Lunchtime in Bangkok

The longer I am in Bangkok the more I enjoy taking the River Taxi - apart from when I get an enormous splash that is though... Got the River Taxi at Witthayu Bridge and travelled to Phanfa Bridge.

This time I walked in another direction and found that there was Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall - but this had only guided tours so I would have to come back to visit here.

So I continued to the Victory Monument.

I did wonder whether these kids were all playing the same game? (I didn't ask).

Then it was time for a coffee - found a fascinating coffee shop - "Head above the Clouds" - devoted to Salvador Dali...

I was now on the edge of the original wall surrounding the city.

Then I came upon Wat Bowonniwet Vihara - a spectacular Wat with an amazing history - certainly worth visiting again.

Then onto the Khao San Road - not a lot changes here.

Wat Chanasongkhram Ratchaworamahawiharn วัดชนะสงครามราชาวรมหาวิหาร was the next visit for me - a temple which was very busy with people visiting to pay respects - I was not in very long.

Then behind I saw Loha Prasat Metal Castle - โลหะปราสาท - this was definitely impressive and I believe that it is the only Metal Castle in the World?

Then I saw a sign that this was the zero kilometer marker - I did not know this existed.

Then a visit to the Queens Gallery - beautiful...

Thailand information / Packing List

A list for people who like lists...

Paving Stones in Bangkok


Reading a number of emails everyday I noticed a story that kept coming back - that of the condition of the Paving Stones - so I clicked it and...

There was even a Facebook Page for it.

Then I looked at the paving stones...

Well I don't think that parking on them helps...

and the following week it was worse...

But then they fixed them - let's see how long they last...

So they put up protection this time...

Google Maps (App)

How can I remember all I want to see?

Description

Google Maps makes navigating your world faster and easier. Find the best places in town and the information that you need to get there.

Get there faster with real-time updates
• Beat traffic with real-time ETAs and traffic conditions
• Catch your bus, train or car-share with real-time transport info
• Save time with automatic re-routing based on live traffic, incidents and road closures
• Don't miss a turn or exit with lane guidance
• Find pit stops along your route like petrol stations and coffee spots

Discover places and explore like a local
• Find top-rated restaurants and local businesses, wherever you are
• Decide on the best places to go with reviews, ratings and pictures of foods and interiors
• Plan your visit and see menus, make reservations and find when places are typically busiest
• Help others discover the best places by sharing reviews, photos and more
• Save places that you want to or often visit, and quickly find them later from any computer or device

Experience the Google Maps difference
• Offline maps to search and navigate without an Internet connection
• Street View and indoor imagery for restaurants, shops, museums and more
• Indoor maps to quickly find your way inside big places like airports, shopping centres and stadiums
• Comprehensive, accurate maps in 220 countries and territories
• Transport schedules and maps for over 15,000 cities
• Detailed business information on over 100 million places

* Some features not available in all countries
* Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

This is an App which I have only used rarely whilst I was living in Phuket. The phone always gave me the choice to use a particular map and I think that I always chose 'Maps'.

Then on moving to Bangkok there were so many places that I wanted to visit and I found that you could make a list of all the places that you wanted to go - so you would not forget.

There was also the added bonus of using google on my blog by starring all the places and they were all there as well. I haven't started really using it yet - oh and it can tell you how far away places are from where you are and how to get there...

Cost: Free

Ease of use: simple

Comment: wonderful for storing all those places to visit

Link:https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/google-maps-navigation-transport/id585027354?mt=8  

For more App reviews - click here.

The Best Coffee Shop in Bangkok

The Factory Coffee - Bangkok was my choice (so far).

There are more TripAdvisor myths than 6...

TripAdvisor decides to dispel some myths about the company - reading the comments in the section below the article I do wonder whether they will reply to each one? 

I think that they should, do you?

Previous posts about TripAdvisor

 1) The road to success? 

 2) TripAdvisor knows?
 3) Location, Location, Location
 4) Best Management reply
 5) How much do they know?
 6) Top 8%

September - You know you have lived in Thailand when...

After moving to Bangkok I have become aware of things which are now normal to me because I live here – and subsequently a facebook site about this “You Know You've Lived In Thailand when.....” – https://www.facebook.com/groups/YouKnowYouveLivedinThailandwhen/   

so once a month I will contribute to this.

            September  - I have change with me to pay the taxi driver - be it on the river, a motorbike or metered...

A motorbike taxi

One of the things that I do regularly now is take a motorbike taxi to work - and then a few months later I saw that there was a price list.

But I really should read Thai if I want to know how much I should be paying...

If I just go down a Soi from the main road

is 10 Baht too much?

Bangkok 101 - September

Do you want to have a look at some interesting things which are happening in Bangkok and other places around Thailand? Will I visit - Insects in the Backyard - watch this space.

Pick up a Bangkok 101.

A trip to Samut Prakan

The car arrived from Phuket so we decided to take a road trip - to Samut Prakan. This was great because from our home it was essentially a straight line and this was using Google Maps - a more impressive App every day...

It was basically a straight line! But there were a number of things on the side of the road - we didn't stop this time. 

Then we saw a small building on the side of the road before we visited Ancient City - but on going down the dirt road we cam upon something so much more than we expected.

It was ศาลเจ้าเสียนหลอไต้เทียนกง สมุทรปราการ OR ศาลเจ้าไต้เทียนกง and it was also stunning.

It was certainly a beautiful place to wander about it.

There were a number of different building top enter.

And the details on the ceilings was certainly impressive. But I could find very little information about it...



But on writing this I found this - beautiful - maybe I should have persevered with learning the drone? 

Then it was time for lunch - ครัวแม่คูซีน - Mae Cuisine Cafe and Restaurant - found very little info (in English) - but great position.

Then it was time to visit Ancient Siam - the Gateway to Thailand's Cultural Heritage. This was certainly impressive.

A great many places to visit.

Looking at all of the places to visit I felt that I wanted to make a list...