Monday 30 July 2018

HOPs - the House of Paws


HOPs - the House of Paws is a Pet Cafe in Siam.



They are not my particular choice  of a place to visit but you must visit once and my daughter does enjoy them!



Find them a little expensive personally and the drinks they make you buy not something I liked and either of us finished.


Phone Number: 089 896 8690
Approximate Price: $$$$$
Address: Soi Chulalongkorn 64
Hours: 11am - 9pm (Tues-Fri) 10am - 9pm (Sat-Sun) Closed Monday




Friday 27 July 2018

The Golden Temple Mount (Wat Saket)



The Golden Temple Mount is somewhere I see quite regularly because I get off at the Phafna Bridge river taxi stop.   

The Golden Temple Mount is quite easy to see as it is high above things around it. But it was not always this big. The mount was initially built quite simply with the Wat Saket complex and was a Chedi but it is believed that the project was a little over ambitious and the Chedi was too big and the soil could not support it's weight - leading to it collapsing.



The ruins were left and grasses grew over them - during the reign of King Rama IV a Chedi was built on top of it. Then there was a gift of a Buddhist image from India which was placed on the hill and was were built around it. Then concrete was added to the hill to stop erosion any further. Relics of this period can still be found amongst the sides of the hill - for example Chinese gravestones. 


 At this point it is interesting to mention that the hill was also a mass burial ground in the late 18 century for victims of cholera... This practice of dumping dead bodies became the feeding ground for vultures. This spurned the practice of people bring the dead body and placing a coin in the mouth which was to be taken with them to assist them in the afterworld - this money was taken by the 'caretaker' to ensure the body was not eaten...
These 11 unique Villas provide ultimate comfort in a sublime, refined and breathtakingly beautiful abode. These are the dimensions of the pool - Outdoor Pool size : W3.1m x L4.0m x D1.2m 



There are a great many steps to get to the top.


Luckily there is a coffee shop on the way up the hill and it was pretty good as well. 



What made this site more interesting was the plethora of different things that you can go to see.

  1) Luang Por Dam  


  2) Fortune Buddha
  
  3) Lucky Buddha  


  4) Luang Por To

  5) The footprint of the Buddha  


  6) The vultures of Sakret Temple


You can get to the very top and there is a 360 degree view over Bangkok here - a wonderful opportunity. 



Then there was more...

There are a great many more places to see around here 
- try the Loha Prasart (Buddhist Complex).

TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com - Wat Saket
 




Tuesday 24 July 2018

Siam Square and around


Siam Square is enormous and there is so much to find. It is divided into numbered parts and I have to be truthful I do not know the difference. The location below is for Siam Square One and there are a great amount of alleyways outside and other places to visit. Here are some TripAdvisor Reviews and Bangkok.com are just two. Here are just some of the photographs;



Lots and lots of places to buy shoes.


Unfortunately Shark Fin is still popular here...



A petting zoo - now closed...



The Scala Cinema has a great DVD shop at the front...




And so much more - I could not mange to be able to list it all - but take a wander about and you will be surprised what you will find...





Saturday 21 July 2018

Wat Thepthidaram Worawihan



Wat Thepthidaram Worawihan (วัดเทพธิดารามวรวิหาร)  is also known as Wat Thepthidaram (วัดเทพธิดาราม) and initially I could find very little about it.





After a little searching I actually found a website for it and wow. Looking at the website I can see that it is a veritable maze of buildings and each one having a specific value: the Sermon Hall, Sunthorn Phu's quarter, Phra Ubosot (Chapel), Ho Tri (Library), 

Phra Wiharn (Shrine), Thanon Maha Chai (Gate) and Samran Rat (Gate) - here's a map and here's some history.

"King Rama III was a faithful king. Devoted to Theravada Buddhism, the king encouraged Buddhist education among the monks as well as took various temples under his patronage. Providing personal funding for reparation of those temples, massive reconstruction and renovation of monastery both inside and outside of Bangkok were taken place during his reign."



It may not look like much to the casual observer because it does have a wall around it - so take a closer look if you are able.







Wednesday 18 July 2018

Cicada Market เดอะ ซิเคด้า มาร์เก็ต


Cicada Market เดอะ ซิเคด้า มาร์เก็ต in Hua Hin was our first choice of market to visit whilst we were staying there.



It was certainly entertaining there and plenty to choose from.



Plenty of those bits and pieces that you had as a child but now have gone.



Paintings



More bits and pieces.



