tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88764325179716663672024-03-05T21:11:15.349-08:00Travels in ThailandThe places, the people, the food.. the experience!
We all take different paths, hope you enjoy Thailand through this window of mine.Walet.twinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210388939671378989noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876432517971666367.post-29820108224166046332011-01-31T22:44:00.000-08:002011-02-01T03:48:41.474-08:00Wat Traimit & the Golden BuddhaAt one end of Bangkok Chinatown (Yaowarat) is Wat Traimit with its 15 ft. Golden Buddha, claimed as the world largest weighing 5.5 tons (@ 83% pure gold) !<br /><br />The Golden Buddha is housed in an altar atop this new chapel completed in 2010. Each morning tourist buses filled the temple car park by 9 a.m.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25TmZ4s6JfYE49rU3Zfhtbkd0qjYqNEuqdTOlHkFMrzbD6RjuoUn5wV_Zx6a_GfP_w6qRlj3qAf3pVBEtKyCiQukxdB_kmAqnKPrflQcLWyv4TFV2fdHSeJxTxz6iLdYaeOdiv_JEvIey/s1600/DSCF0031.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25TmZ4s6JfYE49rU3Zfhtbkd0qjYqNEuqdTOlHkFMrzbD6RjuoUn5wV_Zx6a_GfP_w6qRlj3qAf3pVBEtKyCiQukxdB_kmAqnKPrflQcLWyv4TFV2fdHSeJxTxz6iLdYaeOdiv_JEvIey/s320/DSCF0031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568612429756579698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Believed to be cast in 13th century, imagine its worth at today's gold prices (US$43,045/Kg)!<br />Assuming it to be metric ton, works out to US$43,045 x 5,500 x 0.83<br />Wow! That is US$196,500,425. With gold prices on the rise against a weakening dollar, it will exceed the US$200 million mark in near future.<br /><br />Of course gold is prominent everywhere within its compound. This pair of Buddha statutes in the front court caught my attention as I entered; one of Sukhothai style while the other with Indian features.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7r0cxwGb1qKXfQpqpzwL-EZzKt0XbWVY4OEjMjJy34mmXgd0DQsbzb3jlwWbJ-iFMfxSoSvDZ99gArS1RFjYJExID_UwV7F-Si4IDwoEA5Rma0_1QOjdUASDP9y14G0yGYDoc8fA5CBEU/s1600/DSCF0030.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7r0cxwGb1qKXfQpqpzwL-EZzKt0XbWVY4OEjMjJy34mmXgd0DQsbzb3jlwWbJ-iFMfxSoSvDZ99gArS1RFjYJExID_UwV7F-Si4IDwoEA5Rma0_1QOjdUASDP9y14G0yGYDoc8fA5CBEU/s320/DSCF0030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568612434099520162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The temple is clad with white marble that adds an elegant contrast to gold. Couldn't wait to see the 'real suff' within.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFrGPeXUz55g1uuY-27bmLVfrO_ajKeqQV8k8x13BL2BC0oa8dHLasuipVSggBbJB93GPz1_c9t4XGKnVkAg3fOt3iCtPFmIwsk2kDlyHUY3mH-1zOD17U7-vhtwAWM_2eLQ8uG2fsJUW/s1600/DSCF0042.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFrGPeXUz55g1uuY-27bmLVfrO_ajKeqQV8k8x13BL2BC0oa8dHLasuipVSggBbJB93GPz1_c9t4XGKnVkAg3fOt3iCtPFmIwsk2kDlyHUY3mH-1zOD17U7-vhtwAWM_2eLQ8uG2fsJUW/s320/DSCF0042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568612422424893938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />There it is. Prayers led by a monk with devotees making their wishes behind.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hzg3sDByLfySf9dBisNo-IeSJpv2EvLc3PZ16gGhNJl6NcHiAnMBvsyNG-n-RnZevBE6u0jUMx-_60solO58SbP4KOAWpBKHA8QbakZLoBxy1mkevQQxoH-FfYjRmHo-5xofCzmWcw2M/s1600/DSCF0032.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hzg3sDByLfySf9dBisNo-IeSJpv2EvLc3PZ16gGhNJl6NcHiAnMBvsyNG-n-RnZevBE6u0jUMx-_60solO58SbP4KOAWpBKHA8QbakZLoBxy1mkevQQxoH-FfYjRmHo-5xofCzmWcw2M/s320/DSCF0032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568610871113218386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0Xls9Liw8t7ok39Pfec0XofRIFT9VCf6EFKFyaUrsVOD_GCC1xYs2B3P2mnzuP5USlYlyl6xBJGPgQsmCpxA13vOPIVPkQyhVUn1m5h1vBdhppbpB2IkjXxu9U5aQeqEUXqIPHIa8ekv/s1600/DSCF0034.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0Xls9Liw8t7ok39Pfec0XofRIFT9VCf6EFKFyaUrsVOD_GCC1xYs2B3P2mnzuP5USlYlyl6xBJGPgQsmCpxA13vOPIVPkQyhVUn1m5h1vBdhppbpB2IkjXxu9U5aQeqEUXqIPHIa8ekv/s320/DSCF0034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568610866401368418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Up close to the Golden Buddha.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pRP9XHSs0b3haEmPO_gX99qhx1siLePyXBBSnlDUBeLPcexDcB8q6DxHSAh9SitM1cD6FaFcoxB5O9050sDdrztWLAd5QBMKkn1gH5d9WJE2PkEcMgN3ubpAXsIGY0eyIVHwqORJWrb2/s1600/DSCF0035.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4pRP9XHSs0b3haEmPO_gX99qhx1siLePyXBBSnlDUBeLPcexDcB8q6DxHSAh9SitM1cD6FaFcoxB5O9050sDdrztWLAd5QBMKkn1gH5d9WJE2PkEcMgN3ubpAXsIGY0eyIVHwqORJWrb2/s320/DSCF0035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568610860567507986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And a little bit more.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZx4TNsJcfKKWCxz4uvVo2JNXlOCZkae3eIsszqY71bl0su98z6pq3g0HaFOm5kwTiI-mW1xPe5vHOLVDNUO1qkgtfQC1MK57meodbj6Gh2fNt8kLEF1m8kQhSI7mOxPpJBz5_ZOVqmw-D/s1600/DSCF0037.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZx4TNsJcfKKWCxz4uvVo2JNXlOCZkae3eIsszqY71bl0su98z6pq3g0HaFOm5kwTiI-mW1xPe5vHOLVDNUO1qkgtfQC1MK57meodbj6Gh2fNt8kLEF1m8kQhSI7mOxPpJBz5_ZOVqmw-D/s320/DSCF0037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568610854138785378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />That's as far as I can get with camera zoom.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYhAUYeLwoIhqUyaVN7AwPHjVh_E-kPGyct2LVHNDpo20J2ECW27_ehrF8fqnDVNeg3B-IkA8mjmj6auLFEvo9gCVg2khdagXoJBPyOJLVR_83QqiGduBV6Z9DJOycv_Jd3lBoF0N0gSP/s1600/DSCF0039.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYhAUYeLwoIhqUyaVN7AwPHjVh_E-kPGyct2LVHNDpo20J2ECW27_ehrF8fqnDVNeg3B-IkA8mjmj6auLFEvo9gCVg2khdagXoJBPyOJLVR_83QqiGduBV6Z9DJOycv_Jd3lBoF0N0gSP/s320/DSCF0039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568610846627489362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Some historical background to the Golden Buddha:<br />http://bangkokforvisitors.com/chinatown/wat-traimit/index.phpWalet.twinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210388939671378989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876432517971666367.post-54176185648319582762011-01-01T01:53:00.001-08:002011-01-01T02:34:57.880-08:00On the roads in ThailandSome fun recollections of traveling around in Thailand<br /><br />Truck space stretched to the limit!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAkEeRupKPcw14TV6tjLnYSSRgKrtPpbn6czoncSiWO14G0HcdWq754pe1MVs2-my1cpvDc8fcttz0rTySzAYC5qcqB1-K6Bxj5lXFht8kuKVCDRgNmsjH_W2XIrW_g5HTlWiFAZ3qi3j/s1600-h/DSCN8673.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAkEeRupKPcw14TV6tjLnYSSRgKrtPpbn6czoncSiWO14G0HcdWq754pe1MVs2-my1cpvDc8fcttz0rTySzAYC5qcqB1-K6Bxj5lXFht8kuKVCDRgNmsjH_W2XIrW_g5HTlWiFAZ3qi3j/s320/DSCN8673.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195474526656719282" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Big job for a small truck.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcVLk25tLxc9Gb_bvJ5kaa0FyFWCDjRWqlGVpqXF0OYkZ_E2I1C5p8lp3v76P5-_1kPHzou2lDa90bT2yivBuXc62RdD5ozTduKWDkvp0cnjKATVBHCFHvFRJXd502MyGT4fBDM9BZnpa/s1600-h/DSCN8680.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAcVLk25tLxc9Gb_bvJ5kaa0FyFWCDjRWqlGVpqXF0OYkZ_E2I1C5p8lp3v76P5-_1kPHzou2lDa90bT2yivBuXc62RdD5ozTduKWDkvp0cnjKATVBHCFHvFRJXd502MyGT4fBDM9BZnpa/s320/DSCN8680.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195474500886915458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Tire tube was her life jacket on the job collecting oysters on coastal shores.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVbH2QsXxvcdYjQK3LNsIK3-RFRiryH0z9RfSXhCQQW-qcwpyjgp_yBdxrkGk77B0GAqAntsuAG0cw76XSEAWRYAzs17VMxfCatgfB3pnEv7MJxkNPtukTre1CGVYeH0MUPmxDxsq5bXh/s1600/DSCN2595.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVbH2QsXxvcdYjQK3LNsIK3-RFRiryH0z9RfSXhCQQW-qcwpyjgp_yBdxrkGk77B0GAqAntsuAG0cw76XSEAWRYAzs17VMxfCatgfB3pnEv7MJxkNPtukTre1CGVYeH0MUPmxDxsq5bXh/s320/DSCN2595.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557153922577641682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Monkey business - trained monkeys pluck coconuts.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1oKOweGg9L8Ww-OJSN7q7QOKvjbsmvlrXeOjck8zNFwU7fDI06CdFDCV_2i1dBhS_B1LmHWX50ljdggdzR0Ei245g6RTmWbn1I52gJNd5yVIWdXxuOAw-DPj22oMthV4N9BymAFRgifLF/s1600-h/DSCN2526.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1oKOweGg9L8Ww-OJSN7q7QOKvjbsmvlrXeOjck8zNFwU7fDI06CdFDCV_2i1dBhS_B1LmHWX50ljdggdzR0Ei245g6RTmWbn1I52gJNd5yVIWdXxuOAw-DPj22oMthV4N9BymAFRgifLF/s320/DSCN2526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392523269652622018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />No seat belts?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYtIO5EXPd2vIDjX7xQUSMqiSoxMqP4M2r2KzR0f4sKU-LF8Xh0TGloDJwy5nWs6o_KKER3QbJBB1WdAupdOTvTlHqW4J_XHz-sv5OnNjp4M246y6EkBUz3snt_4YxhureBvSAF_dPV6e/s1600-h/DSCN2524.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYtIO5EXPd2vIDjX7xQUSMqiSoxMqP4M2r2KzR0f4sKU-LF8Xh0TGloDJwy5nWs6o_KKER3QbJBB1WdAupdOTvTlHqW4J_XHz-sv5OnNjp4M246y6EkBUz3snt_4YxhureBvSAF_dPV6e/s320/DSCN2524.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392517290223904594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Pet dog enjoying the breeze of the ride.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SIRDKK5wsjgeRww57Vht-a0vvjF3D6oDUSCMSqAyLG7J5BZ3cR_DmYHZI5mimofEc4gxrGhUPsuOOw4rmi9PmQj5tiENaYFi7wLpHyq6aJ3G2q1aO5zjhu3lW2dinc-H6z0vJuNkie39/s1600-h/DSCN5214.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SIRDKK5wsjgeRww57Vht-a0vvjF3D6oDUSCMSqAyLG7J5BZ3cR_DmYHZI5mimofEc4gxrGhUPsuOOw4rmi9PmQj5tiENaYFi7wLpHyq6aJ3G2q1aO5zjhu3lW2dinc-H6z0vJuNkie39/s320/DSCN5214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426101414356152242" border="0" /></a>Walet.twinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210388939671378989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876432517971666367.post-22284315430266218112010-01-12T09:46:00.000-08:002010-01-12T10:06:06.864-08:00National Parks of ThailandNational Parks are among my places of interest when I tour a country.<br /><br />During my recent road tour to Northern Thailand, I came across numerous National Parks in addition to the several I've seen in the central and southern Thailand. It set me to wonder how many National Parks are around?<br /><br />A quick search on Google to the National Parks of Thailand web-site reveals a surprising number - 148 in total! Wow, that's almost twice the number I first thought!<br /><br />The Wikipedia count is slightly less but a mention of another 38 more in the pipeline. Whatever the case, it reflects a conscious effort to preserve the natural forests and its heritage of flora & fauna. Good work!<br /><br />A glimpse of their distribution around the country:<br />Norther Thailand<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQFc14N04zttKocd7DupXFGO34IGxkOQzfE-gNPlWjJ1FI2rQHUx_GvIVtF3IjxN8XAySDa_VoRvLAQcsEk1prVUFirHv56AZKnfPX_7bHaJWBOhBIuyOEyGC01SxxiWDZEzRk1PoOQrp/s1600-h/Map-North.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQFc14N04zttKocd7DupXFGO34IGxkOQzfE-gNPlWjJ1FI2rQHUx_GvIVtF3IjxN8XAySDa_VoRvLAQcsEk1prVUFirHv56AZKnfPX_7bHaJWBOhBIuyOEyGC01SxxiWDZEzRk1PoOQrp/s320/Map-North.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425911768927468098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />North-east Thailand<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVv_hOkvmCxO0dMaWJigACNd1oYGKLRnHFtGa1nWVFpRN6Iqo70QMxggyqhl1nQM8fiWuCz4RGe2y0erny0b2V-741mk_1Fh_KQdSn48rcR6CN1JG1w327Exs8VGmPHZzUogg_ddjMRnG/s1600-h/Map-NorthEast.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVv_hOkvmCxO0dMaWJigACNd1oYGKLRnHFtGa1nWVFpRN6Iqo70QMxggyqhl1nQM8fiWuCz4RGe2y0erny0b2V-741mk_1Fh_KQdSn48rcR6CN1JG1w327Exs8VGmPHZzUogg_ddjMRnG/s320/Map-NorthEast.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425911776833863746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Central Thailand<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-huS2ffQ2BXuA9WEScLfrHgrLo6ZwG2QBFKayN1F4_EJzh8-sO6E3c8DQHFfKF9aoMA4GsLMFCkWqA0CIIrfl8Te76088RV_t1HQ0r-Ir_MHKBiOHd4KLyiFzfJUakAY4BCLBopNZHfU/s1600-h/Map-Central.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-huS2ffQ2BXuA9WEScLfrHgrLo6ZwG2QBFKayN1F4_EJzh8-sO6E3c8DQHFfKF9aoMA4GsLMFCkWqA0CIIrfl8Te76088RV_t1HQ0r-Ir_MHKBiOHd4KLyiFzfJUakAY4BCLBopNZHfU/s320/Map-Central.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425911786069029170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Southern Thailand<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinp1fEWGANhMEjQh3mSfVxn6swi25aCKXBE25kDW6hMtZai06trZIlT2gh-WHcMqvNY54aQYUBW1VwzI4sUQ6dowDRLifmtUqzUf_yHRK2Uz4j2BO3__-Z3eyGIZvk3WrL9Nzr9C8-t8Vn/s1600-h/Map-South-Eng.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinp1fEWGANhMEjQh3mSfVxn6swi25aCKXBE25kDW6hMtZai06trZIlT2gh-WHcMqvNY54aQYUBW1VwzI4sUQ6dowDRLifmtUqzUf_yHRK2Uz4j2BO3__-Z3eyGIZvk3WrL9Nzr9C8-t8Vn/s320/Map-South-Eng.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425911789467886258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Official web-site of the National Parks link:<br />http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/nationalpark.asp?lg=2Walet.twinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210388939671378989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876432517971666367.post-25630688246160946412009-06-28T02:00:00.000-07:002009-06-28T02:32:26.342-07:00The Asian Highway through ThailandI was baffled for a while with these blue road signs A1, AH1 & AH2 while touring Thailand on road. I have seen AH1 signs in the east towards Poiphet over the Cambodian border. Around Petchaburi & Ratchaburi is the AH2. While the signs of AH1 & AH2 come together in the northern provinces.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnb2dWV7uExVvDEg5BihHx3egqVVLcEMqZtG4ix7RTg1nUy6vFFOSlZinywJ47C-G5vJUJuYIe-UakCF3IUWCEQ1GwPjFo9A8YP3MAs4MitUojfgaLlUQR0MfqXVl2lGiyYSDX8rwb59U/s1600-h/Asian_highway_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnb2dWV7uExVvDEg5BihHx3egqVVLcEMqZtG4ix7RTg1nUy6vFFOSlZinywJ47C-G5vJUJuYIe-UakCF3IUWCEQ1GwPjFo9A8YP3MAs4MitUojfgaLlUQR0MfqXVl2lGiyYSDX8rwb59U/s320/Asian_highway_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352303196350995410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Finally a friend told me it means the Asian Highway. Ah.. from there on it is easy to find out more. Map from Wikipedia.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihu0SXVZAhyhM7Cxm0fyuFS_3uv_B0dNr-B40I-sD4E2pBW1S0EDea7fQHPQz_-whv_DomvEo_ptgiak_YgQ5k8UOinpoi183ZIvZzrSanGciVyN2FZcIdyGiFI8Xr5GDXsd8VMH-uZsLb/s1600-h/300px-Asian_Highways.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihu0SXVZAhyhM7Cxm0fyuFS_3uv_B0dNr-B40I-sD4E2pBW1S0EDea7fQHPQz_-whv_DomvEo_ptgiak_YgQ5k8UOinpoi183ZIvZzrSanGciVyN2FZcIdyGiFI8Xr5GDXsd8VMH-uZsLb/s320/300px-Asian_Highways.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352301048854091874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It all make sense now!<br /><br />AH1 starts all the way from Japan, through China, Vietnam, Cambodia to Thailand and turn north west towards India through Myanmar.<br /><br />AH2 starts from Java, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and merges with AH1 in northern Thailand towards Myanmar, north east India and onwards to Central Asia.<br /><br />So for those who enjoys motoring tours, its completeion is something to look forward to. The sections within Thailand are completed.