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| Wat Arun Bangkok |
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| Wat Arun |
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| Keeping Guard at Wat Arun |
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| Wat Arun |
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| Meditation |
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| Wat Arun View |
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| Keep Order at Wat Arun |
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| Wat Arun Bangkok |
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| Dizzy Heights |
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| Wat Arun |
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| Birds Eye View |
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| Don't Fall Down |
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| Bangkok from Wat Arun |
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| Holding it up |
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| Wat Arun |
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| From the Top of Wat Arun |
Monday, 12 March 2012
Wat Arun Bangkok Photos
Wat Arun Bangkok 11th March 2012
Wat Arun... And the flea market
Scrutinising the tourist map, which is free from just about any public place, I notice 'Temple of the Emerald Buddha'. Its just a few yards past the university and might offer something a little different to look at, without having to hike very far. Anyway, no harm in taking a look at yet another temple. Since I have to hike through Thammasat again, might as well stop for something to eat and re-hydration would be a good idea. Chicken noodle soup, always good on a hot day! Rain,, actually it's a downpour and quite a welcome one too. About 10 minutes, a fresh feel emerges as the coolness spreads through the canteen.
Through Thammasat then, and towards the road that leads on to the express boat. On the right, a seemingly endless line of stalls on the pavement. On the left, a complex surrounded by a high concrete white wall. Nothing to say what this place is, part of another complex probably, and a monk or 2 to be found deep inside. An interesting collection of stalls. Looks to be a kind of flea market - nothing new, an old 1st generation mobile phone, an antique by now I would think. Recycled shoes, jeans and shirts on offer and plenty of old coins, bits of pottery and actually some smart second hand watches. An old Samsung touch screen phone for £4.40, the watches are going for about £3 each and there are a couple of nude male Buddha plastic dolls, all the parts on show - no political correctness in Thailand! Didn't ask the price though.
A collection of buses, tourist and local are occupying most of the space around here. I notice a sign to another ferry - to the Wat Arun pier. The sign points right and a trail of tourists tread onto the wooden boards that host yet more shops and stalls, this time actually over the water, as waves can be seen lapping through the gaps below. Wat is the term used when referring to a Temple, this one I had spotted numerous times on the way up, and down the river. I don't particularly know why I detoured, because the place doesn't look much from this side of the river. Maybe it's because there's a hoard of tourists heading there to - perhaps this isn't just another temple, but something worth seeing.
The pier leads almost into the grounds of this temple, therefore it's seems tourist specific. Nicely manicured gardens, rockery and flowers here and there. It's starting to look like a big place, another complex of halls, monks dwellings and this architecture encrusted with gold. But what's different here is there are four towers, cylindrical and made of concrete, stone and marble decorated with statues, carvings similar to those I saw in Siem Reap. This collection of towers is enclosed, a complex within and it's 40 b to get through into the courtyard. The largest tower is the central feature, tourists clambering up the steep stone steps - it's a long way up, quite a hike in this hot weather.
Breathtaking, that's how the view at the top can be described. It's easy to see why tourists make a beeline for this place. Not only can they admire the splendour of the bejewelled complex below, they can also enjoy a complete all-round panoramic view of the city, and almost the entire length of its river. Worth the 90p just for the view!
Free education is on offer, according to a poster. Monks will teach meditation, computer skills and various other activities for adults and children, including English and music lessons. But right now time to get back to base. Spring rolls and banana pancake for tea and a wander around Khao San road. Temple of the Emerald Buddha can be for another time.
Scrutinising the tourist map, which is free from just about any public place, I notice 'Temple of the Emerald Buddha'. Its just a few yards past the university and might offer something a little different to look at, without having to hike very far. Anyway, no harm in taking a look at yet another temple. Since I have to hike through Thammasat again, might as well stop for something to eat and re-hydration would be a good idea. Chicken noodle soup, always good on a hot day! Rain,, actually it's a downpour and quite a welcome one too. About 10 minutes, a fresh feel emerges as the coolness spreads through the canteen.
