Archive for March, 2007
Intricate Thai Wood Carving Art..
Posted by: | CommentsThe journey to the Thai wooden art factory from the pier of the floating market didn’t take that long. I think it took us around 10 minutes drive to get here.
I have to admit that I was totally enchanted by the talent that I saw here. They were just so amazing…carving away a plank of wood and turning it into an almost 3D art. You gotta see it to believe it..Watch this video…
Each wooden carvings would take around 6-12 months to complete and it all depends on the size and the ‘art’. So, if you’d like one of these wooden craft I suggest you do it now… It’ll look fab anywhere at home or office…but of course, it doesn’t come cheap..so prepare to throw some substantial dosh to get it 
I still think that the people working here are a bunch of fabulous individuals who are extremely dedicated to their work..so hats off to all the talented workers working at this wooden carving factory here in Thailand…
My Trip To Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
Posted by: | CommentsIt didn’t start with a great today. My tour guide had forgotten to pick me up this morning from my hotel for the Floating Market tour. To be quite honest, I was a bit furious about this.I had already paid for it and it was made worst when I couldn’t call the travel agent at 8am when they would open at 9am!
I felt a bit gutted because the Floating Market starts in the morning and that would be the only time when I could snap and record some videos of the interesting local market trades in their little boats…and with all these delays, it was pretty obvious that I would miss it all!!!
Anyway, you’d probably wouldn’t want to know on what happened next but in brief, I spoke to the manager and she said sorry. They agreed to pick me up in the afternoon. I left with no other choice than to agree with the agreement because I had prebooked a ton of other tours in the next couple of days. Oh well, at least I was going to see it anyway… Must start with a positive attitude
The guide came on time and I walked straight into the car. I didn’t say much to the tour guide. Just couldn’t be asked
The 110km trip from Bangkok took close to 2 hours to arrive at Damnoen Saduak (which is in the Ratchaburi Province). The guide escorted me to the boating place by the canal, leading me to a small Thai boat. The canal was very narrow and small but it then lead to a bigger canal. You get what I mean when you see this video:
I was so famished when I arrived at the floating market that I had to request the tour guide to help me buy some food from the food traders on the boats. I wouldn’t mind requesting it myself if only they understood English and not just Thai…
Anyway, I had this chicken rice which was amazingly super delicious and costs for absolutely nothing. The chilly paste was so yummy and I ate them all in a flash! I really wanted more but the boat from where we bought it from had gone into oblivion. He’d probably have gone somewhere else to look for more new customers..Oh well, such is life…
I went to see the souvenir shop at the market but I couldn’t be asked buying anything. When you’ve been to a ton of souvenir shops as much as I have, all the wares tend to look the same..so i didn’t bother. However, I did ask the sales lady on how some of the crafts were made. Some of it were very beautiful and intricate and most of it were made by hand by the people in the local villages. It was amazing!!
Here is the video of the market. Enjoy…
It didn’t take long before we were on our way back to the mainland. I felt really good despite the unfortunate incident this morning and was now looking forward to see some real Thai wooden craftmanship situated only by a few minutes drive from Damnoen Saduak.
Speed Boating In The Chao Phraya River..
Posted by: | CommentsWe were then taken to the embankment of Chao Phraya River so we could wait for our boat to arrive and pick us all up for a quick tour around Chao Phraya River.
Unfortunately, the boat wasn’t really a white yacht but more like a rickety old wooden boat that sank a little as you enter the boat. Hahahaha Yeah I got a bit worried but I was pretty sure that it was safe.
Anyway, as per usual, here is the video of me at the embankment of Chao Phraya River.
and here is another video showing you the beautiful Grand Palace and a number of Buddha temples recorded from the river.
We had to stop for a little while to feed the catfish with pieces of bread. I was told that the fishes here are very much revered in Buddhism and that the Thai people are not allowed to catch them. Not sure if thats true but I had fun watching them anyway. It didn’t bother me that much
This boating trip signalled the end of our tour for the day and we were driven back to our respective hotels.
I’d be off to the Floating Market tomorrow. Now that would be very interesting
The Most Beautiful Buddha…
Posted by: | CommentsOK the claims could be big but you couldn’t blame me for it. It was the tourist guide who told me that it was ‘The Most Beautiful Buddha’.
You can judge and see for yourself if it could really be the most beautiful Buddha from the picture below.
and obviously, you can watch it all here…
The Buddha could be found at the Wat Benchamabopitr or the Marble Temple – contructed in Marbles imported from Carara, Italy.
I didn’t spend to much time at the temple as after seeing so many they all began to look the same to me so off I went to the next destination 
72 Standing Golden Buddhas All Lined Up..
Posted by: | CommentsThere were several other buildings located adjacent to the Golden Reclining Buddha and the building that caught my attention most was this building that contained the 72 Standing Golden Buddhas all encased in glass.
To be honest, it didn’t seem like it was kept inside the temple but more like within the corridor of the temple.
Everything will become clear if you watch the video here..
9 Sacred Places In Bangkok, Thailand
Posted by: | CommentsI was surprised to see a list of all the 9 Sacred Temples in Thailand that I had to video record it. Here goes:
Well to make it easier here are the list:
1) Wat Phra Kaeo
Motto: Endless Wealth and Prosperity
2) Wat Kanlayanamit
Motto: Bon Voyage
3) Wat Chanasongkram
Motto: Conquer All Obstacles
4) Wat Pho
Motto: Have A Secure and Peaceful Life
5) Wat Rakhang
Motto: To Be Admired And Loved
6) Wat Suthat
Motto: Enlarge your Visions
7) Wat Arun
Motto: Have A Propserous Life
8 ) City Pillar Shrine
Motto: Eliminate Misfortune
9) Chao Phor Seua Shrine
Motto: Enhance Power and Perfection
3rd Biggest Reclining Buddha In Thailand At Wat Pho Temple
Posted by: | CommentsWe were then driven to our next Thailand historical temple destination and that was the Wat Pho Temple, also famously known as the place where you learn how to traditionally Thai massage.
I actually loved the whole place. I thought it was brimming with character and all the intricate Buddhist carvings were simply magnificient!
I was also told that the statue behind me (in the following photo) is apparently the infamous Marco Polo.
I hope you wouldn’t blame me if I was wrong in saying that it was Marco Polo because I found it hard myself to even find any resemblance to the great world adventurer. All I could see were Chinese looking statues…:) Oh well, maybe its the Buddhist version of Marco Polo..
Obviously, the highlight of this trip was definitely the big Reclining Buddha. Here are some of the photos taken inside the temple.
and here is the video of this huge Reclining Buddha..
Now if you did watch the video, you could probably hear the ”Kerching sound every few seconds.
No, that wasn’t like money falling out of the sky or something , but it was the sound of coins being thrown inside a bowl.
FYI, it wasn’t just one bowl but a line of bowls that runs in parallel to the back of the Buddha so each time when you throw the coin, you could pray and make a wish. But as there were many bowls, you could literally have unlimited wishes. Hehehe . Now thats the charms of Wat Pho Temple
Lastly, here is another picture of me taken just outside the temple.