<br /><br />I am looking forward to the completion of the section to Seam Reap to visit Angkor Wat. I was told that a small section is yet to complete.Walet.twinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210388939671378989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876432517971666367.post-67951288796896304072009-04-14T20:35:00.000-07:002009-04-18T16:01:58.411-07:00Songkhran - one year on<span style="font-weight: bold;">Updated 16th, April</span>: Good to see the spirit of Songkhran returning to the streets of Bangkok with the government extending 2 more public holidays! A complete reversal to the tense atmosphere of confronting the protesters only days before!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EOlz3Nd597yLMZz14tAJdGhSprl4t7tDPscCQwzp3pjlkPL6ls8XekamrfWjWV6OZT8Wukk8J-pGR2neEjia2iTdffHqhrfxT6zDbNps-LG7jnnwVx5mKIOmKC4A56_CvCiXaNtjKjXn/s1600-h/Songkhran+09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EOlz3Nd597yLMZz14tAJdGhSprl4t7tDPscCQwzp3pjlkPL6ls8XekamrfWjWV6OZT8Wukk8J-pGR2neEjia2iTdffHqhrfxT6zDbNps-LG7jnnwVx5mKIOmKC4A56_CvCiXaNtjKjXn/s320/Songkhran+09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324958395199077762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT714k3vQod6E82gQVCidiA-DwLKZT_rjmMHb0VnXAxbaQ5OHAHZrVtzhMKGe6ikUni4rDU303MATLBUCqeGhVO25FqncqZQo4caQLyh0yT8cORY_lpAtjH49syd-MpcjHae7XLgqgRA3X/s1600-h/Songkhran+09-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT714k3vQod6E82gQVCidiA-DwLKZT_rjmMHb0VnXAxbaQ5OHAHZrVtzhMKGe6ikUni4rDU303MATLBUCqeGhVO25FqncqZQo4caQLyh0yT8cORY_lpAtjH49syd-MpcjHae7XLgqgRA3X/s320/Songkhran+09-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325067593252606370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This blog was started a year ago.. incidentally just after Songkhran festival, it was fun filled then. However, this time the mood was completely different. As I watched & followed the political events from afar, how the red shirts sentiment was whipped up by the ex-prime minister abroad. As his family left the country just before the show down, I saw a storm brewing.<br /><br />There is also something I observed unique in Thai way of handling such explosive situation as events unfolded. There was so much tolerance by the authorities refraining from the use of force - the 'softly, softly' approach until the line of anarchy was crossed - first by storming of ASEAN summit at Pattaya followed by street violence in Bangkok.<br /><br />Re-collection of photos from BangkokPost. Building up of the storm at Victory Monument by day...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFr3VQwXk0VMUmyot6f-KSf2FkIfj3as71upgtMPcIvrVnh6JP1fXJN_b0C4kXMWrQQE2NHjqtRNRPe-PI7f5EN2K4BKCeTfb9GjWVUwcG5fIhg3u4TnFWCCXSXgLOrOSStjhrnyTetSng/s1600-h/Red+Shirt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFr3VQwXk0VMUmyot6f-KSf2FkIfj3as71upgtMPcIvrVnh6JP1fXJN_b0C4kXMWrQQE2NHjqtRNRPe-PI7f5EN2K4BKCeTfb9GjWVUwcG5fIhg3u4TnFWCCXSXgLOrOSStjhrnyTetSng/s320/Red+Shirt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324757436710592690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />.... and night<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4k1G82xyfeJOpeTKvuf5jusCQRbfG9cmsjJUv8j9DVQYBgbmgQDVr3a3Rh40Lk7dJlqMsmbptcmCpKiJCG-zuC2iK5PgbG3PA7wQtSO2TN_OCNNI2CcKD2cOArSEdsEkd0sfrUFPvzCkI/s1600-h/Red+Shirt+%284%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4k1G82xyfeJOpeTKvuf5jusCQRbfG9cmsjJUv8j9DVQYBgbmgQDVr3a3Rh40Lk7dJlqMsmbptcmCpKiJCG-zuC2iK5PgbG3PA7wQtSO2TN_OCNNI2CcKD2cOArSEdsEkd0sfrUFPvzCkI/s320/Red+Shirt+%284%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324757702887838930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />At the Democracy Monument ...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWKE82eZENMxu8RgpoMPPr1NVQknlgq6gU8y_UJX6ryr-gjz41zPAeTf23JEIEsXKCW9CTun_1hWKokc9OrqOP8dBBelrmpJSyAVbul7Ea5KZfu2iDSlU0OCeqlow52S3cxdPBiCZRWFL/s1600-h/Red+Shirt+%286%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWKE82eZENMxu8RgpoMPPr1NVQknlgq6gU8y_UJX6ryr-gjz41zPAeTf23JEIEsXKCW9CTun_1hWKokc9OrqOP8dBBelrmpJSyAVbul7Ea5KZfu2iDSlU0OCeqlow52S3cxdPBiCZRWFL/s320/Red+Shirt+%286%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324757711754475250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The calm before the storm. Is that the true face of Mr. T?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbv9koh5cX2LJ4bYU8pBWrcqriYnU6E3Q31dP8qvyALpk8yeaiaDZF4JbfYbvWExM7SESBrmM3H7qWYo9O1GA78BZRVII8b-A7rZyBc1STC8M5VEaHi4LQStAIL0JMM59VH-4US526w8SY/s1600-h/Red+Shirt+%285%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbv9koh5cX2LJ4bYU8pBWrcqriYnU6E3Q31dP8qvyALpk8yeaiaDZF4JbfYbvWExM7SESBrmM3H7qWYo9O1GA78BZRVII8b-A7rZyBc1STC8M5VEaHi4LQStAIL0JMM59VH-4US526w8SY/s320/Red+Shirt+%285%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324757714338298002" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />With so much energy on the ground, eruption was inevitable - especially the flame was constantly fanned.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WIy5XaFGdA0OVoMhFSKcyWU28W43KHI3trgSpr5I08WX-JAe_38xtQRoSJnlcHxHzweDyWLRyQaC8pICE3CV-21cwfrkqkNg1lkYPmpR7k75TXkUZe_Ecv7pU1J3RMczTpb0LmaaONKP/s1600-h/Red+Shirt+%281%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WIy5XaFGdA0OVoMhFSKcyWU28W43KHI3trgSpr5I08WX-JAe_38xtQRoSJnlcHxHzweDyWLRyQaC8pICE3CV-21cwfrkqkNg1lkYPmpR7k75TXkUZe_Ecv7pU1J3RMczTpb0LmaaONKP/s320/Red+Shirt+%281%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324757441189930418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MtZuoKomlw-GfU-etkHFkqxFvh0T93vmg4t-u8Po5rN5ylI2y1S1WPKYEjaX2fJ3M7l4FlmE7IRtTECkeNnvmZxvu1fIBou0HaQ79k2c1s6N9m76yevxc5aThc0Juet98un1NFJfLmzh/s1600-h/Red+Shirt+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MtZuoKomlw-GfU-etkHFkqxFvh0T93vmg4t-u8Po5rN5ylI2y1S1WPKYEjaX2fJ3M7l4FlmE7IRtTECkeNnvmZxvu1fIBou0HaQ79k2c1s6N9m76yevxc5aThc0Juet98un1NFJfLmzh/s320/Red+Shirt+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324757442189630018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Soldiers had to act tough eventually.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANY-Y0iXs2gYDFj1uazExWAat4A-7m9azH-cN173QahdJqAB6lnlZzwIJoPrulKkSgCv4BExwuwQMy3FTpMvdwdAlapzTpiu5QHPoDQL2nECMaOdq11rMOBqUERbLINci9cXEa7vSvvQj/s1600-h/Red+Shirt+%283%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANY-Y0iXs2gYDFj1uazExWAat4A-7m9azH-cN173QahdJqAB6lnlZzwIJoPrulKkSgCv4BExwuwQMy3FTpMvdwdAlapzTpiu5QHPoDQL2nECMaOdq11rMOBqUERbLINci9cXEa7vSvvQj/s320/Red+Shirt+%283%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324757447858589410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Good that the whole episode was short lived & the Govt. even provided transport to send them home.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCKEXpYpBZGFotvW10XCGAAM05liL8D9VXSekE4_bzZmPk7fxfEXTyU6XAVhqKiHIaP7kjK-1OEX1hwG2LVax7HucPtckjpsc0ULuiHOsGWE1L4Xy4pJwQ9I8OPFcC8R7wUlC9Cl0OuR5/s1600-h/Red+Shirt+%287%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCKEXpYpBZGFotvW10XCGAAM05liL8D9VXSekE4_bzZmPk7fxfEXTyU6XAVhqKiHIaP7kjK-1OEX1hwG2LVax7HucPtckjpsc0ULuiHOsGWE1L4Xy4pJwQ9I8OPFcC8R7wUlC9Cl0OuR5/s320/Red+Shirt+%287%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324757433504242226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Casualties was reported as 2 killed, shot by red shirts on motobike. They were Bangkok citizens who took law into their own hands - "enough is enough" of violence, beating back the protesters. In comparison roads accidents during the festive season claimed 272 over 5 days! (Updated to 373 in 7 days!)<br /><br />It was unfortunate the country had to suffered this way.. but it could have been a lot worse. Somehow in spite of travel warnings by the Australian authorities, plane loads leaving for Bangkok were still full - as reported by media here in Melbourne. Guess the confidence rested in the swift restoration of order on the streets.<br /><br />Thailand may appear unstable on the surface, there is actually inherently stability in the country. This is seen over the years even with a series of military coups, one after another since achieving Constitutional Monarchy in 1932. I am no political pundit, my simplistic view is even with these difficulties Thai society is pragmatic enough to forged ahead as the most prosperous Indo Chinese nations. My optimism remains.Walet.twinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210388939671378989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876432517971666367.post-19463832323204835592008-11-30T08:53:00.001-08:002008-12-09T03:16:54.789-08:00Thailand at a crossroadWhen I flew out of Suvarnabhumi Airport just over a month ago, little would I expect the PAD demonstrators would siege both airports and bring the country to its knees!<br /><br />I always believe Thais are pragmatic people and would resolve their differences through compromises. What happen here?<br /><br />Surmise to say stakes are simply too high with the power struggles behind the scene this time round.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFi28MZJhQZSV2zqxh2bYW2ZG7EI3hdGWnOryrF86V_-H-_qVDRbr6B6Uk3_DGtt5hdQLCtMwyAX4nleySuHKYojiNX4ZVqI84DgFpD5Zt_8d2cYQ6D1KmbE5-fgpvQchoBYroWrQRAeT/s1600-h/64b84f9f-fcf6-40a4-bb11-41f39ddf544anews.ap.org_t350.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFi28MZJhQZSV2zqxh2bYW2ZG7EI3hdGWnOryrF86V_-H-_qVDRbr6B6Uk3_DGtt5hdQLCtMwyAX4nleySuHKYojiNX4ZVqI84DgFpD5Zt_8d2cYQ6D1KmbE5-fgpvQchoBYroWrQRAeT/s320/64b84f9f-fcf6-40a4-bb11-41f39ddf544anews.ap.org_t350.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274494945380240946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />How could protesters rallied for 6 months without having to work? Reportedly most are women folks from well to do middle class. Guess these well fed ladies are evident to that!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoA_Q9sAjopBkoOcX9o-IN0PE7cooKab9d1n4PyFF6HI15Il0HDbP6aE5kmsJfhJc60mNrvDlVRa2matvrcN3rw3_TDzLxh7NCzWxNHBKB68gVx4LnlogEGm8w_TASqN3UEGfCfasbhKs/s1600-h/6870082.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoA_Q9sAjopBkoOcX9o-IN0PE7cooKab9d1n4PyFF6HI15Il0HDbP6aE5kmsJfhJc60mNrvDlVRa2matvrcN3rw3_TDzLxh7NCzWxNHBKB68gVx4LnlogEGm8w_TASqN3UEGfCfasbhKs/s320/6870082.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274494945881826466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Police in full riot gear, less firearms. Under orders to use minimal force literally gave protesters a free hand. PAD reportedly has powerful backers!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVVfOvxfIq4BU6yffjDQXP86L2t-Wet6MkcQ9GuRv49sWWMZ4iSRCWiLK4d5jo6_motLY3VcdpbzoUMrh8h2SP4cpbTf6-lxY-UDX9VP0tE3FPQA13RxZ3alstYe-nActWTcnqi_H4w_C/s1600-h/_45241235_escalator_ap261108_466.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVVfOvxfIq4BU6yffjDQXP86L2t-Wet6MkcQ9GuRv49sWWMZ4iSRCWiLK4d5jo6_motLY3VcdpbzoUMrh8h2SP4cpbTf6-lxY-UDX9VP0tE3FPQA13RxZ3alstYe-nActWTcnqi_H4w_C/s320/_45241235_escalator_ap261108_466.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274494958651059122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I think it is a sad situation for Thailand so much being destroyed in a week that took the country so many years to achieve!<br /><br />Tensions are raised to flash point level.. just hope senses return to those who pull the strings behind and put the country back on road to normalcy.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Updated 9th Dec 2008</span><br />OMG, it was over for now! Survanarbhumi operations back to normal. But the country is counting the costs and people responsible for the mess walked free - truly amazing!<br />Guess this unfortunate episode deterred many visitors returning in the near future.. but not me!Walet.twinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210388939671378989noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876432517971666367.post-56256244763988236842008-11-19T21:43:00.001-08:002008-12-06T03:48:12.180-08:00Bangkok street lifeBangkok is a big city of more than 10 millions. Being the main economic center, it drew people from all over the country to make a living here. As such it is a kaleidoscope of varied life on the streets. A sample of my snapshots... it's colors & contrasts, of lives that hums on daily.<br /><br />Food vendors by the streets are common sights.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3EmFIv5ufqhvfiY3c_lpYO5khWjCnV65yIo7gLM7ehGQKmJRCxtgBxbciG5NTKZY4N2_CD2oe5sqIcJ7N1whBVrJZ2dUrEWlK2y5Haab41E8x1p6hWcc3FndxuQeliE1ht-eUbN7DkPg/s1600-h/DSCN3388.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3EmFIv5ufqhvfiY3c_lpYO5khWjCnV65yIo7gLM7ehGQKmJRCxtgBxbciG5NTKZY4N2_CD2oe5sqIcJ7N1whBVrJZ2dUrEWlK2y5Haab41E8x1p6hWcc3FndxuQeliE1ht-eUbN7DkPg/s320/DSCN3388.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270623557733220674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Vendors pedal their wares on streets with busy thoroughfare.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5K1U4yualqsIA36hDbYOspeYHrZJkf1qTjydqiJdYZjDxJdnu9KpKXQCRmSSO4N6Xm09x2Os7TcnCmzHs_T2kvaQLU23iP15MAgFUWOd7wgWfUSj7dhyphenhyphenk9EZfkaMU0Cj6BkCMe-QbFyk/s1600-h/DSCN3459.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5K1U4yualqsIA36hDbYOspeYHrZJkf1qTjydqiJdYZjDxJdnu9KpKXQCRmSSO4N6Xm09x2Os7TcnCmzHs_T2kvaQLU23iP15MAgFUWOd7wgWfUSj7dhyphenhyphenk9EZfkaMU0Cj6BkCMe-QbFyk/s320/DSCN3459.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270623564745565954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Tuk Tuk seems to confine to older parts of the city.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNp22zJP8kPWZnOCwVDxUyNHBESPp6DvIZSdk_E2bW4Xzt1FgMtZYPP-VDEnhwaAB_VtqdcDgwLw89UNcwS1Idd3_AminEGzq8YpF5fzdREDlz_fWeXX0oyWN1llMThhKpCxJuapXtl6Y/s1600-h/DSCN3463.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNp22zJP8kPWZnOCwVDxUyNHBESPp6DvIZSdk_E2bW4Xzt1FgMtZYPP-VDEnhwaAB_VtqdcDgwLw89UNcwS1Idd3_AminEGzq8YpF5fzdREDlz_fWeXX0oyWN1llMThhKpCxJuapXtl6Y/s320/DSCN3463.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270623577729927778" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It's rambutan season.. a line up of reds: red taxi, motorbike & fruit vendor.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oBmz4PyOnqtvtfyOI9XE3J_jYqodg_s1X7XTEdyCw685jLNaQVc15_2no_lBROusQT2QTDFhLwiRVaZM8wRSXI3WOjkrh77mWgHAvCW5C4oXMReT8KJ-hHUeuEwvpiKUrOo2e2GsPRmh/s1600-h/Traffic+Jam+in+Bkk.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oBmz4PyOnqtvtfyOI9XE3J_jYqodg_s1X7XTEdyCw685jLNaQVc15_2no_lBROusQT2QTDFhLwiRVaZM8wRSXI3WOjkrh77mWgHAvCW5C4oXMReT8KJ-hHUeuEwvpiKUrOo2e2GsPRmh/s320/Traffic+Jam+in+Bkk.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270612605145798962" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Art shop in basement of MBK Mall, artists at work.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXlaW4fPmxuISwtRJFNv3BBJm_bOVduA-8Jqvzo3XP2WbwG70EaOcF-7sZk0ozcjiTrRY3KVyT12OZv2Tp2pI65f1Hb6dcyaWNYyQO1h8ayyWJq61mWlOM24d0JDEuTirTL3Nnb6ZRSDU/s1600-h/DSCN8649.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXlaW4fPmxuISwtRJFNv3BBJm_bOVduA-8Jqvzo3XP2WbwG70EaOcF-7sZk0ozcjiTrRY3KVyT12OZv2Tp2pI65f1Hb6dcyaWNYyQO1h8ayyWJq61mWlOM24d0JDEuTirTL3Nnb6ZRSDU/s320/DSCN8649.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270612619745097906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Temples are also places to get an education - young monks enjoyed a round of ice-cream during breaks.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmfcszMEoLn4Ex9Gg0Z1w_Kj66Py5KDRILJe8gsQMN4STjfSK7vhLQDs53NUa7JMEAiA7h0lgQE0TjmaQ9QcIzP5tGDZ7hw_jDUQjFgnXSI2tzS_N3LcZtOXIhPk6v1EDRPTr4lgHbvh5/s1600-h/Jade+Buddha+Temple+%2811%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmfcszMEoLn4Ex9Gg0Z1w_Kj66Py5KDRILJe8gsQMN4STjfSK7vhLQDs53NUa7JMEAiA7h0lgQE0TjmaQ9QcIzP5tGDZ7hw_jDUQjFgnXSI2tzS_N3LcZtOXIhPk6v1EDRPTr4lgHbvh5/s320/Jade+Buddha+Temple+%2811%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270618744115127858" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Chinatown offers interesting street scenes all day long.<br />Passerby at Chinese temple clasped her hand in prayer for a moment before moving on.