Traffic

2017

This is near Central Pinklao on the Thomburi side of Bangkok.  In the distance, that's the Mahanakhon skyscraper, which was nearing completion then.  We walked across a footbridge for these photos.

Abandoned Vehicle

This is a scene of a soi (lane or side street) in Bangkok that I know very well.  The sois are very narrow and get congested with traffic.  So here's this red vehicle, caked in dirt and dust and with flat tires, blocking half of a super narrow lane.  I asked somebody, and they said it had been there for weeks, maybe months.  You might think it would be towed.  In the USA, it would be towed so fast.  I am not sure what to make of it.

King Taksin the Great Monument

Last year, on our trip to Bangkok for my sister-in-law's funeral, the route we would take to the temple was via this huge roundabout named Wongwian Yai.  In the middle was a huge monument  to the warrior-turned-king, Taksin the Great.  I took the footage (video one) of the monument as we drove by.

source

Taksin the Great

Not sure of the year of these images.  Early 20th century?

And click here and scroll for some amazing aerials of the roundabout.

Friends with Kids

Kade wanted to catch up with some friends in Bangkok.  A couple of them had some adorable kids.

Ping (L), Kim (R), 2005

At the cafe where Kade met up with Kim plus Ping & her boy, look at the heavenly crepe they ate, filled with ice cream, fruits and other toppings.  Oh my!  Notice the chocolate ready to pour.  If you are a Westerner, and you live in or visit Bangkok, you can easily find high quality sweets you're familiar with.  It's one of the things I love about the city!

Thai Soap Stars

Thais love TV, especially evening soap operas, or serieses, as they refer to them in their language.  It's a case of English vocabulary being adopted into another language.  My wife and her sister, back in March, visited Central Pinklao Shopping Plaza in Bangkok, and there was a soap star making an appearance.  He happened to be one of Kade's sister's favorites.

Meeting Spot

This is where I met a German friend and her English husband earlier this year in Bangkok.  She recommended this spot, in fact.  I simply had coffee or a latte.  The location of Chu, in the Exchange Tower near the Asoke BTS (skytrain) station, made it really easy to find.  Click here to learn more about Chu.

Shrine

I am pretty confident this is a Hindu shrine.  It's similar to others I have seen in Bangkok.  Here's some info on other shrines in the Thai capital.

Bus Ride

Catching a bus at Victory Monument in Bangkok

Destination:  Thonburi

I use all types of transportation in Bangkok - taxis, skytrain, tuk-tuks, private cars, motorcycle taxis, ferries, canal boats, metro and buses.  For this route, buses are not only cheaper, they get there faster.

Motorcycle Kiosk

This is a night market not far from Kade's family home.  Just before you reach the entrance, there are several motorcycle-transported food and drink stalls.  This would clearly be the mom-and-pop type service, and for those wanting tasty drinks and snacks at a great price, go for it.  My rule of thumb is to check out the customers and merchant, and then look at the overall setup.  How clean is it?  Often it doesn't meet my approval.  In that case, if I want an iced coffee or cold drink, I go by a 7-11 or into a business I know.  I worry most about the ice and how straws are handled.  One strategy, if straws are not packaged, is to reach out and grab my own from the bundle they have displayed.  I place my order, I grab a straw and then they hand the drink to me.  If I didn't, their bare hand would be on that straw, and putting it into the cup.  Little tips like that can ease your mind!  As for the ice, that can be hard to gauge.  Ice is in coolers, and comes from ice factories, then was taken my motorbike to vendors.  That's what you see.  And I would presume that those factories have regulations, and use clean water and all that.  I really have never been sick in Thailand, nor noticed any really stomach issues after going to one of these motorized stalls.  That said, I primarily stick to stores, chains or independently-owned businesses in popular areas.  How was that coffee we got at that market?  Really good.

House Gecko

If you live in Thailand, you are bound to see one of these harmless geckos in your home or apartment.  They are kinda cute actually.

Swing & Temple

Standing on the square in front of the giant swing and Wat Suthat in Bangkok

Pink Milk, Please

A fabulous thing about Thailand  - and it makes sense because it's so hot there - is that wherever you turn, there's something to drink.  Cold things.  And a stunning variety.  This Chapayom kiosk outside Tesco-Lotus shopping plaza (just a short walk from mega-mall Central Pinklao) quickly became a favorite of mine when Kade and I visited Bangkok in March.  I would either order an iced coffee or pink milk.  It hit all the spots:  Cold, sweet, creamy with a hint of strawberry.  I'm sure the flavoring was made of mostly corn syrup, but whenever I am in the hot, muggy climate, it seems like I need a sugar spike when it gets hot.  And you might think it puts on the pounds (or kilos), but all the empty calories are easily offset by the sweating and constant movement.  There's no reason to monitor your number of steps each day!  Aside from the effects of air pollution, which is still pretty serious, in many other ways I feel healthier when in Southeast Asia.

Big Flush

I don't know if this is a good sign or not!  When I see giant-sized toilets in Thailand, and they are American Standard, I wonder how up-sized Thais might be getting.

If you reside in Bangkok, or probably in city of decent size in Thailand, it's easy to find the huge home decor and building stores we are accustomed to in the good ole USA.  It may not be the same chain name (sometimes is, though), but it certainly is that same winning formula.

Relaxation

This is one of the big reasons people love Thailand:  all types of spa treatments.  There are traditional Thai massages, and "new" Thai massages (read between the lines).  There's something truly for everyone.  One day in March, Kade and I got massages.  She went to Urban Retreat near the Emporium Shopping Plaza, and I went to a favorite spot (image #1) along Sukhumvit.  We both emerged feeling relaxed.

If you need it, they will come

If you don't want to go to big shopping centers in Bangkok, eventually whatever you need makes its way to you.  The one merchant that impressed me the most was the man with the landscaping cart. And this guy was in a swanky part of town, probably going house to house.  Very creative!