To Argentina & Beyond

It’s only taken 2 years of living about 20 minutes away from the pier that you can catch a barge from, to finally make a trip to Ko Kret. This little island is in the Chao Phraya River not far from our province, Pakkret. A canal was constructed as a shortcut to bypass a bend in the Om Kret branch of the Chao Phraya river. As the canal was widened several times, the section cut off eventually became a separate island. The island continues to serve as a refuge to the Mon tribes who dominated central Thailand between the 6th and 10th centuries and have retained a distinct identity in their flavor of Buddhism and, particularly at Ko Kret, their pottery.

It took a good couple of hours to walk all the way around the island – stopping often to browse at the local wares. We took this video of one the potters making a garden pot. If only my pots turned out like that when I took a pottery night class a couple of years ago!

Click To Play

Heading downtown via the RiverTaxis on the Chao Phraya River is one of my most favourite ways to travel in Bangkok. It’s even better when the sun is setting too.

Unfortunately that meant by the time we got off at Pier 15 and meandered our way through the side streets into the heart of Chinatown, most of the hustle and bustle of street stalls and tiny shops had closed up for the night.

There was still plenty of action on offer though, as we made our way up and down various streets exploring nooks and crannies, snapping a variety of pictures to document our first visit to Chinatown. The photos speak for themselves.

Dinner was just divine, in a little corner place just off one of the main roads – (don’t ask me to find it again on my own though!). Eating on the street is a must – the food is delicious and it’s pretty safe as long as you can see it being cooked and it’s HOT when it’s served to you. And you won’t believe the prices! 3 adults and 2 children ate loads for about the same price as having a pizza delivered for two people!! Just check out these prawns – they were just as delicious as they look!

I looking through my flickr photostream this morning when I realised in the rush to fly home to New Zealand for Christmas, I’d forgotten to blog about our last night in Bangkok for 2008.

My wonderful friends and I met up the top of the Banyan Tree Hotel, in the Vertigo Bar. You take the elevator (or “lift” as we NZders call it) to the 59th floor, then walk up two flights of stairs.

Behold …….

The stunning view across downtown Bangkok. The hustle and bustle of traffic and the heaviest layer of grey that I have seen so far in Bangkok. As the sun set the scene changed to this …….

As night fell, the view began to look like this …….

What’s the view like at your place?

With the threat of being stuck in Bangkok for Christmas behind us, the lights of Christmas are out and up shinning brightly at Samakee Garden where we live.

Last night Ben and I celebrated Loy Kratong with a few friends at a tiny spot with access to the edge of the Nichada Thani Lake.

The act of floating away the candle raft is symbolic of letting go of all one’s grudges, anger and defilements, so that one can start life afresh on a better foot. People will also cut their fingernails and hair and add them to the raft as a symbol of letting go of the bad parts of oneself. Many Thai believe that floating a krathong will create good luck, and they do it to honor and thank the Goddess of Water, Phra Mae Khongkha.

One by one we gathered our thoughts and wishes for others not here with us before setting our Loy Kratong (handmade by our children)with one baht, a fingernail and a small tuft of hair, afloat on the lake. It was a very peaceful thing to be doing with family and friends on a pleasantly cool (yes, it really was) night.

I can easily see why this celebration is a firm favourite amongst young and old alike. The Nichada Club also provided the community with a celebratory atmosphere. You could see the lights from across the other side of the lake.

The night was topped off with our first try of Khao Soi (pronounced “cow soy”). Mmmmmm delicious!

Even though it was 4.00am in the morning when they finally arrived on my doorstep, I didn’t care! My two gorgeous daughters were here for one week to stay with us. We’ve kept in touch with skype and emails, texts and phone calls but it’s not the same as flesh to flesh contact. It was wonderful to hug them, kiss them, look at them and laugh with them for a week. Of course I knew that a week was never going to be long enough but considering how close it is to exams for them both back in NZ, I am really lucky that they could come over and join Ben and I for our week’s break from school.

So what did we get up to? The heat took it’s toll on both of them (thank goodness it’s not April!!) and that meant that it was vital to break up our days. We mainly went shopping (teenage girls what more can I say?) and this impressed them immensely – given the fact that I don’t like “browsing” much – I’m the “go to town and get what I need” kinda shopper. I think the shopping scene impressed them – if the overstuffed suitcases that went on the flight home are any indication! Of course I took them to Chatuchuk – which I must commend them on how well they coped with the crowds and the heat combined as well as being able to purchase a few goodies for special people back home.

The most enjoyable time together was when we just sat and enjoyed each others company. I got taught a new card game called “speed” that I will be teaching my class to play (so I don’t forget). We travelled downtown by the River Express Boat one day, got off Tha Thien Pier #8 to see the Grand Palace (closed) and Wat Pho (closed) but we were taken by tuktuk to Ratchapradit – a little temple. and were able to sit and watch a local family be blessed by a monk. The flowers and the incense and of course the monk were all interestingly strange to my two girls. We laughed the most on our tuktuk ride around the Si Ayutthaya Road area – it was hilarious and believe it or not – quite enjoyable. We were taken to the obligatory tailor and jewellery factory that Tuktuk drivers are renowned for doing. Chalk it up to experience!
You will find some brilliant advice on Tuk-tuks here.