Through Thammasat then, and towards the road that leads on to the express boat. On the right, a seemingly endless line of stalls on the pavement. On the left, a complex surrounded by a high concrete white wall. Nothing to say what this place is, part of another complex probably, and a monk or 2 to be found deep inside. An interesting collection of stalls. Looks to be a kind of flea market - nothing new, an old 1st generation mobile phone, an antique by now I would think. Recycled shoes, jeans and shirts on offer and plenty of old coins, bits of pottery and actually some smart second hand watches. An old Samsung touch screen phone for £4.40, the watches are going for about £3 each and there are a couple of nude male Buddha plastic dolls, all the parts on show - no political correctness in Thailand! Didn't ask the price though.
A collection of buses, tourist and local are occupying most of the space around here. I notice a sign to another ferry - to the Wat Arun pier. The sign points right and a trail of tourists tread onto the wooden boards that host yet more shops and stalls, this time actually over the water, as waves can be seen lapping through the gaps below. Wat is the term used when referring to a Temple, this one I had spotted numerous times on the way up, and down the river. I don't particularly know why I detoured, because the place doesn't look much from this side of the river. Maybe it's because there's a hoard of tourists heading there to - perhaps this isn't just another temple, but something worth seeing.
The pier leads almost into the grounds of this temple, therefore it's seems tourist specific. Nicely manicured gardens, rockery and flowers here and there. It's starting to look like a big place, another complex of halls, monks dwellings and this architecture encrusted with gold. But what's different here is there are four towers, cylindrical and made of concrete, stone and marble decorated with statues, carvings similar to those I saw in Siem Reap. This collection of towers is enclosed, a complex within and it's 40 b to get through into the courtyard. The largest tower is the central feature, tourists clambering up the steep stone steps - it's a long way up, quite a hike in this hot weather.
Breathtaking, that's how the view at the top can be described. It's easy to see why tourists make a beeline for this place. Not only can they admire the splendour of the bejewelled complex below, they can also enjoy a complete all-round panoramic view of the city, and almost the entire length of its river. Worth the 90p just for the view!
Free education is on offer, according to a poster. Monks will teach meditation, computer skills and various other activities for adults and children, including English and music lessons. But right now time to get back to base. Spring rolls and banana pancake for tea and a wander around Khao San road. Temple of the Emerald Buddha can be for another time.
Sunday, 11 March 2012
Bang Phra Airfield Photos, Thailand
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| SF260 |
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| Mooney |
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| Robin |
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| Ooops! |
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| Contemplation.. |
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| Mountain at the end of the runway! |
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| Flying... |
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| Control and club/bar/cafe |
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| Base to final at 300 ft |
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| Nice arrival! |
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| Hot.. |
Saturday, 10 March 2012
Bang Phra Airfield, Thailand 10th March 2012
Bang Phra Airfield
Closest private flying airfield to Bangkok that I could find is one at a place called Bang phra. Thankfully, their website gives direction and a how to get there on public bus section. I need to get to Bangkok Ekkami bus terminal, it's where most longer distance bus journeys start and finish. Best way to get here then, avoiding loads of walking and unreliable local buses is to take the River Express Boat south to Central Pier (15 b). Weather is forecast to be the hottest yet and yes, it's only 8am and already quite sticky. A brief respite as the boat heads off for Central. A few steps from the Central Pier is the Sky Train. Studying the line diagrams is actually easier than trying to understand and figure the London underground system, since there are only 2 lines. 40 b and change once to get to Ekkamki. Feed the ticket machine, but only after selecting the value of the journey, otherwise nothing will happen!
