@@@ January 28, 2018 Location: Pattaya, Thailand

Bits and Bites ...

Just random shots here. After a few showers, the weather is near perfect...at the beach! One staple is fruit - so many types offered for sale it soon becomes a staple with the big decision ... which one?

From apples to watermelon... each of the packages sells for 25 baht (C$.98) and where I buy, 2 or 3 small bananas thrown in. Some of the more exotic is Dragonfruit, Mangosteen and Rambutan. 

And this strange looking but very good ... Tamarind ... break open these pods and you get a tasty paste surrounding seeds. 

And this under the category ... funny signs

aPANDAnd ... 

Tropical squirrel ... off white

Towels anyone?

@@@ January 24, 2018 Location: Pattaya

At work ...out and about

I’m always amazed at carts selling everything here. From a basic motorbike, carts of every conceivable configuration traverse the streets selling whatever and all at all times of the day and into the evening.

Vegetable cart ....

Brush and brooms 

Talismans and flowers

Fruit

Colourful bike rims

Equally colourful frocks

Mmmm onion rings

Wall art

Turtle

@@@ January 16, 2018 Location: Pattaya Thailand

Thus far, it’s been somewhat relaxing and adjusting to the heat and settling in. I’ve been to the beach many times but always stop at nurseries and shops along the way. The results so far...

Ginger plant in dappled light ... cost 100 baht (C$3.92)

Orange single Hibiscus 

And double ...

And the garden centre cat

@@@ January 16, 2018 Location: Pattaya, Thailand

Back, yet again to Pattaya. While the pace may be more relaxing, I hope to post from time to time events and sights here. Today it was no chair day at the beach but went anyway....

A lot of refurbished beach areas ...

And around Rabbit Resort ...

@@@ January 15, 2018 Location: Bangkok, Thailand

The beauty of Bangkok is that there seems to be an endless number of interesting places to visit. Today it was Wat Ratchanadda, the Royal Wat. Wat Ratchanadda is a Royal temple best known for the Loha Prasat or Metal Castle, a very unique structure in the Bangkok skyline. In 1846 King Rama III ordered construction of the Wat Ratchanatdaram Worawihan, as the temple is officially named. When my friend Noom took me here today, the place was under renovation with scaffolding everywhere. However, vowing to return, I took some photos. This temple is under consideration as a UNESCO world heritage site.

Art panels on the magnificent wooden entrance doors

We ended up taking a canal boat ride and some walking along canals. Interesting sights.

 Canal cat

Water monitor lizard ... interestingly camouflaged on the cement embankment 

And other sights ...

Walkway art at MBK Centre 

And finally a visit to Wat Lumpong, Bangkok’s Coffin temple, a favourite of my friend Noom who likes to purchase a coffin for the needy. A brief description of the ceremony involved. You sit down at a table exchange 300 baht (C$11.67) for a certificate and donor paper where you write the donor’s  name and a brief note. The small paper is glued to a wall and the certificate burned and put into an urn. Incense sticks are burned.

And other sights in and around the temple

Disappointing sales volume ...

Water buffalo feeding at the temple