Bangkok - Chocolateville

This “take a picture destination” in a Bangkok suburb looked great on the photos I saw on internet. I imagined it would be a rather large location with several restaurants and souvenir shops (similar to Asiatique and Mimosa).

http://tinamue.blogspot.com/2012/11/bangkok-asiatique.html

http://tinamue.blogspot.com/2013/08/chonburi-mimosa-city-of-fakes.html

However, it turned out to be rather small – basically just an outdoor restaurant surrounded by a number of “cute” houses and decorative items offering photo opportunities.

I was a bit disappointed, but I guess it is an OK destination if one wants to try a new restaurant so here is the link:

http://www.chocolateville.net/

Bangkok - Mother of All Traffic Jams

Many people complain every day about Bangkok traffic, but the real monster jams are experienced around New Year. Since I many years ago had the unfortunate experience of getting stuck around Cha Am (200 km south of Bangkok) in a slow-moving queue around of cars heading back from New Year vacation, I have tried to plan my trips to avoid a similar experience. 

However, last New Year, I had underestimated the spread of travel fever and increase in number of vehicles. On January 1st, I ran into a jog lam just north of Khon Kaen (450 km from Bangkok). This year, I planned better. Shortly after lunch yesterday, I was going in the opposite direction of the masses.

When I took the outer ring road at Phatum Thani, direction Bang Na, all lanes in the other direction were jam packed for a distance of around 40 km. Imagine sitting in that lane, starting your New Year vacation by being stuck at the ring road for hours. 

And then realize that this is only the beginning. The highway leading north was moving a snail’s pace all the way to just south of Petchabun (350 km north of Bangkok).

Bangkok - Wat Ratchabophit

Wat Ratchabophit is on the edge of Chinatown, located just about a block away from the Grand Palace.

Wat Ratchabophit was constructed during the reign of Rama V and is quite distinct in design and decorations. The temple has the wiharn (prayer hall) and ubosot (ordination hall) linked by a circular courtyard. In most Thai temples, the ubosot is in its own square courtyard. Moreover, all temple structures are covered on the outside by pieces of Thai Benjarong ceramics instead of being plain white like a lot of other temples.

Ubosoth of Wat Ratchabophit

Phra Ubosoth, the main ceremonial building of the temple, is a combination of two different styles. The outer part of the building is in Thai style while the inner part is of Gothic style. The exterior panels of windows and doors have royal insignia inlaid with mother-pearl. The interior ones are designed with a lotus-like lacquer ware work.

The principal Buddha Image is installed in the Phra Ubosoth. It is on a pedestal of Italian marble.

The temple grounds cover a relatively small area, so one doesn't quite get the same sense of tranquility one can get at Wat Pho. On the other hand, there are a lot fewer tourists.

As a sidebar, if you come from Wat Pho or the Grand Palace, you can cross the canal using a footbridge just north of the temple. There, you'll find a gilded statue of a pig. The story is that the footbridge was built by one of the wives of King Rama V. For many years the bridge had no name, but since she was born in the year of the pig, the bridge became known by that name. The statue of the pig was erected later in her honor

Samut Prakarn - Bang Kachao

The area in the map has been coined by many as “Bangkok’s Green Lung”. The area is actually namled Bang Krachao. In 1977, the government proposed to create a version of Singapore’s Sentosa Island. This was done by enforcing strict building regulations.  .

As can be seen from this picture from a high-rise condo-building on the Bangkok side of the river (along Rama 3 Road), there are no high-rises in the Bang Kachao district.  

There are lots of things to do on the peninsula, but don’t expect any chic hotels or finger nail spas. Among foreigners, one of the most famous activities is biking although no Bangkokian consider riding a bike a thing any sane person would do. 

Small roads, narrow concrete tracks, and wooden paths meander through the greenery of Bang Krachao The majority of the tracks and paths have no railings and since they are elevated above the ground or a swamp so falling down would spell disaster.

In soi Petchahueng 33, there is gallery paying tribute to Siamese fighting fish. It is in Ayutthaya-era styled architecture buildings situated in a large beautiful garden. 

Almost 200 years ago, the Pom Phlaeng Faifa fort was built at the river bend. The fort ruins are now located in the Sri Nakorn Khuan Khan botanical park. This park is also a good place to ride your bike at leisurely pace. With large ponds, tall shady trees, and many types of plant species it is also an excellent place for bird watching. 

