It was weeks ago when I found “Hoklee Cafe” at the Dam Nuen Saduak floating market in Ratchaburi province. I was taking my grandma and mom to visit the floating market. However, we arrived there a little bit late in the afternoon and there were not much activities left at the floating market. So we simply looked for a place to just sit and relax. We just found the cafe by coincidence! Those that often travel with elderly people must know how often the elders use the restroom. For my grandma that is 78 years old, she uses the restroom every other hour! Because of that we ran into this awesome cafe the “Hoklee Cafe” at the Lao Tuk Luck, which is a section of the Dum Nuen Saduak floating market.

Based on the information I gathered from chatting with the owner of the cafe; the cafe was a house that was passed down from generations to generations. The house’s foundation and roof has been renovated but the interiors were kept un-touched to preserve its origins as much as possible. Currently the owner has turn the house into a cafe shop for a quick stop off point for the passers-by, either by foot travel or by boat. The owner and the community of Lao Tuk Luck  are trying to rejuvenate the livelihood of the community as it was seen years ago.

Check out the Lao Tuk Luck facebook for more information and photos of the community.

My grandma was really pleased with Hoklee Cafe as it was very peaceful, calm and breezy yet classic and elegant in its own way. Be sure to ask for the Lao Tuk Luck’s community when you visit the floating market.

Good morning Bangkok, it’s currently 5:45 am in Thailand. Good afternoon and good evening to everywhere else on earth.

First of all, I am so excited to hear about the news that one of my Bangkok photos was selected as part of the “35+ Most Beautiful Cityscape Photography From Around the World” Who would have thought that a photo taken while getting ready to visit Bali last year would be selected. Be sure to visit the link ” “35+ Most Beautiful Cityscape Photography From Around the World” because the blogger really put together a nice collection of cityscapes from around the world. So many places that I wish I’ll have a chance to visit in this lifetime. I’m sure that you  feel the same too.

This is the first time that I got a chance to post on the blog in a while. Boot camp is not over yet, as I still have a few months left. However, we are allowed to use computer and have internet access from time to time. Well, let’s talk about the boot camp at another time. Today, I am sharing one of the night views taken at Pattaya, from when I had a chance to visit a few weeks ago during our 10 days break from boot camp. It was the best 10 days off ever!

Pattaya, the famous night life city that is well-known around the world. And because of it’s fame, it is quite hard to find a calm and peaceful corner of the city. Normally I stay at the Holiday Inn Pattaya, but it was fully booked. So I gave “The Zign Hotel” a try which is just a few minutes away by car from Holiday Inn. The hotel provides an amazing views and a great swimming pool to float around under the nice blue sky.

Just relax…

The rest you’d just have to be there to know about it. Enjoy the views!

P.S. The panoramas were taken by PaHn. Such an amazing view isn’t it?

Merit-making has been part of the Thai culture for generation after generation, because they believe in karma and because they are Buddhist. Good karma is gained by doing good deeds, but if that is not enough, merit-making helps increase good karma as well.

Thais make merit here and there from daily worshiping the house’s shrine, also known as Thai spirit house, to weekly visits to a temple praying for health, wealth and protection. Aside from the daily and weekly merit-making, Thais would look for a chance to do “9 temples of merit-making in 1-day”.

9 temples of merit-making in 1-day is often done on special occasions such as international New Year or during the Songkran Festival (Thai New Year), praying for a new beginning for the year and year-round health and wealth protection.

My mother and grandmother are Buddhists as well, so I had the chance to plan a 9 temples of merit-making in 1-day trip for them. For many, they would plan the trip in Bangkok, Thailand where the great grand palace located along with many popular temples that is close by to each other. Doing a 9 temples of merit-making in 1-day trip in Bangkok involves a lot of walking, tuk-tuk riding and ferry crossing from one temple to the next, because it would be unwise to drive in Bangkok due to horrible traffic.

Instead, as I have an elderly person along, I planned the trip in Ayutthaya, the formal capital of Thailand that is just an hour or so drive from Bangkok, because it would be less walking for the elder as I could drive them around from one temple to the next and also have a chance to re-explore the formal capital.

The photos selected today are the different Buddha from the following temples:

1.     Wat Phananchoeng

2.     Wat Yaichaimongkol

3.     Wat Suwandararam

4.     Wihan Phramongkhonbophit

5.     Wat Thammikarad

6.     Wat Naphrameru

7.     Wat Choengthar

8.     Wat Kasattrathirat Worawiharn

9.     Wat Thagarong

At the end of the day, my mother and grandmother felt accomplished, anew with a peace of mind and are ready to take on another year ahead.

Be sure to include the 9 temples of merit-making in 1-day as part of your trip’s plan the next time you visit Thailand

1.     Wat Phananchoeng

2.     Wat Yaichaimongkol

3.     Wat Suwandararam

4.     Wihan Phramongkhonbophit

5.     Wat Thammikarad

6.     Wat Naphrameru

7.     Wat Choengthar

8.     Wat Kasattrathirat Worawiharn

9.     Wat Thagarong

A few months back, I had a chance to visit Palio, an Italian-style village mall and I felt as if I were in Europe. Even though it looks like an Italian village, the place is filled with a variety of international foods, shops and products along its narrow walkways. The Palio has become one of the weekend getaways that is only a few hours drive from Bangkok. It is also a good place to take photos. The place is doing so well that some of my co-workers actually quit her jobs and moved to Khao Yai to open an outlet there!

So, be sure to visit Palio if you ever come to Thailand.

The photo below was taken at the Palio, that only has one “object” identifying that it was taken in Thailand.

Looks can be deceiving!
The “object” is a small and white sign written in Thai in blue and an arrow pointing to the right in red.
[ ไปดูตูด -> ] guess what does it mean?

