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

So much....sushi!

After a long absence, I came back with one of my most favourite dishes: Sushi! What you're going to see is the picture of my masterpiece (don't mind the exaggeration..) made a couple of days ago. My version of sushi is usually modified as the convenience of finding ingredients. This time I had a pack of smoked salmon in the fridge, so I used it as the main ingredient.

As rice seasoning, I prefer the powdered one. You can use rice vinegar adding some salt and sugar but the rice remains too wet. As my own experience, Thai rice comes out dryer than the Japanese one after steaming. For the reason that I don't live in a place where I can buy very fresh salmon, I don't trust eating it without cooking. I, then, choose to use smoked one. The result is quite satisfactory! Not having conserved ginger to accompany the sushi, I sliced a cucumber as it help reduce the heaviness of grease from salmon. Sorry that I don' t have a Japanese style plate...it would have been more original!

Happy Friday: something about "Air"

I've been quite busy recently and almost forgot about the blog!! I just wanted to wish a happy friday to whoever passes here. Feeling fresh air of spring, I just think to express it in some ways. Firstly, I'd like to quote a piece of poem of a great English poet, John Donne (1572 - 1631) and to follow by a piece of vdo clip of my boy performing "Air" by John Blow (1649 - 1708). Actually, he's practicing it for his very first performance in public at an art gallery next Saturday. Although he just started the piano lessons last October, his teacher assured he was ready for the event. Now, let's be poetic and enjoy the music!

Air and Angels

By John Donne

Twice or thrice had I lov'd thee,

Before I knew thy face or name;

So in a voice, so in a shapeless flame

Angels affect us oft, and worshipp'd be;

         Still when, to where thou wert, I came,

Some lovely glorious nothing I did see.

         But since my soul, whose child love is,

Takes limbs of flesh, and else could nothing do,

         More subtle than the parent is

Love must not be, but take a body too;

         And therefore what thou wert, and who,

                I bid Love ask, and now

That it assume thy body, I allow,

And fix itself in thy lip, eye, and brow.

Whilst thus to ballast love I thought,

And so more steadily to have gone,

With wares which would sink admiration,

I saw I had love's pinnace overfraught;

         Ev'ry thy hair for love to work upon

Is much too much, some fitter must be sought;

         For, nor in nothing, nor in things

Extreme, and scatt'ring bright, can love inhere;

         Then, as an angel, face, and wings

Of air, not pure as it, yet pure, doth wear,

         So thy love may be my love's sphere;

                Just such disparity

As is 'twixt air and angels' purity,

'Twixt women's love, and men's, will ever be.

 Air - John Blow