ThaiCraft

If like me you have been to Bangkok a number of times and can spot the difference between the Thai Souvenir's NOT Made in Thailand to the beautiful hand crafted items then you are  lucky. One of the reasons for creating this blog is because I am so over Tourists being sold crap not only in Thailand but around the world. If you make a little concerted effort you can find some great souvenir's at the same price if not perhaps a little more than what you are buying in those Tourist Traps on the 3rd & 6th Floor of MBK for example.  Siam Paragon has dedicated a large area on the 4th Floor to Thai items that cover clothing, jewellery, soaps, as well as your more traditional Benjarong and other high end items.  Siam Paragon & CentralWorld will often have promotions on Thai Craftsmanship and food. You can buy directly from the makers and manufacturers and the prices are very reasonable.

One of my recent discoveries is ThaiCraft. http://www.thaicraft.org/

ThaiCraft brings you exquisite handcrafted products from the village communities of Thailand. We ensure Fair Trade practices and principles, and add variety, quality control and professional service.  Our objectives are to generate a fair income for village producers, to help keep alive the diverse craft traditions of Thailand, and to promote Fair Trade. More than 60 artisan groups contribute to the wide array of handmade jewelry, silks, baskets, flatware, spa products, organic groceries and more that ThaiCraft offers.  Browse our online Craft Gallery, visit our ThaiCraft Fairs in Bangkok or consider traveling to the source with our sister company Phu Phiang.  We also offer a comprehensive worldwide export service.Your purchase provides a sustainable market for Thai artisans to preserve traditional ethnic art and explore contemporary design. ThaiCraft assists disadvantaged communities -- ethnic minorities, those seeking relief from natural disasters, people with disabilities, families trying to avoid the dispersal caused by urban migration -- to create social entrepreneurs and achieve self-sufficiency.

  

Check out the website for days of operation. Usually every 2 or 3 weeks.
Starting promptly at 10am through to 3pm
Jasmine City Building
3rd Floor Sukhumvit Rd
alt Entrance to Soi 23
BTS Asok Exit 3, MRT Sukhumvit Exit 2.

Grab a coffee!

Inside the Fair.

BTS - Bangkok Mass Transit System

The BTS is a clean, cheap and convenient form of transportation in Bangkok, with recent extensions to the line you can get from Saphan Taksin (Chao Phraya River) to Mo Chit (Chatuchak Market) or from National Stadium (MBK) to Bearing via Bang Chak (Jim Thompson Factory Sales Outlet).  Both lines intersect at Siam.  They produce a handy map and their website is also very informative: http://www.bts.co.th/customer/en/main.aspx

Depending on your length of stay in Bangkok - you can buy a single ticket (15 - 45 Baht), a daily ticket (120B)  a ticket that is valid for up to 45 rides or a Stored Value Pass.  Even if only travelling a couple of times on the one day the 120B ticket can still be great value for money as it means you do  not have to line up for tickets at each stop.

 Adult Smart Pass + 30 Baht issuing fee
• 15 trips 345 Baht (23 Baht per trip)
• 25 trips 550 Baht (22 Baht per trip)
• 35 trips 735 Baht (21 Baht per trip)
• 45 trips 900 Baht (20 Baht per trip)

All prices are correct at time of publication but are subject to change.

Bangkok Food Tours

This tour makes you feel like you are experiencing a local Bangkok and is great value for money.  Bangkok Food Tours have kept it simple - there is no razzle dazzle - it feels honest. This is how tours in Bangkok should be.  If you are interested in exploring both Chinatown and Bangrak these are the perfect tours.  

"Become a Thai food expert in just 3 hours! Join us as we bring you to explore amazing tastes and sights of historic Bangrak, the more than 100-year-old culinary neighborhood. Our 3-hour food tour combines delectable food tasting with off-the-beaten sightseeing. It is a delicious and fun way to explore Bangkok just like a local.  Set along the bank of Chao Phraya River, Bangrak is the district famous among Thais for its diverse local flavors. The area is a true melting pot, where you can find Thai delicacies from various regions and ethnicities. As we journey along our easy-to-walk route, you will meet and engage with restaurant owners, sample their generations-old artisanal recipes and visit fascinating local attractions hidden away from major tourist path. It is our goal to make certain you leave us with a long lasting experience. 

