Now that feels damn good!

A recent article for a local tourist magazine features photographs shot by yours truly. Yep it is official, I am a published travel photographer. Sorry, but that is SOOOO cool! Check it out. The online version even includes a link back to this blog.

Lumphini Park

Lumphini Park, in the heart of Bangkok, was established by King Rama VI. The park, named after the birthplace of Buddha in Nepal, was established on royal property near the out skirts of town in the 1920's. Lumphini park covers 142 acres. Inside the park you will find the variety of venues, outdoor gyms, gardens and a man made lake that are linked by a path system of approximately 1.5 miles.Lumphini Park is home to Thailands first public library and houses a dance hall as well. The Palm Garden is the sight for the annual Concert in the Park music festival put on by the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra. Every Sunday from mid December through the first week of February, visitors are invited to enjoy free classical music and opera concerts, starting at 5:30 PM.

In the evening, as the sun sets and the temperature drops, Luhmpini Park is transformed from a sanctuary from the crowded streets and hustle of urban  life into a sprawling outdoor fitness oasis. The nearly empty pathways and outdoor gyms that seem to be forgotten refuges from the  otherwise hurry-up pace of Bangkok begin to fill with fitness enthusiasts.  Joggers find the unimpeded  1.5 mile loop around the perimeter of the main park far more inviting than the busy and obstacle laden sidewalks and side roads. Tia Chi, Yoga and Aerobics classes  can be found through out the park and the outdoor gyms, the Thai version of muscle beach in California start to come to life. This transformation is mezmerizing and something to witness.

If you find yourself suffering from culture shock or just need a place to regain your composure after a long day  in Bangkok, find Lumphini Park. It really is one of the cities most beautiful open spaces and place where you will find it quite easy to forget that you are just one of over 11,000,000 people in the sprawling metropolis. An easy walk from a couple of the BTS stations and near many other attractions the park is also a nice place for short break in a busy day of sight seeing and touring.

 If you have any questions or comments please click the comments section below. Click here to see more photos.

Khao San Road, Bangkok Thailand.

Khao San Road in Bangkok is, by far, on the short list of places you must see while in the city of Bangkok. Described as the Gateway to Southeast Asia, Khao San Road is the backpacker/hippie Mecca for “budget minded” travelers from around the world. The street is packed with 20-somethings carrying more for a backpacking trip than I brought with me to move over here. The cultural diversity is astounding, I know Bangkok is an international city, but you will hear 15 languages in a three minute walk down the street. Packed with street vendors peddling everything from freshly roasted bugs, useless trinkets and fake ID's from other countries around the world to silk suits and quality silver jewelery, Khao San has something for everybody.

More challenging to get to than  some of the must-see attractions because it is not located close to any of the major public transportation services, but it is worth the cab fare or extra five minute walk from stop N13 on the water ferry system up the Chao Phraya River. We got to hit all 13 stops, so it took us about 35 minutes, but the Buddhist Wats and the Grand Palace, in addition to many other sights that line the banks of the Chao Phraya, make this unique form of public transportation a really very pleasant and opportune way to reach Khao San Road.

Once at Khao San the options are endless. Grab yourself a bag of freshly roasted grass hoppers from a cart-pushing street vendor or a gourmet meal. Literally, it’s all here; internet cafes, an open-air McDonalds, tailors, trinket and silver vendors, street bars, gourmet eateries, night clubs, tattoo and massage parlours, market stalls and some of the best people watching you will find anywhere in the world. This is the corner of the world where the East has graciously welcomed and tamed the West. 

The party, which is pretty much what the 1km long stretch of Khao San Road is, has become so globally renowned that it has spilled out on to nearby streets and alley ways. Because it is so diverse and touristy it has the potential to be a slight bit more seedy or should I say risky than most of your other tourist sites, but this is still Bangkok, keep track of your valuables; don’t carry your documents in your back pocket; keep your wits about you and you will have a great time.

No matter what you are looking for, day or night, Khao San Road will not let you down as far as urban sightseeing, shopping and dining are concerned. The electrically social and jovial energy of Khao San road is the result of the Western nostalgia and Thai tradition coexisting in a balance that embraces both in an energetic party atmosphere that welcomes the seasoned travel and Asian newbie alike. I would recommend spending at least an hour or two if not a day exploring Khao San and the long list of other sights, like Democracy Monument that are within walking distance of this must have experience. Hope to see you soon.