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8fCk7hsB4v1mo40ybcXBrIBb8h9_q1PDQC8g-9QsRKfY9ttEw597JiO9YGfZswq7EIHd-WwVi4pB6QIszTMevmsRDZXcbQzDuWtwQiZ1ukbAQEywSzCNS_bTaS1J7hhE2hYV1dOGNdp9/s1600-h/DSCN6078.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8fCk7hsB4v1mo40ybcXBrIBb8h9_q1PDQC8g-9QsRKfY9ttEw597JiO9YGfZswq7EIHd-WwVi4pB6QIszTMevmsRDZXcbQzDuWtwQiZ1ukbAQEywSzCNS_bTaS1J7hhE2hYV1dOGNdp9/s320/DSCN6078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270628577502737570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />By evening, 2nd hand good vendors set up shop along Charoen Krung Road (Chinatown)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygw-7PLGhUOb-OdRNXljfkDrbN8aQvmjIt_xq8LmZbFxI5a28J7NkdlSNhHtzJfhPxdq7__4eQs3EIq_vvtbde7BfunUNxibcpV2xrqWybhbw07e3hHGJXMwuqs_43qL7_q7plTNhnKjt/s1600-h/DSCN6062.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhygw-7PLGhUOb-OdRNXljfkDrbN8aQvmjIt_xq8LmZbFxI5a28J7NkdlSNhHtzJfhPxdq7__4eQs3EIq_vvtbde7BfunUNxibcpV2xrqWybhbw07e3hHGJXMwuqs_43qL7_q7plTNhnKjt/s320/DSCN6062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270623572562661410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />He has customer even before setting up shop<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoCI_Sq2blphmc5yTGruh490PP4gM80CQlugItMncHUip4Lj5wexb-aT077OvDdMqOYC1sXGEj5BtAd_pfoiy-ME293i6nZPbwwd35uLF27g-W_3iaD7whbOE8aaedt0AjngFWEdOIcFf/s1600-h/DSCN6063.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoCI_Sq2blphmc5yTGruh490PP4gM80CQlugItMncHUip4Lj5wexb-aT077OvDdMqOYC1sXGEj5BtAd_pfoiy-ME293i6nZPbwwd35uLF27g-W_3iaD7whbOE8aaedt0AjngFWEdOIcFf/s320/DSCN6063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270623582123293762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />His specialty are bottle caps!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGW9GMqMCfihUWZxQckhlW-FYOITNZvw93oJMezdJyQ0d2PezuJ3VI8Lo-ZAoH3KvLu-02hgRhv8vYKagE1wDowcy_iu8lZJFuDzaud0ggGthsfDrK4B7qa5OIVqu_fEirKOz-Tum1oBj/s1600-h/DSCN6064.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGW9GMqMCfihUWZxQckhlW-FYOITNZvw93oJMezdJyQ0d2PezuJ3VI8Lo-ZAoH3KvLu-02hgRhv8vYKagE1wDowcy_iu8lZJFuDzaud0ggGthsfDrK4B7qa5OIVqu_fEirKOz-Tum1oBj/s320/DSCN6064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270627590339493058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Man having a sumptuous noodle on side street. Me too.. just the table next.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiVMMKbdBAj2O4tXowTtC1oVvAv5aJPhqgAPQLtkmYxAvNzwsSLCXZiVYGDN0g9NJJa5lYyjMRIl5NxjPbKsOmiXrOvqOjkccC7ArS6ESFr-jMT_q-hAgkaXYwNXK0RTk3ULMnOZUyJNK/s1600-h/DSCN6081.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiVMMKbdBAj2O4tXowTtC1oVvAv5aJPhqgAPQLtkmYxAvNzwsSLCXZiVYGDN0g9NJJa5lYyjMRIl5NxjPbKsOmiXrOvqOjkccC7ArS6ESFr-jMT_q-hAgkaXYwNXK0RTk3ULMnOZUyJNK/s320/DSCN6081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270628582543891826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />How tired can one be? Slept on his vegeies!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiZSiBQ5v-hCVmJiYLb07_KCwU2mGVJVQDyhyh4tq2xcVMHcLD0_F235XVNFI1_8hEjqJrVEyfXHykJrD7-43najOFoy35-TY4cGvZR30Uv0p3-FjABg16LWp7MGB48vaaWDufaxbPrgj/s1600-h/DSCN6074.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUiZSiBQ5v-hCVmJiYLb07_KCwU2mGVJVQDyhyh4tq2xcVMHcLD0_F235XVNFI1_8hEjqJrVEyfXHykJrD7-43najOFoy35-TY4cGvZR30Uv0p3-FjABg16LWp7MGB48vaaWDufaxbPrgj/s320/DSCN6074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270627600552615426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />For some who couldn't make it, a public bench beneath highway is home. His dream lady painted on a pole behind?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5M-amJrlKJHTYtokhaDXQUhCWZxLrnsK5EPhvKDPWZVeJ0SyuDKABa-E9QSzUSox-0EnabDepeubXF0R-f-BdxDdeB5oOiS7jvyhH3aTIqaukvfdU_XeLPLbjtFyK9YYxMFODXTMEI2k/s1600-h/Everyone+has+a+dream+lady.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5M-amJrlKJHTYtokhaDXQUhCWZxLrnsK5EPhvKDPWZVeJ0SyuDKABa-E9QSzUSox-0EnabDepeubXF0R-f-BdxDdeB5oOiS7jvyhH3aTIqaukvfdU_XeLPLbjtFyK9YYxMFODXTMEI2k/s320/Everyone+has+a+dream+lady.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270612611657289042" border="0" /></a>Walet.twinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210388939671378989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876432517971666367.post-36337199959782916162008-11-09T21:44:00.000-08:002008-11-10T01:20:42.122-08:00Hindu worshipers in BangkokMost worshipers to these Hindu shrines are Buddhists I believe. It is interesting to note the influence of Hindu deities & legends fused with Buddhism in Thai culture.<br /><br />This brings back memories of a Hindu procession witnessed back in 2005 somewhere in Sathorn area. Think it was Thaipusm time if I am not mistaken. Streets around a Hindu temple were lined with devotees with altars set up on the sidewalk - probably a hundred or more!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTw7PfKYEnMmVMONe0GrjuyN-sysVVKeuOAcLRnwoEGx6nX2hG6JyQHWgLh5byHb0hCF3IuRdFP9EjScwQzaPX5b8vHIrmRaY_ZJCfNMPr1e6jPqIuTo1JbMXPQm4ObogbSHPq79UbOcj/s1600-h/DSCN0550.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTw7PfKYEnMmVMONe0GrjuyN-sysVVKeuOAcLRnwoEGx6nX2hG6JyQHWgLh5byHb0hCF3IuRdFP9EjScwQzaPX5b8vHIrmRaY_ZJCfNMPr1e6jPqIuTo1JbMXPQm4ObogbSHPq79UbOcj/s320/DSCN0550.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266904327109470546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It wasn't quite the same as the Thaipusm procession seen in Singapore or Malaysia where Indian devotees carried Kavadies in procession.<br /><br />Here past mid-night, a banner led a procession of Hindu priests out from the temple.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPX6TbVx-Wud05UdQcw3YSUqr9dZq97QsI3-eUXyAF7yScydrj1KKuDkRrL_R1_xOGCgzN660IP3dXKvW1CQx6H9i_xpBxyQrmheA-NVarbL8a2WYbC_Cru5t4SQd9APQsGHyYWI9EVFF/s1600-h/DSCN0543.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDPX6TbVx-Wud05UdQcw3YSUqr9dZq97QsI3-eUXyAF7yScydrj1KKuDkRrL_R1_xOGCgzN660IP3dXKvW1CQx6H9i_xpBxyQrmheA-NVarbL8a2WYbC_Cru5t4SQd9APQsGHyYWI9EVFF/s320/DSCN0543.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266904306762597474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The first priest balanced a pot of flowers on his head while blessing devotees. You got to see the emotions of worshipers rushing forward.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnw_44x24LfZorPc45Rgbvjh0Lb7RWwk1pmrchyphenhyphenAqN2AdLucH5EmJk1impE9oRcRxDFcR3VQf2UIMdYyxitMJWZWUsk5hcuO1N4l7752Yw11mYjpRje9aW3hDdLEr2CMY3uSscO1WtsyX3/s1600-h/DSCN0547.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnw_44x24LfZorPc45Rgbvjh0Lb7RWwk1pmrchyphenhyphenAqN2AdLucH5EmJk1impE9oRcRxDFcR3VQf2UIMdYyxitMJWZWUsk5hcuO1N4l7752Yw11mYjpRje9aW3hDdLEr2CMY3uSscO1WtsyX3/s320/DSCN0547.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266904312322381186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6-8S2KrJbrCnmofhyphenhyphenjjeqiEzkgS5pq4NeQf0iLoXd-WkwGIizvmW7F-FQYFs0FjAWbH946K2QwcsPeK3M8ANFTiCu1vW3mAip0-z90tm5PizEYjatnL7wJyK297dzfA8IC3jTUXeHZDC/s1600-h/DSCN0548.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6-8S2KrJbrCnmofhyphenhyphenjjeqiEzkgS5pq4NeQf0iLoXd-WkwGIizvmW7F-FQYFs0FjAWbH946K2QwcsPeK3M8ANFTiCu1vW3mAip0-z90tm5PizEYjatnL7wJyK297dzfA8IC3jTUXeHZDC/s320/DSCN0548.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266904323435328930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJ52I5iVAzbHwNMBFkP6t58C9hFD2VFtsq96nBxL_ffSJ1vxVGdKF7z47adSqrYDPa12oyMdWqkRfmNc9d21eW6dap0xNVxuCaD6P-3nBVKQ8kWJk4q7Fml7cPR-JyLN9rm1QqFPrgP2b/s1600-h/DSCN0546.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJ52I5iVAzbHwNMBFkP6t58C9hFD2VFtsq96nBxL_ffSJ1vxVGdKF7z47adSqrYDPa12oyMdWqkRfmNc9d21eW6dap0xNVxuCaD6P-3nBVKQ8kWJk4q7Fml7cPR-JyLN9rm1QqFPrgP2b/s320/DSCN0546.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266904310219164850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Hindu deities were very colorful decorated with flower garlands, carried on men's shoulders.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8-PeGCl5kZuXyBTUQQcE3wnM2HMC7HshDWur29Az6opASCG84XPagSNdyA5bpBCUgM_XQY7GYRKXkMs1h46F8GfoQqkAE0i9_iAczpJKR4w9OBLXkU4h3J3v9djbrx0YkiAdEtgVFl-n/s1600-h/DSCN0552.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8-PeGCl5kZuXyBTUQQcE3wnM2HMC7HshDWur29Az6opASCG84XPagSNdyA5bpBCUgM_XQY7GYRKXkMs1h46F8GfoQqkAE0i9_iAczpJKR4w9OBLXkU4h3J3v9djbrx0YkiAdEtgVFl-n/s320/DSCN0552.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266906663039258786" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ujmfHfa82WN9M8LmpMo1gpx0vaAdTV4krDeR6agr0c-y0d31MBdwJverXQDQT_GEZB-sQ-e_Xd7TtgOmxvb8g1QVqxlQFrzPnDBlOCJzEujsvuGSCIbCWSDQCW_XWdC_6Xcajya1wZff/s1600-h/DSCN0551.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ujmfHfa82WN9M8LmpMo1gpx0vaAdTV4krDeR6agr0c-y0d31MBdwJverXQDQT_GEZB-sQ-e_Xd7TtgOmxvb8g1QVqxlQFrzPnDBlOCJzEujsvuGSCIbCWSDQCW_XWdC_6Xcajya1wZff/s320/DSCN0551.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266908086341893666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Priest with metal skewers pierced through his chin.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmV4hP2-t-Ag5IHDi6AA-XGzTG83ZDrQz7F2PwLUeq8gIvhLkY6LQcJmTetX9jMF9M89YFIFp5LtnJkFyo5i1xlco29-SU0ItpkHiDdkq6T1z58dFVrbQhyphenhyphenWUTjU_EbXaAJJqvxhvYIoeU/s1600-h/DSCN0558.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmV4hP2-t-Ag5IHDi6AA-XGzTG83ZDrQz7F2PwLUeq8gIvhLkY6LQcJmTetX9jMF9M89YFIFp5LtnJkFyo5i1xlco29-SU0ItpkHiDdkq6T1z58dFVrbQhyphenhyphenWUTjU_EbXaAJJqvxhvYIoeU/s320/DSCN0558.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266908096115989890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizN-clF07UdmSWQ9SWfM_e5lcB7AMLuJ-CeqrBUNfSkzOsGV5x0KETHJEJ_OaCcVIhDBxgTYCMIDl8DiTX56L7nN7BJtqavXhtViFDCGZxEGD513gnPs6n6_CFLPG_zRJFaFhi3T69XVwR/s1600-h/DSCN0559.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizN-clF07UdmSWQ9SWfM_e5lcB7AMLuJ-CeqrBUNfSkzOsGV5x0KETHJEJ_OaCcVIhDBxgTYCMIDl8DiTX56L7nN7BJtqavXhtViFDCGZxEGD513gnPs6n6_CFLPG_zRJFaFhi3T69XVwR/s320/DSCN0559.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266908126973772306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Ceremonial dance performed when priests were passing.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygL0NGMzW-UXccvhVc-50KwzcHI7Q3ienQ-R2xX5X3YQGyzQfSYBKzn-qmdlU03C0cJ2UGE5I6WYJauyoYqG6WGZ8qG1AY0gcpVSbqRQb-uN57vUAjDTq-hNdDGL0R_LBXQWYriQT0Vom/s1600-h/DSCN0563.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygL0NGMzW-UXccvhVc-50KwzcHI7Q3ienQ-R2xX5X3YQGyzQfSYBKzn-qmdlU03C0cJ2UGE5I6WYJauyoYqG6WGZ8qG1AY0gcpVSbqRQb-uN57vUAjDTq-hNdDGL0R_LBXQWYriQT0Vom/s320/DSCN0563.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266908106327134274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkzVhDa2QJU2TjdlDMCJVIM8RSQ_X3AchlIpCa4Hk7vlXjXDC8zNuxFZHdVlo-vkI6aDnt1x1GJl-w1kQt0zW5hR4ejJ3ju4kat2tLhO42VoONH9OuiaidvlYCB2NryI98_hGCnJJx-bt/s1600-h/DSCN0564.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkzVhDa2QJU2TjdlDMCJVIM8RSQ_X3AchlIpCa4Hk7vlXjXDC8zNuxFZHdVlo-vkI6aDnt1x1GJl-w1kQt0zW5hR4ejJ3ju4kat2tLhO42VoONH9OuiaidvlYCB2NryI98_hGCnJJx-bt/s320/DSCN0564.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266908111416407602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I have seen Indian deities occasionally in Thai temples of the provinces too - visible but not prominent.Walet.twinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210388939671378989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876432517971666367.post-33127214587901650122008-11-09T20:57:00.000-08:002008-11-19T08:59:33.357-08:00Another Hindu ShrineNearby to Erawan Shrine is another Hindu Shrine (just diagonally across the traffic junction) outside Isetan department store at Central World Plaza (formerly World Trade Center).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwHG00M7tB898GEK4t_gRWDRc6hyphenhyphenDvebopEKTl7mNbaugp5rEi1M6a_FmDzQBm6Qz3LP-r0LksBfPH5mZ-Id3PBf2aq0vpFssvr6O1ZEf4DaSO3RRM_YTM_owtgQhDlwZcSt06F5ABjo1/s1600-h/DSCN3461.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwHG00M7tB898GEK4t_gRWDRc6hyphenhyphenDvebopEKTl7mNbaugp5rEi1M6a_FmDzQBm6Qz3LP-r0LksBfPH5mZ-Id3PBf2aq0vpFssvr6O1ZEf4DaSO3RRM_YTM_owtgQhDlwZcSt06F5ABjo1/s320/DSCN3461.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266892842799416258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />There are actually 2 shrines here..<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oJjCsGKShyHybdofRv8vqWVqocFEqPusS6DAbWTRL0lr2WGta1f9B9rG4As5_L2rH16Eyz1378iuB4vM_omeH9ie4d3J-Nlxs_Oz9Ked8gDU2Rzlzo612b9uMxi3eiSzJdSA6Ll5a3Kw/s1600-h/DSCN3470.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oJjCsGKShyHybdofRv8vqWVqocFEqPusS6DAbWTRL0lr2WGta1f9B9rG4As5_L2rH16Eyz1378iuB4vM_omeH9ie4d3J-Nlxs_Oz9Ked8gDU2Rzlzo612b9uMxi3eiSzJdSA6Ll5a3Kw/s320/DSCN3470.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266894979632864674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Lord Brahma in standing pose to the right...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLYvz2EqULh69IUCBRA8ubX58WGEqQSLmXQphiLB7niT5WtEFp8ygStm72QExydTwc4y2pAe_hl7bXXlXH1p6wni1A5wRM0XRqc8iUQt6xB1BqrJVaVzdI8O4tO4sTRBe2stkEx_4_rEF/s1600-h/DSCN3469.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLYvz2EqULh69IUCBRA8ubX58WGEqQSLmXQphiLB7niT5WtEFp8ygStm72QExydTwc4y2pAe_hl7bXXlXH1p6wni1A5wRM0XRqc8iUQt6xB1BqrJVaVzdI8O4tO4sTRBe2stkEx_4_rEF/s320/DSCN3469.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266895008339773826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Lord Ganesha sat on the left.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezBxSH2oUAGm6BFPgeOyt7X8b8IIKPOB6PEs5HVM6DuS_c6IfKgBWuzdpUcRYfC7vqGUwxBAlRLC3f02bBcBGmCKjXPbF-yXWPCYUuylKM4BgAG-WmFG7wM_3Ryzt362POniMqFy1bKYl/s1600-h/DSCN3464.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezBxSH2oUAGm6BFPgeOyt7X8b8IIKPOB6PEs5HVM6DuS_c6IfKgBWuzdpUcRYfC7vqGUwxBAlRLC3f02bBcBGmCKjXPbF-yXWPCYUuylKM4BgAG-WmFG7wM_3Ryzt362POniMqFy1bKYl/s320/DSCN3464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266892849433451842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />the Lord of Accomplishment.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid89NQJLXrq1XQzIMQReI4k2nkFPa0q2Cg5Yje9iXrgpTdVXFePquxkIHIvDC7rVUwmu_l3f8IrOb5itdB2O4b1YzhVQYz5gn1piLndj35ublcAtLB-1ZTsqt7OY1dA6AB-u7yswNSu19e/s1600-h/DSCN3465.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid89NQJLXrq1XQzIMQReI4k2nkFPa0q2Cg5Yje9iXrgpTdVXFePquxkIHIvDC7rVUwmu_l3f8IrOb5itdB2O4b1YzhVQYz5gn1piLndj35ublcAtLB-1ZTsqt7OY1dA6AB-u7yswNSu19e/s320/DSCN3465.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266892857737424466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />He took the form of an elephant head with a human torso.. with pot belly.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjeiu-DP5CTqcAY4PZ_c6ju6f9vETpoyyzelNbJypAUZC9CcvzzDkYGAq0x4dmxvXLqywwd_ikUcGkoC9fLyrucfpdpmTowK1f4xJoYqpf8zrY19g4XZ6a1kimcXhSf0iSTkcNMFcZNiH/s1600-h/DSCN3466.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjeiu-DP5CTqcAY4PZ_c6ju6f9vETpoyyzelNbJypAUZC9CcvzzDkYGAq0x4dmxvXLqywwd_ikUcGkoC9fLyrucfpdpmTowK1f4xJoYqpf8zrY19g4XZ6a1kimcXhSf0iSTkcNMFcZNiH/s320/DSCN3466.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266894986082648322" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEZAWkodJ1EiIMlAIGVhC_MPpqk0jxQvqxHSyI32ZCfZxfJxn7CrwTC9kHBg4Oo8LhsLND6YGwC4xfjI6ukrJ2OOyfcf4_OtkfP_vAlBhuuXOV2EOakqZdPl6JR4v3YIfKLr37m6IFCCz/s1600-h/DSCN3467.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEZAWkodJ1EiIMlAIGVhC_MPpqk0jxQvqxHSyI32ZCfZxfJxn7CrwTC9kHBg4Oo8LhsLND6YGwC4xfjI6ukrJ2OOyfcf4_OtkfP_vAlBhuuXOV2EOakqZdPl6JR4v3YIfKLr37m6IFCCz/s320/DSCN3467.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266895000395381842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjmYGzEBra2KhKVypy_ZGHPF6KljUgXHpjLmp_mQ2cXELSBnhRqd2Didrys9gRMN-Hz0t4G2DdJYCGSUIlqrjZY30S5w5wD8gW6YrN62uJhiQJRoLA2Xz1TPkc6H_jBuMQ2yJb8bDtD9S/s1600-h/DSCN3468.