Thailand episode 4: Bird's eye view of the banks of Chao Praya River

I'm back with some pictures taken from the ferris wheel as mentioned in the previous post. Chao Praya River is a major river in Thailand which flows through Bangkok and then into the gulf of Thailand. I love Bangkok for its ingenious mixture of modernity and antiquity. In my opinion, the contrast of the two styles is the strong point of such a city! I hope you enjoy my pictures ;)

 

 

 

Thailand episode 3: Markets at the Riverfront

There's a new tourist attraction near my parents' home. It was the first time for us visiting this place. It is situated close to the bank of Chao Phraya River, the most important river in Thailand. This area used to be deserted warehouses...but someone has got a great idea transforming it into a stunning and enjoyable markets and attraction. This place is called "Asiatique the Riverfront". It has around 1500 shops, 40 café and restaurants but the most attracting thing is the Ferris Wheel! You can reach the place by car, bus, express boat, BTS (Bangkok Sky Train) or the shuttle boat offered free of charge from the Saphan Taksin Station. To visit the official website, please click here.

We has been there twice. The first time it rained, so we went back there on another evening and we were luckier becuase it was cloudy, breezy but without rain. (July is the month that the rain season started) However, it's recommended to visit the riverfront on the evening and at night to see a more stunning atmosphere and to avoid hot weather.

These are some of our pictures.

 

 

 

 

I'll be back soon with more pictures from the ferris wheel! ;)

Thailand episode 2: Shrine of the Household God

If you visit Thailand, you must see at least once a kind of small Thai-style house on a pillar, usually situated in an angle of the street or in a garden. You should also see some tiny statues of Gods and sometimes dancers in traditional costumes inside. They are not for decoration at all. A kind of altar or table is set in front of it for a specific purpose. I'm going to show you a picture of the shrine of the Household God in front of my parents' house. The inhabitants in the street settled it together when I was a child. I still remember the event and the celebration of the monks.

This is a Buddhist belief; that there're spirits wandering anywhere, in any streets and the houses need a protection from a deity, so people should set up the shrine where the god is invited to stay. The inhabitants in the street regularly offer some food, fruits, flowers and lighten incenses and candles so as to pay respect to the god. Since I was a child, I was used to pay respect to the household god and to ask the god to protect me and to help me everytime I had a school exam, a job interview or in any other situations when I needed a mental support. I'm writing about the shrine because it had been one thing that accompanied my life when I lived in Bangkok!

Thailand episode 1: Bangkok by night

Hi everyone!

I've been in Bangkok for about 3 weeks...and I have only 1 week left to stay....how time flies! I rarely find time to compose a well-organised post, this evening I just thought to begin my stories about holidays in Thailand with this picture. I and my family frequently come to this area. It's quite near my home but it takes time to travel because of the intense traffic.

I promise to post much more pictures and stories when I'll be back in Italy.

See you soon!

Counting down to the departure....

Well, exactly this time in exactly 2 weeks later...I and my beloved hubby and son will be checking-in at Malpensa airport...and the destination is...our beloved city Bangkok!

To start the chapters of my holidays' blogging, I just would like to announce that Bangkok won the Best City Award 2012 from Travel & Leisure Magazine! Well..well...in my opinion, there're no other cities that own such characteristics as Bangkok. Who's never been there yet can't understand the feeling. I'm not talking only about its beauty, its ancient architectures, its traditional costumes and dances, bla bla bla...certainly there's also the negative side of Bangkok, but the feelings, the emotions or whatever you want to call it, that the city and the people offer you are really unique and unforgettable.

Visit the link below ;)

Bangkok Wins Best City Awards 2012 from Travel & Leisure Magazine

What's happening around: Thai Festival in Milan

Hi readers!

I'm back with an upcoming date. If you are curious about Thai culture, love its cuisine and are a fan of Thai boxing, you can't miss this event! The first Thai Festival (ever organised this way in Italy) is taking place on 19-20-21 of this month, in Piazza Beccaria, Milan. There will be various shows such as Thai traditional dances, Miniature Puppet show, Sword dance, culinary demonstrations and the spectacle Muay Thai. To see the programs of each day, please click here.

I'm wishing we'd have warm and sunny days! I can't stand these cold and humid days anymore. It seems summer will never come!!!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed...

I somehow got involved in the initiatives of the Expats Blog, a blog that gathers numerous bloggers living or working abroad. I'm glad to get to know the blog as its staff is organising many interesting challenges. We, expat bloggers world-wide, are sharing our funny and emotional experience. I enjoy reading their posts a lot because I can learn many new things at second hand.

When I was invited to participate the writing contest, I didn't hesitate to join it as I love writing and this offers me a chance to make experience. I'm not expecting much just because English isn't my mother tongue, and I don't think I'm that good at writing neither. The thing that counts is that I love writing! However, I'm keeping my fingers crossed... ◕‿◕

I'd like to invite you to read my article. The contest just began and the winner will be announced on 10th Saturday. If you like it, please leave me a comment ♥

Find my article here.

From Thailand to Italy

With love,
Mee

Conversations with Italian people about Buddhism

Several times, Italian people I met talked to me and asked me about my religion, for this reason, I got the idea to write about it. I find it very positive that they (Christians) have shown their interests towards a non-Christian and are curious to learn my point of view. Once in a waiting room, a priest introduced himself to me and asked if I would like to exchange some ideas about my religion...and I did say yes, why not?

The first question they all asked me is: "How do you Buddhists most look so peaceful and composed while we (Christians) tend to be nervous and rather frightened? I gave them my own perspective; that I live the religion as a philosophy of life. "There's no need for temples...our own brain and our own heart is our temple...", cited by His Holiness Dalai Lama, is my way of living. I had been taught to see things beyound its appearance and to keep in mind the "middle path" as the best way of living. Certainly it's not that easy to practice in real life but I really feel grateful for my family to have been cultivating these teachings into me.

I'm also convinced that our mental force is very important. A strong mind makes a strong person. Meditation is a very good practice for our mind. Nowadays, many people world-wide are interested in this Buddhist art. (for me it's an art!) My husband too has been eager to learn this art in these few years. He has read many books and tried it somehow in his way. I realised only when I became adult that the meditation lessons in primary and secondary schools were very helpful. Stillness, concentration and patience are very important virtues. These are the discipline which I'm trying to teach my son, hoping that he might have absorbed a little bit of my character.

Another question people often asked me is: "Do you ever consider converting to Christianity so that you, your husband and your son belong to the same belief?" I don't think I need to simply because we're a very united family. Different relegions doesn't impede us to live a happy life. On the contrary, I consider it a fortune because my son will learn that people from different nations, different beliefs, different cultures...can live together without problems. We only need to respect each other. I accompany my family to the Christian church and my family goes to the Buddhist temple with me when we visit Thailand. In the conclusion, I find such a balance in family life this way.

My son in front of the Pagoda of Wat Arun temple, Bangkok

Visiting Thailand in 2.54 minutes

This's too cool and I just have to share!!
Thanks to my friend Som who found it out...
and a big applause for the video's creator
Bangkok is always my paradise (despite its chaos)

Please enjoy....