At Ekkami and back along the line slightly to find the bus depot. Each bus route has a separate ticket counter looking around initially. According to my information I need to get the bus going to Siriachi and let the officials know I want to get off at Bang Phra. I can see the Siriachi counter alright but when I mention Bang phra, it's a rather blank look. A few moments and the lady points. "No, not Bang phe, Bang phra", I explain, without success. Thankfully a local comes to the rescue, and after an exchange of words in Thai, I wait in line for my ticket. 8.55am, 88 b and the bus go's at 9. Bus 19, no, its stand 19!
Rolling out dead on 9 down the Sukhumivit road and on through Bangkok's southeastern suburbs. An urban sprawl consisting of a few housing blocks but mostly rundown terraces in some rather ominous looking neighbourhoods. Smarter districts too with new house estates much like British council estates. Industrialisation gives way to greenery and wetlands as the bus picks up speed along the elevated motorway. Spotted some of those out of town shopping or retail parks the British and Americans love so much, even noticed a couple of Tesco supermarkets among other big brands such as Ikea.
The motorway ends as another city begins and the journey slows considerably. Another Tesco, a smaller version this time. I'm told to get off here although no indication where this is. I'll go with it since its been 2 hours, and should have taken 90 minutes, therefore must be close to it. Walking back a few steps towards a collection of motor cycle taxis. Getting them to understand where I needed to go was another matter though! After a few moments of head shaking, deliberation and help from a passerby it was all smiles again as I hopped onto the rear of this chaps moped. 30 b and 10 minutes of riding beside the railway line and then through the grounds of a university, there is the runway. I'm left to walk across the runway and a few yards along, into the Thai Flying Club bar.
An interesting little airfield with mountains at one end and cables at the other! Not the longest of runways either, about 700 metres I would estimate - enough to either sharpen up a pilots skills or end their flying career prematurely. The bar girl/cook directs me to the office where a collection of club members are sitting around, not looking like anything exciting might happen soon. I'm told the weather is to bad for students, or anyone else, low clouds and there are indeed a few ominous looking clouds on the horizon. They have about 400 members, and 7 students, sharing 4 Cessna planes in various states of repair! Permission to wander round and take a few photos is granted with a smile. A nice little collection of aeroplanes, and piles of junk from those that have crashed! Some people milling around a few aeroplanes in tin shelters. These are private aircraft owners, but still members of the club here. They're musing about whether to go flying or not - a British, a Spanish, an American and a Japanese, but no Thai pilots. A sleepy little airfield, and I don't imagine it's that busy when the weather is perfect either. Time for lunch and £1.10 buys a chicken curry and rice, portion is a bit mean though, bit like Saturday lunch at Seething Airfield sometimes. 2 light aircraft are out and ready to take off. At least a few photos can be taken with the mountainous backdrop.
Rumble in the distance. It's definitely thunder, a storm is heading this way as the wind increases cooling things down considerably. One plane lands, the other is still out there somewhere. Interesting to watch how the planes landing profile starts from a point halfway down that mountain, about 350 feet I would guess given the proximity of the runway threshold!. Rain pelts the tin roof of the bar as people run for cover into the main flying club building. Personally I'm glad to see the rain, even if it's put paid to any chance of aviating today. The place is much cooler!.
On another motorbike (40 b this time), back to the bus office in town and it's 30 minutes to Wait. The rain has stopped, but still looks quite threatening as the mountain tops are shrouded in dark clouds. Another 88 b and the bus back to Bangkok. Maybe try again next week.
Closest private flying airfield to Bangkok that I could find is one at a place called Bang phra. Thankfully, their website gives direction and a how to get there on public bus section. I need to get to Bangkok Ekkami bus terminal, it's where most longer distance bus journeys start and finish. Best way to get here then, avoiding loads of walking and unreliable local buses is to take the River Express Boat south to Central Pier (15 b). Weather is forecast to be the hottest yet and yes, it's only 8am and already quite sticky. A brief respite as the boat heads off for Central. A few steps from the Central Pier is the Sky Train. Studying the line diagrams is actually easier than trying to understand and figure the London underground system, since there are only 2 lines. 40 b and change once to get to Ekkamki. Feed the ticket machine, but only after selecting the value of the journey, otherwise nothing will happen!
