The Metal Castle in Bangkok
When I drive down Ratchadamnoen Klang Road towards the Democracy Monument, I often noticed this strange structure in the grounds of Wat Ratchanatdaram. It is marked on some tourists maps as simply “The Metal Castle”. It is really a remarkable structure. As the name suggests, it is indeed made of metal. King Rama III ordered construction of Loha Prasat in the early 19th Century in honour of his granddaughter, HRH Princess Somanas Vadhanawadi.
Luang Pho To in Bang Phli
One of the most revered Buddha images in Samut Prakan Province is Luang Poh To which can be found at Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai. During the annual Rub Bua Festival, usually in October, a replica of this image is taken out on a boat on the Samrong Canal for local people to worship. They line both sides of the canal and throw lotus flowers towards the boat. After about half an hour the Buddha image is buried in lotuses up to its neck.
The Giant Three-Headed Elephant at Night
One of the main tourist attractions in Samut Prakan is The Erawan Museum, a giant three-headed elephant. This weekend they are doing a night tour which means the elephant will be lit up for a limited time.
Thai School Uniform
This is a picture of the students at our school. Most students in Thailand wear much the same uniform. However, not all of the students wear a necktie. On their shirts there is the school logo on the left and the student's name and i.d. number on the right. Some people have commented that this is kind of dangerous having their names like that as strangers can see it and pretend that they know them. Around their neck they are also wearing i.d. cards.
Computers in a Thai School
My school has one of the largest computer departments in Samut Prakan. We were probably the first to offer one-to-one computer lessons which meant that each student had their own computer. This may sound strange but there are still a lot of schools out there where students have to sit two per computer. And quite often they cannot learn fulltime as they also have to take turns with another class. It is amazing how quickly kids pick up computing skills. At our school, they start from as young as three years of age.
Paying Respect to Thai Teachers
This week I am back to school after the long summer holidays. So, I thought I would share with you some of the highlights of life in a Thai school. This first picture shows the "wai khru" ceremony which always takes places towards the beginning of the academic year. As you can see in this picture, the students all come to school with flowers which they present to their teachers. In return, they are given a blessing of good luck.
Horse Riding on the Beach
On the beaches of Hua Hin, there are quite a few horses which are available for riding. The best place to find them is in front of the Sofitel Hotel. The prices vary from about 200 baht for a short ride to up to 600 baht for an hours ride. A great for activity for your kids if you take them to the beach here.
The Beach in Hua Hin
One of the oldest beach resorts in Thailand is in Hua Hin, about 281 kilometers south of Bangkok. The train trip takes less than four hours. Most people go by car and after long weekends there are always bad traffic jams as Bangkokians head back to the capital. The name Hua Hin literally means "head stone". As you can see from this picture there are some large rocks on the beach but still plenty of clean sand.
Snacks on a Thai Beach
One of the best things about relaxing on the beach in Thailand is that the food, snacks and drinks come to you. You will often see people walking up and down the beach, like this lady, selling snacks. By the looks of it, she has hard boiled eggs and peanuts. Others might have fruit, grilled prawns and squid and drinks. I took this picture on the beach at Hua Hin. They weren't too pushy and generally left you alone if you didn't want anything.
Bangkok's Red Buses
Bangkok has hundreds of buses of all shapes and sizes. They cover all areas of Bangkok, though for foreign tourists they might not be so convenient or comfortable. Many of these buses, like this red bus, often only have the destination written in Thai and there is no air-conditioning. Just fans when they work. But they are cheap and will provide you with an unforgettable experience and adventure!
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