THE GRAND PALACE - BANGKOK THAILAND

They said; "The Grand Palace and Wat Pra Kaew really are places you must visit while you are in Bangkok. Both have considerable historical significance and are extremely beautiful places to see."
I went there again the other week just to accompany a new friend who just arrived from Philippines with my newfound friends here in Bangkok.
On my first visit there with my students (as part of our Educational trip), I didn't get the opportunity to see the Grand Palace because I was just so busy going around Wat Phra Kaew marvelling the big temples and everything just around the compound of Grand Palace.






Two lovely Thai ladies with their colorful umbrellas.







The maroon color is a monk from Myanmar while the orange is from Thailand.



The guards of the place on duty.



At the gate with a vendor and a guard.
























Appreciating the flowers along the road is refreshing.



My fellow skinhead....monk from Myanmar and from Thai monk.



Grand Palace's wall.

Things to Cherish In Life

I've posted this story at my Facebook blog account. Actually, I got this story from a certain Facebooker who just surprisingly appeared at my FB front page. The story moved me and I immediately copied it, of course with permission from the source,and thought of posting it here. Enjoy reading and I do hope that you'll gain lesson from the story because I do.




There was a rich King who had four wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another.

He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidant and was always kind,considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through the difficult times.

The King's 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife. Although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her! One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone."

Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I have loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"No way!", replied the 4th wife, and she walked away without another word. Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.

The sad King then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"No!", replied the 3rd wife. "Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to remarry!" His heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, "I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!", replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave." Her answer struck him like a bolt of lightning, and the King was devastated.

Then a voice called out: "I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The King looked up, and there was his first wife. She was very skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the King said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!"

In truth, we all have the 4 wives in our lives:

Our 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die.

Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.

Our 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

And our 1st wife is our Soul - often neglected in pursuit of wealth,power and pleasures of the world. However, our Soul is the only thingthat will follow us wherever we go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of us that will follow us to the throne of God and continue with us throughout Eternity.

Thought for the day: Remember, when the world pushes you to your knees, you're in the perfect position to pray. 

BEWITCHING SIQUIJOR

Blog absent for a while. Lots of things happened during the previous days, I attended a wedding which I was appointed as Wedding Coordinator.
Visited a Language Center around Bangkok, I just met Sir Howie Severino from GMA-7 at the Emporium Mall. Of course, we had a picture taking after a short talking. Failed to celebrate and witness the Loi Khra Tong (a Thai- Halloween celebration)..too bad, just stayed at home watched TV.
Well, I have nothing much to say this time but I just saw this blogsite of Ferdz, promoting the Photography Workshop which would be held in the place I called home Siquijor. I am happy Ferdz initiated that and he chose my place. How I wish I could join this workshop and be their tour guide around the island.
Check it out at: Backpack Photography website


UPDATED: Bewitching Siquijor Workshop March 2011

Bewitching Siquijor

UPDATED (October 31, 2010) A 2-day Photo Tour and Workshop. Go beyond the myths and superstitions and explore this beautiful island of warm people, uncrowded white sand beaches, mangrove sanctuaries, caves, charming churches and mystical healers.

Course Outline

Preparing for an outdoor and travel shoot
Light and Exposure
Utilizing Filters for better exposure
People and Environmental Portraits
Shooting Architecture
Photo Critique

Workshop Details

Skill Level: Should have Basic Knowledge of Photography

For whom this is for: Participants who are willing to learn more about Travel and Outdoor Photography.

Date: March 18-20, 2011

Venue: Siquijor

Workshop Fee:

Php 10,000 (exclusive of airfare)
*Booking dates should be March 18, 2011 morning flights Manila to Dumaguete and March 20, 2010 afternoon flights Dumaguete to Manila

Inclusive of

Accommodations for 4days/3nights
Meals, packed lunches, buffet dinners (8main meals)
Transportation
Course Materials
Travel Insurance
Requirements:

Any camera that has Manual Controls
Must already have basic knowledge of Photography and knows how to set the controls of their cameras
Sturdy tripod
Compass
Flashlight or headlamp
Recommended:

Filters (ND8, Graduated Neutral Density Filters, Circular Polarizer)
Remote or Shutter Release for long exposure
Register Here.

Registration deadline is on February 15, 2011. LIMITED to 15 slots only!

DAILY SIGHT SEEING TOUR AROUND BANGKOK

November 3, 2010: The third day of the month, halloween was over. I've been idle for a couple of days now after the expiration of my contract in the school. Refused to renew since I have big plans that somehow would fall rightly into place. However, I feel so bored staying at my friend's place all day watching TV and sleeping.
Well, as a traveller - walking around and discovering Bangkok's pride is one of my fave leisures.
Of course, I couldn't get out leaving my camera behind without taking souvenirs for blogging and for timely mementos.
Visiting to different temples around Bangkok has been a favorite destination. It always marvel me seeing temples and their gods, with its unique structure that I couldn't find in the Philippines. Going inside the temple is also a good relaxation for a while from the hustle bustle of the city. Thai people called the temple "wat". They are grouped into two main parts - temples that carry religious functions and those which are used only for monks living quarter.
Thailand's temples has blended into exotic and spiritual because they are places for meditation. The mystical imagery attracts to tourists that leaves questions to the foreign visitors.



