Teaching my dear how to speak Thai and "forcing" her to communicate in Thai to local street vendors is equally amusing too. Under the hot sun, blue sky, scent of grass, low decibels - it is an experience that we treasure. 
It is an experience that I long for.

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!