At Ekkami and back along the line slightly to find the bus depot. Each bus route has a separate ticket counter looking around initially. According to my information I need to get the bus going to Siriachi and let the officials know I want to get off at Bang Phra. I can see the Siriachi counter alright but when I mention Bang phra, it's a rather blank look. A few moments and the lady points. "No, not Bang phe, Bang phra", I explain, without success. Thankfully a local comes to the rescue, and after an exchange of words in Thai, I wait in line for my ticket. 8.55am, 88 b and the bus go's at 9. Bus 19, no, its stand 19!
Rolling out dead on 9 down the Sukhumivit road and on through Bangkok's southeastern suburbs. An urban sprawl consisting of a few housing blocks but mostly rundown terraces in some rather ominous looking neighbourhoods. Smarter districts too with new house estates much like British council estates. Industrialisation gives way to greenery and wetlands as the bus picks up speed along the elevated motorway. Spotted some of those out of town shopping or retail parks the British and Americans love so much, even noticed a couple of Tesco supermarkets among other big brands such as Ikea.
The motorway ends as another city begins and the journey slows considerably. Another Tesco, a smaller version this time. I'm told to get off here although no indication where this is. I'll go with it since its been 2 hours, and should have taken 90 minutes, therefore must be close to it. Walking back a few steps towards a collection of motor cycle taxis. Getting them to understand where I needed to go was another matter though! After a few moments of head shaking, deliberation and help from a passerby it was all smiles again as I hopped onto the rear of this chaps moped. 30 b and 10 minutes of riding beside the railway line and then through the grounds of a university, there is the runway. I'm left to walk across the runway and a few yards along, into the Thai Flying Club bar.
An interesting little airfield with mountains at one end and cables at the other! Not the longest of runways either, about 700 metres I would estimate - enough to either sharpen up a pilots skills or end their flying career prematurely. The bar girl/cook directs me to the office where a collection of club members are sitting around, not looking like anything exciting might happen soon. I'm told the weather is to bad for students, or anyone else, low clouds and there are indeed a few ominous looking clouds on the horizon. They have about 400 members, and 7 students, sharing 4 Cessna planes in various states of repair! Permission to wander round and take a few photos is granted with a smile. A nice little collection of aeroplanes, and piles of junk from those that have crashed! Some people milling around a few aeroplanes in tin shelters. These are private aircraft owners, but still members of the club here. They're musing about whether to go flying or not - a British, a Spanish, an American and a Japanese, but no Thai pilots. A sleepy little airfield, and I don't imagine it's that busy when the weather is perfect either. Time for lunch and £1.10 buys a chicken curry and rice, portion is a bit mean though, bit like Saturday lunch at Seething Airfield sometimes. 2 light aircraft are out and ready to take off. At least a few photos can be taken with the mountainous backdrop.
Rumble in the distance. It's definitely thunder, a storm is heading this way as the wind increases cooling things down considerably. One plane lands, the other is still out there somewhere. Interesting to watch how the planes landing profile starts from a point halfway down that mountain, about 350 feet I would guess given the proximity of the runway threshold!. Rain pelts the tin roof of the bar as people run for cover into the main flying club building. Personally I'm glad to see the rain, even if it's put paid to any chance of aviating today. The place is much cooler!.
On another motorbike (40 b this time), back to the bus office in town and it's 30 minutes to Wait. The rain has stopped, but still looks quite threatening as the mountain tops are shrouded in dark clouds. Another 88 b and the bus back to Bangkok. Maybe try again next week.
Bangkok 8th and 9th March
Thursday 8th and Friday 9th March
Thursday
Cloudy and relatively cool today (but still hot), which comes as some relief! Nothing on the agenda today as yet but I feel there should be since its an ideal day to go off hiking somewhere. research into getting to a couple of places, the air force museum at Dong Muang Airport and the airfield at Bang phra. Bus number 3 go's to the museum and a long distance bus from Ekkami Station heads to Bang Phra then it's tuk tuks to the airfield. A plan to do some aviating is on the agenda, probably Saturday, if getting there actually go's to pan of course.