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjmYGzEBra2KhKVypy_ZGHPF6KljUgXHpjLmp_mQ2cXELSBnhRqd2Didrys9gRMN-Hz0t4G2DdJYCGSUIlqrjZY30S5w5wD8gW6YrN62uJhiQJRoLA2Xz1TPkc6H_jBuMQ2yJb8bDtD9S/s320/DSCN3468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266895001621498690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It is not as popular as the Erawan Shrine judging from the number of worshippers.<br />If I have to follow the crowds.. guess I would pick Erawan Shrine to make my wishes come true!<br /><br />Update 20th Nov 2008<br />My curiosity of Hindu Shrines in central Bangkok lead further readings.. this site shed more on this subject if you are interested too.<br /><br />http://www.thaiwebsites.com/hindushrines.aspWalet.twinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210388939671378989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876432517971666367.post-57733777108157878832008-11-09T10:40:00.000-08:002008-11-09T21:38:45.788-08:00Erawan ShrineOutside Grand Hyatt Erawan along the Sukhumvit Road corner is the well known Erawan Shrine. First erected in 1956, it has been around for more than half a century! Probably most Asian visitors to Bangkok would know or have heard about it.<br /><br />In Chinese it has often been referred as the 'Four Faced Bhudda', so I have mistaken for years it is Buddhist originated. How wrong it was! In fact it is the Hindu God of Creation - Brahma.<br /><br />Thais & tourists come daily, rain or shine to make their wishes here.<br />Views from the BTS walkway above.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmua_QPJo04EmOwgWGDT007FFz1bAidQ1X6k-jx7IILE_C-3kGwxaJltgrSYi5bYwZkgv8BKsl6FTqx7XhS2oTF745Z-K4loDr0x0vLmPWihXDg4cc7PlMqx0VM-LojPlwRDkSfx8RK2vT/s1600-h/DSCN3426.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmua_QPJo04EmOwgWGDT007FFz1bAidQ1X6k-jx7IILE_C-3kGwxaJltgrSYi5bYwZkgv8BKsl6FTqx7XhS2oTF745Z-K4loDr0x0vLmPWihXDg4cc7PlMqx0VM-LojPlwRDkSfx8RK2vT/s320/DSCN3426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266733151245531010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ubbo350oiIskyxB6hqLoV8aXceT5Mg83-NFSB1WYi2_i2H8UgeYd0G2GqhB_kif6ULQCDdLID9oSJvTv_nN56pYKyog5n4ybOMcKXVsDLLzdxJ1N3a5f8gMecTfa8QUtbxdy6Mjvukx0/s1600-h/DSCN3427.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ubbo350oiIskyxB6hqLoV8aXceT5Mg83-NFSB1WYi2_i2H8UgeYd0G2GqhB_kif6ULQCDdLID9oSJvTv_nN56pYKyog5n4ybOMcKXVsDLLzdxJ1N3a5f8gMecTfa8QUtbxdy6Mjvukx0/s320/DSCN3427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266736692019309314" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A close up of view of Lord Brahma. On 21st Mar. 2006, the statute was smashed by a mentally ill man. The act was so provocative he was killed by angry bystanders. This statute was restored on 21st May 2006.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdrsCz5loa_CSyyeju_ZzsKy45Q4_PzVsBUViF0E5y_4tWvJAcZGAyUm3Mr7Du97C-qbK5HqoNOrm3SlG21_MBOg4xP1ynCMbbzWC1U-C9BlsOLdu3CW1TAj0YwQQc5smZOIVcaeKFloo/s1600-h/DSCN3430.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdrsCz5loa_CSyyeju_ZzsKy45Q4_PzVsBUViF0E5y_4tWvJAcZGAyUm3Mr7Du97C-qbK5HqoNOrm3SlG21_MBOg4xP1ynCMbbzWC1U-C9BlsOLdu3CW1TAj0YwQQc5smZOIVcaeKFloo/s320/DSCN3430.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266734922133382130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Traditional Thai dance can accompany your wish making process too - small price to pay if helps.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJJAyLNCwFgqheJXDJmD3ykbZ7R2xad93AlINtQckWY3y86jUeOsTA4K06kFlJkDL7zkmAyQ9PldS3AtkGOXBHtNQZMxZ92U4h3I6L1y4rn2xQWoN_wE6Gh3XDbTBCUjUzXR9s9wIn2HW/s1600-h/DSCN3432.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJJAyLNCwFgqheJXDJmD3ykbZ7R2xad93AlINtQckWY3y86jUeOsTA4K06kFlJkDL7zkmAyQ9PldS3AtkGOXBHtNQZMxZ92U4h3I6L1y4rn2xQWoN_wE6Gh3XDbTBCUjUzXR9s9wIn2HW/s320/DSCN3432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266734928626869250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Taking a break - cosmetic touched up in between performances.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1txLmNdZXsPnKMcWWo2CZJ-ST9wB-PcD761gDaUBOO0RNTk_vHPE0wSyS__ABscnn4k02hapMQAYF0ywEL5Sc06nAw0XXpa5xI9UHkaSgS_M6FMZxqJ9Y0kM4DBB2IeqAFjHrYzsOCmH/s1600-h/DSCN3436.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1txLmNdZXsPnKMcWWo2CZJ-ST9wB-PcD761gDaUBOO0RNTk_vHPE0wSyS__ABscnn4k02hapMQAYF0ywEL5Sc06nAw0XXpa5xI9UHkaSgS_M6FMZxqJ9Y0kM4DBB2IeqAFjHrYzsOCmH/s320/DSCN3436.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266738109461192050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Vendors outside are doing brisk business too.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qkOKSh16dcWbtYD7sRVNL4H8gzc6083z_dROZnGCbf33grtkXEke0NpSsbFXX8xe9Z93n3fvN5quKX8-uWmzzGnYnJlN95gtIpDs02OsJx7Ezznq3IMM2lGX_k1-xoPsiJGkKH5IjICc/s1600-h/DSCN3433.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qkOKSh16dcWbtYD7sRVNL4H8gzc6083z_dROZnGCbf33grtkXEke0NpSsbFXX8xe9Z93n3fvN5quKX8-uWmzzGnYnJlN95gtIpDs02OsJx7Ezznq3IMM2lGX_k1-xoPsiJGkKH5IjICc/s320/DSCN3433.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266736707893678466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBzsuMbrkhYuq44Nznc5Kqzl2bF2TqT02Z-NSZxRv7x-06By4yscImMsErVt79mCMPKR1hqzJZbkxTL96TOiJQP0i2qKGyte2dhJaAfu36xyqRUfMArEoqiJ4UHb4GrxlVm-TD1bpwyEs/s1600-h/DSCN3428.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBzsuMbrkhYuq44Nznc5Kqzl2bF2TqT02Z-NSZxRv7x-06By4yscImMsErVt79mCMPKR1hqzJZbkxTL96TOiJQP0i2qKGyte2dhJaAfu36xyqRUfMArEoqiJ4UHb4GrxlVm-TD1bpwyEs/s320/DSCN3428.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266733170031578194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The courtyard is lined with rows of wooden elephant sculptures - big & small; worshiper's gratitude in return for wishes granted?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmwk0BS3V9EZNLAb2PBYgTipExnH1UaktSgTICwyIwhLVLChMOzYXnydhfcJ5853_oL1xqF5IoJKMqCZHC7RWRz9oQPbSfl05q-yyIZgBtTUgL6OwGKO8yHg0-DWS2NR-KVizVLooytS3/s1600-h/DSCN3429.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmwk0BS3V9EZNLAb2PBYgTipExnH1UaktSgTICwyIwhLVLChMOzYXnydhfcJ5853_oL1xqF5IoJKMqCZHC7RWRz9oQPbSfl05q-yyIZgBtTUgL6OwGKO8yHg0-DWS2NR-KVizVLooytS3/s320/DSCN3429.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266736698050699650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIa9IwcPNu6Bw0UbkKre-jy3Yupk6LJF2J1TUTOEE6rY1tDYn9tjQ6w3n6KLw6Zcvq13hX_HYcHOudj33dCeKQ1AggFhS5jiJ-DvMfcP_EO6l6yT6ChJAdqBpxXETqKf_JqadzljiItHAd/s1600-h/DSCN3437.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIa9IwcPNu6Bw0UbkKre-jy3Yupk6LJF2J1TUTOEE6rY1tDYn9tjQ6w3n6KLw6Zcvq13hX_HYcHOudj33dCeKQ1AggFhS5jiJ-DvMfcP_EO6l6yT6ChJAdqBpxXETqKf_JqadzljiItHAd/s320/DSCN3437.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266738110134516594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi123wnLL2FozxdJ9Z1Up8Y8ZlPiYBlSihwu89OWOqDe4Qy81Z7y5UAaePW1x4izCDOdmSw2r5zCkr7kiyDDT6VtOJhd6zOdALl_5ki1rpv80-tJm4tz6fw_8JRJMRDZbrAZwBahmNVgmDl/s1600-h/DSCN3438.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi123wnLL2FozxdJ9Z1Up8Y8ZlPiYBlSihwu89OWOqDe4Qy81Z7y5UAaePW1x4izCDOdmSw2r5zCkr7kiyDDT6VtOJhd6zOdALl_5ki1rpv80-tJm4tz6fw_8JRJMRDZbrAZwBahmNVgmDl/s320/DSCN3438.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266741305334396370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />One would go round making wishes 4 times around the shrine, at each face of the deity.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8Xsdzo67F8Un3B5MU5NM5kQNZFjSzhJom4rX0QJIh2oifyneQ5NghAtFerMKYszkVzkJ1urxJl7HGkMuLvcnstmraf3JT_mybkhpLpEjeQnulx1xbuu7Lchm6AfUXwBE3VfSKXXJEgvi/s1600-h/DSCN3442.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8Xsdzo67F8Un3B5MU5NM5kQNZFjSzhJom4rX0QJIh2oifyneQ5NghAtFerMKYszkVzkJ1urxJl7HGkMuLvcnstmraf3JT_mybkhpLpEjeQnulx1xbuu7Lchm6AfUXwBE3VfSKXXJEgvi/s320/DSCN3442.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266743584493393714" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Air filled with incense smoke soon filled the air as worshipers number grew.. bring tears to eyes!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfs88B23R3xtslixbkr-dejjytg4Ye4KAG7AWrBJKeXmB2lA9l0Kw78V0PSri1E7Img0wLhXpnA2v-ZWYr5oeITPuWDfyuMwgKSYusi4D8iFK0ouJAFrWv1G9TKtEhpU56RiDzPMFFWT51/s1600-h/DSCN3435.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfs88B23R3xtslixbkr-dejjytg4Ye4KAG7AWrBJKeXmB2lA9l0Kw78V0PSri1E7Img0wLhXpnA2v-ZWYr5oeITPuWDfyuMwgKSYusi4D8iFK0ouJAFrWv1G9TKtEhpU56RiDzPMFFWT51/s320/DSCN3435.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266738096835624914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Attendant making his round clearing off incense sticks & candles to make space for others - Oops how does it affect the wishes made before the incense fully burned out?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4olSU6_X9UFpTKFGU3cOPyEKw7PWzKhjJ3ML4dv0UtJFubG3Qy_64ggRdICNpkQtCKbcDrJ2hHds8OD-PeHkJLRQeZ-DL70NKxCV8Yf1X0NrTRhWDA72H1KuEePEce64xD0F9BrUGs2KL/s1600-h/DSCN3441.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4olSU6_X9UFpTKFGU3cOPyEKw7PWzKhjJ3ML4dv0UtJFubG3Qy_64ggRdICNpkQtCKbcDrJ2hHds8OD-PeHkJLRQeZ-DL70NKxCV8Yf1X0NrTRhWDA72H1KuEePEce64xD0F9BrUGs2KL/s320/DSCN3441.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266741319248335586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It doesn't matter, people of all walks of life continue to stream in;<br />Men..<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmS0ZXwPRb_GbVlf0C_g0iEO5mynBKrTRjsrET8dO3CtlL748oVnL76wABHvu9WNDwqIOWvjKDptB-Y2EmQT0sXxyEv9k0t0OdoJkFGgzDu1DjSdGAasfe34YZmY4eGD_yEgIhnBzKviX/s1600-h/DSCN3439.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmS0ZXwPRb_GbVlf0C_g0iEO5mynBKrTRjsrET8dO3CtlL748oVnL76wABHvu9WNDwqIOWvjKDptB-Y2EmQT0sXxyEv9k0t0OdoJkFGgzDu1DjSdGAasfe34YZmY4eGD_yEgIhnBzKviX/s320/DSCN3439.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266741314428724562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Young couple...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6z8eTKCSdIv6Vgoe25N-i8FbiRCE648I3jlF1eR4j8EBYQZgzkcpJIQciWO4XYk57vP_Mx7PNPo_Ue23006JIbIZ-8y6CI0VLe2WagZESMR7bBI_E3pxgYEAlpU6QW8hiUByChvYBkUlw/s1600-h/DSCN3443.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6z8eTKCSdIv6Vgoe25N-i8FbiRCE648I3jlF1eR4j8EBYQZgzkcpJIQciWO4XYk57vP_Mx7PNPo_Ue23006JIbIZ-8y6CI0VLe2WagZESMR7bBI_E3pxgYEAlpU6QW8hiUByChvYBkUlw/s320/DSCN3443.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266743590981319090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Women folks...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZiPOGEkeR5GxNoZhvTWxrpvpm6NXspIxejfbMCsIdsDLALK0r409QOuB1ntZb3prz8VSyoG4Mw1ph693Ir2JdwbA65yvxvUJ1VKX-ihWuCvAKZeXw9GbEztmCnuVwHjh9EO8-0zmPaRP/s1600-h/DSCN3445.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZiPOGEkeR5GxNoZhvTWxrpvpm6NXspIxejfbMCsIdsDLALK0r409QOuB1ntZb3prz8VSyoG4Mw1ph693Ir2JdwbA65yvxvUJ1VKX-ihWuCvAKZeXw9GbEztmCnuVwHjh9EO8-0zmPaRP/s320/DSCN3445.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266743599143635314" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3YvdbMJfG0z2NOdOifHdAXEqGSEo2yOoFDSFAQ9MWge6L2rm6gHOjKCLYLqt1N4wNnsJkIS1syePwOI-imvz7ftqEg41drSDpxBwaYEH3trV-kfDRMoi1aQx7m4faYmMSrDzr2DLCKJ0/s1600-h/DSCN3446.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT3YvdbMJfG0z2NOdOifHdAXEqGSEo2yOoFDSFAQ9MWge6L2rm6gHOjKCLYLqt1N4wNnsJkIS1syePwOI-imvz7ftqEg41drSDpxBwaYEH3trV-kfDRMoi1aQx7m4faYmMSrDzr2DLCKJ0/s320/DSCN3446.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266745438151803794" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The young & old... we all have our wishes, don't we?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHcatzWJNidEA7wynhpTCbc_84fYSP9GuCBQ31jfCCcglm3obxvx2ahNGcAisdpBiNIfme9nvpm1SehXdz8SU0XWgkBlrIVS44aEqlJS5kC8cWibcUbF6GaMqCVpa4W43VmFr4yFHHRbx/s1600-h/DSCN3449.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHcatzWJNidEA7wynhpTCbc_84fYSP9GuCBQ31jfCCcglm3obxvx2ahNGcAisdpBiNIfme9nvpm1SehXdz8SU0XWgkBlrIVS44aEqlJS5kC8cWibcUbF6GaMqCVpa4W43VmFr4yFHHRbx/s320/DSCN3449.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266745445414980994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Lots of coconut juice to quench Lord Brahma's thirst (served with straw too!)?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_1PIwtjj8vvDbzHwCiCcM8acLoDK0oseIMHFcpzmeRvdZKU_oI6cXtfgDgv8heG8bdNaOMUK8ZMQAuYHp9_9Dqi7-aenLAZDHTvABVfNxLhHUBd2CWk-gVGTH7sZscdztQ8JhFayH751/s1600-h/DSCN3450.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_1PIwtjj8vvDbzHwCiCcM8acLoDK0oseIMHFcpzmeRvdZKU_oI6cXtfgDgv8heG8bdNaOMUK8ZMQAuYHp9_9Dqi7-aenLAZDHTvABVfNxLhHUBd2CWk-gVGTH7sZscdztQ8JhFayH751/s320/DSCN3450.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266745454440140130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Is it only in one's mind after all?Walet.twinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210388939671378989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876432517971666367.post-71491195313808772422008-10-22T03:39:00.001-07:002008-11-09T10:27:04.753-08:00A refreshing day at Suvarnabhumi Airport!As the plane sat waiting for push back to take off, something prompted me to to take out my camera this morning - it was actually the brightness of the day lifted my mood. I'd been taking late night flights recently, such a refreshing change it turned out to be!<br /><br />Admiring the architectural forms of the Suvarnabhumi Airport from the tarmac.. sights that I would have taken for granted.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CqGquDoa6KCij28vFVppVdwRzoMsUB6Ixf3GpfTfoFRFA1ShGnUZu1ArHOG6ZnlvVN55OiTYssvVqNPVJEnzsChUhif8lr5dt_QEpKhI2E-tunq_Mw0uhhYPYzjS3cLayHZgfoozF_A7/s1600-h/DSCN9970.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CqGquDoa6KCij28vFVppVdwRzoMsUB6Ixf3GpfTfoFRFA1ShGnUZu1ArHOG6ZnlvVN55OiTYssvVqNPVJEnzsChUhif8lr5dt_QEpKhI2E-tunq_Mw0uhhYPYzjS3cLayHZgfoozF_A7/s320/DSCN9970.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259916793130634210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKLLSYBBtHZOoldKpjTbVX8UpOI3ife77Vl23cmQGmey-2wUh56KYmEwreKpXiYEHbvOPj-Ixgk0Q1libtsuxnmHPIrBMvkQ_5G8iFWCtklfAGYs72PbYyO4TP8MzDBi17_ukab5ofo3_/s1600-h/DSCN9971.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKLLSYBBtHZOoldKpjTbVX8UpOI3ife77Vl23cmQGmey-2wUh56KYmEwreKpXiYEHbvOPj-Ixgk0Q1libtsuxnmHPIrBMvkQ_5G8iFWCtklfAGYs72PbYyO4TP8MzDBi17_ukab5ofo3_/s320/DSCN9971.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259916798459992914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A magnificent view of another jumbo just landed.. I always marvel at such huge man-made machines taking into the sky! Wright Brothers' first flying machine (invented less than a hundred years ago) lifted off a short distance within the length of this jumbo jet!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvv8XGMEkJYn2ZhBtBJ8EB8QewVj5veKxOjwLp6EFYFmatE2mXu-XLns3FB4GcTgDHRLEEAlhQbO1TxImSayVfSeXxjCs-kT-uoBpXrMmQ_EOS0Zb-TJn5aFMWcF75FXxwuAAJV5GGVVs/s1600-h/DSCN9974.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvv8XGMEkJYn2ZhBtBJ8EB8QewVj5veKxOjwLp6EFYFmatE2mXu-XLns3FB4GcTgDHRLEEAlhQbO1TxImSayVfSeXxjCs-kT-uoBpXrMmQ_EOS0Zb-TJn5aFMWcF75FXxwuAAJV5GGVVs/s320/DSCN9974.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259916807941834978" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Bangkok has a fair share of rains recently.. caught a glimpse with a pool's reflection.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBp3YJlap-Tp9jTQBOw5IqvuvXMMmTArVVF-QgDyyGr0CAH07mosMKFX1Y1qZZD-CBa73exv76WmovAH9x4MVUg179O554EGHaQH2H9-8mCJYK9_12Qey5MMiD06zFAmZNEZZIVqervkUb/s1600-h/DSCN9973.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBp3YJlap-Tp9jTQBOw5IqvuvXMMmTArVVF-QgDyyGr0CAH07mosMKFX1Y1qZZD-CBa73exv76WmovAH9x4MVUg179O554EGHaQH2H9-8mCJYK9_12Qey5MMiD06zFAmZNEZZIVqervkUb/s320/DSCN9973.