Maha Viharn Temple and one fine, busy Sunday

One thing that you will never run out of when you’re in Thailand is the myriad of temples. There are at least 430 temples in this country, in Bangkok area alone there are less than 50. Now if you enjoy “wat trips” like me, visiting Thailand should be a breeze. Not only does it make me slobber gloating over these shimmering architecture, admiring wat (temple) also provides me with some photographic moments.

On our way to Bangkok from Nakhon Ratchasima Province we passed by this new temple, Maha Viharn which one of our Thai companions suggested that we visit before going back to our hotel. The area is huge and some portions are still under construction (but relatively, the area is nearly finish). This is more of a sanctuary that offers both the luxury of a park while admiring the wat amidst its beautiful, vast landscape. There are restaurants and souvenirs stores too.

This is the recieving area where visitors can get the information about the place (mostly in Thai). Inside are little versions of Buddha (reclining, sitting, praying) in gold, silver and wood.

The east side temple which was on top of a hill. Before getting there, you'll pass by a series of wishing bells.

This is the main pagoda or temple with the moat in front. Inside the main hall is a huge statue of Maha Viharn, a highly revered monk.

View from the main temple.

A variety of flowers which I spotted as I was making my exit going to the west side to visit another temple.

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[Postscript]

Friend: What's one of your guilty pleasures aside from listening to Air Supply?

(An embarrased) Rayts: Watching Manny Pacquiao fights! (*smirk with rolling eyes*)

Last Sunday, as early as 6 am, I met my friend Crim in LB to watch the most anticipated Paquiao-de la Hoya fight at SM Megamall. Thirty minutes before 8AM, we made our way into the mall without a hassle. I don’t usually patronize going to the malls just to watch a Pacquiao bout but realizing it was with dela Hoya and chances are I will be getting what I paid for and that I will be watching a history in the making, I insisted of going. I asked Crim to come along (even though she could have just watch the live feed at the comfort of their television set). She's the nicest. Always there to lend a hand for a low-life like me. :-D

Overall, the experience of watching a boxing bout on a big screen was fun. It was fun watching a fight with fellow boxing enthusiasts. But it was never a breeze. Aside from the fact that we weren’t able to purchase the best seats , there was this old man beside us who could not contain himself from his seat that he had to belt his hearts out screaming while watching the game: “Wala pang 12 rounds bagsak na yan si dela Hoya. Bugbog sarado yan kay Manny! Wala, wala yang sinabi!” (Manny will knock out dela Hoya in less than 12 rounds. He’s nothing!) He kept saying it like, there’s no one beside him. I pity the guys who were beside and in front of him. Their ears probably got busted because of his megaphone-like voice. Another thing, since Megamall subscribed to Solar Sports live, the feed was ironically delayed and the picture was not clear (as I have expected it). But I guess it’s a lot better than watching it on Channel 7.

Horde of people coming out of the cinema after the Pacquiao-dela Hoya fight.

After watching the fight, we decided to see Catherine Hardwicke's movie adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight. We headed for the bookstores for some new titles. Afterwhich, we went to our final destination at a nearest coffeeshop for another swig of coffee (that's after having two cups already, before and during the Pacquiao fight). Now that's one hell of a Sunday!

They don’t call this country “The Land of Smiles” for nothing

I should have been a better storyteller highlighting only those that my reader would be interested of (say, the most bizarre things that happened, meeting interesting people, eating a cockroach or whatever that is worth telling), but being a chronological writer and a habitual for that matter, I usually start everything with airports.

I never told you but I love airports (or at least the idea of it). Some would have to disagree with me because they find it as one of the most depressing places to be in especially if you’re leaving a loved one from that place/country. I love it for the simple reason that it means I’d be away for awhile and I get to places (whatever the circumstance is) and the chance of coming back (the easiest possible) is always bright.

NAIA from the window of our boarding gate. I like the way the Thais pronounce the name, "Ninoy Aquino" when I am onboard.

The flight attendant will always make you choose: "Pasta or rice?". I am a rice eater (never a pasta lover) so I never had to think twice.

The Suvarnabhumi Airport is perhaps one of the biggest airports I've seen so far. It took us quite awhile from the tarmac to the immigration to get our passports stamped.

This is my third time in Thailand. The first one was official, the second one was a stopover on our way to Cambodia, the third one is (again) official. I had to accompany three senior researchers to a study tour. Sounds fun, isn’t? Everything will be paid for from the airlines down to the accommodations and other expenses. I get to take photos too. Well, some things look beautiful on the surface. I still want my budget trips and backpacking adventures if you asked me. Don't get me wrong, official trips are good too. It's just that everything has to be fed to you.

It was raining when we arrive in Bangkok.