On top of the temple, a pagoda at the background.



Sacred monks...



Shapely colored roofs of the temple.



Yours truly being dwarf by the giant reclining buddha.



Good luck bells outside the temple.



Young worshippers...



The eight faces of buddha, worshipped by buddhist fanatics.



Inside the temple at Walom Phong temple, Bangkok.



Precious god at the Golden Mount.



A commonly buddhist god at Walom Phong Bangkok.



One of the Buddhist gods.



A rare black colored temple in Bangkok.



The head of the reclining buddha.



Reclining buddha at Wat Pho, Bangkok.



Sacred stone...

SIGHTS VIENTIANE LAOS

Has just arrived from a day and two nights in Vientiane, Laos or known to be as the city of Sandalwood in Southeast Asia.
It has been my second visit since last year of November when I exit for a Non-B visa purposes. Didn't get the chance to go around on my first trip there because of the rain that hindered me and to some of the foreigners who went to Laos just to obtain the same desire to get a visa at Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane Laos.
Since my school contract has just ended yesterday, exiting Laos is the main country in the eastern part of Asia for those who wish to get a long term visa extension and some visas.
Well, I don't wanna go into details of explaining about the process and why we need to go Laos, Cambodia or Malaysia for visa. That's just the way it is, the immigration in Bangkok refused to cater the needs of the foreigners if visa is the issue.
Now, lucky as it may seems my second exit to Laos was a bit fun when the opportunity to see the pride of the country was just beneath the distance of my eyes.
Without wasting time, I hit the road just where my feet leads me. Of course, I asked infos to the information clerk of the hotel where I stayed but the English and so as the accent was so bad and audibly hard to understand.
Anyway, I went around with two newfound friends from Philippines also enjoying a much needed trip.

CITIES ABOUT TO SINK

My school contract is over...now I am resting for a while and preparing myself to a new venture somewhere else. I am pretty sure of the place but not sure enough of God's approval, however I have this strong and positive feelings that God would send me there.
So much of that little drama in life, let me share with you this article that I have read in the internet that shocked me. As we all know that our planet is suffering for global warming and the polar caps is slowly melting because of our cruelty. We took advantage what the Lord has given and we never give back what He deserves.
Have to pause now and bring your serious attention to this shocking news:


"Many of us take for granted the notion that all of our beloved cities will be around for centuries to come. However, cities around the world seem to be vying for the title of "The Next Atlantis." Shaky foundations and encroaching seas are posing significant threats to some of the world's largest and most beloved cities. When planning your next vacation, keep in mind that some of the world's favorite destinations have a bit of a ticking clock on them. Here are seven major cities that are preparing to take the plunge.



#7: Bangkok, Thailand
Thailand’s capital is sinking — and sinking fast. However, unlike other cities on our list, a shoddy foundation isn’t necessarily to blame. Resting on the Chao Phraya River — which flows into the Bay of Bangkok about 30 miles south of the city center — this colossal settlement is more likely to drown than sink. Experts now say that this mouthwatering foodie destination — along with the dozens of beautiful temples found here — may be under water in as little as seven years.
According to Thai scientist Dr. Ajong Chumsai na Ayudhya, the fate of Bangkok can best be explained by global warming. Asia News Network reports that “Ajong said humans were mainly to blame for such disasters because they were using up natural resources, chopping down forests and kept emitting greenhouse gases with no regard for the future.” Ajong also says that changes in the earth’s overall climate will lead to more severe tsunamis in the Gulf of Thailand that will have extremely negative effects on the southern portion of the country. With less than a decade to spare, time might be running out for a trip to Thailand’s most popular tourist getaway.



#6: New York City, New York
If you've never seen the Statue of Liberty or been dazzled by the lights of Times Square, now's the time. Much like its Thai comrade, America’s most densely populated city is doomed to suffer the effects of global warming. Sitting at the mouth of the Hudson River where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean, this concrete jungle will soon be at a much higher risk of damage from rising sea levels and imposing tropical storms. And unlike the ones bobbing around in a barrel on Halloween, this Big Apple will not float.
Science Daily reports that the sea levels in the New York City area are expected to rise about twice as quickly as sea levels around the world, meaning that Gotham will take the plunge well before the rest of the United States. However, Science Daily says that flooding is just one of the symptoms New York will suffer: "The submersion of low-lying land, erosion of beaches, conversion of wetlands to open water and increase in the salinity of estuaries all can affect ecosystems and damage existing coastal development." Not only will the Empire City be transformed into a wading pool, but it will slowly be washed out to sea.