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259916802629172386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I was thrilled with this sea of cumulus clouds forming.. not often to have such view in bright sunshine!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0c7I4I4mXnEL2hi3ROJ7wWhGRyaENW2x7dHCa86iZDYK0vwKtxP46S-aT46TOfX6WOBACN5njCk3uP3vxNHIw646dZ9KFcHV1NOVSMzzfmMt_Kq0Nvy-tTvj8w6HIwOCnDagUJkfpFiKs/s1600-h/DSCN9978.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0c7I4I4mXnEL2hi3ROJ7wWhGRyaENW2x7dHCa86iZDYK0vwKtxP46S-aT46TOfX6WOBACN5njCk3uP3vxNHIw646dZ9KFcHV1NOVSMzzfmMt_Kq0Nvy-tTvj8w6HIwOCnDagUJkfpFiKs/s320/DSCN9978.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259916808170271234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />From the air, saw many rice fields were inundated too..<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bs_NrZl1GG7wxaNLh-eHBaqKZYg7bZEq8sNvOJpWlqY2LU2E6zrBJRrH6E6_dytkdXTO07Kpu8CVxSmm8pVRgJpC2Oyrrts0s8iNn1-cyuWsHIKklHanyFJybztKtwOollUoAzBqSW3L/s1600-h/DSCN9975.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-bs_NrZl1GG7wxaNLh-eHBaqKZYg7bZEq8sNvOJpWlqY2LU2E6zrBJRrH6E6_dytkdXTO07Kpu8CVxSmm8pVRgJpC2Oyrrts0s8iNn1-cyuWsHIKklHanyFJybztKtwOollUoAzBqSW3L/s320/DSCN9975.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259923215392816626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />As the plane turned towards the Gulf.. view of this island came to sight. My guess is Ko Samet.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTQivz1ypXqBsCU0tgyvDnVgpWsDe-hlDfIMRU3pjHCanXXVXk9cwEYzveOwaDsfnUtpNojP61bFUv6A31TaEq39VAkjY9oA-169K73ShPwWNVZaGd9kn9wrGfprdOea3XkoebJhsNaWo/s1600-h/DSCN9980.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTQivz1ypXqBsCU0tgyvDnVgpWsDe-hlDfIMRU3pjHCanXXVXk9cwEYzveOwaDsfnUtpNojP61bFUv6A31TaEq39VAkjY9oA-169K73ShPwWNVZaGd9kn9wrGfprdOea3XkoebJhsNaWo/s320/DSCN9980.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259923213167557394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I like to play this geography puzzle matching game with Google Earth getting the same viewing angle. I am getting pretty good at it, huh?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5axQY46MFazY7bMNKsUCTzqr2VnRBfCTCcIjTYMkbIfe0eDStwPokB3U8bbEI4kmi08CFFsGfXFmDAzqJpb6gi9Ok1U-O9LV4sytSkBRHMaE_tCWQV8KvHCmeG5aYVl7RiVTiOCvLc4ZR/s1600-h/Ko+Samet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5axQY46MFazY7bMNKsUCTzqr2VnRBfCTCcIjTYMkbIfe0eDStwPokB3U8bbEI4kmi08CFFsGfXFmDAzqJpb6gi9Ok1U-O9LV4sytSkBRHMaE_tCWQV8KvHCmeG5aYVl7RiVTiOCvLc4ZR/s320/Ko+Samet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259923217840204242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It may be just another day.. I still enjoyed scenes of the day's beauty.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Updated with photos of Suvarnabhumi Airport (10th Nov 2008).</span><br />No visitor leaves without seeing this spectacular sight depicting the tussle between the Good & the Evil of Hindu legend.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyJV3mPQ6D4fseIfLfZV-NpfGreFzyYN4rztB50hUukmK1NnNKW6CI23mhHJX5MfvEQs2HXwwvrL8BQ5chUVvG3yPVFjq5g3zvkaDjP7T0G5Rn34nP5gUFsr33cYcJb2vRnsgaKGOEL4c/s1600-h/Suvarnabumi+Airport.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyJV3mPQ6D4fseIfLfZV-NpfGreFzyYN4rztB50hUukmK1NnNKW6CI23mhHJX5MfvEQs2HXwwvrL8BQ5chUVvG3yPVFjq5g3zvkaDjP7T0G5Rn34nP5gUFsr33cYcJb2vRnsgaKGOEL4c/s320/Suvarnabumi+Airport.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266725562391029138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHopcioBh4aYjzG32EqE-bF_cS3SD-YQyd2Q9FhplXS8QJZkXUMfj6Uf4mVGDIU4Tqc65Kqi_YcUqEc1mpvYCM7v0gT24KQ0LY4ZC2W843lupHdapwWXDXx53Pi7aGu7Gzjba_80wVnKh/s1600-h/DSCN6219.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHopcioBh4aYjzG32EqE-bF_cS3SD-YQyd2Q9FhplXS8QJZkXUMfj6Uf4mVGDIU4Tqc65Kqi_YcUqEc1mpvYCM7v0gT24KQ0LY4ZC2W843lupHdapwWXDXx53Pi7aGu7Gzjba_80wVnKh/s320/DSCN6219.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266723435740967730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWA8oLy6LAz3GzdpSq749BZYq5UOXjliIxvYvlLaoa9ZtgkFOr4Y8J7vrYUVAxKiMihp0FtBUdee3ziLDWvkU_1hsTsgPPPRAEKo4CLuwXkXv1hfi7L3iYvWLRjJ1jAOAukQyEMj4_GWGD/s1600-h/DSCN6220.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWA8oLy6LAz3GzdpSq749BZYq5UOXjliIxvYvlLaoa9ZtgkFOr4Y8J7vrYUVAxKiMihp0FtBUdee3ziLDWvkU_1hsTsgPPPRAEKo4CLuwXkXv1hfi7L3iYvWLRjJ1jAOAukQyEMj4_GWGD/s320/DSCN6220.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266723446607955762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsorzmEPpAU8oqmy-mp1TG7_gZJQcjQQPqDKDYskNm8CmpPPx9IG5XzGeRC79dU5l-cF3jqaboKu4Bqicr7iBxFwWchM3UKYbOcmOqukj4dRQb3qUM6eO7i1Zb6CevQwXvyU6D2sE8OnnH/s1600-h/DSCN6223.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsorzmEPpAU8oqmy-mp1TG7_gZJQcjQQPqDKDYskNm8CmpPPx9IG5XzGeRC79dU5l-cF3jqaboKu4Bqicr7iBxFwWchM3UKYbOcmOqukj4dRQb3qUM6eO7i1Zb6CevQwXvyU6D2sE8OnnH/s320/DSCN6223.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266724563605543058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmogYD5TGCdIZdebYXX8lYBtmHwyYmernhNjs1XluscpBoiyFUveSaehRYQVDn259LzSM3DrNx4EMgEqefjPb1osaad_sxQ4Vk6RZQUSLiOwYRzKSCnLjLQv52eNGnp5O3zbxZjbXuxYV/s1600-h/DSCN6221.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmogYD5TGCdIZdebYXX8lYBtmHwyYmernhNjs1XluscpBoiyFUveSaehRYQVDn259LzSM3DrNx4EMgEqefjPb1osaad_sxQ4Vk6RZQUSLiOwYRzKSCnLjLQv52eNGnp5O3zbxZjbXuxYV/s320/DSCN6221.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266724558030105634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Manage to find in my photo archive - Lego model of Suvarnabhumi Airport at a shopping mall during the times of airport opening.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3j4vgqa9cwjoAVyppo-mSNZ-3dpqF-Egq5XFTDbSx5RHBcPyAqdh2ZdqUyyMmCyBCXGWrcZHmPyV35KCQPuTpUbeiwGKRCHN62I6Dlj80_nuBGrZjp2-x6zI3_4BePOYa-GwCeexy9W8/s1600-h/DSCN6861.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie3j4vgqa9cwjoAVyppo-mSNZ-3dpqF-Egq5XFTDbSx5RHBcPyAqdh2ZdqUyyMmCyBCXGWrcZHmPyV35KCQPuTpUbeiwGKRCHN62I6Dlj80_nuBGrZjp2-x6zI3_4BePOYa-GwCeexy9W8/s320/DSCN6861.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266724572018700674" border="0" /></a>Walet.twinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210388939671378989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876432517971666367.post-12755886913468167262008-10-06T08:04:00.000-07:002008-10-27T12:19:43.232-07:00Part 2 - Inside Ground Zero<span style="font-weight: bold;">P</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">hotos update</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">after police clashed</span> (23nd Oct 08)<br />Passed Makkhawan Bridge last weekend... the roads leading there were further barricaded with piles of tires.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKALgge7biz_uoo1rs6mj_jrVUA0Hysjb6PQ-N-aeIVJsezOEocaf6TaHTUIzgNAvQRonHk0GcKDtMecyJPgca7i2Kjsv4veWsUkE4EX16B4HcLRYxxwplEsBlMr6jf7sAkHYz7x80kDpJ/s1600-h/DSCN9917.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKALgge7biz_uoo1rs6mj_jrVUA0Hysjb6PQ-N-aeIVJsezOEocaf6TaHTUIzgNAvQRonHk0GcKDtMecyJPgca7i2Kjsv4veWsUkE4EX16B4HcLRYxxwplEsBlMr6jf7sAkHYz7x80kDpJ/s320/DSCN9917.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259932477490562226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFU514MRDwAKOrNR7_lB8admh5PbETlu9evLE0sQqk7IabTF5FIkKttwhMXBwwDrLgBhkVA4XvT8iHs4hHL-YRdgiXEEnRU2A0u1xxO2CzSsTn2zqXcW52JFbD6yB_HIwDkZVcRwZhNDek/s1600-h/DSCN9918.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFU514MRDwAKOrNR7_lB8admh5PbETlu9evLE0sQqk7IabTF5FIkKttwhMXBwwDrLgBhkVA4XvT8iHs4hHL-YRdgiXEEnRU2A0u1xxO2CzSsTn2zqXcW52JFbD6yB_HIwDkZVcRwZhNDek/s320/DSCN9918.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259932479650096482" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KvvJ6dRVwf2gH2Nzk9u2Qx9yTgYPf33zEHUIlmV1PC3NGbyB2a_0o6okHQz4NeGqI2pdJtXFh28VtyLiQsykRZldn2HNKF2-yu_9ibAVRdryXzwa0OiD786ASgpqcWnu_gSOMgE2Y4Z4/s1600-h/DSCN9920.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KvvJ6dRVwf2gH2Nzk9u2Qx9yTgYPf33zEHUIlmV1PC3NGbyB2a_0o6okHQz4NeGqI2pdJtXFh28VtyLiQsykRZldn2HNKF2-yu_9ibAVRdryXzwa0OiD786ASgpqcWnu_gSOMgE2Y4Z4/s320/DSCN9920.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259932481584396610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnZPiezIs_YdN7JCvPsmaDhxe0MD8-2RaxOFcVptMkO1nBYh8VIuapvfpPWbR4PLMUUfSWaoLZQ2fKo0h-Fz-r8m4PsYQvfQCqIYr3_1fDl7yOHsnw4SuapF1b1bLCpJdrx-qoAc6WFPq/s1600-h/DSCN9919.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnZPiezIs_YdN7JCvPsmaDhxe0MD8-2RaxOFcVptMkO1nBYh8VIuapvfpPWbR4PLMUUfSWaoLZQ2fKo0h-Fz-r8m4PsYQvfQCqIYr3_1fDl7yOHsnw4SuapF1b1bLCpJdrx-qoAc6WFPq/s320/DSCN9919.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259932488682440194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Count myself fortunate to visit the demo grounds just days before clashes broke out with police - 2 were reported killed and hundreds injured!<br /><br />Just read from Bangkokpost protesters had cleared the grounds at Makkhawan bridge permanently. So these are probably the last scenes before being dismantled for road traffic to be through again.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Part 2</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Inside Ground Zero</span><br />I've never been to the Government House, neither would I ever think of a visit under such circumstances! But it just happened.<br /><br />View of the Government House under siege surrounded by tents! Can't wait to see what's going on inside?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6YRi6BARNXu3USLnXpapmYl2xJzq9fuJ8Wb5B3Bz5vZ1FyqITHbQRxVIcaC4c4PEPPq7eOYtTJo7Zs4t5CWJZRSDXi_ZYea2c5oBli297PKx6iUKrrKohypGoDtN79AvPG5PmFqxWAgX/s1600-h/DSCN9750.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq6YRi6BARNXu3USLnXpapmYl2xJzq9fuJ8Wb5B3Bz5vZ1FyqITHbQRxVIcaC4c4PEPPq7eOYtTJo7Zs4t5CWJZRSDXi_ZYea2c5oBli297PKx6iUKrrKohypGoDtN79AvPG5PmFqxWAgX/s320/DSCN9750.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254058980679923010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Another tier of security control at entrance - formed an inner security zone.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgMusLvfw22hTiskp0X5IkH10J_fAR0j2RXh4FjmJrlEeQhZBRaYqDxDxgdz2fcR-fwHSU0Z9-tp-u-imFYAOk5E2qWUxHLpx3Bptcs7oMGyz5_C8va43St3j7mSddir1i_WdVe6Ghr7c/s1600-h/DSCN9775.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgMusLvfw22hTiskp0X5IkH10J_fAR0j2RXh4FjmJrlEeQhZBRaYqDxDxgdz2fcR-fwHSU0Z9-tp-u-imFYAOk5E2qWUxHLpx3Bptcs7oMGyz5_C8va43St3j7mSddir1i_WdVe6Ghr7c/s320/DSCN9775.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254058984152155010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Hand carried bags are subjected to inspection again. Citizenry taking laws into its own hands? Nobody questioned its legality anyway!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2X4AAJIuVOfKIP8gE_7_V0skrEg7p82vlL2tCvAYTnCLIiCFuBMfTadwPZt5mK8onsqJSvXmvTCNDcBTw__NR1qJVeIeH65yxe9hjqxJUAGPJsq_EwSpYTMCmEfxjrSNC7Oc0hakzBojB/s1600-h/DSCN9753.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2X4AAJIuVOfKIP8gE_7_V0skrEg7p82vlL2tCvAYTnCLIiCFuBMfTadwPZt5mK8onsqJSvXmvTCNDcBTw__NR1qJVeIeH65yxe9hjqxJUAGPJsq_EwSpYTMCmEfxjrSNC7Oc0hakzBojB/s320/DSCN9753.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254058989394997746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />How can anyone resist a free cold drink this time? We were all thirsty even without a shout!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielrkAw-8pso_pVkvj8SViI9ShtKOELB-1UrCqXeVDcykSQ0DBW996lvvVlOGahgKS_8j7egJ8pOFxBrsORInhQ3zwAStk_PCKr5iLCkE5B7iUj9YL7fQt5a4N01JT1I4z-9PaZtlqq6pM/s1600-h/DSCN9751.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielrkAw-8pso_pVkvj8SViI9ShtKOELB-1UrCqXeVDcykSQ0DBW996lvvVlOGahgKS_8j7egJ8pOFxBrsORInhQ3zwAStk_PCKr5iLCkE5B7iUj9YL7fQt5a4N01JT1I4z-9PaZtlqq6pM/s320/DSCN9751.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254058992617850258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />As we approached the center stage, huge tents with people sat orderly listening to rally speech. No clapping of hands though, the plastic clappers has taken over this role.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxMFWANZ2g3tCewaQOYCQvDbD1C3yAx_QjWtCDEgBPWIaVB_uEEWszPkB4NEZMxA8jVUJozHG_V1LiocaEvNmQrd-zW4UULmwQ6xl1JRfqDHOJxEK3MOGksihvz_osxsgGhUjmOikczIa/s1600-h/DSCN9754.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxMFWANZ2g3tCewaQOYCQvDbD1C3yAx_QjWtCDEgBPWIaVB_uEEWszPkB4NEZMxA8jVUJozHG_V1LiocaEvNmQrd-zW4UULmwQ6xl1JRfqDHOJxEK3MOGksihvz_osxsgGhUjmOikczIa/s320/DSCN9754.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254058990577365234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Not uncomfortable to sit here all day long; ample space to stretch your legs occasionally.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipvRGVYSXdy9cmiu8-nQc2M-tSQTfkMNVIIsRa8XSpBcxXgRxkaPJ-xLjIGK_tjUDaD6LCZVNGvyzhE7vJcmZZV5Dk2IdyctnGP-Fqh0B8dZkbiFruevUoJAZUkVRsn3bXn_9mEj7DtFS/s1600-h/DSCN9755.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipvRGVYSXdy9cmiu8-nQc2M-tSQTfkMNVIIsRa8XSpBcxXgRxkaPJ-xLjIGK_tjUDaD6LCZVNGvyzhE7vJcmZZV5Dk2IdyctnGP-Fqh0B8dZkbiFruevUoJAZUkVRsn3bXn_9mEj7DtFS/s320/DSCN9755.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254064518150402514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The center stage in view.. as seen on ASTV channel 24/7 ever since the marathon rally began!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-mME1LsMHM6Kyb6PNCzH7XHs_XjNwixw-quTRIZfaz7qn4YE5YOV8IXlHpu0xoJzWiQt8Fczp401cCBBfufvOUFw087CvvQMOK5odZ9zM0J00AlwTmEgTqMR8l2ESmHqsmR2TORNrFWM/s1600-h/DSCN9760.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-mME1LsMHM6Kyb6PNCzH7XHs_XjNwixw-quTRIZfaz7qn4YE5YOV8IXlHpu0xoJzWiQt8Fczp401cCBBfufvOUFw087CvvQMOK5odZ9zM0J00AlwTmEgTqMR8l2ESmHqsmR2TORNrFWM/s320/DSCN9760.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254064522605370850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />TV camera crew on make shift stage above the audience.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_ozeVfH_fMVnPXM3mIp94CcaDXl4DhlFx_lLsGaOVUIq8dWxQWSJId73Hsmi4d0992Q-VVuA1kkdQ3gNKLeRkkELoJS8jhozUouhKvoRLGJnafmK5fR0oExxt9lWdai4gGQjjYCUsdX_/s1600-h/DSCN9761.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_ozeVfH_fMVnPXM3mIp94CcaDXl4DhlFx_lLsGaOVUIq8dWxQWSJId73Hsmi4d0992Q-VVuA1kkdQ3gNKLeRkkELoJS8jhozUouhKvoRLGJnafmK5fR0oExxt9lWdai4gGQjjYCUsdX_/s320/DSCN9761.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254064522590651538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The TV transmission support vehicle carried prominent displays of the King's picture behind its windscreen.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEmuYtD62b97tyw3MfNdL9iaTWCI7sb5XnDVf-GxxBhlhYTL0yMF010P5c-WhuOSMnQFiRRG046D0nWeFG4lvBqJOtoI-ei0CN_3ETnnFci6hyphenhyphenXrBgK8c-C-KGXFEL6jkweLnQhARjJA2/s1600-h/DSCN9759.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEmuYtD62b97tyw3MfNdL9iaTWCI7sb5XnDVf-GxxBhlhYTL0yMF010P5c-WhuOSMnQFiRRG046D0nWeFG4lvBqJOtoI-ei0CN_3ETnnFci6hyphenhyphenXrBgK8c-C-KGXFEL6jkweLnQhARjJA2/s320/DSCN9759.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254064522629972834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Nearby was a patch of green padi planted. I asked my friend what is its significance? "Its a statement saying this piece of land is better utilized to plant rice for the people than being occupied by a useless government!"<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEeTSWTmyLJJ1wofOi14AIKVHBeyWHKDtvVnU8EEIGo6J5GojnafbURCwDBW4TTbsfSkiJZLkOZlmKj3rUZbyxQFfo0Im4X6lE0lS4fDE_uSU_TuVl5muMtAUFQAXcOAkvwENaw6jPF-h/s1600-h/DSCN9766.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEeTSWTmyLJJ1wofOi14AIKVHBeyWHKDtvVnU8EEIGo6J5GojnafbURCwDBW4TTbsfSkiJZLkOZlmKj3rUZbyxQFfo0Im4X6lE0lS4fDE_uSU_TuVl5muMtAUFQAXcOAkvwENaw6jPF-h/s320/DSCN9766.