Author Archive

It is natural for us to get interested in peoples and cultures, especially when we stay in countries for a considerable length of time. Bangkok for me was like a second home. It was delightful to see so many young couples moving around in shopping complexes, markets, the streets and other places of gathering....
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Across the river Chao Praya, there are many attractive bridges. The memorial bridge is very much heritage and the latest addition of King Rama VIII is a feast to the eye, especially when you cruise below it. The prize however is taken by the Bridge Across the river Kwai; made famous by David Lean’s...
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The water in the river Kwai is unusually clear, and being in the mountains it has speed. The pink bougainvillea above however reminds me of a flower pot by a Venice balcony. Strange how a water body adds beauty to commonplace things. The colourful boat cruising by above adds its charms to the evening....
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First, my apology for the poor quality of photographs. These have been taken in a Nokia mobile. Since one gets attached to the memory of the places, I thought of posting them. I found the cemetery in Kanchanabury very unusual- it was not only well maintained, it also had exquisite colours. On feels like...
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The Suan Lum Night Bazaar, I thought, would be open all through the night, or better still, open 24×7. It however remains open from 18.00 to 00 hours. Even then, the feel and ambiance is really unique. There are small and compact shops and the market is more orderly than Chatuchak. Bargaining is now...
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The floating markets, though crowded, have their own ambiance. You could get your own photograph taken and printed on a ceramic plate even without an inkling of it. You could buy it for hundred bath while leaving the boat. The floating market has also many exotic views. Produced below is a type of hanging...
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This is the image of a young Mimusops Elengi tree in front of the Bangkok General Post Office. This tree is widely known as Spanish Cherry.In Thai it is called Phikun. The flower of the tree has long lasting fragrance, the garlands made of the small star like flowers last for years. Hence the...
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The custard apple tree above in Kanchanaburi is a rare surprise. We do not get to see such trees in the urban setting. I found it fascinating because the day before I had bought some large custard apples in a shopping plaza. It seems that improved and hybrid varieties of this fruit is grown...
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The tree above is a massive Bombax Malabaraise, standing guard in front of the War Museum in Kanchanaburi.It gives you a sense of history with a tinge of sadness as in the museum you wonder about the soldiers who did not return to their homes.One could know from the imagge below how large the...
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In 1989 I had a chance to visit Kanchanaburi, but I missed it in a bout of laziness. But when the opportunity came, it came back with many rewards. The biggest was that I was with my wife. If in 2008 the river could be so beautiful and pristine, it might have been more...
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The above image is quintessentially Thai for me. The desire to import a lotus from a lake, a pond or a water-body close to the river; and put it in a container in the courtyard or terrace, is the most serene effort to bring the heavens home. Not much of a traveller myself, I...
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I recently spent sometime in Barcelona,a great city where you could find priceless art and sculptures on the road in La Rambla. The city is so perfect that if you see Barcelona in Google earth, it would look like the drawing board of an architect where a drawing has been finished. Especially in the...
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On my first visit to Wat Phra Kew I had taken this snap of the temple. Subsequently, over the years, I have found that many photographers, both professional and amateur, have captured the temple from the same vantage point. I wonder why? Is it because there is an opening there where people stand after...
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The Big C at Chaengwattana Road. Chaengwattana Road is not at the outskirts of Bangkok anymore. Apart from the Big C above, there are large complexes like Makro and Tesco Lotus. I saw a large drawing of Future Park coming up at Chaengwattana in the Skyscrapercity web site. Chaengwattana is a long road starting...
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The above photograph is a survival. The Asian Pacific Postal Training Centre used to function from these premises. Now its name has changed to The Asian Pacific Postal College. It’s a premiere institution in Bangkok under the ageis of The Universal Postal Union and the Asian Pacific Postal Union. The old premises have lots...
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