When we arrived in The Land of the Smiles, it was raining. I asked our driver if it’s been raining in Bangkok the whole week and he said “only now” (while pointing down his fingers and nodding more than twice). He barely speaks English so I had to mime all the time. He survived my frantic act out. I am good with charades. :-)

Facade of the hotel

The comfty bed

After 30 minutes or so, we finally got to our destination. The host of this trip booked us to a three star business and tourist hotel in Soi Sukhumvit 22, Klongtoey. I got to the reception holding our passports for the registration. My companions were waiting for me as I tried talking to the lady in silk dress. She got us registration forms and our keys. She spelled my name wrong (which happens all the time, considering it's short and easy to remember). They always write my name with an “L” instead of “R”. Geez. Sometimes, “dele” instead of “dela”.

We were booked at the 21st floor which has a good spot of the cityscape at night.

From the bustling streets of Bangkok to the chancy traffic of Hanoi…finally I am back!

Nothing beats Manila traffic. Bangkok is simply a walk in the park. I was trying to get used to Thai's right hand drive and opted to sit beside our very friendly driver/host, Vitchu who will take us to our hotel at Rachadaphisek. I noticed how he tried to throw some glimpses at my enthusiam to take home some souvenir photos of their city.

But while I could take the Bangkok traffic at an ease, crossing the street in Hanoi is like a suicide (well, almost). These motos drive me crazy. The rule is...the motorcycle drivers will adjust to the pedestrians and not the other way around. This shot was taken in one of the hustling streets of Hanoi on our way to Vinh Phuc Province.

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I will try to post 'a little of everything' about this trip in the next few weeks. The trip lasted for a week but it felt like 'forever'. Hehehe.

First stop: Bangkok, Thailand

It was brief. I barely stayed in Bangkok for 8 hours.
I was looking down from the window of the plane,
and saw little bright stars scattered on the ground.
I had good memories in this country, people I've met.
Suddenly, I felt nostalgia seeping in.

Since there is no direct flight from Manila to Siem Reap we had to enter Cambodia via the Bangkok route. There are other routes (via Singapore or via Kuala Lumpur) but this one suits us well since we opted to travel by land.

This is my second time in Thailand. The first time was during the last quarter of 2005 wherein I had to attend a two-week training cum study tour on rural agribusiness at AIT. Since it was a study tour, we practically covered a lot of provinces from Kanchanaburi all the way to Chiang Mai (700 km north of Bangkok).

On the way to the immigration inside the Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Getting our luggages at the baggage claim.

We took the red eye flight to Bangkok, which is a first time for me since I usually take the morning or late afternoon flight. We arrived at the Suvarnabhumi Airport around 12:35 midnight and had our passports stamped at the immigration after 15 minutes (or more). Right after we got off from the airport, Oki and I met our friend, Lyn who would be joining us to our trip in Siem Reap.

From the airport, we rode a taxi to the Morchit Station and bought bus tickets for the Bangkok-Aranyaprathet route (300 km). We got to the bus station at around 2:30 am.

A man sleeping at the station. Looks uncomfortable to me.

Queue at the ticket counter.

They opened the ticket counter at around 3:35 am (25 minutes earlier than scheduled). It took us a few minutes more before we got our tickets as we had to ask the lady at the counter to explain to us some of the Thai calligraphy written on the ticket like the seat number, the bus number, time of departure, etc. Most of the writings in the station are written in Thai. The bus left 30 minutes earlier than scheduled. Yipee.

This is the (government service) bus!

The bus is nothing fancy but if you're used to the aircon buses in the Manila, I guess it will definitely do. It has tv set inside but it's turned off the whole time we're traveling. The bus ride took us 4.5 hours. We got off at Ta Phraya, wherein a line of tuk-tuk (ตุ๊กตุ๊ก or ตุ๊กๆ) was waiting to take us to Poipet border.

Tuk-tuk at Ta Phraya. The took off point to Poipet border.

The road to Poipet was a no-hassle drive. I enjoy riding the auto rickshaw. I love jeepneys and all but there are times when I wish we also have tuk-tuk in the Philippines. It's definitely a better ride than the tricyles and pedicabs.

Our tuk-tuk driver is the king of the road!

The road to Poipet.

Alas, we arrived at the border. Or does it say, Border 500 km more?

We need to fill out the embarkation card.

Reading from various literatures on the Internet about the travelers’ bad experiences while traveling by bus to Cambodia and how they were required to pay more than the right amount, we have expected the worst from this travel. Lucky for us, we didn't encounter any bad experience. The bus ride was smooth and safe (considering we chose a government service bus company). The stop over is inevitable. We've gotten used to it. It really helps to do some research before traveling.

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