#5: Houston, Texas
Houston, we really do have a problem — soon, NASA's Visitor's Center won't only be stuck on Earth, but in it as well. The city that Fodor's deems is arguably Texas’ most cosmopolitan is struggling to stay above ground. Built on a gold mine of natural resources and the determination to flourish, Space City has become a major energy hub and the taking-off point for U.S. space exploration. However, America’s fourth-largest city was built on a foundation of sand. Literally.
Houston sits on the loosely packed banks of four major bayous that empty into the Gulf of Mexico. For years, residents of Houston relied on groundwater to fulfill their needs, but the mass amounts of extraction needed to supply the ever-expanding city weakened Houston’s foothold. Oil extraction was also damaging to the foundation, as was continuous sprawl, not to mention the 300 or so active fault lines that run beneath Houston’s streets and skyscrapers. Now, many parts of this metropolis — specifically Jersey Village to the northwest — are sinking by as much as two inches per year, according to Science Daily. Experts note that while sinking has slowed significantly in areas that have stopped extracting ground water, a permanent solution to Houston’s problem has yet to be found. If Houston is on your list of cities to see, you best prepare soon for take-off.



#4: Shanghai, China
Things aren't looking good for Shanghai, either. Located on China's coast, this sprawling city was built on swamplands surrounding the mouth of the Yangze River. Originally a small fishing village, Shanghai began to draw more and more residents in the mid-19th century. Modest homes were replaced by breathtaking skyscrapers (not to mention some of the best shopping venues in Asia), and Shanghai soon became the most densely populated city in the world, housing over 20 million people by 2001. The city was handling rapid expansion just fine until the early 20th century, when wells became a major source of water and the underlying sediment deposit was disturbed. According to PBS, Shanghai sank roughly eight feet between 1921 and 1965, which equals about two inches per year. The city still continues to drop at a rate of about half an inch per year.
According to experts, not much can be done to keep Shanghai above ground — the city is simply too heavy for its foundation. However, in an effort to slow the sinking process, all new high-rise buildings must be built with deep concrete piles to help support their weight. If you have any interest in seeing the architecture for which Shanghai is both famous and floundering, don't wait too long.



#3: New Orleans, Louisiana
When colonists chose New Orleans as the capital of French Louisiana, they did so because of its inland locale. However, any land protection the city had has been washed away, making America's favorite place to celebrate (approximately half of which sits at or below sea level) even more prone to tropical storms.
It wasn't until after Hurricane Katrina that experts really took note of New Orleans' downhill situation. In 2006, National Geographic reported that the city sank about a quarter of an inch per year in the years leading up to Hurricane Katrina, while the levees designed to protect the city from the Gulf sank at four or five times that rate, exacerbating the long-term effects of the storm. Experts say that not much can be done to save the Big Easy. According to a report issued in 2009 by the National Academy of Engineering and the National Research Council, "Levees and floodwalls surrounding New Orleans … cannot provide absolute protection against overtopping or failure in extreme events. … If relocation is not feasible, an alternative would be to elevate the first floor of buildings to at least the 100-year flood level." Just goes to show that there's never a time like the present to don your Mardi Gras mask and head south to Bourbon Street.



#2: Venice, Italy
It's been several hundred years since the Venetians decided to construct the towering St. Mark's Basilica and sprawling Piazza San Marco atop submerged wooden planks and forgo roads in favor of canals. Back in the day, the city's geography made sense: Direct access to the sea was necessary in order for Venitians to maintain control of commerce on the Mediterranean Sea. But the dig for fresh water proved to have a negative impact on this fish-shaped city: According to The Christian Science Monitor, Venice has sunk almost a foot over the past 100 years. To make things worse, water levels in the Mediterranean Sea are also rising. Although acqua alta (high water) has plagued this ornate tourist hotspot for centuries, flooding frequency has increased dramatically in recent years. Justin Demetri of LifeInItaly.com notes that Venice now experiences over 60 bouts of acqua alta each year.
Preserving Venice has been a priority of the Italian Government for about 30 years. Several billion euros have been dedicated to a flood defense system, the MOSE Project, which is expected to be completed in 2011 or 2012. However, some experts claim that the only way to save the city is to move it altogether. Either way, if you've always dreamed of a gondola ride through the Bride of the Sea, you had better do so soon with galoshes in tow.



#1: Mexico City, Mexico
Resting on a fickle lake bed in the Valley of Mexico, Mexico City has been facing the possibility of going under for centuries. However, according to geologists, there are parts of this massive metropolis that are sinking by as much as eight inches per year. Because of a lack of sufficient drainage, the city was heavily prone to flooding from groundwater flowing down from the surrounding mountains, leading to the construction of a vast underground drainage system. But over-extraction of groundwater from the Texcoco lake bed during the 20th century has caused the city's clay foundation to crumble, forcing the metropolis to sink deeper into the ground. And as the city sinks, so does the drainage system, forcing waste water to reverse its course and head back into the city. According to AZCentral.com, Mexico City's drainage capacity has decreased by 30 percent since 1975.
There are several projects underway to keep this sinking city afloat, including a 23-foot-wide ($1.1 billion) Eastern Drainage Tunnel that will deposit waste water about 40 miles north of the city. The tunnel should be completed by 2012. Work is also being done to help save the architectural gems — like the popular Metropolitan Cathedral — found in the Historic District, which are one of the city's major tourist draws. But despite best efforts, engineers say that there is no way to keep Mexico City from sinking."
(Source: Fourwinds )