THE CHINATOWN FOODIE WALK & CULTURE TOUR.  This tour brings you to discover sophisticated flavors of Bangkok 200-year-old Chinatown district that is filled with rich ethnic tradition & delicious food. During the tour you will walk to explore & taste local cuisines from 7 famous eateries, varied from street food vendors to renowned fine dining restaurants. Between each tasting location, you will take behind-the-scene adventure for a closer look of this uniqe neighborhood: meeting the food bazaar’s lively characters, hearing its memorable stories, and visiting religious and cultural landmarks. It’s our goal to provide you with a delicious and unique adventure that will highlight your Bangkok trip with the most memorable experience!"  www.bangkokfoodtours.com

Wat Ratchanatdaram - My favourite Temple in Bangkok

My favourite temple in Bangkok is Wat Ratchanatdaram. When I first discovered it.. by accident I was mesmerized..it is so different from the traditional temples spotted around the country. Located behind the King Rama III Memorial Statue on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, this temple is considered one of the most original temples in Bangkok. It was constructed during the reign of King Rama III (1846)and completed in recent years by the Fine Arts Department. The temple contains a pyramid-shaped metal-spired Pagoda. The Loha Prasat (Metal Palace) stands 36 metres high with 37 surrounding spires, each representing the 37 Bodhipak Khiyadhamma - the different virtues leading to enlightenment.the only one of its kind left in the world.  In front of this temple, there is a memorial statue of King Rama III and a Pavilion "Maha Chetsadabodin", which is used for performing an official welcoming ceremony for visiting Heads of State, On the opposite side of the temple, there is Mahakan Fortress, which is part of an ancient city wall. The temple is open daily from 9.00am to 4.00pm. Admission is free. The Wat has a well-known market selling Buddhist amulets or magic charms  or all  size, shapes, and styles. The amulets not only feature images of the Buddha, but famous Thai monks and Indian deities. Wat Ratchanatdaram is located along Ratchadamnoen Klang Road, at the junction with Mahachai Road. As the Skytrain and Metro do not pass anywhere near here, the best way to reach Wat Ratchanatdaram is by taxi. Be sure to visit the nearby sights as well - The Golden Mount (Wat Saket) - Giant Swing - Democracy Monument - The Queen's Gallery - Mahakan Fort Community -

Bangkok Found by Alex Kerr

I read many books on Bangkok however I always encounter gaps on a subject I am highly interested in, which is Thai Culture.  Reading Bangkok Found brought me such joy. I felt for the first time I was reading a book that reflected my own questions and thoughts about this city and country I love so much.
"Evocative and incisive, Bangkok Found looks deep within traditional culture to discover how Bangkok is like no other contemporary city. It's the book you read after you've seen the temples and enjoyed the nightlife - and then start to wonder where the mysterious appeal of Bangkok really lies. With wit and a wealth of anecdotes from Kerr's thirty years of experience in Thailand,Bangkok Found,sequel to his award-winning Lost Japan,takes you on a journey to the essential and the quirky, the factual and the mythical. In this series of meditations on the city, old culture meets global fusion in the crossroads that is Bangkok."

Thailand Condensed by Ellen London

If you are looking for some light reading on the history of Thailand then look no further than Thailand Condensed by Ellen London.  This handy book covers 2000 years of history and culture of Thailand in 167 pages. The book is not  heavily laden but lightweight and extremely informative about the Kingdom of Thailand.  Points of interest for me are the Thai calendar - did you know that the Thai calendar is about 12 days shorter than the western calendar and the reference point is Lord Buddha's death 543 years before Jesus Christ.  They also cover Proverbs and Folklore. This book endears me to the country the people and their culture.

BAM - Bangkok Art Map

If you like Bangkok101 and the arts then you will love BAM.

what is bam?

