This afternoon, I’m exploring #AncientSiam in #SamutPrakan. This is an excellent #BKKdaytrip. If you don’t have time to see all of #Thailand, you can see much of it here. In this THREAD I will choose 10 stops and upload the rest of my photos to the #MyThailandBucketList FB group.
[1/10] The Wihan at Wat Phumin in Nan, Northern Thailand. The original temple was constructed in 1776 and has a unique floor plan as it has four Buddhas and four doors facing each direction. The murals on the wall are of particular interest #AncientSiam#SamutPrakan#Thailand
[2/10] Khun Phaen House in Ayutthaya. This is a typical wooden house from the central region of #Thailand. It is in fact four houses fronting on one rectangular platform open to the sky #AncientSiam#SamutPrakan#BKKdaytrip
[3/10] The Pavilion of the Enlightened. This structure is beautiful in itself, but within you will find hundreds of wood carvings of monks, each with their own unique facial features and expressions #AncientSiam#SamutPrakan#BKKdaytrip#Thailand
[4/10] The Grand Hall of Wat Mahathat in Sukhothai. If you don’t have time to visit Sukhothai Historical Park, you can always go to #AncientSiam in #SamutPrakan where you can see this iconic image as well as the Standing and Walking Buddhas from Sukhothai #Thailand
[5/10] The Footprint of the Lord Buddha at Wat Phra Phutthabat in Saraburi. This replica at #AncientSiam in #SamutPrakan is slightly smaller but just as impressive #BKKdaytrip#Thailand
[6/10] Sanphet Prasat Throne Hall in Ayutthaya. This was the principal building in the Grand Palace when Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam. It was burnt to the ground by the Burmese in 1767. Only the foundations remain. This replica was built at #AncientSiam in #SamutPrakan.
[7/10] The Dusit Maha Prasat Palace in Bangkok. This is a replica of the audience hall in the present day Grand Palace. The original building was built in 1806 and has been subsequently updated over the years. This is a replica of the original design #AncientSiam#SamutPrakan
[8/10] Bang Pa-In Gardens. This is a replica of a kind of rock garden that dates back to the Ayutthaya period. Features include miniature trees and rocks placed to look like mountains #AncientSiam#SamutPrakan#BKKdaytrip
[9/10] The Phimai Sanctuary in Nakhon Ratchasima. This is a replica of the Khmer style sanctuary which is made of white limestone and sandstone. It is considered the largest religious monument in Thailand #AncientSiam#SamutPrakan#BKKdaytrip
[10/10] Sala of 80 Yogi. If you walk along this outdoor shelter, you will discover the 80 unique postures of yogi which is a form of the ancient Thai medical treatment that has been studied and practiced for generations #AncientSiam#SamutPrakan#BKKdaytrip
That is a wrap of my half-day tour of #AncientSiam. I hope my photos have inspired you to visit. Really, this is less than 10% of what there is to see.
I bought an annual pass for ฿565. Regular price for Thais/expats is ฿400 & ฿700 for tourists.
Are you looking for an easy 20 minute walk this afternoon that includes street art, a flower market, sunset from the Sky Park and finishes with a stroll along a new walking street? Follow this THREAD for details #Bangkok#walkingBKK#กรุงเทพน่าเดิน
Your starting point is MRT Sam Yot station. From here walk 100 meters east along Charoen Krung road to Damrong Sathit bridge (goo.gl/maps/vPeCkmArg…). Turn right here and enjoy the street art along Ong Ang Canal. You will return here in the evening for the walking street.
Keep following the canal south. This is the outer moat for Rattanakosin Island and the Grand Palace. At Saphan Hin there is a giant Alex Face street art. There are plenty of food shops and cafes in this area if you want to take a break #Bangkok#walkingBKK#กรุงเทพน่าเดิน
This weekend, I’ve been invited to stay at The Peninsula Bangkok. They’ve been closed since April due to COVID. As usual, I won’t be lazing by the pool. I’ll be using the hotel as a base to explore the area and share my photos with you. If you have any ideas, please let me know.
At the weekend, I’m going to check out the new Ong Ang Canal Walking Street. I’m told they have some good street art there. Talad Noi also has some new street art that I want to try & find. If you have any ideas of where else to go in this area and Khlong San, please let me know.
This new street art project called “Colour of Charoenkrung” looks great. I plan to photograph and map it this weekend. It’s in the Creative District of Bang Rak. Directly across the river from where I’m staying. I will be taking my e-scooter as it’s quite spread out #Bangkok
Thailand’s defamation laws are very severe, in particular when it comes to online content. A couple of weeks ago, a friend of a friend was arrested at his school for posting a one star review on Google maps about a resort he visited on Koh Chang. Yes, you heard right [THREAD]
He was escorted 250km away to Trad to face a complaint made against him by the resort owner. It was a Friday and he ended up spending a couple of nights in jail before he was able to post a 100,000 Baht bail. If he didn’t have that money, he would have to wait months in prison.
In most cases, defamation laws are good as they are there to protect us. But it is sometimes abused. To have someone arrested at their workplace for posting a negative review is surely a step too far. Does this now mean none of us should post one star hotel reviews in Thailand?
They say the best camera is the one you always have in your pocket. For me that’s literally true. 99% of the photos that I post on social media are shot on my iPhone 11 Pro Max. The only time that I use my big camera these days, a Canon 6D Mark II, is for events. [THREAD]
The second camera that I use on trips is attached to a drone. For the past three years I used the DJI Spark which I really like as it’s so small. But I just upgraded to my fourth drone, a Mavic Air 2. I’ve been flying in Thailand for seven years now. I love shooting aerial shots.
The third camera that I take on trips is the Insta360 X which is a 360° camera. I also have an invisible 3-meter long selfie stick which helps me get drone like shots. The camera shoots in all directions & when I edit it, I choose which direction the viewer looks, like this clip.
The Governor of the TAT said yesterday that it is unlikely that the first foreigners on the Special Tourist Visa will arrive by 1st October as originally planned as there are still many things to be finalised. However, he says the first group should arrive within October.
Meanwhile, @ThaiEnquirer is quoting the Minister of Tourism and Sports as saying that the first group of foreign travellers will enter Thailand next week! I am very skeptical this is true as the scheme was only just announced and it would takes weeks to gather all the documents.
The @BangkokPostNews quotes the Tourism & Sports Ministry as saying the quarantine period for foreign tourists could be reduced to only 7 days in November. I think that is very unlikely to happen this year.