Sunday 19 August 2012

Colours of Bangkok

When I first started to plan this holiday in Thailand, I imagined I would spend 3 days in Bangkok. In reality it has only been one as I arrived on Day One after 9.00 p.m., and I decided to head out of Bangkok to visit the ruins of the old capital at Ayuthaya on another day.

As I mentioned in my previous post, Jim Thompson's house was high on my list of places to visit, and the photos that follow are from the rest of that day. All have been taken within about an eight block radius from my hotel, either from my morning stroll before breakfast or on a wander on my way back from the canal boat pier after visiting Jim Thompson's, but I think they still manage to capture many of typical sights and colours of Bangkok.

I




Curcuma alismatifolia  'Siam Tulip' - a type of ginger.


There was a lively market along one of the canals at the back of my hotel. It would have been hard to resist the tropical fruits on display if I hadn't already ordered a platter for breakfast (served with a delicious coconut yoghurt).

Mangosteen

Rambutan

Longan


Eggplant and bitter melon

As in my posts of the laneways of Jogyakarta in Indonesia, I love how the locals personalise their homes, whether through use of colour, their potted gardens, wind chimes, and decorative bird cages.

As if the colour scheme wasn't decorative enough, there are great shell wind chimes adorning this house/adjoining houses.







Orchids


A spirit house




More wind chimes and, interestingly, the caged birds here were only of the painted wooden variety.


A canal-side home


and another.


Canal-side eatery


Another casual eating spot with friendly waitress

There were several significant Buddhist temples or wats nearby, including Thepthidaram Worawihan and Ratchanadda, as well as the Golden Mountain.

In the background is Loha Prasat or the 'Metal Palace" with its multiple spires and Buddha relic on the top floor.








The architectural detail on the temple buildings is exquisite and elegant.






Hope you enjoyed my eight block tour; not a huge area, but one that summarises my impressions of Bangkok: colour, mass plantings, exquisite temples, canals and colourful street life.

8 comments:

  1. I loved this post. I was totally caught up in the lovely photos and descriptions.
    Wishing you many more interesting tours while you're away. Enjoy!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Virginia. I loved my Thai holiday. I am now back in Jakarta and off to work again tomorrow, but looking forward to lots of exploring and adventures on the weekends, at least.

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  2. I would love to go to Bangkok, especially since Thai food is my favorite. What a beautiful place!

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    Replies
    1. Bangkok was lovely. I am especially glad I got to see it from the river and waterways this visit. It gives a great perspective of a fabulous city.

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  3. Thanks for sharing your tour. I loved the houses and the wonderful tropical produce. I hope you've sampled a bit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The tropical fruit is fabulous, and I have been lucky that it has generally been served for breakfast where ever I have stayed. I'll definitely be looking closely at any possible spaces in the garden to start some tropical fruit growing (or, my usual Plan B, gifting my brother with a plant of whatever I have decided I can't live without, but can't fit in at Casa Bella!)

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  4. Jeg kom bare lige forbi din blog.
    Tak fordi du vil dele de smukke billeder med os.
    Ha` en dejlig dag.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for visiting. I am glad you enjoyed the photos.

      Delete

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