Not sure why there was someone playing a didgeridoo in market in Thailand though? And of course lots of food!


  




Sunday 15 July 2018

Wat Srakesa





Wat Srakesa is where I think I was - and the outside photograph indicates - but it is not clear from the images.



There are a number of Wats in the area around the Golden Mount and this was one of them BUT the Golden Mount is also referred to as Wat Srakesa.  Looking carefully at the Google Map there are 3 smaller temples at the base of the Golden Mount so this maybe one of them?



It was a Wat which was well looked after and was popular with Thai people coming in to worship and there were a handful of tourists.





It is certainly worth visiting this area.



Please act with respect when entering Buddhist Temples.







Monday 9 July 2018

Walking Routes in Bangkok 2 - Nang Leong


Route Two of the Walking Routes in Bangkok.


Stop 1: King Rama V Monument - พระบรมรูปทรงม้า - this is a Bronze equestrian statue dedicated to King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), who ruled from 1853–1910 and where I recently visited for the display of flowers and the Winter Festival.


Stop 2: Paruskawan Palace - this is a historic site, it was built by King Rama V for his son after he returned from education in Russia, and it really is quite beautiful with it's gardens and cared for buildings, almost wanted afternoon tea in the garden.

Stop 3: The Police Museum at Paruskawan Palace - this museum is all about the evolution of the Thai Police - it has certainly changed a lot.


Stop 4: Wat Benchamabophit - The Marble Temple - because of the amount of Italian marble which was used to build it!  This was certainly a busy place - full of tourists



Stop 5: Nang Leong Market - a wonderful and vibrant market selling mostly food, lovely people and all embracing, the food was plentiful but not sure about the coffee.

Stop 6: Admiral Shrine - at the back of the market but not sure that I found it because this one was raised?


Stop 7: Sala Chaloem Thani - this is one of the few remaining wooden cinemas in Bangkok, first screening in 1918, quite a special building, not sure what will happen to it though...


Stop 8: Wat Sunthon Tham Tham - unfortunately I was unable to get inside though.


Stop 9: Nang Leong Art - this is an original shop - these are ceramic pins made by the shop for funerals, culture and history all in one place


Stop 10: Ban Ten Ram Nang Loeng - this was a place for young girls who liked dancing and socialising and apparently this still happens here

Stop 11: Ban Naraslip - this is where the first Thai film production company was - Naraslip Cinema, and still provides information             

This is an article from the Bangkok Post about Nang Leong.

These are extra places that I found


Stop A: Eden's Coffee Shop - very photogenic cafe and has the drip coffee - a nice place, serves good but never had it            



Stop B: Statue of Prince Chumphon Khet Udomsak อนุสาวรีย์พลเรือเอกเจ้าฟ้าบรมวงศ์เธอกรมหลวงชุมพรเขตอุดมศักดิ์ - in front of a Naval Museum        




Stop C: สำนักงานคณะกรรมการป้องกันและปราบปรามการทุจริตแห่งชาติ (Office of The National Anti-Corruption Commission)  - not exactly sure what this is - it was closed       
  location: https://goo.gl/maps/Mzc8YQsrQks 


Stop D: Anywhere on the street for something to eat      


Stop E: A small home outside the Nang Long Market - this was certainly interesting and I thought I had read about this home somewhere...
  location: https://goo.gl/maps/CQS5GLzZnRp 



Stop G: A Chinese pharmacy Nakhon Sawan Rd - this reminded me of being in Phuket Old Town, very interesting
  location: https://goo.gl/maps/1hjcrh4qdys 


Stop H: Royal Thai Government House Office ทำเนียบรัฐบาล - an impressive building on this  road, in fact there are quite a few on this road 
  location: https://goo.gl/maps/rfFyeQvUiJU2 


Stop J: Rajadamnern Thai Boxing Stadiumestablished in 1945 and is recognised in the community as the oldest and greatest boxing stadium in Thailand
  location: https://goo.gl/maps/aioiyLbWLL62

Walking Route One in Bangkok - Yaowarat.
Walking Route Two in Bangkok - Nang Leong.
Walking Route Three in Bangkok - Thonburi.
Walking Route in Bangkok - John Bush and more.
Walking Route in Bangkok - Bangkok Dolls and more.
Walking Route Five in Bangkok - Rattanoskin and more.



Bangkok Walks 1 - Yaowarat - is here.
Bangkok Walks 3 - John Bush and more - is here.