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254067624865274754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />P'Moo & P'Jiap get regular updates via sms; illustrating the power of telecommunications in spreading political messages around these days.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGhE9zgbKUKnpqyINvDlcxADL3V-1O9PeFA3Pjw3g1oxDM7ScpnpGw1MyU2-qamqsMd7khiscXjVVbk1b-P_WmJdZy-Qc-bNyVuu5owOW7yH_L3uCaTN8JI2oqE1SEmkFqJiLxqDLlPdL/s1600-h/DSCN9762.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGhE9zgbKUKnpqyINvDlcxADL3V-1O9PeFA3Pjw3g1oxDM7ScpnpGw1MyU2-qamqsMd7khiscXjVVbk1b-P_WmJdZy-Qc-bNyVuu5owOW7yH_L3uCaTN8JI2oqE1SEmkFqJiLxqDLlPdL/s320/DSCN9762.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254064525653340914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I walked around the compound with disbelieve! It was almost converted to an open camp ground!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtcp6XjejTTt_ORG2nNCrEAexkrkW7SbNxU0SfDvwUoMVDjlA50Mqd8jvkVMqqhyZdXL_74mhaJFH5CXC4KuIqzlxOkJAIvs5FccL3KlsPxA_P6z6bkyq_2WReylbYA3ILspLKliufCKI/s1600-h/DSCN9767.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtcp6XjejTTt_ORG2nNCrEAexkrkW7SbNxU0SfDvwUoMVDjlA50Mqd8jvkVMqqhyZdXL_74mhaJFH5CXC4KuIqzlxOkJAIvs5FccL3KlsPxA_P6z6bkyq_2WReylbYA3ILspLKliufCKI/s320/DSCN9767.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254067624982610802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQOv7T8WNHw_4D5f9o9UdKJmSJlQwx9w42LH-LuIShOD9C_W1SWKQ_Eiv9tIWRua5jGmLEnhp8UnKkuD6dWFYo-ovMfkLWY0-tfLMOKhPVL6R8Ip-TWYpegFfqwY7jhCkR5kwmZn6JvU4/s1600-h/DSCN9768.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQOv7T8WNHw_4D5f9o9UdKJmSJlQwx9w42LH-LuIShOD9C_W1SWKQ_Eiv9tIWRua5jGmLEnhp8UnKkuD6dWFYo-ovMfkLWY0-tfLMOKhPVL6R8Ip-TWYpegFfqwY7jhCkR5kwmZn6JvU4/s320/DSCN9768.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254067625883093122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Every habitable corner formed a refuge for the night or became a rest area. A TV in front of this closed entrance spread the same rally speech around.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkEirmUT_egoM1o-ftQ9bLMxFBiSQxvNkTEIXK9qIz5kD1xVqDeRUAZft6JLIOggTdDnDwCXGKgrBZO8VKd1sIk0iNrFMTkvgLci728h_8GpwEUL8TrzLxyHi_YcbqrcVdm0iGmEbZp4j/s1600-h/DSCN9770.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkEirmUT_egoM1o-ftQ9bLMxFBiSQxvNkTEIXK9qIz5kD1xVqDeRUAZft6JLIOggTdDnDwCXGKgrBZO8VKd1sIk0iNrFMTkvgLci728h_8GpwEUL8TrzLxyHi_YcbqrcVdm0iGmEbZp4j/s320/DSCN9770.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254067631444428514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The only spot I found here void of human activity.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oirR6DNxgVe5cQGulQV0lQAd2Pd7zDmqvdwVB9vVk_h8WzaZ1tE74Pq3GOLPIaql8GuaHiQfLXOQJOX7c36v7KZt376XgFLXJjVtUxe9xOdIEyRO2OwtbKqCaP48H13qjlEcU2TztYeC/s1600-h/DSCN9771.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oirR6DNxgVe5cQGulQV0lQAd2Pd7zDmqvdwVB9vVk_h8WzaZ1tE74Pq3GOLPIaql8GuaHiQfLXOQJOX7c36v7KZt376XgFLXJjVtUxe9xOdIEyRO2OwtbKqCaP48H13qjlEcU2TztYeC/s320/DSCN9771.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254073392061624994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We got hungry and had free rice with curry here.. I dropped my spoon and someone came out of the next tent to offer me a replacement! What? Better service than any shopping mall I've been in Bangkok or anywhere!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_gUXas1uXjo0G0E5-FdhuSs-AKL7SxL4_nKFU2PC52hdvsujXTMkkxV8TgWxEB79RcGmDU2ykoqYA1xelD-e7-N5YaFez6TaVZNDfmwHJU6r74sRq9sZIC709GkQZ47yv0Dcu4x9IOe1/s1600-h/DSCN9769.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_gUXas1uXjo0G0E5-FdhuSs-AKL7SxL4_nKFU2PC52hdvsujXTMkkxV8TgWxEB79RcGmDU2ykoqYA1xelD-e7-N5YaFez6TaVZNDfmwHJU6r74sRq9sZIC709GkQZ47yv0Dcu4x9IOe1/s320/DSCN9769.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254067626581947586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Dragon fruits & bananas are served too.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSSilWxGKXTiIbcFAaFOsdcsToCYpkMbTyi1G7h3h2Aj8bB9GWfaUPvU7ZZ7g5MCIEjpyp-ldzx6WF7Tuq7nvcjm_-ZaDJAAXd3_iEPLkWcbCrXBwNdB9QmrKycyePCAYlvDBKg-EkZ4k/s1600-h/DSCN9772.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSSilWxGKXTiIbcFAaFOsdcsToCYpkMbTyi1G7h3h2Aj8bB9GWfaUPvU7ZZ7g5MCIEjpyp-ldzx6WF7Tuq7nvcjm_-ZaDJAAXd3_iEPLkWcbCrXBwNdB9QmrKycyePCAYlvDBKg-EkZ4k/s320/DSCN9772.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254073384017476194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />What's more? Desert in coconut milk.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9D0-j7up5Q5KKnZnmlh9eHCpl5F0yazGJp8p5JNwHG09cGykUUkLAxu1p9_XxTIZTe2IHsHSKQyRZ-hGCgelLER-hViERr_Y0G8AQ9VBopx1zSDksTH31uXqO_48cmhMVybKzP9zHWLh/s1600-h/DSCN9773.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9D0-j7up5Q5KKnZnmlh9eHCpl5F0yazGJp8p5JNwHG09cGykUUkLAxu1p9_XxTIZTe2IHsHSKQyRZ-hGCgelLER-hViERr_Y0G8AQ9VBopx1zSDksTH31uXqO_48cmhMVybKzP9zHWLh/s320/DSCN9773.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254073387528392194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Women folks folding banana leaves into serving bowls.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATXexNVoGl4sZXHDC7BcGYEJoIZr5vfDBXnLyxTyVPI_aSKmLTpea5FISWG1ZJaLmF2ES9mje9Oz1w43N9R-AsqPBTVDlXFKtAQiAdUhyMMohyQfQsHPBeZZHlkGfbbO6T0_gyk_0xA_a/s1600-h/DSCN9774.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATXexNVoGl4sZXHDC7BcGYEJoIZr5vfDBXnLyxTyVPI_aSKmLTpea5FISWG1ZJaLmF2ES9mje9Oz1w43N9R-AsqPBTVDlXFKtAQiAdUhyMMohyQfQsHPBeZZHlkGfbbO6T0_gyk_0xA_a/s320/DSCN9774.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254073390365461122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This make shift tricycle ferry food out to Young PAD camp.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQECD-XrIoxUIF-GZRqApkF9EJOLmPl9UUbLflNVBpp_1TSN2R2CPvh0vsU5UFKMVO3V9JyhjnAYNo-TFzDfTycDUP-p-OAZ5mmTOmhi6mBLptZSFsZOYiEm2jkSYiIQjo_aPQDDCemNr/s1600-h/DSCN9779.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQECD-XrIoxUIF-GZRqApkF9EJOLmPl9UUbLflNVBpp_1TSN2R2CPvh0vsU5UFKMVO3V9JyhjnAYNo-TFzDfTycDUP-p-OAZ5mmTOmhi6mBLptZSFsZOYiEm2jkSYiIQjo_aPQDDCemNr/s320/DSCN9779.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254073393470305714" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />After consumption; styrofoams cups and plates are segregated in recyclables bags. How orderly and civic minded are the people here! In spite of over crowded conditions, the entire area was neat and rubbish free.. nowhere else have I seen this before! They must be model citizens for the world!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFYxpHT1RtmoXXQJ2RmzpCyaHsWzlQooD0OUbW2NuguOX9X1XHFbIlizctxthMIvKk5QZEWWHc6zEtov3kZ17sA9XRddLS4kO_oqRJDuU-fgbWU1yR3xQ9dL8CJX4ticnPF15Qc0cmO8g/s1600-h/DSCN9781.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFYxpHT1RtmoXXQJ2RmzpCyaHsWzlQooD0OUbW2NuguOX9X1XHFbIlizctxthMIvKk5QZEWWHc6zEtov3kZ17sA9XRddLS4kO_oqRJDuU-fgbWU1yR3xQ9dL8CJX4ticnPF15Qc0cmO8g/s320/DSCN9781.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254076769595569458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Look at other logistics involved.. I am truly amazed and impressed. A huge satellite TV transmission truck.. how could one tap on such resources? I later learned this transmission vehicle was commandeered from NBT!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim96-k-FJxH_Bo85ioDSUhjJhjUYx5icA-8w6vV9qzeFrI4eKft9HTWG7V3PXqt3ytG1p-OCkkrPJU3GlKNIm1U1HdqHIUbvQ6YdOCGR4inbkUQ6-FTtzPxDnHrmfoc12oFnqOiuTb4V4c/s1600-h/DSCN9782.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim96-k-FJxH_Bo85ioDSUhjJhjUYx5icA-8w6vV9qzeFrI4eKft9HTWG7V3PXqt3ytG1p-OCkkrPJU3GlKNIm1U1HdqHIUbvQ6YdOCGR4inbkUQ6-FTtzPxDnHrmfoc12oFnqOiuTb4V4c/s320/DSCN9782.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254076771298682674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Studio equipment support vehicles.. immobilized with tires deflated.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisK7XIc4oMbuOVBxy6GNMKJ-wkSyAY-PWE2KpaJXg4amOFmVK93Mbe78xqedmvFr327DUB-fS-Nio62eZgJZFRjkazAs2I9QjojLCP41A7DxmhoAK7MoN8XelY0yoc7NSnUgOfk7kk3qyS/s1600-h/DSCN9785.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisK7XIc4oMbuOVBxy6GNMKJ-wkSyAY-PWE2KpaJXg4amOFmVK93Mbe78xqedmvFr327DUB-fS-Nio62eZgJZFRjkazAs2I9QjojLCP41A7DxmhoAK7MoN8XelY0yoc7NSnUgOfk7kk3qyS/s320/DSCN9785.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254076776529437810" border="0" /> </a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />These on site electric generators were boxed-in sound proof enclosures!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLaCC5FQKcgDZKSuuOXu2aQ8D9CxGwytQjOar4k16t_NwSB7QFmSof7DnosMzXMtWqimJY5sHtBQmqGQ-KuigWUVE1skh7EKx-u0O6SqOIIXdXcvyfT_l7hESjndvnen8BOePBimFi0u0/s1600-h/DSCN9783.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLaCC5FQKcgDZKSuuOXu2aQ8D9CxGwytQjOar4k16t_NwSB7QFmSof7DnosMzXMtWqimJY5sHtBQmqGQ-KuigWUVE1skh7EKx-u0O6SqOIIXdXcvyfT_l7hESjndvnen8BOePBimFi0u0/s320/DSCN9783.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254076777340894450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Technicians manning the sound system having a chat<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITPROUVrzV97SaRs2laZoYDbDHY6WCjlvYyytMFEfIqRaBV-RW0U9gEKNNMDEZYuKvZauhkHbb6IkgJ7CnDi1NVfsgwyC3tP9bm8TibNE4sI1L_L1Ih0ONUx-bI1mVZla38b13afQB3cU/s1600-h/DSCN9758.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITPROUVrzV97SaRs2laZoYDbDHY6WCjlvYyytMFEfIqRaBV-RW0U9gEKNNMDEZYuKvZauhkHbb6IkgJ7CnDi1NVfsgwyC3tP9bm8TibNE4sI1L_L1Ih0ONUx-bI1mVZla38b13afQB3cU/s320/DSCN9758.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254082294347486546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />With tired feet, we found seating space at the rear. People sat here with own camping chairs and a paraplegic came in support too!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXepfytVBtIo1Hqo1ksj6rfqrVbeDCQsSx8GZXsPAP5XP1w4p2A84gPmg1_UCJXeA4PBLav_kQWIQTKCP2ieEqjwexAxyoS_iGPRDfUel8opuCwJm05W8jA0467yzeeOIOJwTpg6VsTjZP/s1600-h/DSCN9787.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXepfytVBtIo1Hqo1ksj6rfqrVbeDCQsSx8GZXsPAP5XP1w4p2A84gPmg1_UCJXeA4PBLav_kQWIQTKCP2ieEqjwexAxyoS_iGPRDfUel8opuCwJm05W8jA0467yzeeOIOJwTpg6VsTjZP/s320/DSCN9787.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254076777836450562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Two ladies engaged in discussions with the main stage in view.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Pa2bd7CDEhZSv_vHNAxQ1QaGcCcOD7C_YMYrUUIPPRRSFg9jz57p-JWxknSREPpJSXVmya7o28oNoQfpNPHDKtKeWCsR_7Im3F362yqzxUq3j_xrF4IuZgk-Lsl7I_hzf54zTkKvZCVH/s1600-h/DSCN9788.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Pa2bd7CDEhZSv_vHNAxQ1QaGcCcOD7C_YMYrUUIPPRRSFg9jz57p-JWxknSREPpJSXVmya7o28oNoQfpNPHDKtKeWCsR_7Im3F362yqzxUq3j_xrF4IuZgk-Lsl7I_hzf54zTkKvZCVH/s320/DSCN9788.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254081642778045506" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Six o'clock PM on the dot, the National Anthem played.. everyone stood in attention!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjep1jn8xOwvoBQ2EqGN9_qY2JIdLxAUVSzTZ4MLCF23L1J6AgFTsg1DnDIcGT_Ww-pYZVJ26dcsjGRpVqWnuenKxgq_ZEJbM_TskQo9QdR1NWu8CSgWmYgm8pmPIzEvgmNE07ygeraHVCk/s1600-h/DSCN9789.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjep1jn8xOwvoBQ2EqGN9_qY2JIdLxAUVSzTZ4MLCF23L1J6AgFTsg1DnDIcGT_Ww-pYZVJ26dcsjGRpVqWnuenKxgq_ZEJbM_TskQo9QdR1NWu8CSgWmYgm8pmPIzEvgmNE07ygeraHVCk/s320/DSCN9789.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254081650797517906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The two chatting ladies stood with clench fist raised; I believed they came here with very strong conviction indeed!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBc2SqmNv9yVfAzs-QBM-KsM-5S84oxgzNYHtYgAxdXruWmG28SYgPJ3a1-weG9cbPM5YGEFq1ne1uSRM7sm9xNlrozXP0aWs4wXbL1sT17SJ__vICPAhzP2umQj-Um5jbbwC_XXSjES28/s1600-h/DSCN9790.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBc2SqmNv9yVfAzs-QBM-KsM-5S84oxgzNYHtYgAxdXruWmG28SYgPJ3a1-weG9cbPM5YGEFq1ne1uSRM7sm9xNlrozXP0aWs4wXbL1sT17SJ__vICPAhzP2umQj-Um5jbbwC_XXSjES28/s320/DSCN9790.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254081652553900642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Turning back for a last view of the Government House before leaving, still wonder in amazement how could such happening be tolerated elsewhere or even take place?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnlHf90aBUS7_FqTGczsDbfKFzNByexr22fOazIliC4lESNdtXDEmFCMS3BbSvyIw6dpoIu13EBoLnDuyunpNkRW8yqOTEKOzCVEDYOQzes4NghdkPAZ5xOC6b5yQ3fFJhrpLy6055fnc/s1600-h/DSCN9752.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnlHf90aBUS7_FqTGczsDbfKFzNByexr22fOazIliC4lESNdtXDEmFCMS3BbSvyIw6dpoIu13EBoLnDuyunpNkRW8yqOTEKOzCVEDYOQzes4NghdkPAZ5xOC6b5yQ3fFJhrpLy6055fnc/s320/DSCN9752.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254084604282733266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Leaving through the main entrance, a volunteer guard offered to share a piece of guava fruit with me as I passed. I find time and again - Thais are most warm and hospitable in whatever circumstances they are in!<br /><br />Memories of the day's scenes will stay etched in my mind for a long time to come; in particular, the human spirit displayed! I did come out in one piece though, no worries!Walet.twinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210388939671378989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876432517971666367.post-84930755529526767832008-10-06T00:41:00.000-07:002008-10-23T06:15:16.016-07:00Visit to demonstration hotspot - Part 1Thailand has been gripped with political turmoil again with ongoing protests the last few months. Most dramatic was the mob's taking over the Government House, an unprecedented event that can escalate tensions. The Government now has to conduct its business out at Don Muang airport grounds! Somehow, the Thai way of mutual tolerance seem to hold all the horses back for now; or was it the balance of power play behind the scene at work? I would never know!<br /><br />Of course it is illegal and the key leaders, holed up within its grounds, are all on wanted list with arrest warrants. Last weekend a key leader, Maj-Gen. Chamlong, was arrested when he left the compound to exercise his vote on Bangkok's Governor.<br /><br />While the U.S. & Australian Embassies advised its citizens to stay away from hot spots.. I ventured there with company of P'Moo & P'Jiap last Friday; the ground zero where PAD stages its round the clock rally. I'm just curious to sample what atmosphere is like in there.<br /><br />We passed the UN building with barricades on wheels at its entrance, ready in times of need. Across the road was a Police tent with riot gears & shields neatly laid on ground.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Og21ABhB8MY4N6Kiz6PmRca-6mJt_GLGK0Rq2Wq3XPuqNhvq9XohstKucNv3TkRbgIwA6a5mArKr0xZAhrZx4DX6USQVEgFmkoQ5q2qTLrXFJ0YEmmOQeIiwSsrLzPyo2KsAb0Izfd0I/s1600-h/DSCN9722.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Og21ABhB8MY4N6Kiz6PmRca-6mJt_GLGK0Rq2Wq3XPuqNhvq9XohstKucNv3TkRbgIwA6a5mArKr0xZAhrZx4DX6USQVEgFmkoQ5q2qTLrXFJ0YEmmOQeIiwSsrLzPyo2KsAb0Izfd0I/s320/DSCN9722.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253949755979910866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Entrance to demo ground at Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge.. manned by volunteer guards!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDX0sB9uH0cx4JsGzfJ_O8IbPDcnqGFHPmAb6xKosnjYNGUWL60u266hM9jDnFQd9wt-Reso_wrc-MBGGBieSk6p9rOFVtFkvaBpoP9ps6CVW7wAXPJXgz6qZoLJ2u6ipfXlLVMUilc018/s1600-h/DSCN9723.