Another niche activity is watching fireflies. Many tourists stay in one of the "home stay" houses along the banks. Prices range from USD 10-30 per night for riverside lodging, breakfast and dinner. The cheaper options are without not air-condition and revealing clothing, rowdiness, and loud noises are frowned upon. 

Bangkok - Asiatique

For just over six months, Bangkok has had a new "trendy" shopping destination, Asiatique the Riverfront. The plan is to develop it into the largest riverfront shopping venue in Asia. It is located on Charoen Krung Road and has a 300-meter stretch along the bank of the Chao Phraya River. The development probably has had an eye on similar venues in Shanghai.

At present, there is a total of 80,000 square meters, but the developer TCC Land (owned by the Beer Chang mogul) has big plans for the area, including two hotels and a fun/theme park.

100+ years ago, the river banks of Charoen Krung were Bangkok's main international port and this particular plot of land belonged to a Danish company called The East Asiatic Company Ltd. 

TCC Land has tried to maintain the historic atmosphere of the site while turning it into a twenty-first century mall, a "festival market and living museum" concept. The idea behind the bazaar is to bring back the exotic mood of the old days by blending the old customs and history with modern-day recreation. 

It is of course mostly fake and the shops are aimed at tourists longing for useless trinkets at inflated prices. As the food options are not attractive to the local palate, young middle-class Bangkokians flock to Asiatique on weekends for the "cute" photo opportunities the place offers.  Due to that there is only one access road, the traffic jams are horrendous. 

For tourists, easiest way is probably taking a free shuttle boat from the Sheraton Pier near BTS Saphan Taksin. It starts running from about 5 p.m. There is also a Chao Phraya River Express that calls a pier at the temple next door. 

Bangkok - Father's Day 2011

His Royal Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej's birthday is December 5th. Each year, Thais celebrate that in a big way, e.g., with boat processions, singing contests, decorative lights on main thoroughfares etc.

For the first time in many many years, access to the Royal Palace Grounds and to Wat Phra Kaew was open during evening hours. Thousands of Bangkokians turned up to enjoy the spectacular sights.

This year, HRM the King turned 84 and thus started a new 7-year cycle.

I took a few snapshots in palace grounds and around Sanam Luang on December 7th. Below is link to my blog from last year.

http://tinamue.blogspot.com/2010/12/bangkok-fathers-day.html

Bangkok - Crystal Design Center

I realized I haven't blogged much about Bangkok, the center of the (Thai) universe. There are so many diverse things to do in Bangkok that it doesn't make sense to me to write about it. 


However, I will mention Crystal Design Center. Partly because it was a very trendy place in 2011 -- who knows about 2012? -- and partly because the name is totally misleading to an ignorant person like me. At first, I heard about it as CDC, so I thought of Commonwealth Development Corporation (UK) and Centers for Disease Control (US). Then I thought it would be a center showcasing artsy crystal design.


Alas, Crystal is just a name and doesn't refer to any glass products. And the focus is on selling rather than on being artsy.

CDC is the most comprehensive and integrated Design Center in Southeast Asia showcasing architectural, interior, decorating and construction brand name or "designer" products. Or put it another way, it is a lifestyle home department store for people that want stylish and expensive stuff for the home.


There are more than 500 shops and 10,000 brands across 22 buildings. Ad on top the outdoor market stalls that open up late afternoon and you can easily shop until you drop. 


http://www.crystaldesigncenter.com/


Now, since this is a destination for Thais, there are of course also plenty of food outlets including some very hip pubs, bars, and bistros, such as "WINEILOVEYOU", which in 2011 has been one of the must-visit places for young trendy Bangkokians.


http://wineiloveyou.com/


It is definitely advisable to book a table in advance on weekends and better come before dark falls if you want to easily secure a parking space instead of having to fight to get on. That being said, wineiloveyou was not quite up at par with similar venues (Wine Fusion or Wine Connection) in Bangkok proper (i. e., Thonglor / Ekamai). But I assume wineiloveyou was popular because it was new and because it is located a bit out of town, yet close to an expressway exit.


It may well turn out be be a fad like Mansion 7 in Ratchadapisek Soi 14


http://www.themansion7.com/index.html


This "boutique thriller mall" combined food, fashion, and fear and was the talk of the town for about 7-8 months, but has now slipped into obscurity.