Saturday, August 28, 2010

BANGKOK WAT PRA KAEW-THE EMERALD BUDDHA

I am posting another photos about my visits to an important place in Bangkok. Visiting Wat Pra Kaew-The Emerald Buddha was an inspiring one so to speak, because I've been to this place but never get the chance of going inside around the compound since foreigners or tourists has to pay for the entrace fee. The fee was truly big for a teacher like me who just receiving a meager salary.
The temple is surrounded with concrete blocks avoiding intruders and enemies to get in during the old times.
Wat Pra Kaew is only adjacent to Wat Pho temple where the reclining buddha is located. Everytime I like to hit Wat Pho for relaxing, I always hoping that I could get inside without paying the entrance fee and see those wonderful temples around Wat Pra Kaew.
For my first attempt, the Tuk-tuk(tricyle in Philippines)that I got on dropped me rightly infront of the gate for Thai visitors or worshippers, but the guard on duty held me in my arms by pointing his finger towards to the main gate where the foreigners and tourists went in. Of course, I went inside and tried to get some photos and without any question I went directly to the entrance going to the temple which another person guarding the entrance asking me to buy a ticket.
To make it short, I attempted to get in to the gate for the second time pretending to be Thai but I was failed and recognized a foreigner.
To good to be true, our school thought of visiting Wat Pra Kaew as part of the educational places that our students should see which majority of them didn't know about the importance of this beautiful temple nor get the opportunity of seeing it personally.
Herewith is a bit description of the temple:
Wat Phra Kaew or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (officially known as Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram) is regarded as the most important Buddhist temple in Thailand. Located in the historic centre of Bangkok, within the grounds of the Grand Palace, it enshrines Phra Kaew Morakot (the Emerald Buddha), the highly revered Buddha image meticulously carved from a single block of jade. The Emerald Buddha (Phra Putta Maha Mani Ratana Patimakorn) is a Buddha image in the meditating position in the style of the Lanna school of the north, dating from the 15th century AD.
Raised high on a series of platforms, no one is allowed near the Buddha except HM the King. A seasonal cloak, changed three times a year to correspond to the summer, winter, and rainy season covers the statue. A very important ritual, the changing of the robes is performed only by the King to bring good fortune to the country during each season. The temple is beautifully decorated and has a great sense of peace about it
.



Standing in front of the Chinese inspired god.



With Thai teachers and our students..



Hallway of Wat Pra Kaew temple.



Another giant Pagoda at Wat Pra Kaew.



The biggest Pagoda at Wat Pra Kaew.



Unminding the heat..just to get a photo shot.



Mini temples at the background.



Holy temple at Wat Pra Kaew.



A temple Under renovation...

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

DREAM WORLD-THEME PARK BANGKOK THAILAND

August 12 was Queen Sirikit's birthday and so it was holiday paying tribute to the most loved Queen of Thailand. And it happened that it fell on Thursday which was on the midweek so the Government announced Friday as holiday too down to week end.
Just right after my class in the afternoon I headed down to Bangkok to see new friends whom I just met in Bangkok. Pretty excited as I was awaiting for that four days no classes, I finally gave in to my friends invitation to come along with them at Dream World. It's Thailand biggest amusement park or Theme park.
Honestly, I am not much into amusement part or recreational park which I prefer land marks and historical places...well, something more on nostalgic and something that tells about the country per se'.
Since majority of my new friends wanted to spend the holiday at Dream World, and I was hesitant to say yes 'coz I was and I am on strictly saving a little monetarily.
Well, though the weather wasn't that good that time, we still went there and enjoyed the rides that I didn't dream of.
Dream World is a theme park which caters to both young and young at hearts :-) Most of the people who visit this place are students and families.One huge complex with lots of fun rides to try.
However, some of it were a bit scary and really puke you out..but I was enjoying myself specially to that one ride that I hated most..Hurricane.
So, here goes the pictures that we took there....indulge.


The entrance part of the park.


New friends whom I just met in Bangkok.


At the gate of the park.


A solo of myself before we went in.


Just at the heart of the park.


A Disneyland inspired...


Enjoying our picture taking before we splurged on.


Trying to get a bite..was already hungry then.


The rides that I hated most..however, managed to get on and partly enjoying.


Preparing ourselves before we were thrown out and shout at the top of our lungs.


Among the faves of mine..the Vikings..that's where my name was taken.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

VOTED THE BEST EMAIL OF THE YEAR

Hi there bloggers world..sorry for the long blog absent. I haven't updated everything down here not even my twitter.
Now, I am back with a full throttle...sounds like a movie from one of my favorite TV shows in the 80's Charlie's Angels.
As you know, I am an internet addict. I was born without it, I took my first College course without any words hearing about this invention, till I joined the missionary back 2001 and that's when the birth of internet to me.
Now, the pictures posted below are the common forwarded photos online through email thread with messages on it.
I received these photos forwarded by a missionary friend way back 2003. Honestly, it moved me and realized the importance of life and its simplicity given by God.
I didn't know that this was voted as Best Email of the Year...no idea when was it voted but as I was roaming around the world online my searching led me to see these photos again in a blog.
That's when I knew that it was voted as the Best Email of the Year....dunno who took the pictures and I didn't know who took the idea of putting them together and forwarded to every person who has an email.
The pictures itselves speak a lot the true essence of happiness and contentment in life so as praising our parents for giving us a good environment and education.
So long as the Supreme Being deserves our praises for a healthy life, food that we eat everyday, friends, and everything.
I shared this thing to my class regardless of their low undertanding in English but somehow the pictures speak for itself.
I maybe late and a late blogger who post them but I am hoping that it may help us to accept what God has given us.




If you think you are unhappy, look at them.



you think you don’t have many friends…


When you feel like giving up, think of this man


If you think you suffer in life, do you suffer as much
as he does?


If you complain about your transport system,how about them?



If your society is unfair to you, how about her?
Enjoy life how it is and as it comes – Things are worse for others and are a lot better for us…


There are many things in your life that will catch your eye but only a few will catch your heart….pursue those…This email needs to circulate forever…:

















My Favorite Instrumental Music