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Letter From Madrid
Hi Eric, Pena and Delores, Just read about your wonderful visit and the great pics you posted in the Letter from Madrid. Sounds like you had a great
27 February 2010 - Gerardo and Delores from Madrid, Spain visited Bangkok for a few days in late January 2010. Read about their travel experience in their Letter from Madrid.
Gerardo & Delores
Also included in this March issue are highlights of the Chinese New Year fair in Chinatown Bangkok held on 14 February 2010.
Yaowarat Heritage Centre – the history of Chinatown Bangkok
26 February 2010 - The Yaowarat Heritage Centre covers the history of the early Chinese immigrants in Bangkok, their integration into Thai society and the growth of Chinatown with Yaowarat Road as the main thoroughfare.
Located on the first level of the building that houses the famous Golden Buddha in Wat Traimit, the museum treats visitors to e memorabl historical journey through the streets of old Chinatown.
Old lantern maker
This is another of the new museums with very innovative displays, videos, life-sized and scaled models and simulation to recreate life in the old days.
I have been following this site for some years already, and it has given me several great ideas for places to visit, not found anywhere in the guide books.
19 February 2010 - This Chinese New Year, the new building housing the Golden Buddha in Wat Traimit is finally open on a regular basis. Last year it was only open for the first 15 days of the Chinese New Year.
Wat Traimit on Chinese New Year’s Day
I paid a long awaited visit to Wat Traimit yesterday and it was very impressive. It took quite a vigorous climb up to the top level where the Golden Buddha is located.
The Golden Buddha, 3.98m high, 3.13 m across and weighs 5.5 tons
On the second level is a museum covering the history of the Golden Buddha and the method of making huge Buddha images.
The Yaowarat Chinatown Heritage Centre is on the first level. This museum preserves the history of the Chinese immigrants in Bangkok and Thailand.
One of the many life-sized displays in the museum
It is vast improvement over the Samphanthawong Museum. The building housing this museum was demolished in 2006 to make way for this new structure.
The Samphanthawong Museum, I understand, has moved to the Pathum Khong Kha School opposite Wat Pathum Khong Kha which is along Walking Street Chinatown. Thank you Andy of Aachen, Germany for the information.
The two museums are open every day except Mondays from 0900 – 1700 hours.
This website will be updated with details of this visit in the coming week.
Although I'm Dutch, lived 15 years in north Spain, I feel Thai now after a stay in BKK of almost 5 years! You are working on a very nice and interesting
15 February 2010 - During Chinese New Year, Yaowarat Bangkok’s Chinatown takes on a very special character. The main street and side lanes are all decked in red the colour symbolizing good luck in Chinese tradition.
So we took a trip down to Yaowarat on 14 February 2010 the first day of the New Year to take in the atmosphere of the street fair which was already into its second day.
Our tour started at Wat Traimit. Like last year, the new building housing the golden Buddha and the Yaowarat Heritage Centre was opened to the public for the duration of the New Year period of 15 days.
Wat Traimit
It was far too crowded to get it. I just hope the museum remains open after the festive season.
Road leading to Odean Gate and the start of Yaowarat Road
This was the scene when we got to Yaowarat Road.
Red lanterns to bring in the New Year
Passing the arch of good fortune
The annual street fair was in full swing with stalls lining both sides of Yaowarat Road.
Street fair
As usual the food stalls are the ones that draw my attention. Here are some interesting ones. The people in this picture are “kneading” the dough for a sweet candy with peanuts and sesame seeds.
Slamming the dough
Another of my favourites, roasted chestnuts. The chestnuts used to be manually stirred in a huge wok, a hot and tedious task. Today they are using mechanical roasters that heat and rotate the chestnuts.
Mechanical chestnut roaster
This one takes the top prize, “cha chak” or “teh tarek” as it’s called in Malaysia and Singapore. The term literally means dragging the tea from one pot to another without spilling a drop.
Cha chak
This process reputedly gives the tea a special flavor that different from the ordinary brew. The vendors are from southern Thailand where the culture is similar to northern Malaysia.
Further down Yaowarat
You’ll see nothing but red as you walk down the main street.
Seeing red
We leave you with this shot of kids in their New Year best.
Kids in their New Year clothes
Gong Xi Fai Cai, Happy New Year and good luck.