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDX0sB9uH0cx4JsGzfJ_O8IbPDcnqGFHPmAb6xKosnjYNGUWL60u266hM9jDnFQd9wt-Reso_wrc-MBGGBieSk6p9rOFVtFkvaBpoP9ps6CVW7wAXPJXgz6qZoLJ2u6ipfXlLVMUilc018/s320/DSCN9723.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253949760032955314" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Guard posts equip with motorcycle & safety helmets;<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sJ0TJRsuzrw3zXiPnA1hmj9c2YsJ7-VY0cB3RaduDfcunb9xUz2EFWLyMcSYitOICrS72I0pmv6LqS3y60E-SFjo3q0D56veNBWPFv0reG3Wt9Rvax41DAsXUS-PyJtQqeXWSSXRO_68/s1600-h/DSCN9745.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sJ0TJRsuzrw3zXiPnA1hmj9c2YsJ7-VY0cB3RaduDfcunb9xUz2EFWLyMcSYitOICrS72I0pmv6LqS3y60E-SFjo3q0D56veNBWPFv0reG3Wt9Rvax41DAsXUS-PyJtQqeXWSSXRO_68/s320/DSCN9745.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253949764457355762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Plastic hand shields made of PVC pipes...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTolo_NRgTIN8217NcweVS80xoxXdy6MLA8DKKpoMideshHQj5lfuA_IkFHD5riM_j9heqYUp0iQmaEaCtDvpmG4m-z3uLLe04cryT77-WSFkU5XWbX2VpjS-Ftg3e3i3fKbM9Ic-I3p0/s1600-h/DSCN9747.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTolo_NRgTIN8217NcweVS80xoxXdy6MLA8DKKpoMideshHQj5lfuA_IkFHD5riM_j9heqYUp0iQmaEaCtDvpmG4m-z3uLLe04cryT77-WSFkU5XWbX2VpjS-Ftg3e3i3fKbM9Ic-I3p0/s320/DSCN9747.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253949763769308338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Pile of defensive weapons comprise of sticks, golf clubs & even umbrellas!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zbz3HJ-xRNl7dmFQYTLXZ0jfhsDP2oNYqitY-sG666PhNumNJ_NhVL0hY16_ZKsquE0-D2-IoWsYrFwRn1bgDN4wvftg1GwNYSip6DqTqVczAoSi6sVlaGNtX8sQhQn5x8Nt7lGaRAFl/s1600-h/DSCN9746.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zbz3HJ-xRNl7dmFQYTLXZ0jfhsDP2oNYqitY-sG666PhNumNJ_NhVL0hY16_ZKsquE0-D2-IoWsYrFwRn1bgDN4wvftg1GwNYSip6DqTqVczAoSi6sVlaGNtX8sQhQn5x8Nt7lGaRAFl/s320/DSCN9746.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253951652245957618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Guards' rest tent.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7FcW58GsFrAWReJ0zMrujaVjhvnc9jJAmiqjM7WyjYSvinPqw_z2hkleCPOdyjWAkKHCZKH66bZfBK8w6aCQLSlBeI4CmqQS77jX6d7JwWiZj2QQsnbtMkr7WG30lJtmsMDgfMe90TRQ/s1600-h/DSCN9735.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7FcW58GsFrAWReJ0zMrujaVjhvnc9jJAmiqjM7WyjYSvinPqw_z2hkleCPOdyjWAkKHCZKH66bZfBK8w6aCQLSlBeI4CmqQS77jX6d7JwWiZj2QQsnbtMkr7WG30lJtmsMDgfMe90TRQ/s320/DSCN9735.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253949758541014082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Is it safe? Once inside however, it's almost like a carnival atmosphere with vendors of all sorts! It is more of commercial enterprise with casual people strolling around than charged anti-government atmosphere. Spotted a few 'farang' tourists with cameras too.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPgNAKKG4OxEdBQ27HUIUqxQCFgqiS5yODTwtFU9_yl9aB5SrmNeb1Qfu6Mx1MQrDDhaOZZdmGdc0Pn3ryNxeSM4QwLC8AFjU-Cm8gZ8k7UAG5ZOwizp8_yBYJdqILQ4baSO5qYHaK13z/s1600-h/DSCN9725.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPgNAKKG4OxEdBQ27HUIUqxQCFgqiS5yODTwtFU9_yl9aB5SrmNeb1Qfu6Mx1MQrDDhaOZZdmGdc0Pn3ryNxeSM4QwLC8AFjU-Cm8gZ8k7UAG5ZOwizp8_yBYJdqILQ4baSO5qYHaK13z/s320/DSCN9725.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253951654986473666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Loudspeakers on vans blasting music away; even heard the Thai version of "Burong Kakak Dua"!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTUCmu7EaycvWRd73f5a-cvU_DgMCm3z8uLQXNdotOxMW5xwXKq4fPf9troxMvJoaZnEHNX1gptwFFcn24DGloqMHMZ_BNnIIzN4XmupOHYERch4bHmc834I6l5dVhk42U9ShGoBbpYzv/s1600-h/DSCN9728.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTUCmu7EaycvWRd73f5a-cvU_DgMCm3z8uLQXNdotOxMW5xwXKq4fPf9troxMvJoaZnEHNX1gptwFFcn24DGloqMHMZ_BNnIIzN4XmupOHYERch4bHmc834I6l5dVhk42U9ShGoBbpYzv/s320/DSCN9728.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253961793423115602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Only differences are plastic clappers are widely sold!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LG4BEXZq5wixqm6R5rnUUBv9AkLay4M2YXksMgTn91X-BFnaTk6HVV-xEyTTvVP1IcISUoM81PMIcmgvyFTvV1SyGCW1D6xo7YbAWwVHdepiGx1MXO4R63MrmKYrRw9ZcHJH7Pxh0KW6/s1600-h/DSCN9732.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LG4BEXZq5wixqm6R5rnUUBv9AkLay4M2YXksMgTn91X-BFnaTk6HVV-xEyTTvVP1IcISUoM81PMIcmgvyFTvV1SyGCW1D6xo7YbAWwVHdepiGx1MXO4R63MrmKYrRw9ZcHJH7Pxh0KW6/s320/DSCN9732.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253951654796752162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />P'Jiap & P'Moo making their purchases.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpWt9RgSuRQZ9yJ2uYq7p5vDd3tOEp7h476vLsTM4M42VxQOILIv66W9NiqxINCQcv4b02MWR0rZaP3RBzNfWHVNKr2JO6UfPDU1X2zchshf_3FAavxF5rYpY0fvvYK_iOe-VzpTNbwm7/s1600-h/DSCN9726.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpWt9RgSuRQZ9yJ2uYq7p5vDd3tOEp7h476vLsTM4M42VxQOILIv66W9NiqxINCQcv4b02MWR0rZaP3RBzNfWHVNKr2JO6UfPDU1X2zchshf_3FAavxF5rYpY0fvvYK_iOe-VzpTNbwm7/s320/DSCN9726.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253951658218903122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Images of fugitive ex-premier & wife printed on floor mats on sale.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Oe6yhoU2lzWunIzXn-Jpc6pwmJi-jwKCUGSOVCG2Silbp1ndtruRNCXqrlPUn1HZx8mYgTXw-mWGCcJ55FQ-JT7bmeLM6TID9K4vtAau0uOewma8aQx_v8tfYwu_FVhYxvawQ8egGMLq/s1600-h/DSCN9729.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Oe6yhoU2lzWunIzXn-Jpc6pwmJi-jwKCUGSOVCG2Silbp1ndtruRNCXqrlPUn1HZx8mYgTXw-mWGCcJ55FQ-JT7bmeLM6TID9K4vtAau0uOewma8aQx_v8tfYwu_FVhYxvawQ8egGMLq/s320/DSCN9729.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253961798042792002" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Shoes...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sX4FUzuZRp4H0aOk8MXbv5InsPvpRVMg5GvsIxWCv4hVcKd7PgnoZXFgYF9k0XbURayOTlI2DgwFh09vpoMUBoy1Lg-XFmnu2u6XZhNPhWLq6bEgdAlF5Qh1OLgXvefbZXGhU4qxUzF6/s1600-h/DSCN9730.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sX4FUzuZRp4H0aOk8MXbv5InsPvpRVMg5GvsIxWCv4hVcKd7PgnoZXFgYF9k0XbURayOTlI2DgwFh09vpoMUBoy1Lg-XFmnu2u6XZhNPhWLq6bEgdAlF5Qh1OLgXvefbZXGhU4qxUzF6/s320/DSCN9730.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253961804001258994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />and even underwear.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUGERsImq78RPC2KQC3TMNz_FkX0cXMYu-GDeaTSmwtubwZhLKrQy17WMjMjEj5KirSrM2w7A0bgFZxEpl-NBym6qFq5RJyDkOolYr3Tm6rhuWkmQVQOTpowqSCj0F_kn0DrMuts4a9QE/s1600-h/DSCN9731.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUGERsImq78RPC2KQC3TMNz_FkX0cXMYu-GDeaTSmwtubwZhLKrQy17WMjMjEj5KirSrM2w7A0bgFZxEpl-NBym6qFq5RJyDkOolYr3Tm6rhuWkmQVQOTpowqSCj0F_kn0DrMuts4a9QE/s320/DSCN9731.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253961813423262258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />ASTV booth of media tycoon & PAD leader Sonthi promoting its services too.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2mmf0g0aaXIZs_hwnm0SlUOjXaI0MOUUHk2TZLSqjyJbiWGsAdWNtUMTFJBHvNg6GN71DHzzWhiZe1D82fl3qx2Vyfx7DhfDDXAl5IacEMDe_sFh8G2B4-aOuHYtqDFiybwgd3a74_Pa/s1600-h/DSCN9736.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2mmf0g0aaXIZs_hwnm0SlUOjXaI0MOUUHk2TZLSqjyJbiWGsAdWNtUMTFJBHvNg6GN71DHzzWhiZe1D82fl3qx2Vyfx7DhfDDXAl5IacEMDe_sFh8G2B4-aOuHYtqDFiybwgd3a74_Pa/s320/DSCN9736.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253968199261886082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A medical post well provided...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRav6Tdg2NlV-Kqi74DxemBVBThZoemurCr-P7_zO8e-6Vesg4bqyYzcuyllt4_DzvxuSzx8AcvGEOwyd0UxyiZRjqgykFJny7_oj9WmY7i5tlqGc4VfwTKzxWmKztDeiJxnPxG0xLd7o/s1600-h/DSCN9738.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRav6Tdg2NlV-Kqi74DxemBVBThZoemurCr-P7_zO8e-6Vesg4bqyYzcuyllt4_DzvxuSzx8AcvGEOwyd0UxyiZRjqgykFJny7_oj9WmY7i5tlqGc4VfwTKzxWmKztDeiJxnPxG0xLd7o/s320/DSCN9738.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253968203398139570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This car nearby marked as emergency ambulance.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagp1lGbbedmzDjd_0PIJZb5MnemiOsjWe1MhT51W0DCIpJXbABqY3y41sHBjiQW3OW_sRYCuUy4771AaCj5MUuIT0_bLhqBfAoua3a74JRcqvSfw6-Tgciti5hyxEDPdOJr771RduVWpf/s1600-h/DSCN9742.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagp1lGbbedmzDjd_0PIJZb5MnemiOsjWe1MhT51W0DCIpJXbABqY3y41sHBjiQW3OW_sRYCuUy4771AaCj5MUuIT0_bLhqBfAoua3a74JRcqvSfw6-Tgciti5hyxEDPdOJr771RduVWpf/s320/DSCN9742.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253971546528699298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It's vegetarian festival time too.. a "Jei" tent with vegetarian food...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpC4OTaU1KI9n78PXhYLKOe4prKW1tXcBQGE9gIWCgUIr0sLMRW6yZtcgcLSYicFgb91w06fesl2sFWgEFXsa-vvqsJDProjtEsKW0B_N4Ja5Jm1AR4GLq3tXwOuC7Daq3HHR2GAtpLvxU/s1600-h/DSCN9739.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpC4OTaU1KI9n78PXhYLKOe4prKW1tXcBQGE9gIWCgUIr0sLMRW6yZtcgcLSYicFgb91w06fesl2sFWgEFXsa-vvqsJDProjtEsKW0B_N4Ja5Jm1AR4GLq3tXwOuC7Daq3HHR2GAtpLvxU/s320/DSCN9739.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253968201958355890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A 'Quan Yin' within to serve the spiritual needs of demonstrators?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKup9zTA9o_XPOgVX4CTFjhnhY5F0SXArbFhoHKSvJDkg1RpZpJVorytLBPyByU97BnfRYl2B8U1LscNYprZASWxKvXWiQK9vQNuayHI0d_Uo8iKB4fJxt0p8QtHGodztQNYbuA3-WHOL/s1600-h/DSCN9740.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKup9zTA9o_XPOgVX4CTFjhnhY5F0SXArbFhoHKSvJDkg1RpZpJVorytLBPyByU97BnfRYl2B8U1LscNYprZASWxKvXWiQK9vQNuayHI0d_Uo8iKB4fJxt0p8QtHGodztQNYbuA3-WHOL/s320/DSCN9740.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253968208585220834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />P'Moo & P'Jiap posed with event photos of large crowd in attendance.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQberlevdgdVayLFN1pZwoUapcWbrrgz2fv10bq4Ot-UuGOM01kqsyPn47rMaV0PDk9-5L1vG-b352epsSHJN3s69-_1F7_edA7w6rXgOIaWpyUMNX_6x4YD2UlygvAwqkai3hnWb6OLk/s1600-h/DSCN9727.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQberlevdgdVayLFN1pZwoUapcWbrrgz2fv10bq4Ot-UuGOM01kqsyPn47rMaV0PDk9-5L1vG-b352epsSHJN3s69-_1F7_edA7w6rXgOIaWpyUMNX_6x4YD2UlygvAwqkai3hnWb6OLk/s320/DSCN9727.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253968195205237458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Row of public toilets vans to answer nature calls...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9eI8_lDO_fnK6_9YOoE7egcQx1NfKWVdpMXoNNjjAG75CzgM2CIiQ7fTGiVVVi1swWco-7ClH7dx7As9dvy7vl2cNTyfO4burGvf6FGIivihT-5oo3ugjGufRSgObvx8BdZ3HNLWN09SU/s1600-h/DSCN9733.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9eI8_lDO_fnK6_9YOoE7egcQx1NfKWVdpMXoNNjjAG75CzgM2CIiQ7fTGiVVVi1swWco-7ClH7dx7As9dvy7vl2cNTyfO4burGvf6FGIivihT-5oo3ugjGufRSgObvx8BdZ3HNLWN09SU/s320/DSCN9733.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253961817663795394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Still didn't see any angry mobs shouting away! Sights of children with their parents are common too.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdUkxwNYm6Zmfi-I4x3ubxhUj6NBQaHillmVG3BARtUGk7q05tctN-S9e4AaKqmkNVK3O3IYX17pjYPUBLLqEtSaKidrBGpY6xYe1tC6b5m5-5dW9F8zG6A2l9OOW2tNzIjoasQvLZRKh/s1600-h/DSCN9743.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdUkxwNYm6Zmfi-I4x3ubxhUj6NBQaHillmVG3BARtUGk7q05tctN-S9e4AaKqmkNVK3O3IYX17pjYPUBLLqEtSaKidrBGpY6xYe1tC6b5m5-5dW9F8zG6A2l9OOW2tNzIjoasQvLZRKh/s320/DSCN9743.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253971544765280130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On another side are the Young PAD; a student movement.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWOecLvnBkVQRBc4nVpvcmHbiZzh6pufrXAAeF12PyXd_riSU_Na3UXtLA7ucAs1YOeEm9BKgyeP-mh0mcMkf8PZ8hAWizlHkOEd97KqRrA1wYl8ogoWOQHn7SFBbXtficDe-No7QB_sm/s1600-h/DSCN9778.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWOecLvnBkVQRBc4nVpvcmHbiZzh6pufrXAAeF12PyXd_riSU_Na3UXtLA7ucAs1YOeEm9BKgyeP-mh0mcMkf8PZ8hAWizlHkOEd97KqRrA1wYl8ogoWOQHn7SFBbXtficDe-No7QB_sm/s320/DSCN9778.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253989157473125426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Their stage with a slogan "The Last War".. but heard a rock band playing as we passed.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95DLeYNj-21rGmpxiEU0FbjRVtA83AjngFGZJyIPSbhlLfFysM0hSKbcFM-pWuHPu5plgMSxJ7JrmKFoDXGHR68sBXWOhyphenhyphenCRSCbxO7gV5Mnd3Qnxfw9eSqsCvl9oNxQGyGau1n-9pX_qR/s1600-h/DSCN9776.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95DLeYNj-21rGmpxiEU0FbjRVtA83AjngFGZJyIPSbhlLfFysM0hSKbcFM-pWuHPu5plgMSxJ7JrmKFoDXGHR68sBXWOhyphenhyphenCRSCbxO7gV5Mnd3Qnxfw9eSqsCvl9oNxQGyGau1n-9pX_qR/s320/DSCN9776.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253989159228823698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />When I knew P'Jiap was going to PAD rally weeks ago, I cautioned him to be careful. He said, "Not to worry.. there are many elderly and kids among the crowds". Now I know what he meant.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95DLeYNj-21rGmpxiEU0FbjRVtA83AjngFGZJyIPSbhlLfFysM0hSKbcFM-pWuHPu5plgMSxJ7JrmKFoDXGHR68sBXWOhyphenhyphenCRSCbxO7gV5Mnd3Qnxfw9eSqsCvl9oNxQGyGau1n-9pX_qR/s1600-h/DSCN9776.JPG"><br /></a>Walet.twinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210388939671378989noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876432517971666367.post-79294904012646465742008-05-03T01:36:00.000-07:002008-10-27T12:23:10.098-07:00Stretching your $s in ThailandMy friend's visit reminds of one lure of Thailand... stretching your $s! His stop over in Bangkok was brief but purposeful. Indeed almost all visitors will agree!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQbDAYdkEfRPH6gztaqSZoLwGqn4aaitDyZQCpIiVf6cOxwNBRU8OQ9GTy-2QAKiTDjwCtVD5Caq7vLryN77x-S0dmeMfn0noYjqtOS1ohyphenhyphenRSm_pGdO_yias0GuhDGfpMNyW0YTuENghA/s1600-h/Stretch+%24.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQbDAYdkEfRPH6gztaqSZoLwGqn4aaitDyZQCpIiVf6cOxwNBRU8OQ9GTy-2QAKiTDjwCtVD5Caq7vLryN77x-S0dmeMfn0noYjqtOS1ohyphenhyphenRSm_pGdO_yias0GuhDGfpMNyW0YTuENghA/s320/Stretch+%24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196069607260482578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Bangkok is a city that has something for everybody to stretch their $s; to each his own so to say. In my friend's case, he enjoyed a simple suki-yaki meal at MK Restaurant to the shark fin soup at Yaowarat China town.<br /><br />He ordered 3 full suits and additional 7 shirts and 3 pants. Got all delivered to his hotel before leaving. The savings he reckons would pay for all the expenses of stopping over. Others may come for holidays with medical checkups, dental treatment or lasik operations bundled in.<br /><br />My last minute shopping before leaving town is a quick drop by at MBK Mall to get my daughter few pairs of casual wear shoes (B199 to B299 range) and 6 month supply of disposable contact lens; much cheaper than Australia! With hardly any luggage I would pack another 15Kg of fruits in season.<br /><br />If you consider renting a house in residential areas, monthly rentals of B15,000 for a 3 storey town house in pretty decent areas of Bangkok. In outlying areas one can find B3,000 to B5,000 range for a 2 storey town house.<br /><br />Taxi transport is still inexpensive in Bangkok. Hop on board and it starts with B35 with additional B2 per click; no surcharge past mid-night! When I got off BTS, a motocycle taxi to my residence would cost B30 and normal taxi is just B39! You may find transport in tourist areas of Phuket and Ko Samui costs more!