If you have any questions or comments, please click the “Comments” link below.

Thai Marketing

Marketing can be very challenging. Throw in a language barrier and it can be near impossible. This guy at a street bar on Khoa San Rd. (Cow-a san), seems to get it. Clear and to the point, don't you think?

Bangkok101

Simon, a friend of ours and one of the people who helped Colleen figure out the ups and downs of living in Bangkok while showing her around and taking her on some great holiday weekends to places like Phuket, is a writer for Bangkok101. Check it out.

Sam's

  We had the most fabulous meal last night at a little roof-top joint called Sam’s Fish and Chips. Sam is Thai and about sixth months ago, he decided that he wanted something to do that was close to home and close to his heart. His idea was to open a  gourmet Thai-European-Western cuisine eatery on the roof-top patio of the home his family has lived in for 49 years. His idea, in its realization, can only be described as perfect.
  You will find Sam’s Fish and Chips at 146 Phiphat Soi 2, Convent Road, an easy five minute walk from the Chong Nonsi BTS station. As you enter the courtyard the signage directs you upstairs, that’s the roof-top part. The fun part is the charmingly weathered and unusually tight spiral staircase you must use to get there.  A feature that keeps your attention focused on not losing your footing, so that when you get to the top, the impact of the exceptionally well conceived and beautifully presented garden dining area has the desired affect . Garden lights, fountains, native foliage and the strategically arranged kitchen and customer amenities transform this patio into someplace you will spend hours enjoying exceptional food and a varied wine selection.

     Sam has hand picked the attentive staff as carefully as he does his ingredients. The menu offers a variety of Thai, European and Western classics all prepared by Sam who's broad knowledge of the culinary arts, stems from a very well traveled and interesting life. Just as a side note; During the Vietnam Conflict, Sam was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado, our home state in the US. The menu is small in comparison to most restaurants in Bangkok, but the selection is designed to offer everybody something. Pan fried prawns(B98-), lobster soup (B69-), New England style clam chowder(B69-) and pan fried tilapia (B139-)and John Dory(B98-) with chips(B39-) are among a few the dishes that we ordered. Everything was fresh and expertly prepared. The lobster soup was unforgettable, the chicken wings were delightfully crispy and tender. You can really tell that Sam loves what he does.  As an appetizer, the garlic toast, prepared with olive oil and perfectly proportioned dollops of freshly minced garlic, comes highly recommended.

I will make the easy trek across town many more times to enjoy everything Sam’s has to offer. Finding good and fairly priced food in Bangkok is not hard, finding a place that makes you feel like you are one of the family makes Sam's a treasure to be cherished. I hope all you have the opportunity to enjoy this little gem of a Thai eatery.

Reservations are recommended: 02-234-7335 or 089-115-2789.

Yep, its kinda like that...

Turtel Soup?

No, we cannot go to the park and feed the ducks... because we have turtles.

Chinatown Bangkok

Click the slideshow to see full sized images.

V8 Diner

Home sweet home circa 1950 in the heart of Bangkok.

An amazing voice...

But her stage presence lacked energy.

Thai Spirit houses

     This is a picture of the Spirit House for our apartment complex. The Spirit House is a Thai practice that stems from the ancient worship of spirits or Animism. Thai people believe that every living thing, the earth included, has a spirit. The Thai Spirit House is a unique aspect of Thai Buddhism that is the result of the old world animistic beliefs of the Thai people, being slowly morphed and intertwined with Buddhist beliefs as the practice spread across Southeast Asia from it's origins in in the Red River Delta.
    The Thai people still hold very strong beliefs based in animism. So much so that every business, residence, garden or even a vacant lot, water fall or small body of water may have a Spirit House. It is their belief that Guardian Spirits can be invited from the heavens to dwell in the beautifully and ritualistically constructed houses, to provide blessings and positive energy for the family or business that erected the Spirit House. Not only are spirits invited to dwell in the structure, but because of the mischievous nature of spirits, they are asked for permission and to give blessing to any change to the structure or the grounds surrounding or associated with the Spirit House. Thais wholly believe that not asking for the blessing of the spirits will lead to catastrophe for any endeavor in which the spirits were not consulted.    
     Spirit Houses can be permanent or temporary based on the sprits to be invited. There are countless gods, spirits and celestial beings associated with Thai folklore. A temporary Spirit House may be built for a wedding or other special occasion for the purpose of inviting particular spirits to watch over and bless the event. The permanent structures are built for the Phra Bhum Jowthee, or Guardians of the Land. There are nine of these guardians, but the Thais are primarily concerned with the Guardian of the House and the Guardian of the Land and therefore are typically the only two Guardians for which permanent structures are built.