Dinner at the River Tree House did not disappoint. Although in hindsight, we should have gone a little earlier so that we could watch the light fade over the Chao Phraya. As always the atmosphere and the food were divine.

Siam Ocean World was a great choice of places to visit. This time we were able to put our hands in the rock pool and touch a starfish!
Seeing the beavers get fed was a bonus!

We didn’t even scratch the surface of things to do in local Bangkok – just as well they’re coming back again next year ay?

All too soon I found myself saying goodbye to my beautiful grownup girls – traveling by themselves for the first time and doing so well. Tears were a-plenty and it was a heavy heart that laid eyes on two empty beds in the spare room this morning.

8 weeks to go ….. and Ben and I will return to NZ for Christmas Break. I’ve already started counting ………..

Today was my first experience of Chatuchuk – Bangkok’s largest open-air market. It’s a sight to be behold I tell you. Apparently you could visit Chatuchuk three days in a row and still not even visit every stall. Amazing!

Robin, my trusty colleague and fellow market lover and I spent a wonderful morning wandering the market, list in one hand, fabulous Nancy Chandler Map in the other. We were able to hire a wonderful man and his cart to follow us around, carting our bought wares with care so that we didn’t have the added burden of shopping with our hands full. Awesome! When the heavens opened (as it frequently does here during the rainy season) he pulled out a cover and kept our new possessions dry. He was just gorgeous!

So here are the spoils of my first time marketing at Chatuchuk – absolutely certain to be the first of many trips!

I’m thrilled with my new lamp – which prompted a complete lounge change around!

This bowl reminded me of home – it’s made of mango wood.

Love this: I’m even drinking Ginger tea …..

Couldn’t resist this Mango wood vase (flower arrangement came with it):

And yes, those of you who know me, I did buy a skirt! I know, I know ….. I can hardly believe it myself – but it is gorgeous!

And of course, a girl’s gotta have new nail polish to compliment the extremely good foot massage I had yesterday at Crystal Spa.

Today Ben and I tried something different. We took a taxi to the Nonthaburi Pier and caught the ferry, Thailand style, down the Chao Phraya River all the way to downtown Bangkok.
It was a relaxing way to spend an hour and we will definitely do it again.

The ferry leaves Nonthaburi Pier every 30 minutes. For the most part we were the only non-thais on board until we got 3 or 4 stops away from the city. I have some friends coming to stay in January & March so this is definitely the way I will recommend they visit Wat Arun and The Grand Palace.

I was particularly struck by this contrast of old verus new.

Central Pier is the stop where the majority of the passengers get off so there was no hope of us getting lost – then a quick walk up the steps to the BTS (Sky Train). From there it was a short ride to Ben’s favourite place in the whole of Bangkok – Siam Ocean World. We bought our Blue Pass cards so that we can go to Ocean World as many times as we like for a whole year. The only disappointing thing about Siam Ocean World that instead of an age restriction before you pay adult admission, it’s a height restriction. If you are taller than 120cm (and Ben is 124cm) then you have to pay the adult admission. That’s a 6 year old paying a NZ$37 admission! Well at least we only have to go at least 3 times and the cards have paid for themselves! It was AWESOME (Ben’s words) though. The glass bottom boat was fantastic but I had to say no when Ben said he wanted to swim with the sharks!

Imagine putting these in your catch bag!

Wouldn’t you like to hook up this baby???

What trip to the city would be complete without a trip to a mall – this one is Siam Paragon – definitely window shopping only for this NZ girl!

And what trip to the city would be more complete without meeting our wonderful friends Kim and Alex for pizza and ice cream at Central World?

The taxi ride home was hilarious! Here’s me, only been in the country four weeks and I’m giving the taxi driver instructions in Thai (those thai lessons once a week are really starting to come in handy now) on how to get to Moo Baan Pop Sook!

Now it really is beginning to feel like this is where I live.

It is really nice to get together every now and again and lunch and talk with people who understand your accent! This was an opportunity to have a latte (go Starbucks!), do a little bit of shopping (Pantip – computer geek heaven!!) and enjoy a delicious lunch at the extremely beautiful Hyatt.

The girls from Down Under group has swelled in numbers again this year so the every month or so get-together was reinstated on Saturday. Apparently it’s been a while since the round table was required.

The food here in Bangkok, is just divine – especially the seafood. How any one manages to stay slim here is beyond me!

Take a look at today’s purchase – second hand – and what a joy to ride. We took a leisurely ride right around the Nichada Thani lake – called into Villa to buy a few necessities and cycled home. (Well I did the cycling, someone else enjoyed the ride!)
Can’t wait to ride it to work!

I love it! You couldn’t wipe the smile of my face if you tried! It was cool!

These little fellows are everywhere outside – especially just on dusk. Cute in a lizardy kinda-way. Ben can spot them before I can.

Night view from the front and back of our apartment.