OftR: Afternoon Siesta

A short blink back to Bangkok………

Off Tha Saphan Phut, on the banks of Menam Chao Phraya, Krungthep Mahanakorn. The motor taxi man taking a rest while waiting for passenger……

Maybe I should do something on them the next time I visit Bangkok, they are an interesting bunch of people.

OftR: Buddies II

Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur, 2010 if I am not mistaken………..

OftR: Buddies I

Another break from Krungthep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit….. or also known as Bangkok…….

Shot this at Pasar Karat, Johor Bahru…….. a night market usually held Saturday night in the town center.

Pak Klong Talad

Bangkok’s flower market, located on the banks of Menam Chao Phraya, south of Rattanakosin. The best way to get to the market during the day is by the Chao Phraya Express. By BTS, go to Saphan Taksin, get off and go to the Chao Phraya Express pier and take either the Orange or No Flag boat and stop at Tha Saphan Phut or Memorial Bridge Pier. As you exit the Pier, turn left and follow the road and you should hit the market after approx. 200m.

The market is the main supplier of flowers to almost anyone or anywhere in Bangkok, and the action goes on the whole 24 hours………..

Other than flowers, you could also find vegetable sellers during the day time.

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A bicycle in the sundry shop

Most tourists don’t do this, but try to visit them late at night, or really early in the morning when the market really comes alive……… walk inside the market, don’t restrict yourself to the roadside…….. smell the fresh flowers, chrysanthemums, daisies, roses etc.

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Stop for supper, there a few stalls selling noodle soup and snacks…….

And if your visit it before midnight, drop by the night market underneath the Memorial Bridge……..

OftR: On the BTS

Well, off focus?….. what do you expect? the train was moving, the subject was moving and surely I was moving….. 🙂

OftR: Mother and Child

Let’s take a rest from the City of Angels…….. I’ve maybe a little bit more to share.

Another one from the night market close to my house

Talad Rot Fai

Also known as Talad Dek Naew.

Two Siamese Cats………

Located on a used to be empty lot and warehouses owned by the State Railway of Thailand at Kampheang Phet. It started from the idea by the owners of Roy’s Antique to  have an antique flea market free of charge to anybody who wants to sell their wares. At first it didn’t kick off, until they decided to charge a rental fee and since then it became a crowded night market every Saturday and Sunday night.

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To get there, take the MRT and the closest station is Kampheang Phet, which is also the MRT station to the Chatuchak (JJ) Weekend Market. Take Exit 1 and turn right on Th Kampheang Phet (left will be towards JJ Market), you will pass by a few night clubs and also Roy’s Antique shop, continue walking until you hit the “night market”. (note: don’t take the BTS, the closest station Mo Chit is quite far, unless you don’t mind walking quite a distance in the dark)

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jam session @ talad rot fai

The front lot are mostly “antique” or junk (you have to decide on this) stalls, while at the back is where the action really is. Like any other night market in Thailand, food and drinks are pretty much available, some of them, are located cabins, which are nice to sit, drink and watch the world goes by. When I made my visit, one of the “drink” cabin which also sells precussions equipment, had an impromptu jam session when ever there is enough people to participate.

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OftR: 10:48 pm

MRT Kamphaeng Phet

Baan Baht

Baan Baht…. Baan Bat or also known as Monk Bowl Village in English, located not too far from The Golden Mount or Wat Saket. Established during the reign of King Rama I, the village is situated in a block surrounded by Thanon Bamrung Muang, Thanon Worachak, Thanon Luang and Thanon Boriphat, it is the last community in Bangkok that still produces the Monk Bowl by hand.

Arriving on location, looking for it is almost like finding a needle in a haystack, you need to actually use your ears to find it as you approach the place. The sound of metal being pounded by hammers do kind of help in getting there…… so keep your ears open when you go searching for it.

Notes are written on the wall

Most visitors will usually stop at the edge of the community as there is kind of an information shack, take some photographs, buy a bowl or two and without exploring the alleys and backlanes. My advise is…… Explore and you will be rewarded.

The walls have eyes……….

The production of the bowls are done cooperatively, all of those involved plays their part around the community, along the tight lanes, the living rooms and kitchen. To support and ensure this trade lives on, sad to say they also mass produce cheap bowls for the monks to purchase.

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OftR: Misplaced Allegiance?

Another one before I start with my Krungthep Mahanakorn series, which is currently being developed and scan……… shot this when I organised a small “Jalan-jalan Tembak Foto (JJTF)” or Photo shoot Walkabout in Kuala Lumpur back in 2011.