A Charmed Life: A travelogue:: Thailand

Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts

Bangkok

Tuesday, February 17, 2009 - - 4 comments

Hindi na pala ako kumuha ng mga litrato sa Bangkok sa nakaraang isang taon na naging daanan ko ang capital na ito habang naglalakbay ako sa 'mainland'ng Timog Silangang Asya. Ito ay dahil na rin sa aking kapasyahan na, kung hindi naman kinakailangan, at kung para lang naman sa turismo, hindi ko na binabalikan ang mga dati ko nang napuntahan.

Kaya karamihan sa mga larawang ito ay nakuha noong una akong maglakbay papuntang Bangkok nung Agusto-Setyembre 2004. Ang mga larawan ng 2004 ay nakuha sa pamamagitan ng Pentax na compact na kamera, hindi ito digital kaya hindi na masyadong malinaw ang pagkakuha.

Before: (Agost0, 2004) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . After: (Agosto, 2007)

Pansinin, naka-chinelas pa rin ako, before at after. Parehong chinelas yan.

Noong 2004, sa paliparan sa NAIA, 2 beses ako muntik na hindi payagang lumipad. Una, nung nakapila pa ako sa check-in, nilapitan ako ng naka-unipormeng ahente ng aking sasakyang eroplanong Air-France. "Can I see your passport?" Sabi niya. Ipinakita ko naman ang bagong-bago kong pasaporte pero namangha ako ng pagdudahan niya ako. Sabi niya baka naman daw peke ang pasaporte ko, (kasi kare-renew ko lang ito at wala pang tatak. Kung bakit kasi sa Pinas e, pag nag-expire ang dati mong passport kahit dipa nagamit ang karamihang pahina nito ay papalitan na ng bago. Sayang lang ang papel, oras at enerhiya ng mga taong involve. Sa ibang bansa tinatatakan lang ito ng extension e).

O baka naman daw tatakas ako sa Pinas at maging illegal na imigrante sa ibang bansa. Iningle-ingles pa niya akong sinita kaya pinag - titinginan kami ng mga dayuhang nakapila din. Nagmukha tuloy akong suspek mag-iligal na immigrante sa trato niya sa akin. Pero dahil sa wala naman siyang makuhang ebidensiya na peke ang pasaporte ko o mag-tTNT ako, napayagan ako. Ang mahal pa naman ng ticket nila dahil wala pang mga airbuses noon. Hay, di ko talaga nagustuhan yon.

Tapos, sunod sa immigration naman. Tinanong: "ilang taon ka na?"
Sagot ko: "25 po. "

"Saan ang destinasyon mo?"
"Sa Bangkok po."
"May kilala ka ba duon?"
"Meron po."
"Anong pangalan at address?"
Binigay ko naman ang pangalan at address ng pinsan kong nakatira duon. "Sigurado ka ba?"Sabi niya..
"Opo ma'am." Sabi ko.
"Mukha ka naman kasing 14 years old eh, baka kung anong mangyari sa iyo, ako pa ang may kasalanan, ha iha?" (may advantage pala ng pagiging pandak ;-)

"Only the pure in heart shall enter!" Says the scary demon guard of the temples.

Marble Temple

INSIDE THE ROYAL PALACE and
CHAPEL OF THE EMERALD BUDDHA

Precaution: go there in modest attire. Be sure that shoulders, knees and belly-buttons are covered. If not, you can borrow over-sized (Farang-sized) and sweated clothes at the ticket gate.

So here's my attire. The first time I attempted to go inside the Royal Chapel, my costume was that in photo 1 and I couldn't enter, unless I change into those over-sized and sweated clothing they lend at the entrance gate. Take note: go with closed shoes, no open sandals and chinelas. Don't reveal your toes! And don't wear your sombrero inside.

Chedi: bell-shaped structure with a spiral that usually enshrines pieces of bone or hair of Buddha. (In the above smaller chedis, I think it enshrines pieces of a departed royal family member).

a closer look at the art

Phra Mondhop

Buddhist Scriptures written on palm leaves are housed in this beautiful spiraled library.

Phra Viharn Yod

Structure in porcelain floral design topped by a spire in the shape of the Thai Crown.