This 14 February in Thailand
13 February 2010
Gong Xi Fai Cai
This 14 February will see double-barrelled celebrations in Bangkok.
It’s the first day of Chinese New Year and also Valentine’s Day. Business circles estimate that Thais will be spending 39 billion baht (US$1.18 bn) during this festive weekend! Hoteliers in Phuket reported that their hotels are fully for this weekend.
Fire crackers are already going off in the neighbourhood. So to all our readers who celebrate the Chinese New Year, Gong Xi Fai Cai and to all of you, have a Happy Valentine. May you enjoy good health and happiness.
I’ve got a third reason to celebrate. It’s my 7th anniversary in Thailand.
We hope that with this New Year joy coupled with a day commemorating love, you will double your happiness in the Year of the Tiger.
Tiger, tiger burning bright, in the forests of the night;
Four-faced Buddha story of my own
I went to Bangkok early this year 2010. It was our first night in this hotel. I woke up early in the morning and looked for water to make a hot coffee
I went to the Erawan Shrine last month to pray to the four-faced Buddha to clear off my debts soon so that I could live a worry-free life and support my
Hi Eric, I always enjoy learning something new about Bangkok from the Travelbug newsletter, but over the last couple of issues I have been unable to see
I really enjoy your emails. The January 2010 issue was especially interesting because I had just last night been sightseeing the Panoramia photos on GoogleEarth
Bangkok Travelbug February 2010 – Treasures of Nonthaburi
30 January 2010 - This month we visit the old province of Nonthaburi just north of Bangkok. Nonthaburi was where I first lived when I took up residence in Thailand in 2003. Here are some of the historical and cultural gems in this province.
A 100-year old building that is now a national heritage
26 January 2010 - I’ve been to Dusit Garden four or five times since I came to live in Bangkok. I never got tired on the place, the peace and serenity of the grounds and the sheer beauty of the buildings.
So when my Spanish friends, Pena and his wife Delores visited Bangkok in mid-January 2010, I took them to Dusit Garden.
Unfortunately, it was a Monday and the throne hall was closed. So we went to the Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall.
Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall
Pena noticed immediately the similarities between this throne hall and Moorish buildings in Spain.
Distinctly Moorish
Our next stop was the Royal Carriage Museum a favourite with many visitors. It’s also the only place in Dusit Garden where you can take photos of the exhibits.
Keeping the best for the last leg, our final tour was the crown jewel of Dusit Garden, Vimanmek Mansion the largest golden teak mansion in the world.
Vimanmek Mansion
We didn’t have enough time to see the rest of Dusit Garden. It took me three separate visits to write about this place. However, even with the short visit, my friends went away impressed.
Children’s Day in Thailand
9 January 2010 - The second Saturday in January is National Children’s Day in Thailand. It’s a day when museums, zoos, shopping malls whip up treats for kids to a great time.
Once a year on Children’s Day, Government House throws open its doors to the public. This is a once-in-a-year chance to get in and take some close-up shots of this magnificent building. So I became a kid for the day.
Open House
The grounds of Government House have been turned into a huge carnival that promises to be fun for the visiting families.
Others prefer to relax in the shadow of this impressive creation by Annibale Rigotti.
Picnic
Or take an opportunity to pose for memorable shots like these.
Just wait till my friends in school see this
The highlight of the visit is viewing the grand interior of the building.
Long wait to get in
Just look at the queue
The Prime Minister’s Office is open to the public and visitors are welcome to his seat, just for a photograph. I pass.
For the history and more photos of this building, please see Government House.
New opening hours – MR Kukrit Pramoj’s Home
5 January 2010 - I passed the MR Kukrit Pramoj’s Home yesterday evening and noticed a signboard announcing new opening hours. I am not sure when this took effect.
The new opening hours are:
Everyday from 10 am to 4 pm
Admission fees remain unchanged
50 baht for adults and 20 baht for children
This will certainly make it easier for many more people to visit this heritage home. Have you?
Sai Noi floating market – Nonthaburi’s little known treasure
2 January 2010 - Here’s another cultural gem in Nonthaburi that’s definitely off the beaten track.
The Sai Noi floating market is a very authentic Thai floating market tucked away on the Phra Pimonrat canal in Sai Noi district Nonthaburi about 30 km from Bangkok’s northern city limits.
Sai Noi floating market
It’s a floating market with a pleasant rustic charm in an atmosphere of peace and serenity.
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