Let me translate it directly [go look at your butt ->] !!!!! However, it’s actually a restroom sign.

“Palio  Khao Yai”, New Walking Street Shopping Center in Italian-style village mall, located among the the distinctive and spectacular views adjacent to Khao Yai National Park. Here you would experience the passion of shopping excitement of various unique products, services, venues and specialty stores to fulfill your needs and discover Italy’s charms & romance amidst the Italian façade buildings.  (http://www.palio-khaoyai.com/)

Prabad Mountain is only open to the public once a year, sometime between February to April. Hundreds of thousands of people visit the site during the 3 month period to pay respect to the Buddha’s footprint. It took us hours before we got to the top of the mountain that is more than 1,000 meters above sea-level. More photos of this fun activity can be found at the facebook public album

Next year… I will try to go again. It is said that, we should make a total of 7 trips in a lifetime.

One of the activities anyone must try when visiting Thailand during February to April.

Family @ Khao Khitchakut on SUPER MOON night.
The Schedule:

Departed from Bangbon, Bangkok: 9:00 PM (Friday 18 March 2011)
Arrived to Chanthaburi: 1:20 AM (Saturday 19 March 2011)
Total of 4 hours 20 minutes for transportation

Buy ticket for 50 Baht per person (twice) and wait for the ride
Get on the Ride from the market to the temple Entrance: 2:50 AM
Arrived at the Entrance: 3:25 AM
Total of 35 minutes for the ride

… now we walk … hike our way up!
Arrived at the Buddha’s print: 5:00 AM
Total of 1 hour 35 minutes for the hike

… and here is the view from the top.

Departed from the Buddha’s print: 5:30 AM
Arrived at the temple Entrance: 6:25 AM
Total of 55 minutes for walking down

Buy ticket for 50 Baht per person (twice) and get on the ride (not much waiting)
Departed from the temple Entrance: 6:30 AM
Arrived at the market: 6:55 AM
Total of 25 minutes for the ride

… now we just relax and refresh ourselves at the market …

Departed from the market (Chanthaburi): 7:25 AM
Arrived at Baan Rabiangmai (Rayong): 10:25 AM
Total of 3 hours including a few stops for souvenirs along the way

Departed from Baan Rabiangmai: 11:40 AM
Arrived safely at Bangbon, Bangkok: 3:00 PM
Total of 3 hours 20 minutes including a few stops for etc.

18 hours of family fun activities

Having been off from work for less than a week, I have started to miss you, InterContinental Bangkok.

The photo today is the Grande Deluxe room that I had opportunities to stay in once in a while. I’m not much of a reviewer, so I’ll leave that job to trip advisor. All I remember was, I felt relaxed when I was working at the desk with the amazing view of Bangkok behind and a wide screen LED TV with movies in front. They also provide a complimentary fresh fruit bowl, which I eat the entirety of! But the most amazing part (for me) is the rain-shower cabin! Such memorable nights!

Grande Deluxe
A 45-square metre room offering fine views of bustling Bangkok. Available with one king-sized bed, two queen-sized beds or twin single beds all with Sealy Posturepedic mattresses. Along with daily replenishment of fresh fruits, guests receive amenities such as two phone lines, iPod® docking station, in-room entertainment system including LED TV and DVD player, in-room movies, laptop-sized safe as well as tea and coffee-making facilities. High-speed internet access is available. The finely marbled and tiled bathroom contains separate shower and tub. As in all Deluxe range rooms, connecting rooms are offered. A rollaway bed is available at an additional charge.

The bakery started when my cousins and I always wanted to eat cake and pastries. Back in 1992, a bakery wasn’t easy to find and if we could find one, they would be pretty costly. So my auntie started baking cakes, breads and cookies for us from time to time.

As simple as that, our love for eating cakes turned into a bakery shop.

The shop wasn’t fancy nor trendy but simple and homely. We have never done any advertisements before.  All of our loyal customers are through word of mouth.  As for this post, it is pretty much word of mouth as well as I hope that if any of our reader ever visit Bangkok, be sure to come visit us!

For more information and our address… click the image below to be taken to the Muangsiri Bakery (facebook page)
For our Thai readers, be sure to come by and try our simply delicious cakes, breads, cookies… etc!

Looking forward to serving you soon.

Once a year, our hotel will host for a Staff Party… the time that everyone is waiting for because of all the fun activities, the performance from different departments and the secret performance from our Executive Committees! The show wasn’t the only highlight of the party but there are prizes, awards and lucky draws.

The top prize this year is… a trip for 2 to “any” country in Europe, sponsored by Kuwait Airline! Imagine that…! Such an amazing prize! The runner up are 1 gold bar and an iPad!

Unfortunately… I didn’t win any of those prizes nor any at all from the party. But I get to be one of the 4 MCs at the party. I discovered that… speaking Thai properly isn’t easy at all. I was more comfortable to speak in English rather than in Thai.

Another good opportunity that I has was that, the Staff Party committee assigned me to get a shot of the hotel which then printed 6 meters wide and 3 meters tall!… THE BIGGEST print that any of my photos has ever been printed!

After all, the photo is just part of the party and was over shadowed by the fun and all the activities that night!

Another year has passed! That was quick wasn’t it? 

The very first post of the year, just can’t be anything but the fireworks from last night’s countdown…

3….

2..

1.

This post is all about Natt wants to show his photograph taken by his new wide-angle lenses. So he said I had to write something because this is a view from my balcony. Here we go!

Bangkok is called officially in Thai as “Krug Tep”. It means “the city of angels”.
That means “the heaven”, isn’t it?

***… and then she stop writing… (20 days later)
oh well… I guess if you want to know about Bangkok, you would need to do a little searching on the web yourselves

Bangkok… the place to be!