Royal Chapel of the
Emerald Buddha

Enshrines Thailand's most revered Buddha image.

Prasat Phra Thep Bidon, The Royal Pantheon

Blue tiled prasat enshrines statues of the eight kings of the Chakri dynasty.

Chakri Maha Prasat Hall

Built as the oficial residence of King Rama V. Now used for state banquets.

On the ground floor of this building is the weapons
museum housing a large collection of ancient Thai weapons.

Dusit Maha Prasat

Back view of the throne hall, exclusively used for lying-in-state of royal persons.

There were more beautiful photo subjects at the royal chapel and palace but it was still the 'film era' for me back in 2004. So I tried to economize my shots :-). Also, many of the ones I took inside the buildings were blurred as my compact cam's flash was not enough. Thank God we have digicams now, we can take as much photos as we can..

WAT ARUN (TEMPLE OF DAWN)

This is my favorite temple in Bangkok. It's not only because of its beauty and uniqueness having been built in an island in the middle of the Chao Phrya River, but I was first intrigued by it, when back in the University, I read the mystery novel "Temple of Dawn" by a famous Japanese gay author (who committed harakiri!). I didn't finish the novel by the way, as I was swamped with school stuff :-(

The floating "temple of dawn."

twin towers built of porcelain fragments

Just like the other tourists, I was looking at the wares they sell at the souvenir shop of Wat Arun. Suddenly, the monk who had been, until then, staying very quiet, smiled and talked to me in a foreign language. I presumed he talked to me in Thai (which was usually the case) but I also sensed it was not quite Thai what he spoke. Though he looked very peaceful and friendly, I ignored him. Then he said something again, even walking behind me while I slowly walked by the shelf of amulets. I turned to him. He noticed that I couldn't understand what he was saying. Then in shy English, he asked: "are you French?" I said "no, do I look French?" I asked amazed. He chuckled and said that because I was following a group of French people, he thought I was with them and I was French. And he just wanted to practice his French!

built of glass and porcelain

I loved Wat Arun so much that it's the only temple

I kept the ticket!

Talking about entrance tickets, there were a couple of times the gate guards, whose duty is to check tickets, just let me pass without a ticket..Why is that you ask? You guessed it! I LOOKED LIKE THAI, of course :-)...but now they are strict because many more Thai-looking people who are in fact foreigners are joining the travel horde.

By the way, in temples where tickets are required for both foreign and Thai nationals, be aware that tickets for foreigners are more expensive. Think of it as your donation which will bring you good karma, OK?

And there are places which require entrance tickets for foreigners only. If you are unaware and you look like a Thai, you might just breeze through the gate without a ticket, just like I unknowingly did, he he..

NONTHABURI

Nonthaburi is the last stop destination of the Chao Prya River boats. It's a quiet suburb of Bangkok. I stayed there with a cousin. I didn't stay in crazy Khao-san.

Intricate roof of a local temple in Nonthaburi

a temple tiger suspiciously eyeing my bottle of water

MORE RECENT PHOTOS

(in digicam this time, he he)

An oasis amidst the hustle and bustle of busy Bangkok.

The Chao Prya. We pray the royal city wont be
claimed by rising waters.

Musicians performing and selling CDs in
Chatuchak. Chatuchak is probably the biggest weekend market in Asia.

Lumphini Park in Bangkok is a very relaxing place to monitor giant lizards!
They will gladly pose for you. If you don't approach them,
they will approach you.

See? here's a daring one.

Travel Period: 2004, 2007, 2008

Monastic Retreat

Monday, January 05, 2009 - - 2 comments

my first morning at the monastery

To refresh body and soul after half a year of hectic backpacking, I went to a Buddhist retreat south of Thailand. The retreat was just 10 days but it was quite intense for a first timer like me.

monks after the morning begging round

At the retreat, there are certain things to be done and certain things not to be done.

DO’s

1. Sleep in basic accommodation. 1 room for each participant. Each room is provided with a concrete bed, a straw mat, a blanket, a mosquito net, and a wooden pillow. Yes a wooden pillow, it was quite comfortable after a few nights! :-)

2. COMPLETE SILENCE at all times for the duration of the retreat. Avoiding eye contact but you are allowed to smile. :-).