So, today is a slackish kind of day. Right now just hanging out at Thammasat having a nice 20 b coffee in their air conditioned seating area. A French tourist has the same idea, ducking in here to escape the heat for a while. Need to stock up on a few things like deodorant and toothpaste. They can be bought close by, so no need to hike any distance.
Friday
Another slack day, doing not a great deal. Unless temples and architecture are must sees on a tourists agenda then there isn't anything different to do close by, or at least within an hours hiking. I know, get the bus upto the Air Force Museum! I managed to find out that bus number 3 go's from this area to the museum at Dong Muang, but finding the actual bus stop is another matter. The locals don't know anything, and those few that did weren't sure and each gave a different story! This is either going to be interesting or frustrating or both. I pick on a bus stand across the main boulevard from Khoa San and wait, and wait. Every bus except number 3. Same scenario trying to get from the airport station to Khoa San.
2pm and I've waited at least an hour, quite long enough. A period of cooling down with a Thammasat coffee is in order I think. Bus number 3, there it is, rolls on by and all I can do is watch in frustration since I'm someway from the bus stand now - oh we'll, another day. Conclusion here then is that tourists and local buses don't make a good mix, which is why I suppose taxis do brisk business from what I've seen so far.
So after aborting my museum visit, and sufficiently cooling down time for a movie. A guesthouse just along the road has a giant Tv screen, and each evening they show a DVD for those of us who don't have the luxury of a tv in the room. A collection of travellers soon forms and settles to watch a movie called "forgotten". And I've long forgotten what it's like to be freezing cold in Britain, or even Hanoi.
Thursday
Cloudy and relatively cool today (but still hot), which comes as some relief! Nothing on the agenda today as yet but I feel there should be since its an ideal day to go off hiking somewhere. research into getting to a couple of places, the air force museum at Dong Muang Airport and the airfield at Bang phra. Bus number 3 go's to the museum and a long distance bus from Ekkami Station heads to Bang Phra then it's tuk tuks to the airfield. A plan to do some aviating is on the agenda, probably Saturday, if getting there actually go's to pan of course.
So, today is a slackish kind of day. Right now just hanging out at Thammasat having a nice 20 b coffee in their air conditioned seating area. A French tourist has the same idea, ducking in here to escape the heat for a while. Need to stock up on a few things like deodorant and toothpaste. They can be bought close by, so no need to hike any distance.
Friday
Another slack day, doing not a great deal. Unless temples and architecture are must sees on a tourists agenda then there isn't anything different to do close by, or at least within an hours hiking. I know, get the bus upto the Air Force Museum! I managed to find out that bus number 3 go's from this area to the museum at Dong Muang, but finding the actual bus stop is another matter. The locals don't know anything, and those few that did weren't sure and each gave a different story! This is either going to be interesting or frustrating or both. I pick on a bus stand across the main boulevard from Khoa San and wait, and wait. Every bus except number 3. Same scenario trying to get from the airport station to Khoa San.
2pm and I've waited at least an hour, quite long enough. A period of cooling down with a Thammasat coffee is in order I think. Bus number 3, there it is, rolls on by and all I can do is watch in frustration since I'm someway from the bus stand now - oh we'll, another day. Conclusion here then is that tourists and local buses don't make a good mix, which is why I suppose taxis do brisk business from what I've seen so far.
So after aborting my museum visit, and sufficiently cooling down time for a movie. A guesthouse just along the road has a giant Tv screen, and each evening they show a DVD for those of us who don't have the luxury of a tv in the room. A collection of travellers soon forms and settles to watch a movie called "forgotten". And I've long forgotten what it's like to be freezing cold in Britain, or even Hanoi.
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