80th Birthday Celebrations

Long Live His Majesty the King.
On the auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King's 80th Birthday, many celebrations are held in Thailand. One of them are the Fireworks that light up the sky.

In Singapore

Attend the Asset 2nd Annual Asian Bond Markets Summit in Singapore before joining the award cocktail party. TISCO receives the best corporate bond award in Thailand for the second year.



Christmas tree on Orchard Road



After that we hop on the opened bus to see the Christmas night light.



The sculpture on the river side walk near the Fullerton Hotel.



The Esplanade, of which many call a “du-rian” building.



Merlion at night. The Merlion was first designed as an emblem for the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in 1964 – the lion head with a fish body resting on a crest of waves.

K. Rochana's Birthday Party at Prime Steak House.

Balloon Festival

We start a day trip to Ampur Pak-Chong, Nakornratchasima Province in the early morning. As the wind is so strong, the balloon morning show is cancelled. So I decide to visit the sunflower field at Saraburi province instead.



The Saraburi Motto.



Muak-Lek Waterfall.









At Balloon Festival in the evening. There are many people coming to this event. It is my first time to watch the Balloon closely. End the day shopping at "Talad Thai"

Birthday cakes for P. Puert and Dr. Sumet at Bacco, a new Italian restaurant at Sukhumvit 53.



At Bacco.

The Royal Barge Suphannahongse.

Watch the Royal Barge Procession Rehearsal at River Mansion with the complimentary ticket from Pe Norm. The Krathin ceremony is scheduled to take place on the Chao Phraya river on Monday November 5. There are 52 Royal Barges manned by 2,098 nay personnel.








We then go to Siriraj Hospital to sign get-well books for both His Majesty the King and Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana.

More than hundreds (at that time) of well-wishers are all over the hospitals. Many people pray before the statues of the Prince of Songkhla, our King’s father.

Pee Thanorm's Birthday Party at Hamillton Steak House.

We have lunch for the first time at “Jok Kitchen”, Yaovarad area. The food is delicious, the price is reasonable. Our meal begins with shrimp wontons, followed by smoked roasted duck, seared snow fish with iceberg lettuce, steamed crab, fried vegetables with abalone and the last one - dried prawn with gingko nuts. After the meal, the owner and chef, Khun Jok come to talk with us for a while. It is a very small shophouse with about 2 tables in front and 1 small table at the back.

Try the sizzling brownie at Melvados, Siam Square Soi 2. Whenever someone orders it the chocolate flavor waft all over the shop. I guess that the shop is owned by an Thai-Indian.




Harley Davidson Show at Siam Paragon.

Watch the “Cloudy Throne” (บัลลังก์เมฆ) at MuangThai Ratchadalai Theatre sponsored by my brother. Good point for having a brother la!

Visit the Japan Week at Central World.



End the short meeting at Mos Burger, a fast-food chain from Japan. I tried the Teriyaki Burger, a bit too sweet for my taste.

Baby Lyn sleeps soundly in her Grand pa’s warm hug. (p.s. take a look at the sniper at his side, guess that it would turn out to be an automatic M-16 when she grows up!!!)

A half-day-boat trip gathers at Bangrak. The morning weather is kind of foggy before it changes into heavy rain and we have to end the trip earlier than planned.



What a nice spot for fishing!!!



Our first stop is at Wat Ratcha Orasaram Ratchaworawiharn. I have never been to this temple before. It is more convenient to come to this temple by boat than by car.

Excerpt from the temple:
Wat Ratchaworawiharn is an ancient temple since Ayutthaya period, its former name was Wat Chom Thong. Because of King Rama III, who restored the temple, favored in Chinese Art, thus the architectural and all artistic works for the restoration was the applied art of Thai and Chinese style. The well harmony of Thai and Chinese style can be observed from both of Wiharn (The sermon hall) and Ubosot (the ordination hall) of the reclining Buddha. It was the first temple without decoration on the rooftop of Ubosot and Wiharn.



Painting on the inside window.



The stars of this trip. I think that everyone in this trip has taken at least one of pictures of them.

A dinner party is held at Dusit Thani Hotel.

A small gathering among "travelling" maniac is arranged on Sunday at Iberry before Nong Rome goes back to pursue his Doctorate at Spain. This time we have two newbies, Nong Jeep and Nong Nobita, showing up at the meeting.

Wat Bang Kung (วัดบางกุ้ง) at Amphawa, Samut Songkram Province.
After exercise my vote on the referendum regarding the Draft Constitution 2550, we then have a delicious seafood lunch at "Somnuk" shophouse before visiting one of the "unseen" Thailand places. Here, four big trees (ต้นโพธิ์, ต้นไทร, ต้นไกร และต้นกร่าง) cover the Buddhist chapel.



Also in the area are the thai boxing models.



Chan and Van are trying to imitate them.

Khun Suthas and his family donates Plai Suthas to the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation.



These wild boars have also been donated by Khun Suthas last year. He named two of them as "Nang Aor" and "Nang Norm". 555

My second Trip at Java - Day 5

Noo Nong and Mer at the airport.
We leave Solo in the morning and waiting for the evening-connecting flight to Bangkok at Kuala Lumpur again.