China Town - lunch (6/8)

The food looked good.

But was not as good as Thai food.

And motorbikes drove by...

This visit was in January 2026.

       

Instagram (App) - Mooncakes - Post 14

My wife purchased some delicious mooncakes

to share with the other guests

 at Nid Coffee Shop. 

 

A wonderful App to share photographs...  

Cost: Free

Ease of use: simple

Comment: wonderful for sharing photographs

Link: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/instagram/id389801252.  

For more App reviews - click here.

  

       

Chinese New Year (1st February)

Happy Chinese New Year

     

Bangkok - LHONG 1919 / ศาลเจ้าแม่ทับทิม

LHONG 1919 seems to be a Chinese Cultural Centre - but I can find very little (in English) about it.

Lhong 1919 (Thai: ล้ง 1919; Chinese: 廊 1919) is a tourist attraction on the west bank of Chao Phraya River on Bangkok's Thonburi side. Its concept is similar to that of the Asiatique The Riverfront on the Phra Nakhon side. It is at the bottom of Chiang Mai Road, Khlong San Sub-District, Khlong San District, Bangkok, Thailand.

Lhong was a historic port and warehouse in siheyuan-style (Chinese courtyard architecture). It was built in 1850 as a port for overseas shipping from British Malaya, mainland China, and British Hong Kong by Phraya Pisansuphaphol (Chuen), a wealthy Thai Chinese. He was an ancestor of the Pisolyabutra family, whose descendants include Luang Sathonrachayut or Yom Pisolyabutra, who was the founder of Khlong Sathon and Sathon Road. The port's name is derived from the word Huang Chung Lhong (火船廊; lit: 'steamer port'), an old name.

BUT I was saved by Wikipedia (This is their text).

It was certainly an interesting place to visit.

And very photogenic.

    

Phuket - Hok Nguan Kong Shrine

This was a small Chinese Temple we came upon as we drove out of Phuket Town.

It does look like it needs some taking care of.

This visit was in December 2021.

     

Bangkok - Siang Kong Shrine Chinese Temple

The Siang Kong Shrine is sitting amongst the beginning of the second-hand car parts shops.  The Siang Kong Shrine is a small Hokkien Chinese temple built in 1871 to recognise the first junkyard car-parts business in the area known as Siang Kong (also transliterated as Sieng Kong).

Doubling back for a few metres, turn left into Soi Panurangsi (Panurangsi Alley) keeping an eye out for some interesting Talad Noi street art along here.  Follow Soi Panurangsi until the road splits into two.  Take the left fork and walk along Soi Wanit 2 where you will immediately cross the threshold into an area filled with small workshops selling old car spare parts and scrap metal.  You’re now in the Sieng Kong Zone! Text from Talad Noi.

There was the usual more inside the Temple itself.

Remembering of course to leave something for thanks.

    

Happy Chinese New Year - the Year of the Ox

The Chinese New Year may not have been celebrated in the way that I normally do - but they did 

at The Mall in Bangkapi.

These are links to the previous celebrations

 - Welcome to the Year of the Goat (2012)

 - Kung Hei Fat Choi (2011)

 - Happy New Year again (2010)

 - Celebrations in Phuket Town (2010)

 - Slideshow (2009)

        

Chinese New Year - the Year of the Goat

Happy Chinese New Year - this year it is the Year of the Goat.

Download your App so you know more. These pictures were my favourite photographs from 2011.

These are links to the previous celebrations

 - Welcome to the Year of the Goat (2012)

 - Kung Hei Fat Choi (2011)

 - Happy New Year again (2010)

 - Celebrations in Phuket Town (2010)

 - Slideshow (2009)

                                                                                     

Chinese New Year and Old Phuket Town Festival (15-17 Feb)

We stayed at the Casa Blanca in Phuket Old Town for something new, it was a hit with Jemma and it was easy to park - until we realised that  the Festivals would be running whilst we were there!

This year it was the 14th Old Phuket Town Festival and we have enjoyed every one of them.

There was a stage built in Queen Sirikit Park where there were performances throughout the 3 days of celebrations and the park was a wonderful place to be. The performances were fun and all with Chinese outfits on - but Jemma's was too small....

The roads all around here were closed in the afternoon to traffic and the stalls and places for the shows were being set up - I missed Jamie's children playing on one of the corners, maybe Route 66 next time?

Rasada Road, Phuket Road, Phang Nga Road and Talang Road were strewn with small and big street stalls - there seemed to be every type of food for sale here - from the ubiquitous deep fried insects, pancakes, roti, sushi, potato sticks the list was endless.

Then there were the artists along Rasada Road - from the professionals with their easels, aerosols etc to the people and the chalk on the road - wonderful.

We wandered around - remembering (of course) to pay homage to the Giant Sea Dragon in the park. I popped into the Indy Market but I think most of the vendors were in the bigger festival.

Then we were met by the tall people and the ladies dressed as 1970 Superheroes? - the significance of this I do not understand but hey it was a lot of fun. 

After finding the candy-floss and the bubble tea that was me for the night.

Of course there was 'Gang Nam Dancing' - by one or three people.

We left Phuket Town and drove to Mee Ton Poe 3 for dinner - I think that we were their last customers - great Hokkien Noodles here.