Tim in Thailand

Thai Cuisine - a spice roadmap

Some ideas for Spice in Thailand.

A bicycle ride on Ko Kret

We chose to visit somewhere different today

- so we drove to Pak Ret and Wat Sanam Nuea.

The Suan Pakkad Palace

The Suan Pakkad Palace is somewhere which I came across when I was waiting for the results of a blood test from Phyathai Hospital - happy not to have Leprosy and Elephantiasis.

As I wandered in I was taken by how there was nothing there to tell me what was here - I asked the staff at the front and they shrugged their shoulders as if they were unable to do anything about it!

Paying my money as a farang (100 Baht) I walked in to the museum (with my free fan) - and it was amazing there was so much to see in here - why was this not more popular - looking at the website I was astounded at the amount of Historical Thai Culture was in here but so little information available...

8 Thai Houses

Ban Chieng artifacts

The Marsi Gallery

The Lacquer Pavilion

and

The Royal Barge

would have liked a coffee shop in the gardens but I could not have everything - worth a visit if you are in the area.

Nai Lert Park Heritage Home

I have visited Nai Lert Park Heritage home for a number of reasons - predominantly though it was for a coffee at Lady L.

But the Nai Lert Flower and Garden show was something quite memorable.

Without the show and the gardens it is certainly an oasis to visit in the heart of a busy Bangkok - the gardens are quite lovely.

However it does seem to be popular for people to stage their wedding parties here - so sometimes it was busy.

But always time for a coffee.

Top things to do in Phuket

There are a lot more than this to do in Phuket - but a good start.

Here's more ideas.

Kor Ra Kang

Kor Ra Kang is a cafe I came across when I was on a Walk in Bangkok.

Wonderfully cold and had a great view of Wat Thepthidaram - also worth a visit.

The cafe was pretty cool and upstairs seemed to be a gathering place for the school children

there is a large roti menu...

But I had the green curry

The food was certainly for Thai people and was great - very spicy and the air-conditioning was great.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/korrakang

Approximate Price: $$$$$

Address: 297 Maha Chai Rd, Khwaeng Samran Rat, Khet Phra Nakhon

Hours: unsure

Wat Asokkaram, Macha Bucha Day and respect

Wat Asokkaram was where we visited for Macha Bucha Day this year (2019), this link is to our visit in 2015.

Always a special time to visit a Buddhist Temple.

I took the walk around the temple by myself and paid my respects.

Then strangely I realised I no longer had my telephone - to was somewhere else...

Stopping I checked my bag - tipping it all out - with my wife I searched through the mess - nope!!

Then over the tannoy came a message that a phone had been handed in - we visited the monk who handed me the telephone - happy that I had paid respect.

"A temple built in ancient India by Emporer Asoka inspired the name of Wat Asokaram. Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo (1906-1961), a disciple of Ajahn Mun, founded the temple in 1955. At the request of lay followers, the uncremated remains of Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo have been kept in a coffin in the glassed-in shrine area upstairs in the viharn. A ceremony dedicated to the former abbot attracts many people to the wat on 24-26 April; teachers present discourses on mind training in the Ajahn Mun tradition."

Here is a website for more information.

Leng Buia Ia Shrine (ChinaTown)

I found this small shrine as part of one of the TAT Walking Routes in Bangkok - whilst in ChinaTown.

Sometimes you should just follow a guide - this entrance was not something which I would have followed if I did not have the guide to take me down this way.

A small corridor leads the way...

And then open onto a small forecourt with the Chinese Shrine at the back.

With what you expect to find in a Chinese Shrine - simply worth the effort if you are in the area.

With a safe to make a contribution.

10 must haves for a long flight

and the cable or battery?

The Old Customs House

I thought that I had visited the Old Customs House previously but then I read about the building and didn't realise that the big building is actually around the corner.

I read on the Internet that some people were not granted access to the building - well it is condemned and would be dangerous - much like the Guest Tower nearby.

There is a small coffee shop around the corner.

It would be a shame for them to demolish such a lovely building though and designed by an Italian architect (Joachim Grassi) in the 1800's. In 2016 the occupants of the building was the staff of the Bang Rak Fire Station have they have since been asked to leave. The Natural Consortium purchased the land in 2005 and intend to develop this area - as an Aman Resorts and Hotel - so let's see how much longer this takes...

Then this has recently been changed - the Treasury Department have revoked this license and the building must be kept... watch this space.

BUT the security might not allow you to use your camera - I wasn't - so I stuck with the iPhone and took some more from the Chao Phraya River Express. Another way to see it is to watch In the Mood for Love - a Hong Kong movie.

Previous Visit

1) May 2017

TripAdvisor: Old Customs House

Hua Lamphong Railway Station

I had to pass this Hua Lamphong Railway Station when I was attempting one of the TAT Walking Routes in Bangkok - on the way to ChinaTown. It was certainly an impressive building - which was designed (amongst other buildings in Bangkok) by an Italian in Design.