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Ice Cream Selfie?

So I had to have one to see how this ice-cream was linked to a selfie...

Strange - made in Indonesia for export only?

And... not sure what I was supposed to do - 
take a photograph of me eating it and share it with the public?

Candy Crush, sharing and adverts

Okay I admit I play Candy Crush but I have yet to buy anything. Then I am told I can record my game - why?

Then I got an advert and I got specials. What's next?

the jam Factory (BKK) Visit 1

To read more about my visit, coffee and pate - click here 

 

Walking Routes in Bangkok 2 - Nang Leong

Route Two of the Walking Routes in Bangkok.

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

   location: https://goo.gl/maps/nq8r2URZgsF2 

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

   location: https://goo.gl/maps/16JxrR8uVEP2

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

   location: https://goo.gl/maps/JJiC33XpnXB2

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

   location: https://goo.gl/maps/854cDqCGAgy

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

   location: https://goo.gl/maps/CQS5GLzZnRp

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

   location: https://goo.gl/maps/G5Ne7Nyk7fQ2

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

   location: https://goo.gl/maps/CyLJ9KjFsLU2

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

   location: https://goo.gl/maps/5QCvC4L7fxQ2

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

   location: https://goo.gl/maps/TihtUdeiHWB2 

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

   location: https://goo.gl/maps/FJwNXkjoGUp

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

  location: https://goo.gl/maps/FJwNXkjoGUp 

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

These are extra places that I found

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

  location: https://goo.gl/maps/FJwNXkjoGUp 

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

  location: https://goo.gl/maps/fVQxTW6v83Q2 

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

Stop D: Anywhere on the street for something to eat      

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

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

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

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

Walking Route One in Bangkok - Yaowarat.
Walking Route Three in Bangkok - Thonburi.

Walking Route in Bangkok - John Bush and more.
Walking Route in Bangkok - Bangkok Dolls and more.

Getty Images

Anyone up to buying my photo
 - https://www.gettyimages.com/license/954437760

Have you ever sold one?

Wat Neramit Wipatsana (วัดเนรมิตวิปัสสนา)

To read about the visit - click here    

 

Amazing Thai Taste Festival

After visiting the Hotel Fair it was time to visit the Amazing Thai Taste Festival for us again - it showcases the best food from around Thailand - 'Eat Thai Food, Feeling Good'. It was organised into eight zones.

1: Good Reputation - exhibitions regarding types of rice in Thailand and cooking tips

 2: Good Local - signature dishes from the five regions of Thailand

Sai Ua - northern Thai sausage

Khanom La - southern Thai silky crepe

Tam Suea - spicy mixed salad (Isan style)

Seafood from the east

Authentic Thai desserts - from the central region

  3: Good Organic - for health-conscious people

  4: Good Fruit - look out for the sticky rice and durian/mango

  5: Good Taste - with Michelin recommended stalls

  6: Good Idea - chic restaurants, handmade handicrafts and workshops

  7: Good Power - over 30 shops working together under the Pracharat network

  8: Good Enjoy - demonstrations and cooking workshops plus musical performances by famous Thai performers.

Phetchaburi for the weekend

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

It was a lovely journey after we left Bangkok.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hotel Art Fair 2018

137 Pillars Suites and Residences for two days every year (this is it's 5th) hosts the 'Hotel Art Fair in Bangkok'. Six floors and 34 Suites are no longer places for guests but are places for the artist to display their art!

So I got there early - stopping for a coffee at Azure Cafe - very nice and thank you for the little cake.

Then time for the visit to the Hotel Art Fair - a lot to see.



Here's the video 

There was not a lot of inspirational pieces - and even less provoking ones.

But met some nice people - Art must be difficult in Thailand - think I will go back to teaching... Then off to Amazing Thai Taste at Siam Square.

Be fly in Thai

Some information for a UK Travel Agent - I am impressed...
but not sure about it's title

Bangkok 101 - June 2018

What can you do if you are visiting Bangkok?

One of the best things to read is Bangkok101 - https://www.bangkok101.com

Amongst other things it tells you what is happening this month - https://www.bangkok101.com/whats-on-in-june/

The edition this month focuses on Art – local artisits - https://www.bangkok101.com/top-thai-talent/ - and places to visit here in Bangkok - https://www.bangkok101.com/category/arts-culture/.

A weekend in Saraburi

Saturday morning and we set off after breakfast. 

Stop 1: Wat Bang Kahn - this was a Wat by the side of the road, just a quick visit because there was an initiation here for a monk, location: https://goo.gl/maps/hGbY5xdwVq42.

Stop 2: Wat Phra Dhammakaya - this certainly is an impressive 'site'. It is temple representing the Dhammakaya Movement, which means that it is no strictly Buddhist, there are a lot of controversies regarding it as well, location: https://goo.gl/maps/z6ZRQPfKuhR2.

Personally I think they should have fixed the broken floating lotus?

Stop 3: National Geological Museum - with a special for dinosaurs - a lot of fun, especially if that is what you are looking for, location: https://goo.gl/maps/iadk8TwtgbP2

Stop 4: Kao Kang Baan Suan - for a quick bite, the Issan sausage was dreadful but the fresh cakes were lovely, location: https://goo.gl/maps/PBzHHohfiEw. 

Stop 5: Wat Phraphuttachai - strangely this is the same name as Stop 11 - an impressive place on the top of the hill, very busy, location: https://goo.gl/maps/5DBqqzNsP6p.

Stop 6: Wat Phra Buddhabat - a large Wat, a reclining Buddha, rock with the shape of the Buddha on it and more, location: https://goo.gl/maps/EHAjnoeS1n12.

Stop 7: Rai Kusuma Resort (ไร่กุสุมา รีสอร์ท) - this was where we were staying the night - we paid more for this fabulous view, location: https://goo.gl/maps/aBhgfwwjUVL2.

Stop 7: Ndol Streamside Thai Villas - quite a nice place for dinner, location: https://goo.gl/maps/PSZBBKwZ4Bp.

Stop 8: Chet Sao Noi Waterfall National Park - we did not enter here because it was deserted - but we found a Shrine opposite it - entering and going up the stairs but there was a dog!, location: https://goo.gl/maps/4Npifi9Z6Yz.

Stop 9: วดเจรญธรรม - following a long road and at the end there is a new Wat being built - but this might not be right.

Stop 10: สำนักแม่ชีไทย - off the road and the details on the side indicated that is a a retreat of some sort, not sure, location: https://goo.gl/maps/kU4htTNBxf12. 

Stop 11: Wat Phra Phutthachai - strangely this is the same name as Stop 5? -this is quite an extensive location - with a rock wrapped by a rock, a golden footprint and more, a popular Wat, location: https://goo.gl/maps/5DBqqzNsP6p.

Stop 12: Wat Pa SawangBoon - wow - 500 golden stupa surrounding, Buddha monuments, Recining Buddha and more, location: https://goo.gl/maps/vafQZU8NCvp. 

And there were a number of places there we didn't stop - here are some pics from the car.

We did not stop for some 'field rats' for a snack.

Think that this sugar cane

And this was for it...