My Evening in Bangkok

Bangkok, September 6th 2011

Among the whole itinerary I had drew for this little adventure around Southeast Asia, this one didn't work as planned. Firstly, of course the car rental agent I had booked is to be blamed. Because the car and driver didn't show up, I left for Khao Yai an hour and a half later than planned. Hence, I arrived later in Bangkok. However, the traffic turned out to be relatively much smoother than expected. Therefore, I thought of making a chance to Chao Phraya River. I'm going to take the boat cruise and return by bus or whatsoever, que sera sera, I thought to myself, because according to the schedule, I'd be too late for the return boat.

By the help of a map plus instruction from the tour desk staff at my hotel, Omni Tower, I could get to Sathorn Station from Nana Station which was within a walking distance from Omni Tower. That's my other reason for choosing Omni Tower. At Sathorn I saw many tourist-looking people. It seemed to be unusually crowded. Then I read this notice. Ah, okay due to the royal rehearsal, there's a schedule change. According to this schedule, I'm still in time for the 18:45 Green Flag Boat. But according to a man there, that 18:45 boat is canceled due to high tide. He offered me a private cruise on his boat. I had to reject his offer, because you know, I don't have enough cash for a private cruise. Furthermore, I already had enough river cruises along Mekong River and Tonle Sap. Truly speaking, Chao Phraya River looked to me like a river in toyland. So small. It would be worthless to spend extra money on another private river cruise.

I'm not exactly sure whether that man told me the truth when he said that the 18:45 boat is canceled due to high tide. Did he just wanted to pursue me to get on his boat? However, several weeks later big flood did invade much of Cambodia and Thailand. Maybe when the high tide covered Chao Phraya that evening, it was already the beginning.

I think this was at Saphan Taksin Station. It's nothing special, but...

... when I looked down, I was reminded of a similar thing in Phnom Penh: evening exercise. The exercise groups by the side of Tonle Sap in Phnom Penh were more alive and colorful, though. Same same but different.

Another shot with my cellphone while waiting for my BTS to Siam.

At Siam I decided to wander around before getting on the next BTS to Nana Station. Busy, crowded, interesting, those are the words. The most interesting part for me was, needless to say, the camera center. Honestly, it was a battle for me to overcome the temptation of swiping my credit card. So many cute camera stuffs. I'm especially interested in the lomo cameras. I didn't feel nothing like this while wandering in Singapore. Bangkok... Bangkok... I'll be back ya...

I bought a cup of macha ice cream. Yum... but I forgot to take a picture of it.

I didn't bring a tripod with me, but was determined to make one two shots of the vicinity. This one, 10 seconds of shutter speed. Guess how. I sticked my camera body on the railing with my left hand. Very very slowly and carefully, while holding my lens in the right, I put my hand through the other hole of the railing. Then I inserted my lens into my camera body from outside the railing. I made sure the lens already clicked. Done. Shoot. Occasionally I saw people looking down at me squatting by the railing with a camera inserted into the hole. Crazy tourist, they must have thought.

Here's another one. Focal length 11mm and shutter speed 20 seconds. It's not about the shot, but about how I got it.

Back at Sukhumvit, I got lost. Again. Last time in Sai Gon, now in Bangkok. I went up and down the street, in and out alleyways wondering why it looked entirely different until more than half an hour later I realized that I had got down on the opposite side of Nana Station. Stupid, stupid! Let's get lost, but don't be stupid. Ah.