anna does not live here anymore

We stayed in the beach where Khao Kalok is located. Khao Kalok is the hill that is shown in the first photograph above. With the exception of part of the second day we were there, it was raining all the time. In fact the sun only showed its wonderful face for exactly 2 hours and then hid behind thick rain clouds afterwards. The place we stayed in is called Paseban. It was a small resort hotel done in the Bali style. It was quite nicely put together. However finding good food was another matter altogether. During lunch we went into town and tried an Italian restaurant. Unfortunately, we should have taken heed of the fact that there was hardly anyone in there when we came in at half past noon. So for the evening, we decided to go to Anna's Cafe. We were quite happy to find that there is a familiar place in Hua Hin. It took a lot of effort to drive there in the evening. It was really dark and there are no lights in most parts we passes. Add to this the twists and turns the road was taking so we cannot really drive very fast. It was better to be careful in this situation. Finally we get into town and find the soi marked in the map where Anna's Cafe was supposed to be. After all the effort we could not find Anna's. While there was the familiar oval sign, there was another name. Once again, we should have paid attention to this warning! We look at the menu....It should not be that bad, it had all the familiar items we find in the menu we see in Bangkok! So we give it a try. Suffice it to say, the dishes came in and we found out that the only similarity these had with Anna's in Bangkok is just the name. To give you a clue, the rice is just like the 5 baht rice you buy in the sidewalks of Bangkok. I do not wish to discribe the rest of the things we ordered. So we call it a night, we head towards Starbucks to get myself a blueberry cheescake and then headback to Paseban. Starworld was showing Aliens II and that was enough to scare the evening disappointments away. More Hua Hin pictures to come later this week.


daddywasabi
08.16.05

chopstick hill

we had a 3 day weekend last week on the occasion of the birthday of HM the Queen of Thailand. The holiday is also celebrated as Mother's Day instead of the traditional date in May in the west. Last weekend, we went to the resort town near Hua Hin. While there we visited Khao Takiap or roughly translated "Chopstick Hill" The hill is now dwarfed by some of the tall condominium buildings around Hua Hin. But it still has the best view of Hua Hin if you do not have access to one of those tall buildings. On the other hill is a white chedi. At the foot of the hill is a huge statue of the standing Buddha which watches the fishermen's boats as it goes into the sea. Beside the the huge statue is a small chapel where the locals make their offerings while the buddhist nun in white garb feeds the little kittens nearby.


daddywasabi
08.15.05

bless the children

daddywasabi
08.10.05

the amulet market, bangkok, thailand

This old market is located near the grand palace area, in the vicinity of Thamasat and Silpakorn University. Aside from selling Buddhist amulets, shops selling herbal medicine abound in this area. There are reports that the area will be cleaned of its vendors perhaps moved to less congested parts of Bangkok. Little by little the old markets dotting old Bangkok are disappearing.

daddywasabi
08.08.05

erawan shrine, bangkok, thailand

the first picture was taken in april this year using ilford fp-4 printed on kentmere rc paper. The rest are digital monochromes taken in my little point and shoot canon ixus 400 taken in 2004. The erawan shrine is a very busy shrine. Located at the corner of the Grand Hyatt Erawan, the shrine itself predates the hotel to the time that the old Erawan Hotel was still standing at the corner of Rama I and Rajdamri. Many people from around Thailand and even around Asia visit the shrine to ask for their wishes to be granted. Some come back in thanksgiving once their wishes has been granted. In thanksgiving some offer garlands of marigolds or release doves Those who have their important wishes come true usually hire the dancers as they give their thanksgiving. There was even an urban legend where one lady promised to run around the shrine naked if her wish was granted. And her wish was granted! There is so much activity in this little shrine that it still remains interesting no matter how often I visit the place.

daddywasabi
08.06.05

tonle sap, cambodia, april 2004