Kinda miss the whole HOA concept...

Massage Day

 Enjoyed a very nice aroma theropy massage at the beautiful Health Land Spa today. You gotta check out the web site. 

Merry Christmas

Nothing says Christmas like Heineken. They are still playing Christmas music in the stores over here. Don't know if they just don't get it or if they don't realize that it is Christmas music. Either way, it just does not seem right.

An International City

Had lunch to day with a Brit and a Canadian while enjoying a Belgian beer and a Korean cigarette at an Irish pub with Thai wait staff. 

Free Pizza?

On Friday night, we decided to check out an expat favorite, The Witches Tavern, for drinks and FREE pizza. I was expecting a frozen pizza or 4" personal pizza. I was delighted when four of these excellent pies showed up at our table. But I was ecstatic to see Pure Blonde Lager on the menu. It is really hard to find a decent beer or wine selection over here.

Wat Thammongkol

I have shared before that the apartment has an incredible view of Wat Thammongkol.  Monks live and work here, growing and raising some of the food they eat and exchanging blessings in the community for prepared food, transportation and anything else they may need.

Wat Thammongkol Boasts Thailand's tallest Chedi which was built about 20 years ago and is topped with 17 kilograms of pure gold and 1,063 diamonds. The temple houses the worlds largest jade statue, depicting Buddha in the Lotus posture. The statue was carved by an Italian master in 1990 from a 57 ton block of jade that was mined from Kings Mountain in Western Canada.

This photo is from: http://bangkoktour.biz

Bet you didn't know

That picking your nose in public is socially acceptable in Thailand.

Happy New Year from Bangkok

    Hey everybody! We had an amazing trip, the worst part about it was Chicago's O'hare airport. What a joke. The entire international concourse is closed from like 9:00PM till 6:00AM. No shops, a food court with one vendor who bothered to be open and I think the employee(s) were on some kind of work-release program. They were no more happy to be there than we were.
    We Landed in Bangkok at around 9:00PM (7:00AM Saturday in Colorado) and have already had some great realizations. First, big cities smell a little different and big cities in SE Asia smell really different. Not bad just different. Okay, sometimes it just pain stinks, but it is not overbearing. Our Taxi ride from the airport took about 30 minutes and cost less than $6.00. Shortly after arriving at the apartment, I realized that Skype has a kind of Dr. Who effect. It can make tiny spaces look MUCH larger than they are in reality. Picture a dorm room with really nice amenities, like marble floors and a nice sized walk-in showers, but still just over 450 Sq Ft. Tiny, but very affordable at just over $300.00 a month.

   After changing and freshening up a little, Colleen took me out for beers and dinner at new night market that is located just 3 blocks from her place and opened while she was stateside. A huge open market with food and beverage vendors, a full size concert stage and scantly dressed beer girls (at least they looked like girls). We had a half pitcher of beer and an order of Shrimp Pad Thai(heads and legs included) for less than $11.00. How much does a pitcher cost at the Grandview? Oh, and a carton, not a pack, of Marlboro Lights, under $20.00. It seems that there is a 7-11 every 50 yards, and oddly enough the door chimes sound exactly the same over here as they do in the states.

I can not wait to see the city in the daylight. hope you all do not get tired of photos and stories. Just remember I'm not trying rub it in, I'm trying motivate you to get you asses over here. Cheap, friendly and exotic, what else are you looking for in a vacation destinantion? And thats the city, wait till you hear about the beaches.