<br /><br />One of my favorite drinking hole is the "Log Home" along Soi Thong Lor. Live bands play rock music and other oldies of 70's & 80's with a jug of beer just at B220!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2Il3586Bo5ku-vMsJiKxHsCptcfxl3w4yIvq1_-L6KRe84YWxzhx5rLHVhSKbFhp7onvF9Wrab5DHgmXvQsdMt8YCLSHpDs_APuvISBZNQIHL5juaTXwsTPjv66MwOHhnsCQE6mxhYvh/s1600-h/log_home.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2Il3586Bo5ku-vMsJiKxHsCptcfxl3w4yIvq1_-L6KRe84YWxzhx5rLHVhSKbFhp7onvF9Wrab5DHgmXvQsdMt8YCLSHpDs_APuvISBZNQIHL5juaTXwsTPjv66MwOHhnsCQE6mxhYvh/s320/log_home.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196079992491404322" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Well, the list goes on. Whatever your likings, surely you find your $a are worth strecthing in Thailand.Walet.twinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210388939671378989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876432517971666367.post-14374175862198309022008-05-02T11:07:00.001-07:002008-10-23T06:55:11.239-07:00Try out this Hotel in BangkokA friend passed through Bangkok recently en route to China. So what's the story?<br /><br />He was booked into Pathumwan Princess unaware the hotel has gone completely non-smoking recently; including guest rooms. He survived only one night and hurriedly look for alternative the next morning.<br /><br />The outcome was a pleasant surprise: Siam@Siam, a 1 year old hotel along Rama I Road across the National Stadium. The rate at Bth1,100 was good (walk-in rate tips over Bth4,000); booked through his travel agent from HK.<br /><br />Though I passed Rama I occasionally, I never noticed its existence; probably obscured by the super structure of the National Stadium BTS terminal station.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQJUuys2xyM5qFmoQXS1wZ17z98PbdCs3exd-mQiAd2iqoBjAs5Hrzox1eznhMWUMXSm2ORmyfQUHUJmsSDI7giMNRiSmhE0TmXQhWm55mVEQxHXSrS3Yq3_B7XQHFhpRkn8GD1kqt7A7/s1600-h/DSCN8645.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQJUuys2xyM5qFmoQXS1wZ17z98PbdCs3exd-mQiAd2iqoBjAs5Hrzox1eznhMWUMXSm2ORmyfQUHUJmsSDI7giMNRiSmhE0TmXQhWm55mVEQxHXSrS3Yq3_B7XQHFhpRkn8GD1kqt7A7/s320/DSCN8645.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195846049917758274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Location of Siam@Siam with reference to National Stadium, BTS, MBK Mall & Pathumwan Princess Hotel.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoGrxCvo2OFTfn__WQ7SQBdybIFcnYNFPmTkhphuMuSzdTjSnWma-8u4SWdf45t4xjXcxcXF85MUwyRlawjj2-qNkVyKJ01cUnDQjSbfSFij_vnktJmLgi2XiW8KS3EKaqmOcEgLbOG04/s1600-h/Siam@Siam.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoGrxCvo2OFTfn__WQ7SQBdybIFcnYNFPmTkhphuMuSzdTjSnWma-8u4SWdf45t4xjXcxcXF85MUwyRlawjj2-qNkVyKJ01cUnDQjSbfSFij_vnktJmLgi2XiW8KS3EKaqmOcEgLbOG04/s320/Siam@Siam.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195853115138960322" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The interior is hip, simple yet stylishly contemporary. View of the reception hall on Level 4.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYafJB9Bd26E4eVPYBZGrNCJx19UaGXOA4wY7FJ1Cyr-420EQ3CTKxm2s8XiWBung-6nI8piLt1Vrm2p8zc1pZ6JbnAMhKeJRFbnbH9QP_8Bl-S5Bv0ptLcgfkuPtA-ETEkEMSjBcwJ4n/s1600-h/DSCN8621.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYafJB9Bd26E4eVPYBZGrNCJx19UaGXOA4wY7FJ1Cyr-420EQ3CTKxm2s8XiWBung-6nI8piLt1Vrm2p8zc1pZ6JbnAMhKeJRFbnbH9QP_8Bl-S5Bv0ptLcgfkuPtA-ETEkEMSjBcwJ4n/s320/DSCN8621.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195850645532765106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />View of the roof pool with National Stadium & Bangkok skyline in background.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VeraSPNs02rn4QX1wYlTAXxnZKAXhTf1q0CXNAvD-CQc9IomhU8hiCR9qUuuzu4XTxL5LG5eX0BFsgEygmwBSOBtmYHhenJirxjnhluSTz6rotkhRu46IWWOKLqSdwG_HaixEVsHiQ7X/s1600-h/DSCN8625.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VeraSPNs02rn4QX1wYlTAXxnZKAXhTf1q0CXNAvD-CQc9IomhU8hiCR9qUuuzu4XTxL5LG5eX0BFsgEygmwBSOBtmYHhenJirxjnhluSTz6rotkhRu46IWWOKLqSdwG_HaixEVsHiQ7X/s320/DSCN8625.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195850641237797794" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Creative use of old materials is a signature of this hotel.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8f4SN32VKDHkSBzgV_GffK7FUBet9zthnzvT6wRA_goULJcOf2YhS3vLD_EHCbkMEMB1JwRLqDAis0eVITR-Dw1_6Ts9l4pnhvrtM_YmfCo7JpgbImzvVbWJxY0mmRCEJpOu3pRKHzw4t/s1600-h/DSCN8632.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8f4SN32VKDHkSBzgV_GffK7FUBet9zthnzvT6wRA_goULJcOf2YhS3vLD_EHCbkMEMB1JwRLqDAis0eVITR-Dw1_6Ts9l4pnhvrtM_YmfCo7JpgbImzvVbWJxY0mmRCEJpOu3pRKHzw4t/s320/DSCN8632.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196064053867768818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Roof top view of MBK Mall & Pathumwan Princess from the Executive Lounge.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQdbjLykvJYn-Az5ptAVw1NsjWnzcmyanD-Y465weY6ocwcUrW-aYLG64v67fAeJKLJqbjvlLqMqcla59ajb6XFUjnNfiEGNuI0jpduzlQ7ZCg7L7KuGvM0bvVrFVjkHkvLuLJefLNIlA/s1600-h/DSCN8637.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQdbjLykvJYn-Az5ptAVw1NsjWnzcmyanD-Y465weY6ocwcUrW-aYLG64v67fAeJKLJqbjvlLqMqcla59ajb6XFUjnNfiEGNuI0jpduzlQ7ZCg7L7KuGvM0bvVrFVjkHkvLuLJefLNIlA/s320/DSCN8637.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195850624057928594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Room layout is modern; even the coffee table is tastefully designed and custom built. Room view with National Stadium BTS station & MBK Mall to left.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTIaoYuwA9ioMjFPSX7j1pXn_jW4KQZk8ZEmvRs-xZZlsSIZMSmlqTxq8pi_EATIiWweld5oIR4tVq_sH2uYu9Hx5Q6tGGZ3mMVs52yTARCUAijO8bkbtBRQBc-KjO_nhCySw99Be9rRE/s1600-h/DSCN8639.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTIaoYuwA9ioMjFPSX7j1pXn_jW4KQZk8ZEmvRs-xZZlsSIZMSmlqTxq8pi_EATIiWweld5oIR4tVq_sH2uYu9Hx5Q6tGGZ3mMVs52yTARCUAijO8bkbtBRQBc-KjO_nhCySw99Be9rRE/s320/DSCN8639.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196064058162736130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A short walk (200m perhaps) towards the direction of BTS is the Boss Apparels tailor where my friend ordered several suits enough to last him for a while!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0IpqNOBHCgl90d3YzhBy-pkHgWjc_w_6yHMC41IBdONkcXQXsYpgpnr0iQK65Yw5yFW0QrbR61U-qHDDoczZS32WWqt4h3WWylk8pdYf9gF85WPvI2gt24Yi-RObzOFJmIfZgFOAa27F/s1600-h/DSCN8647.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0IpqNOBHCgl90d3YzhBy-pkHgWjc_w_6yHMC41IBdONkcXQXsYpgpnr0iQK65Yw5yFW0QrbR61U-qHDDoczZS32WWqt4h3WWylk8pdYf9gF85WPvI2gt24Yi-RObzOFJmIfZgFOAa27F/s320/DSCN8647.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195846058507692882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The gentlemen of Boss Apparels, competitive prices and very professional in service!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifY5tREbBmJzBKinQTNOGIXONL0xzISfdXh877AJa-v4afScYp_l8jRWI3jdnime6cnarU4HJXMxe2ucQL56yBRFyQQBWemJUclDm105WxP6fRcH3OyQFqAqtP3bgGF8mXpttdBYhk_48B/s1600-h/DSCN8646.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifY5tREbBmJzBKinQTNOGIXONL0xzISfdXh877AJa-v4afScYp_l8jRWI3jdnime6cnarU4HJXMxe2ucQL56yBRFyQQBWemJUclDm105WxP6fRcH3OyQFqAqtP3bgGF8mXpttdBYhk_48B/s320/DSCN8646.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195846058507692898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I would recommend it if you are looking for a change. The location is excellent with convenient access to shopping and food; just off the busiest traffic zone of Siam Paragon & Central Plaza. Wise to book through travel agent abroad for a good rate.Walet.twinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210388939671378989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876432517971666367.post-37799418025783273642008-04-21T03:56:00.000-07:002008-10-23T07:12:28.984-07:00Getting in & out of BangkokAs a visitor, it took me awhile to gain enough confidence driving in and out of Bangkok without a guide or road map. Having achieved that, the reward is freedom of traveling around in Thailand on wheels at your own pace and time.<br /><br />Bangkok streets are notorious for its traffic jams at peak hours (after 4pm), made worse during rainy periods. Its tollways provides the best means of getting in & out of Bangkok nevertheless. With space constraints, road planners have a formidable task weaving it to the main city roads. The resulting network is fairly complex and intimidating to visitors driving around for the first time, especially when unfamiliar with names of various regions around Bangkok.<br /><br />Couple of months ago Google Earth has street map of Bangkok in native Thai. But recently it has added road names in English and this is most helpful to visiting drivers planning their routes around... you get amazing street level details with Google Map and Google Earth!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUN1jUFVdpx4ttUkErqGl0yGN7pfxlK07IgIIO_3ij-e-8D8PlJiVHx8vx29efXixNPUlriONcGOremQ-pgqT-6W2ZuU1lWVuFZVAEOqBcVm-bg_T5fcLUcsHhhanMepyy5PTciQZQFDt/s1600-h/Bangkok+Tollways.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUN1jUFVdpx4ttUkErqGl0yGN7pfxlK07IgIIO_3ij-e-8D8PlJiVHx8vx29efXixNPUlriONcGOremQ-pgqT-6W2ZuU1lWVuFZVAEOqBcVm-bg_T5fcLUcsHhhanMepyy5PTciQZQFDt/s320/Bangkok+Tollways.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191651152729909474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Where ever you are in Bangkok, once you figured out the best route and time to get onto the tollways, driving in and out of Bangkok to the provinces can be fairly straight forward.<br /><br />Basically one just need to know the 5 main directions in and out of Bangkok to:<br /><br />1) Northern provinces - Hwy 1 (Uttraphimuk Tollway) in the direction of Don Muang Airport, then follow Hwy 32 in direction of Ayutthaya.<br />2) North East provinces - Hwy 2, continues from Hwy 1 towards Sari Buri.<br />3) Western provinces - Hwy 338 after crossing Chao Phraya river. Access not via the toll road network. I normally follow Rama IX all the way pass Victory Monument and straight on towards direction of Nakhon Pathom.<br />4) Southern provinces - Rama II Road Hwy 35. My toll way sign posts are towards Dao Khanong. After crossing Rama 8 bridge look out for split towards Samut Sakhon that leads to Rama II Road.<br />5) East and South Eastern provinces - Hwy 3 (Sukhumvit Road) & Hwy 7 (Bangkok-Chon Buri Motorway) in direction to the new Suvarnabhumi International airport<br /><br />If your are on the eastern suburbs, then Hwy 9 is the Outer Ring Road connects to Hwy 3, Hwy 7 and Hwy 2. The Outer Ring Road also connects to the south to Rama II across the Chao Phraya to Thonburi side via Kanchanaphisek Bridge continues on to serves the western suburbs.<br /><br />The best traveling map I find so far is:<br />Pocket Motoring Atlas of Thailand<br /><br />Don't rely on it for roads inside Bangkok (Google Map is much better!) though it provide useful maps to provincial cities. It does provides some pointers to places of interest in the provinces.<br /><br />Unfortunately you don't find in many bookstores. I checked out 5 in Siam Paragon/Sukhumvit area and none carries it at the time! A Thai friend bought it at an exhibition. Finally we manage to get copies direct from the publisher at (an area near to Don Muang Airport):<br /><br />Road Association of Thailand<br />216/10-11, Songkhla 2 Building<br />Mueang Thong Thani<br />Bond Street Road<br />Bang Pood, Pak Kret<br />Nonthaburi 11120<br />Tel: 02 984 0836<br /><br />I will add further details incrementally here in due course to serve as a guide for those who like to self drive around in Thailand.<br /><br />Appreciate comments and feedback if the above info can be refined and improved.Walet.twinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210388939671378989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876432517971666367.post-78686216955569621002008-04-17T01:04:00.000-07:002008-10-23T07:14:15.447-07:00In the Land of SmilesThe idea of writing my travel journal has been floating for a while. Just didn't get down to it... well, I finally did!<br /><br />This blog centers around Bangkok and some useful information about Thailand. The others are organized under sub-headings by regions:<br /><br />1) South of Bangkok & beyond<br />2) West of Bangkok & beyond<br />3) East of Bangkok & beyond<br />4) North-east of Bangkok (Isaan provinces)<br />5) North of Bangkok<br /><br />Popular destinations are so well covered and is not my primary focus here. There are plentiful information around; so I tend not to repeat them. I'll provide a glimpse from my perspective only.<br /><br />And what better occasion to kick it off in Thailand during the Songkhran festival! Although I'd been to Thailand countless trips over the years.. this is the first time I am here during this festival. Perhaps the best time to see the country and its people full of fun and smiles!<br /><br />A moment to remember as these boys splashed water on us.. what a display of lovely smiles!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmtbINusJwNlXr1j_tfu3tZ7ySWDOFNiZYyXvGQRpL1b0mbzSv9vx_5F8XTACzSj-8mRucMPRi-DrQ0HwHrIBMtmVUM6Fnu-H7Dw9Dnfelx1hXeJo9abUE9kLfpLDYd1TGuoVPN8IjDXy/s1600-h/DSCN8610.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmtbINusJwNlXr1j_tfu3tZ7ySWDOFNiZYyXvGQRpL1b0mbzSv9vx_5F8XTACzSj-8mRucMPRi-DrQ0HwHrIBMtmVUM6Fnu-H7Dw9Dnfelx1hXeJo9abUE9kLfpLDYd1TGuoVPN8IjDXy/s320/DSCN8610.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190122857135323522" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Moments earlier, they stood in the middle of the road to stop us.. with water bucket and hose ready! How can you not stop to share a few moments of fun with them?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbOT9sBDHbF7cSPW-dZY9X2tqNi8jqpUdcHK-WUmbDMnqrtlarJUGoXEdYKsGLRG6M7UAqt9h1b9u0YZm1cki2lXISMB_7mXzMVaWFbvFUvIEYD1nEQuhFVwt5GYLz9ar2-OGQGXjf6HR/s1600-h/DSCN8608.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbOT9sBDHbF7cSPW-dZY9X2tqNi8jqpUdcHK-WUmbDMnqrtlarJUGoXEdYKsGLRG6M7UAqt9h1b9u0YZm1cki2lXISMB_7mXzMVaWFbvFUvIEYD1nEQuhFVwt5GYLz9ar2-OGQGXjf6HR/s320/DSCN8608.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190122865725258130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />In the provinces, revelers would stopped you in the middle of the road and danced before watering you down!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGAsjenyQZBs2kMmc0nVvh6g1bh92wEJc5UbNJ3xNCdDYzoVlaHrq_079lu9QYQkAoo8sHJ000162b69BZjlKFP6yy9iWsqnpS0xQihyphenhyphenLYnugxc0Dhp-hqe04se3DyrKTQysFk_DA6LTD/s1600-h/DSCN8611.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGAsjenyQZBs2kMmc0nVvh6g1bh92wEJc5UbNJ3xNCdDYzoVlaHrq_079lu9QYQkAoo8sHJ000162b69BZjlKFP6yy9iWsqnpS0xQihyphenhyphenLYnugxc0Dhp-hqe04se3DyrKTQysFk_DA6LTD/s320/DSCN8611.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190128135650130338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTc7SBae26g7o44r1MAo_D8b8PbiobRyWq5fPNloTMozLOITSRgzPaCAhVXXnSVlCnFwdZjpCOwq-YVCqRd-VCpKJHz640Scfoff2cX8C4cFEmmK8P0coPdU3XBhA5d51bSQnQ5FsID45/s1600-h/DSCN8612.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTc7SBae26g7o44r1MAo_D8b8PbiobRyWq5fPNloTMozLOITSRgzPaCAhVXXnSVlCnFwdZjpCOwq-YVCqRd-VCpKJHz640Scfoff2cX8C4cFEmmK8P0coPdU3XBhA5d51bSQnQ5FsID45/s320/DSCN8612.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190128135650130354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Thais are really fun loving people! If you have not been here during Songkhran... it is a good idea to come someday. Drive out to a provincial town and spent a day.. you won't regret it.Walet.twinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210388939671378989noreply@blogger.com0