3. Observe appropriate "dress code". Wear shirts covering the shoulders and navel. Pants or skirts below the knee. Clothes should be comfortable, non-transparent and non-provocative. (hi hi)..

4. Turn off mobile phones, MP3s, or any electronic device.

can you spot the tiny frog?

DONT’s

1. No talking during the duration of the retreat.

2. No reading and journaling. (On the 4th day, you may borrow some reading material that are provided to aid you in understanding the methods and philosophies of the Retreat. You can read only during your free time and only inside your room).

3. No laughing or creating other unnecessary noises. (I think crying is allowed though, but do it in secret!. I heard one of my neighbors crying. It is not because she regretted being there. People usually cry because the intensity of the meditations bring out all the suppressed emotions from the past).

A picture of what it was like is summarized in the "DAILY SCHEDULE":

1. Big bell rings and everybody wakes up 4 o’clock every morning. Wash self, dress self.

2. Go for sitting meditation at the Meditation hall. (30 mins).

3. After sitting meditation, join either Tai Chi or Yoga exercises. (about an hour).

Taichi enthusiasts posing for the camera

4. Back to the meditation hall for another sitting meditation or Dharma Talk by one of the monks or organizing staff. (30 mins).

5. At 8:30 Am, Proceed to the dining hall and eat your rice porridge (the same porridge every morning) in complete silence. Have to eat mindfully, savoring every rice gruel. (The rice porridge is not as bad as it may sound. The rice is the ever nutritious and aromatic red rice, mixed with bits of vegetables, maize, or beans. And it comes with some leaves, a banana and tea. Though lacking of strong spices breakfast was in fact very nutritious).

6. Free time after the breakfast. This is the time to take full bath, take a nap, go to the hot springs, but most of all, a time to do your appointed task*.

*Everyone has to choose one chore each such as sweeping the halls, cleaning toilet, picking fallen coconuts, etc. My chore was cleaning the hot spring. This is the best, because just after doing my task, I am the first to soak in the hot spring .

square pond, we walk around this for the walking meditation

7. By 10:30 Am, big bell rings. Go back to sitting meditation, walking meditation and Dharma talk until 12:30 PM.

8. At 12:30 PM, Lunch at dining hall. Lunch is rice with vegetables, tea, and occasionally, some sweets.

9. Free time again after lunch..Do chores if haven’t done already. Some go to the hot springs at this time ( I find this time very hot for the hot springs). So, I usually go back to my room and take a nap.

An ancient ruin atop the highest hill of the monastery.

10. At 2:30 PM, back to the meditation hall… Dharma talk, sitting meditation, walking meditation, siting meditation again, meditation on LOVING KINDNESS, and, chanting..

11. At 5:30, proceed to the dining hall for hot chocolate drink and sometimes bananas. This is called "tea time" but it is also as good as dinner for there is no more eating after this. (meals during the duration of the retreat is 2x a day only).

one of the art works lying around

12. Once more, free time after the tea time. Some people go to the hot springs, some just walk around the area, I go and have a nap (again).

13. By 7:30 Pm, big bell rings to signal everybody to go once more to the meditation hall. Sitting meditation, group walking meditation around the ponds, then sitting meditation again.

circular pound, we walk around here for evening walking meditations.

14. At 9 PM, small bell rings telling everybody that they may quietly go back to their rooms.

15. By 9:15, light goes off.. sleep time… :-) end of the day.

By the way, about 130-150 people came to the retreat. But I reckon, only 90 ladies and gentlemen braved it to the end. I’m one of them, he he. This particular Retreat is designed especially for foreigners and held in English. There were two local Thais and two Filipinos, me included. The other Filipino has a foreign citizenship though.

they came to find silence within their hearts

somewhere inside the monastery compound

Travel Period: December 2007

Koh Phangan

Sunday, December 21, 2008 - - 2 comments

Koh Phangan is a sunny island in the Gulf of Thailand, a favorite destination for backpackers.

Vertical road going to the beach of the world famous Full Moon Party. The beautiful sea sparkling in the sun caught my attention, unfortunately, the beauty couldn't be captured.