Welcome to the online version of Bangkok's free monthly art resource guide, the Bangkok Art Map (BAM). Thailand's contemporary arts scene has expanded steadily in recent years with new galleries continually appearing across the capital, fuelled partly by growing international interest in Asian art and culture. This rise in the number of viewing platforms has meant greater diversity in the kind of art being presented, along with more exposure to regional and international trends. As the domestic arts scene continues to flourish, so too does the number of Thai artists appearing at major art fairs.  

Launched in May 2007, BAM has quickly defined itself as the city's (if not the country's) definitive monthly arts resource guide, providing both residents and tourists to the Kingdom with the latest information and critical insights into Thailand's burgeoning contemporary arts scene. Published by Talisman Media and sponsored by some of Bangkok's most prominent galleries, BAM keeps you abreast of Thailand's best exhibitions and events, as well as highlighting its most prolific artists.

Presented as a colourful hand-held map, BAM geographically pinpoints the city’s art make-up, enabling users a precise and convenient tool to access Bangkok’s most interesting visual displays. Both the map itself and the circulation numbers have expanded since its inception, with a recent redesign making it more user-friendly, and 15,000 free editions providing greater accessibility and wider distribution.
Whether an experienced collector, emerging artist, or anyone curious about Thailand'’s creative culture, BAM is an essential tool for those looking for professional gallery and curatorial services, art tutoring and workshops, art supplies, picture framers, studio space, print shops, and film processing.    
Free and available citywide in galleries, educational and cultural institutes, art cafés, high-end hotels, and serviced apartments, pick up your copy of BAM and participate in the promotion of art in Thailand. www.bangkokartmap.com

Bangkok 101

If you are in Bangkok - grap a Bangkok101 from the newstand, at 100B it is great value. I love handling the publication and the quality of the pictures and articles exceed my expectations at all times.  The website www.bangkok101.com  is the online version which is packed with realtime information for lovers of this city.  The contributers have been there and are talking about personal experiences.  This is what they have to say about themselves.

Independent and unbiased, Bangkok 101 caters to savvy travellers who yearn for more than what they find in weighty, dated guidebooks. It brings together an authoritative who’s who of city residents, writers, photographers and cultural commentators. The result is a compact and intelligent hybrid of monthly travel guide and city magazine that takes you on and off the well-worn tourist track. We rigorously maintain the focus on our readers, and our ongoing mission is to ensure they enjoy this great city as much as we love living in it.

Flooding in Bangkok -2011

Hua Lamphang Railway Station

Democracy Monument

   

Authorities in Bangkok have opened a key floodgate to placate angry residents whose homes have been inundated by floodwaters, but officials fear it could put other parts of the city centre at risk. There were angry scenes at the sluice gate on the Sam Wa canal to the east of the city.Furious residents who live on the outer side of the gate have used sledgehammers to try to break the wall and have clashed with police.They wanted water released to alleviate flooding, which is at chest height in their homes while the city side of the gate remains dry.The national government has agreed to open the gate slightly to release some water but the deputy governor of Bangkok has warned that could once again place 19 districts of central Bangkok at risk that were declared 80 per cent safe on Monday.
He says the released water may overflow a key canal that leads to the city centre.
The three-month crisis - triggered by unusually heavy monsoon rains - has left at least 381 people dead around the kingdom and damaged millions of homes and livelihoods, mostly in northern and central Thailand.The crisis has forced the shutdown of thousands of inundated factories, disrupting supply chains and putting more than 500,000 people temporarily out of work.Prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the government had made plans to rehabilitate industrial estates, but that it could take three months to get them up-and-running as normal.*Edited highlights from http://www.abc.net.au 

We Love Bangkok!

This book has inspired me on a number of occasions and has been invaluable. I wish they would publish all their books in english. Alas this is the only one that I am aware of. Check out the Cafe Culture and Chiang Mai guides if you can read Thai. The style & content has influenced my blog and I would like to honour it with my first posting.  It covers all lifestyle options from where to rest your head.  Satisfying your tastebuds and thirst.  Discovering local haunts that are in no guidebooks and all with done with much love. As it attests to in the title. Enjoy your discovery through this book. I never tire of looking at its pages and garnering inspiration from its contents.  www.oomlifestylebook.com