Sunday 28 October 2018

Bangpu Recreation


Bangpu Recreation.com สถานตากอากาศบางปู is somewhere we came to because there was an enormous lot of traffic - after we had visited ธรรมกตัญญู (เสียนหลอไต้เทียนกง) - which must be done.



The Bangpu Recreation is at the end of a long pier. This specific pier however is very long and there are a great number of seagulls flying overhead.




At one end there are also people selling food for you to feed them.




Someone also created a love heart of sticks in the water for the seagulls to sit on.



Getting to the end of the pier there was a very large restaurant - which was extremely popular - and we walked to the very end and chose not to eat there and ate elsewhere - Mae Cuisine.

 




Monday 22 October 2018

Wat Sri Suphan


Wat Sri Suphan (or the Silver Temple / วัดศรีสุพรรณ) is somewhere we stumbled upon when we visited the Saturday Night Market.



Wow - this shiny temple was a very real fascinating find at the end of the market that we were shopping in.

Following the signs I came across a small Wat which was completely made in metal, on reading more about it I discovered that it was originally made in the 1500's and then alterations were made by the local silversmiths.





There are a great many figurines, sculptures and carved stories inside 






and outside the Wat. BUT it is an ordination temple so women are not allowed inside.



There is a Ganesh outside as well.



Outside there are other Wats which are also worth visiting but admittedly this is the main attraction.






Tuesday 16 October 2018

Wat Chanasongkhram Ratchaworamahawiharn วัดชนะสงครามราชาวรมหาวิหาร


Wat Chanasongkhram Ratchaworamahawiharn วัดชนะสงครามราชาวรมหาวิหาร is somewhere which I found.



The temple seemed to appear out of nowhere! Entering it I was taken away with the beauty of it - and how few people there were here.



I had found an old monastery before 1782 (the Rattanakosin Period) - the temple was originally known as Wat Klang Na - the 'temple in the paddy field'. In the reign of King Rama 1 the temple was given a new name - Wat Tong Pu. Which (after the war with Burma) was renamed to be the original - which means 'Victory of War'.



There were people outside selling a number of lottery tickets but not for me.



On entering the Wat the grounds were empty. 



But inside there were people - very peaceful.



And the corridors either side were lovely.



Not quite what I expected you to find at the Khao San Road where I went in the afternoon on a weekend.

TripAdvisor: Wat Chanasongkhram  
 






Wednesday 10 October 2018

Walking Routes in Bangkok 5 - Rattanoskin


Route Five of the Walking Routes in Bangkok.



Stop 1: Mahakarn Fort is only one of the two original parts of the wall still standing in Bangkok and I read that it will be a National Park.
   location: https://goo.gl/maps/B87b86HBwWD2


Stop 2: Loha Prasart is a fascinating building with in so much more, certainly at least half a day - it is a metal structure with a total of 37 spires - nickname - the 'metal castle'
   location: https://goo.gl/maps/6dEMyYZojAR2



Stop 3: The Giant Swing is certainly an interesting structure (built in 1784), it was originally used in an old Brahim ceremony but during the reign of Rama II the swing was damaged by lightning. 
   location: https://goo.gl/maps/M1AKQk4cpzu  



Stop 4:  Wat Thepthidaram Worawiham is a Royal Temple built in the 1930's and is known for it's Buddhist statues - and there are a lot of them.
   location: https://goo.gl/maps/NH6SYqSF1eM2 



Stop 5: A Vishnu Temple in the middle of two roads is a special place to find.
   location: https://goo.gl/maps/ghsDHbLWA2M2


Stop 6: Wat Suthat Theppwaram is another place which is not always on the Tour Guide - which means that it really is quite peaceful - with an Ordination Hall which is enormous, with a visit (were renovating it when I visited).
   location: https://goo.gl/maps/iN5BhVHNvHA2 


Stop 7:  A Hindu Temple (เทวสถานโบสถ์พราหมณ์) - peaceful temples but no photographs inside, worth visiting
    location: https://goo.gl/maps/XxPp8hZjvkP2


Stop 8: Baan Mohawaan was a place where traditional Thai medicine was made in 1870 and this is now being done by their grandchildren - fascinating place to find
    location: https://goo.gl/maps/RETwS5QikPo 


Stop 7:  Trok Hmoo Market - a traditional Thai market - open very early in the morning , certainly an interesting place to visit


Stop 8:  The Sam Phreang District - an interesting place to visit and the culture there is still being kept alive, worth wandering around - find the Antique Car Coffee Shop


Stop 9:  The Gateway to Old Siam - exactly that


Stop 10:  Chaopho Chinese Shrine (ศาลเจ้าพ่อเสือ) - a Chinese Shrine, very busy but no photographs inside
    location: https://goo.gl/maps/nBW73xTU1Gu 



Stop 11:  Baan Dinso  an original two storey home

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.






Thursday 4 October 2018

Phetchaburi for the weekend



Phetchaburi for the weekend was certainly a fun weekend with the family. This is where we went - amongst other places but the battery ran out and sometimes there was no signal. An early start trying to escape from the Bangkok traffic was necessary!


It was a lovely journey after we left Bangkok.


Stop One: Wiwak Lam Nao Prai Bureau of Monks สำนักสงฆ์วิเวกลำเนาไพร - https://goo.gl/maps/uiisYqZpbSS2 - this was a large are where there were two Buddhist monuments, a large lake of fish and more, worth a visit.



Our Hotel: Baan Maka Nature Lodge - https://goo.gl/maps/f6TCoNpovWn - a wonderful hotel for nature and specifically bird lovers.



Stop Two: Kaeng Krachan Dam View Point จุดชมวิวเขื่อนแก่งกระจาน - https://goo.gl/maps/oG7Tx2NhJkq - a grey day today.



Stop Three: Suspension Bridge, Kaeng Krachan สะพานแขวนแก่งกระจาน - https://goo.gl/maps/TQEK8hpvuUp - a long suspension bridge but you are unable to reach the island...



Time for coffee: Craft Coffee + Cook - https://goo.gl/maps/GLjhSb3igZM2 - a comfortable place for a coffee.




Stop Four: Ban Krang Camp (บ้านกร่างแค้มป์) - https://goo.gl/maps/fCGakZiPPmv - a wonderful National Park with a plethora of butterflies, but we were too late to go up the hill.  


Stop Five: Wat Nong Puen Taek วัดหนองปืนแตก - https://goo.gl/maps/Tuw318TVhbB2 - an impressive monument built by the side of the road and the Wat.

Time for Lunch: Wiroj Kaeng Krachan Rot Ded วิโรจน์แก่งกระจานรสเด็ด - https://goo.gl/maps/huLWmGtny6H2 - a local restaurant with a great view.


Stop Six: Chang Hua Man Royal Project - https://goo.gl/maps/mYHHRrFDDxS2 - a lovely area with some fresh food to purchase.


Stop Seven: Phra Nakhon Khiri (Khao Wang) - https://goo.gl/maps/BWNGgqwBpHk - an incredibly large area with buildings of Historical and Cultural significance, reached by a cable car and on top of the hill.


Stop Eight: Saiyat Buddhist Temple วัดพระพุทธไสยาส - https://goo.gl/maps/4Ryfz6wTtHy - a peaceful Wat with a Reclining Buddha.

Stop Nine: Wat Khoi - https://goo.gl/maps/H8ZZkdYPjYG2 - a Buddhist Temple.


Stop Ten: Tham Khao Luang Cave ถ้ำเขาหลวง https://goo.gl/maps/8WXEhy4xMx62 - a wonderful 'cave of a thousand wonders' - beautiful.



  Here's a compilation video of many of the places we visited.